Dear all, here comes a new chapter of Oleg and Anatoly story and it's rather long, as usual, and I really hope you'll enjoy it. I won't say much about it, just that I know it seems things are rather slow and concentrating on dialogues, but it's very important for them and I'm sure you'll understand why.

Let me THANK YOU ALL very much, because honestly, the interest and liking you are showing for this story is FANTASTIC, AMAZING, thanks! So, I'm looking forward to your comments and msg about this chapter, because really love to read them!

Dedicated to all of you and in particular to AymaraSakura as a big THANK YOU for your reading and commenting my stories and for appreciating the quotes in each chapter.

On the right a great banner Maria231000 made for me and it's totally perfect for them, thanks, love it! <3

And now, let me give a special SHOUT-OUT and personal ADVICE about an AUTHOR and STORIES Travis and I enjoy to read.. yes, Travis and I really like reading them together ;-) Check them out!

Shifting2wolf with:

1) "THE COMMANDER'S LEGACY", a manxman action-romance

2) "BEYOND", a boyxman fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi romance

3) "THREE BROTHERS"  manxman fantasy/lycan/werewolf romance, the newest one, which Shane really enjoys ;-)

And now, enjoy the new chapter!

ANATOLY POV

“Speech is human, silence is divine, yet also brutish and dead: therefore we must learn both.” Thomas Carlyle.

Oleg opened his can of soda and took a seat right beside me, for then rolling up the sleeves of his shirt. I cursed in my head when my eyes automatically snapped to those huge things called forearms and studied the lines of the inks, and fuck me, I cursed even more when I realized I was staring and that bastard caught it. Damn it, how pathetic was that? Why this creepy ninja here affected me so much? It was as if there was a hidden switch in my head and whenever he was close to me that switch would turn on all at once. But then something else grasped my attention and it was a deep but pale scar he had on the inside that ran from middle forearm up to his elbow. It wasn’t just one, but several small ones and when I looked at him, he was studying me with his usual granitic and intense expression.

It pissed me off to admit it, but there was so much about this old geezer here I didn’t know and that I did want to know. He never really made conversation with anyone and darn it, the fact he was willing to talk to me was somehow…oh fuck, what am I? A girl? No way I’m gonna say what was that. Let’s just say it was cool, there.

“I never really understand what the hell you are thinking about.” I admitted as I rolled my eyes and tilted my head back staring at the ceiling.

“I am not thinking about anything in particular.” He simply said and right, as if.

“Keep your secrets for yourself, impassive old geezer.” I snorted and with the corner of my eyes I saw his lips twitching in a smirk. He was having fun in pissing me off, right? “You seriously have fun in annoying me, right?”

“Anatoly, you get annoyed with anything, so it does not take much.”

I snapped my head at him and growled irritated, for then realizing he was right. My temper really sucked big time and so did my attitudes.

“Did you learn to be such impassive and robot-like beast when you were in the Army?” Somehow I wanted to learn more about his past, especially his past as Spetsnaz, because let’s be honest for once, it was freaking exciting and fascinating; I mean, I was a guy and every guy is interested in that stuff. Well, probably not my idiotic brother, interested only in hockey, weight lifting and chipmunks.

“In part yes, because you need to keep your head calm and cold during operations. If you let your personal emotions or temper run over, you risk other people’s life or the safety of the country.”

“And in part it’s how you are, right?” He didn’t answer, but simply looked at me and I knew it was right.

“It comes with years of experience and training, Anatoly, if that is your question. Your temper sure needs its time to be controlled.” The bastard there smirked darkly amused and I refrained from flipping him off, because damn right he wouldn’t appreciate it and take it well. “Anatoly, I do not tell you to change your personality. What I say is to learn to control some outbursts, like before.”  Again his eyes scanned me in their burning intense way and I moved a bit on the chair. “And Anatoly, you seem comfortable enough to talk with an impassive and boring bastard that annoys you very easily, so you should open more with your family.”

