Alexander
The next week passes by in a blur, as I tease and torment Natalya, but don’t give her what she wants. And it’s fucking excruciating, as denying her what she wants is also denying myself. Every day I’m having to make matters into my own hands just to ensure I remain sane.
I fear if I keep going down the twisted path I took at the start of this year, then I’ll be in too deep to find a way out. The problem is my dick doesn’t want to listen.
Today we’re going on a trip out of the academy up to the woods for some target practice, and Natalya is sitting all the way at the front of the bus with her friends.
I can’t deny that I want her to be sitting on my lap right now, making sure everyone knows exactly who she belongs to.
Coach Daniels is leading this excursion.
I’d say the academy is fucking insane, allowing a bunch of high-strung mafia heirs into the woods with loaded weapons, but then what do I know?
The bus stops in a small clearing in the woods and Coach Daniels clears his throat, standing where we can all see him.
“The rules are simple. I’m going to pair each of you off and you will walk the woods together.” His eyes narrow. “Under no circumstances do any of you split up.” He glances at us all. “You will return here in three hours with whatever kills you make. And under no circumstances do you shoot your classmates.”
“No fun,” Nik calls.
The coach glares at him, shaking his head. “If you’ve got a problem with the rules, Krushev, I’ll just send you back on your own.”
He shuts up then.
“Here are the pairs,” Daniels says. “Azira and Rizzo, Eva and Nik, Dimitry and Anita.”
I realize the pattern. For some reason, he’s pairing guys with girls. My heart pounds against my rib cage as I wonder who will be paired with Nat. If it’s not me, I may end up murdering the guy who is supposed to disappear with her in these woods for three hours.
“Natalya and Alexander.”
I smirk, finding it funny that fate seemed to work in my favor today.
Natalya groans and glances in my direction. And yet, when our eyes meet, I can see that flash of excitement in them.
Coach reads out the rest of the names and then we all get off the bus, getting into our respective pairs.
I move close to Natalya and whisper in her ear, “Don’t pretend you aren’t thrilled to spend three hours alone with me, nena.”
Her cheeks redden, but she just glares at me. “I think you are the one that is thrilled, not me.” She glances at the gun in my hand. “Don’t get trigger-happy with that. I know you hate me, but I don’t want to be buried in an unmarked grave out there.” She nods toward the dense treelined edge of the forest.
I clench my jaw, as the mere idea that she thinks I’d ever kill her grates against my nerves. “Do you really think I’m a killer?” I ask, since I’ve never killed anyone in my life.
She shrugs. “You’ve hated me for years. I don’t know what you’re capable of.” She strides toward the rack and grabs herself a rifle, slinging it over her shoulder.
I watch her, hating how hot she looks. Even in a pair of hiking boots, pants, a baggy shirt and coat, she looks so fucking sexy. Her curves are completely covered up and yet I can feel the fit of my own pants getting too tight. She glances over her shoulder at me. “What are you waiting for?” she asks.
I glance toward the treeline and see most the other pairs have disappeared into the forest. I don’t answer her and storm toward her, grabbing her forearm and pulling her in the opposite direction from where the rest of the group entered the forest.
“Why aren’t you following the others?” She asks, trying to wrestle her arm free.
“Because, if we want to hunt anything, then we need to go where the least amount of people are.” I pause and give her a wicked smirk. “And if I want to ensure no one stumbles on me fucking you, then this is the way to ensure it.”
Natalya’s chest rises with a sharp intake of breath, but she doesn’t fight the idea. Instead, she looks more eager as she stops trying to yank her arm free.
When did my little pet become so willing?
“You are insane,” she murmurs, shaking her head. “What if coach Daniels finds us?”
She may be telling me the idea is crazy, but she sounds almost excited by the idea. I keep moving and drag her into the trees, thankful for the cover. Natalya gasps as I push her against the thick trunk of an ancient oak. “Doesn’t that make it all the more thrilling?” I ask, my lips within an inch of hers.
I watch the way her breathing labors and her dark eyes dilate, so much so that it becomes more difficult to discern the black from the dark brown.
My lips are itching to close the gap, but there’s something holding me back. The reality is that the more we do this, the more the lines blur between us.
What is the end game?
“Alexander,” she murmurs my name, eyes dipping to my lips.
It’s a quiet plea for me to kiss her, and I want to kiss her so fucking badly.
“Yes, nena?” I ask.
Her eyes meet mine, burning with such passion it makes me wonder if I’ll get burned by it. “What are you waiting for?”
I kiss her then, pressing my lips to hers with a tenderness I haven’t afforded her yet.
She relaxes against me as I pull her into my arms, tongue parting her luscious lips. And then I’m drowning in her, hoping this moment can just go on forever because trying to figure out what I feel for her is too complicated.
All the mixed up emotions swirling inside of me, making me question everything I knew.