There were signs of that already.
He wore Roman’s clothes all the time, and he liked it. He had semi-permanent beard burn on his face and thighs from Roman’s kisses, and he loved it. His body was littered in love bites and scratches and assorted bruises he couldn’t stop staring at in fascination. Roman fucked him so often and so thoroughly that Luke barely needed any prep these days. It was scary how perfectly compatible they were in bed. Luke had always loved sex, but sex had never felt this way: so addictive, so necessary. Never before had he felt like a man’s hands fucking belonged on his body.
It creeped him out. He wasn’t supposed to feel this way, not with that man.
A sound at the door made him flinch, tearing him away from his thoughts.
His heartbeat picking up, Luke turned around just as the door opened.
But it wasn’t Roman.
It was a young woman. She stared at him, her mouth agape.
He stared back.
She was quite pretty, with dark hair and dark eyes that were full of bewilderment. There was something familiar about her, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“Oh.” She muttered in Russian, “Well, this is definitely not what I expected.” She walked closer, eyeing Luke curiously.
“Hi,” Luke said, tugging Roman’s t-shirt down, suddenly self-conscious of his bare legs. Who was she? How had she entered the room? As far as Luke knew, Roman had the only key card to the room and the house was heavily guarded. “Who are you?”
Her eyebrows crept up. “Who are you? This is my house.”
Luke’s stomach tightened into an uncomfortable knot. Her house? Did Roman have a…a wife no one knew about?
Before he could formulate a reply, there was the sound of footsteps and a very pale Vlad appeared in the doorway. “Anastasia, you shouldn’t be here,” he told her in Russian. “Roman will be angry—he is angry already. I called him.”
The woman—Anastasia, apparently—put her hands on her hips and huffed. “I’m angry, too.” She pointed at Luke. “Who is he? Why is he in my brother’s bedroom?”
Brother? She was Roman’s sister?
Vlad pursed his lips, shooting a dark look in Luke’s direction. “He’s a guest,” he said, taking Anastasia’s arm and pulling her toward the door.
Anastasia didn’t budge. “I’m not stupid, Vladik. What kind of guest would be allowed into Roman’s bedroom wearing nothing but what looks like Roman’s t-shirt?”
Vlad rubbed the back of his neck, looking anywhere but the woman. Luke found his face getting warmer.
Anastasia looked from Vlad to Luke before her lips formed an O. Then, a slow grin stretched her lips. “Really? My old-fashioned, straight brother is sleeping with a guy?” Her grin disappeared as she peered into Luke’s face. “A boy? Are you even legal?” she said in English, her accent as non-existent as Roman’s. “I didn’t know my brother was into jailbait, especially the male variety.”
“I’m perfectly legal,” Luke said, sighing. “I’m twenty-three.”
“Huh,” she said, her voice laced with surprise and amusement. “But you’re still a lot younger than Roma. And you still lack the boobs.”
“Anastasia Danilovna, you should leave now. Please.” Vlad seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
“Why?” Anastasia said. “Maybe I want to get acquainted with the person who has my brother ditching his family and very important wedding rehearsals every evening.” She smiled brightly, walked over and offered her hand to Luke. “Anastasia Demidova, also known as Anastasia Lugova, soon-to-be Anastasia Bernard. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Luke said after he had somewhat recovered from his surprise. Roman was here for his sister’s wedding? “I’m Luke—”
“How nice of you to find the time to drop by, Nastya,” said a quiet, familiar voice.
Anastasia’s smile froze. She looked like a deer in headlights.
Roman walked toward her, took his key card from her hand, and put it in his pocket. “Explain yourself,” he said, very gently.
She swallowed. “I was just curious, Roma. I was curious why you never stay with your family for the night.”
“Curious,” Roman repeated. “And what if you came across something or someone dangerous in this house? What then?” His voice hardened when his sister said nothing. “You risked not only your own safety but the safety of our entire family. There are things you don’t understand, Nastya. Things I keep you away from for a reason. Where’s your bodyguard?”
“Roma—”
“Go home,” Roman ground out, a muscle in his jaw pulsing. “Vlad will take you.”
“Roman,” Anastasia tried again, but he shook his head.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he said tersely. “Vlad, take her home.”
This time Anastasia didn’t resist when Vlad steered her out of the room, but she still waved to Luke with a smile. “Bye, Luke! It was nice to meet Roman’s boy, although I didn’t even know you existed!”
“Out,” Roman gritted out and Anastasia left hurriedly.
When the door clicked shut, Roman swore under his breath and finally looked at Luke. The anger in his eyes faded a little, replaced with something else. “Why are you looking at me that way?”