I said nothing and avoid smiling at his words. Seriously, sometimes he could be remotely funny. But his words made me reflect about these past months and they were right, even though I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction to admit it. However, yeah, I was still not very open and relaxed around my parents and I knew mum felt it and tried her best to show me how she missed me.

“It’s not so easy.” I said while staring at the can of soda I had in my hands. “I…I don’t know how to really approach them and you already know most of the shit, so no need to repeat myself.”

Oleg kept silent a moment and then stood up for stopping in front of me. Damn, he was freaking tall and broad, and from here it gave a better idea of that.

“Your parents love you, Anatoly. You do not need to feel guilty more than you already do.” He took a step to exit the kitchen and for some crazy and unknown reason I stood up too and grabbed his arm. What the hell was wrong with me, like seriously? The creepy bastard cocked his head to the side and arched a brow as to ask what the heck I wanted.

“Where are you going?” I asked and in that moment the door bell rang.

“Dinner.” He simply replied and I swear, my jaw probably hit the floor because that was freakish. How the hell he knew that?

“How did you freaking know? You are not human and I’m not kidding.”

“I heard the sound of the engine; that is all.”

“Wait, I can pay because you paid the drinks and sure as hell I’m not a chick that needs to be treated to dinner, got it?” He sighed and completely ignored me, which ticked me off, but he sensed it and so his eyes shot me one of his most famous warning glares.

“Just get the table ready for dinner, immature punk.” The bastard here smirked and I stood there like an idiot as I witnessed his eyes sort of smiling for the first time ever. So maybe he had something human in him, right? Well, whatever, two could play the same game.

“Fine, impassive bastard.”

He said nothing and walked away.

Alright, watching this granitic and intimidating beast of a man eating pizza was probably one of the most freakish things I have ever done. And believe me when I say I’ve done plenty of damn weird things in my life, but just being here and having this fucking hot and huge bastard eating pizza, well fuck me, was quite the freakish experience.

“You are actually eating it with your hands..” I said sure as hell sounding like a moron, as I bit into my slice of pizza and ogled at him doing the same. He barely acknowledged my words and then kept eating. “I mean, you seriously are doing that.” Oleg ignored me another time and darn it, how irritating was that. “You could answer, you know?”

“Talking with your mouth full is rude, Anatoly.” That was his reply and I swear, for a moment the thought of punching him crossed my mind, but hey, I wasn’t that idiotic to try that once more. We all know how it would end.

“Seriously, how do you do that?”

The bastard chewed his bite of pizza, placed the slice on the plate and then drank a bit of his soda.

“How do I do what?”

“Ignore me all the time.”

“I am not ignoring you, Anatoly.”

“Duh, yes you are, you don’t answer me all the times.”

“I do not waste time in answering useless questions.” I grabbed the border of the table to repress the sudden wave of anger crushing into me and he obviously saw it. “If you plan to try to punch me again, at least cover it better.”

“Not giving you that satisfaction.” I groaned and he looked at me in strange way. “What?”

“Nothing, just eat and for once, muzzle your bratty sarcasm and let it out of the door.”

“The fuck? I’m not a dog, you..” I sprang up as if something had bitten me in the ass, but his eyes shut me up at once and letting out a snort I sat down.

We ate in silence for a few minutes and I didn’t like it, because I realized it threw me back to when I used to be a damn asshole; my parents would wait for me for dinner or so, but I didn’t want to see them and so refused to share meals with them, since seeing my brother brought back too many hidden and at that time disgusting emotions. The hatred and self disgust in those days was literally eating me day after day. I spent so much time and energies and anger in isolating myself and alienating people from me that it all really damn sucked almost my entire lifeblood. Before joining the gang and even after, days could pass without saying a word to anyone, being ignored for fear to be beaten; I convinced myself my family had forgotten about having another son and I punished them with more resentment and rebellion, pushing the limits over and over, until they almost stretched and tore to a point of no return.

A stressful sight left my mouth while I stared at some point on the table of Oleg’s kitchen, seeing again those days where I would move around my house as if I was an intruder, not wanting to meet anyone.

I really didn’t like to eat in silence…not anymore.

“Anatoly, give your mind some rest for today.” Oleg said and my head snapped up so fast that my neck jerked and protested for the sudden jolt. My eyes bored into his, which as usual were so darkly deep and intense in such hard and authoritative way that it was as if my breathing was sucked away and drunk from those black holes. I heard my own swallowing and then I moved my gaze away from his, because it felt as if slipping into me, into my mind. How could he always read me so easily? That was so infuriating and for the only damn reason I could not do the same. Argh…fuck it, why did I care so much about reading into this bastard here? “We already talked about this, Anatoly, so give your mind some rest. Enjoy what you have.”

“I don’t like eating in silence.” I admitted without looking at him and he said nothing for a moment, which made me believe he probably enjoyed eating in silence or without having to entertain his boss’s son. I felt something different slowly coursing in my blood and my skin prickled as my breathing went more erratic right with my annoyance and resentment.

“Silence sometimes is good.” He damn said and I swear, I almost crushed my own bones while clenching my fists to control the sudden hit of temper, but froze as he spoke further. “But why waste what is right at hand? Sometimes silence simply kills.”

I stared at him without understanding what he meant and so simply looked at his face probably looking like a fucktard trying to solve the quest of the year, you know, probably the same way my brother will look at his first exam.

“What do you mean?”

Oleg ignored my question as he went on with another one.

“You looked at my scars before, right?” I nodded and suddenly forgot about my maddening anger and everything else. “I got it during a mission, as it did not go as expected and we fell into an ambush, but eventually succeeded in what was our goal.”

“What happened?”

“They kept me as hostage and did try to make me talk.” His calm and leveled voice never changed tone and I gulped down as I realized what he meant and at the way he told me that, as if it was something completely normal and ordinary. This man here was a constant surprise and wondered who else knew about this. “I cannot tell you the details and it’s not story to share carelessly.” I perfectly understood what he meant and so I nodded. My fists and jaws unconsciously clenched as my mind ranked mental thinking it felt like a privilege to have this man sharing something like that with me, but I repressed it.

As I said, not him.

“I’m not going to say a word about this.”

“I know.”

For some demented and suicidal reason my hand moved to his forearm and traced the line of the scar; he kept still and said nothing as my finger drew the thick and pale line and as my eyes followed the gesture, my breathing somehow deepening at the contact with his warm and hard skin, as my muscles tightened when another finger joined and tasted more of it. It was as if going numb and deaf; maddening chaos invaded me and my senses as my fingers trailed those scars. There was something about this bastard here that…I felt his eyes on me, drilling into me, almost reading into the mess it was roaring inside me, and so I snapped my hand back immediately and mentally punched and kicked myself. What the fuck was wrong with me? For crying out loud…I had just deliberately touched him and…and…argh…seriously, what was wrong with me?

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to invade your personal space or whatever the hell you want to call it or the…”

“It is ok, Anatoly. If something bothers me, you know I have no qualms in voicing it.”

I thought about that for a moment and yeah, he was right. So far he had always been very frank and never phony. Right, one of his qualities I liked, but I would never tell him. Well, sure as hell, I wasn’t going to tell the other “huge quality” of him I liked…ugh…I sounded like same sex crazed horny puppy.

“Fair enough; you have no qualms in voicing it or in showing it.” I rolled my eyes thinking about the times he pinned me down or against a wall. “You sure have charming and very delicate ways to persuade someone not to bother you over something.”

“I believe my charming and delicate ways did work perfectly against mulish stubbornness and bratty cockiness.” He gave me that smirk again, which meant he was enjoying knowing I felt affected by his intimidating and scary I-am-not-human aura. His eyes shifted away from my face and I finally let go of a silent exhale. For a long moment I felt in some crazy apnea. Not just apnea of oxygen, but as well of some common sense and reason. “Your dinner will get cold.” His words brought me back and I automatically shoveled an entire slice of pizza in my mouth, just to keep it busy and avoid say anything I might regret.

Shit…what just happened before? I was seriously going freaking insane, but gee, touching him felt so great and this bastard here was so solid, and not just physically speaking. Everything about Oleg was solid and firm. The fact he could read me so well shot my pressure to the moon, but at the same time calmed my temper down. It didn’t make any freaking sense and I knew it, but that’s how things were. Once more I felt his stare on me and when I cocked my head up he was there observing me.

“Your dinner will get cold, old geezer.” I smugly joked and he just twitched a corner of his lips in what was probably a smirk and then went to finish his pizza. “By the way, you picked a good one.” He nodded at that. “What did you mean before?”

“With what, Anatoly?”

“When you said it’s not good wasting what’s at hand. What’s supposed to mean? I don’t get it.” I admitted giving a shrug with my shoulders and sort of challenging him with my gaze. Of course if he didn’t want to answer my staring wasn’t going to change it, but it was a matter of pride.

“It means simply what it means.”

“Could you be more cryptic than that? So I’ll understand better.” I rolled my eyes and scoffed. What a pain in the neck he could be sometimes. Sometimes? Damn it, most of the time. Obviously no reply followed my smart remark and so I sighed thinking I was doomed to finish dinner in silence, but he surprised me by making conversation first. So, if I were to force him alone with me he would talk, right? Somehow what I said sounded kind of wrong…

“Have you done everything for tomorrow?” I arched my brows not understanding what he meant. “School Anatoly. Tomorrow is Monday and have you done everything for tomorrow?”

“Oh God, yes daddy, I did everything for tomorrow. It’s not like there was much to do and in case you haven’t noticed my social life isn’t sparkling and so lively, so what do you think I did last night?” Aside having to calm down to avoid a visit in the bathroom thanks to that bastard here, but hey, this was top-secret.

“You have friends.” He said and I went to open my mouth, but I stopped. “You know I am right and we already discussed this. You said it yourself before, Anatoly. You do not like eating in silence, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.” I look at the can of soda on the table and then leaned my head on my arm, sighing, suddenly feeling tired. “You exhaust me, I swear it. Arguing with you drains my energy.” At those last words something else decided to be a prick and bombarded my head with damn crazy pictures and ideas.

Fuck me…I mean, yeah, that would be, well..oh for crying out loud! Why did I have to think about that now? I swallowed down as I felt my lower buddy somehow awakening and announce himself. And more images and flashes of how he could drain my energies flooded in my mind, seeing him naked like in that shower, his inks, his Hulk-like muscles, his…damn right, his huge cock and…my downstairs buddy stiffened more and I slammed my head on the table two times and mentally cursed.

“Anatoly?” He asked with calm voice and he better not be able to read into me right now.

“Vsyo kharashò.” I groaned and I knew he was looking at me with that expression of his and so I forced myself up and gobbled down more pizza. “I just remembered something.” I lied, but not sure he would buy it.

“I will not ask questions, as long as all is fine.”

“Yeah, no need to worry.” Right, you didn’t need to worry; I was the one in need to freaking worry, because this was not normal. I wolfed down everything and then tried to relax and asked him something. “Do you come here often?”

“Not really.” He stood up and I swallowed down as my eyes ranked his figure. I was really gay, wasn’t I? Yeah, down to my marrow. He took care of everything and then turned around and shot an unreadable glance. “You can come here if you need.”

I said nothing, simply nodded and as soon as he gave his back, I silently smacked my forehead. Cool it down, pathetic little horny puppy.

When we finished dinner, he decided it was time to go back home and we rode back and I prayed every possible divinity in the sky to prevent me from having a hard-on right when riding behind him. Thank them they granted my wish. But of course there was a condition and that was facing that idiotic brother of mine with his chipmunk. I walked to the living to greet my parents, but only was there and she immediately walked to me and threw her arms around my neck.

“Tolya sweetheart, how was today? Did you have fun? Did you behave well with Oleg?” Oh, if you don’t count the horny and dirty thoughts I entertained about him and his damn hulky body, my outbursts of temper, my pathetic attempt of punching him, yeah, I behaved perfectly well.

“Yeah mum, I didn’t drive the old geezer crazy, if it’s what you wanna know.” She chuckled and kissed my cheek and I couldn’t help the stiffening, but she didn’t let go.

“And did you have fun? Have you been careful? Have you eaten dinner already? Oleg called us about that.”

“Yes mum, what’s this, a third degree?” I felt a complete and gigantic moron the exact instant those words left my mouth. “Sorry, didn’t mean to be a pri…I mean, didn’t mean to be a jackass.” I sort of hugged her with one arm, but it felt so weird. I wasn’t used to that and anyway, being touchy-feely wasn’t my thing. “We had great time and yes, the creepy shadow and I had dinner and oh yeah, thanks for the meal, it was good.”

“Oh man, you had a date with that scary ninja?” My brother popped in the room right with that midget of his boyfriend at his side, and giggled a moment and then looked at me. “Ahahaha, that’s priceless, but hey, he’s probably the only one able to tame your temper…hahahaha…but seriously, never thought you had a soft spot for older men.”

Could I punch and kick my brother for his award winning idiocy?

“Who goes for damn old geezers?” I grunted and he burst out with more laughing, mum this time telling him to behave. I had to give credit to that chipmunk, because instead of making fun of me, he slapped his neck.

“Dima…” He said, half smiling and half faking a scowling face.

“Sorry baby, sorry mum..err, sorry Tolya? C’mon, it was funny. I mean, you and him? Oh man..”
“You are such a dofus, like seriously. We went bike racing.”

“Oh that’s right. Did you kick ass or not?”

“You bet I did, moron.”

“You are the moron here and a moron that likes old dudes, hahahha..”

“And you are a dumbass that likes short and midget chipmunks.”

“Hey, my baby is a hot and sexy kitty and knows how to..mmhff..” Jasper suddenly clasped his hands over my twin’s mouth and blushed madly. I began to feel for him, I mean, dating that dofus of my brother? I really should give him more credit.

For a moment I thought he would go and say “Dima, bad tiger”, because dear Lord, I had already heard him saying that and give me a break. How lame and ridiculous to a throwing up point was that? Bad tiger? Kitty? Seriously, I’ll never ever call my man in that cheesy way, and I bet my ass that masterpiece of male art of Travis didn’t call the Mighty Sasha “bad tiger” or crap like that. Those two were probably pure dynamite in bed, right.

“Well boys, don’t stay till too late. Tomorrow is Monday and Jasper, you’re welcome to stay. If you all will excuse me, I have something to do. Good night.” Mum tiptoed and kissed my forehead and then gave me a radiant smile. “I am glad you had a good time today. It seems you really like race with bikes, right?” I nodded. “Oleg told your father you are very talented and I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks mum.” I mumbled feeling awfully awkward. I think I couldn’t remember when my parents said that to me. “Err, good night.” I munched out and then walked away.

JASPER POV

I let go of Dima’s mouth and sort of smiled to his mother and oh boy, I wished to dig a hole and disappear. I knew I should have been used to his bluntness, but uhm well, one thing was with our friends and one thing was with his parents. Or my parents…oh boy…something like that almost happened last week with my father and good thing he really liked my boyfriend and opened up so much about this that he would almost joke with my tiger. Anatoly looked at us with a mocking expression and rolled his eyes; he mumbled something and left the room. I realized the nervous I felt before whenever around him had slowly vanished and now I could actually smile at him.

“Good night Dima, good night Jasper.” Mrs. Denisov spoke and I politely answered.

“Good night Mrs. Denisov.”

She walked to us and kissed her son on the cheek and then smiled at me and placed a kind hand on my shoulder.

“Jasper honey, it’s Natasha. Mrs. Denisov makes me feel so old..” She winked and then out of the blue kissed my cheek too. “Good night.” Needless to say my face went thermonuclear and yep, it was clear from whom Dima took after.

“Mum loves you, kitty.” He grinned and taking my waist in his hands, he bent over me and stroked my lips with his. “Hmm..my sexy and hot Jasper all for me tonight..” He murmured with raw voice on my ear. I gulped and blushed, but then I let my hand travel to his hair, knowing he loved that.

“It seems that yes, I’ll be all for you tonight.” Boy, I almost reached a point where my boldness did not surprise me anymore. Uhm well, almost; yep, almost. “But uhm, I’m always only for you, tiger..” He let out a really low and rumbling throaty growl and well, I almost melted there, for then remembering we were in his living room.

“Jas, you just completely drive me crazy..” He pulled me closer and went to touch my lips, but something interrupted us and Dima groaned annoyed muttering something in Russian and I giggled, for then wishing to disappear once more. I peeked from his shoulder and saw his brother standing there at the entrance of the living room.

“Gross and damn, get a room, Dima.” He snorted and rolled his eyes. “I came here wanting to look for a movie, but now I’ll go look for a bucket to throw up.”

“Oh c’mon, Tolya, you’re gay, so you should get hard and not wanting to throw up.” His brother shot him a crossed glare and then went to walk away.

“I’m gay, right, but that’s not exactly a show to give me a boner.”

Dima of course followed him and in the motion he grabbed my hand and I found myself being dragged to the kitchen, and I giggled at hearing them bickering and throwing each other jokes after jokes and boy, their energy and fantasy were endless.

“So, you’re staying over, chipmunk? Will I need earplugs?” Dima went to slap his neck, but he ducked it on time and smirked.

“You’re just jealous because you’re going to sleep with your right hand.”

“Better my right hand than your zoo of cheesy fairies and penguins.”

I ignored it and actually sat on the chair as they went to pull out some ice-cream from the freezer.

“Hey, where the heck is the ice-cream I bought on Friday? It cost a fortune because it was some damn new flavor.” Anatoly asked turning around and giving a pointed look at his brother, who grinned and scratched his hair, going to look for that.

“Err, I ate a bit of it yesterday, but I didn’t finish it, so don’t look at me.” The other one snorted and opened another drawer and then shook his head.

“Jasper, you seriously are in love with this one here?” My eyes widened and blinked so much for the surprise that it took me a moment to answer. It was the first time he actually called my name in such spontaneous and relaxed way and joked with me, uhm well, without mocking me.

“Of course he loves me, dofus, what kind of question is that?”

“Because you placed the tube of ice-cream where mum keeps all the meat.” He massaged his temples and opened the tube, for then groaning. “You ate just a bit?” Anatoly tried to smack Dima on the back of his head, but didn’t make it on time and Dima burst out laughing. “You basically ate all of it.” He went to open the fridge and then shot his eyes on us, and oh boy, I blushed like mad because I realized what he was about to ask. “You know, there was also cream to go with the ice-cream and now it’s not here. I’m not even gonna ask you and oh fuck me, I’ll have nightmares tonight, damn…I’ll never eat cream ever again, I swear it.”

“Right, as if Tolya, maybe Oleg likes cream, we don’t know..”

Anatoly and I both almost chocked in air as Dima said that. Boy, I sure couldn’t picture that huge and scary man going for, uhm well, you know what I am talking about and oh boy, just the idea was absolutely out of mind. That man was always so serious and intimidating, glaring in a way that wasn’t every comfortable. I peeked at Anatoly and studied his expression, and then someone interrupted what he was about to say, making them both jump on the spot.

“What is it about me, Dmitri?” That man, Oleg, had stepped in the kitchen and immediately took notice of all of us. He inclined his head to me and politely greeted. “Good evening.”

“Uhm, good evening.” I managed to say and Dima rubbed his neck.

“Oleg man, you freaked me out.”

“Yeah, he has a talent for that.” Anatoly said that, but I didn’t miss how he stiffened as that man entered the room.

However, it was not stiffening due to tension or dislike, because his eyes travelled that man’s body and then snapped away. He slightly shook his head and his jaws clenched, like one of his free fist, and then shot a glare to him and turned around giving his back. Anatoly was nervous, but not because that man made him uncomfortable; oh boy…Dima was right, uhm well, he was obviously joking and of course didn’t notice anything, as he only meant to tease his twin brother, but he was right. Anatoly had a soft spot for that man. I observed him more and probably he felt my eyes, since he glanced at me and arched his brows, for then slamming the tube of ice-cream on the kitchen counter and leaving the room.

Oh boy.

He didn’t just have a soft spot for that man.

Anatoly actually liked him, but did not want to admit it.

“Hey, can I eat the rest of the ice-cream?” Dima asked after him and his brother simply grunted something like “whatever, dofus” and my boyfriend chuckled, winking at me. “No worries, baby, gonna buy him a new one tomorrow.” Then he turned to that man, Oleg, and talked to him probably not really feeling uneasy around him. Well, it did not surprise me, Dima was like that and it made me smile up to my ears. “Do you want some?”

“No thank you.” He simply said and then took a small bottle of water and went to leave. “Good night.”

I stood up and went to my tiger, tiptoeing to kiss his chin.

“Be back in a sec, Dima. Uhm, could I have a bit of ice-cream?”

“Sure kitty. Want some syrup on it? Maybe cookies?”

“That would be really good.” I smiled and after pecking his lips I walked out of the room, going to reach Anatoly a moment. I wondered where he had gone and saw him in the living room sprawled on an armchair with his eyes closed and looking at the ceiling.

“Uhm, Anatoly?” I called and he immediately straightened up and gave me a skeptical look.

“What do you want?” He snapped at first and then sighed out. “Sorry, I don’t really mean to be this rude with you all the time, but it’s just that..”

“I understand you, really.” I took a step and went to sit there, but I asked first. “Can I?” He nodded and studied me carefully. Uhm well, it wasn’t that easy to be around him and even though I didn’t feel nervous or anything, well, his attitudes sure were not so immediate to approach. You needed time to get used to it. I took a deep breath and then talked. “I talked to Travis yesterday and told me to say hi to you.” When I mentioned that I could tell he forced himself not to smile, so I chuckled, because it was clear he liked my best friend. Uhm well, but not in that way.

“How is the Mighty Sasha’s man doing?”

“He loves London, but misses Alex and all of us.” He said nothing and then nodded. I thought about Travis and then decided to say what I had in mind. “Dima said you are having problems in school, I’m sorry. Uhm well, I know you don’t like me and think I am annoying and such, but uhm well…oh boy, well, I am really happy to see how things are between you and Dima. He really missed you, Anatoly, and I know it was the same for you, so I just wanted to say this. I’m really happy about all of this. Sorry for what happens in school.”

Silence fell between us and his eyes almost carved holes into me. I decided it was better to go, as my tiger was maybe wondering where I was, but right when I walked in front of Anatoly, he stopped me.

“It’s not that I don’t like you, actually, you have all of my understanding for putting up with the idiocy of my brother.” He somehow smirked/grinned and I smiled, knowing what he meant. He was joking, but it was already a lot to hear that. “I’m not very good at this stuff, that’s all, and seriously, it’s not me being all mushy and sappy, so don’t expect me to hug and crap like that.” I nodded and waited, because I knew he wanted to say something else. “If you are going to say this to my brother, I swear, I’ll kick your midget ass till the end of your days, got it?” I rolled my eyes and he did the same. “So, well, honestly, if you are going to say this, I’ll make you even shorter. Anyway…” He exhaled and then inhaled deeply. “Thank you for what you did, Jasper. And please, say thanks to Travis, too, and tell him I’ll do that soon. He knows what I’m talking about.”

I smiled and nodded.

“Boy, sure. I don’t know what you talked about with Travis, but I’m sure he will be glad to hear that.”

“Yeah, he seems the firecracker type of guy.” I giggled and he sort of smiled. “And chipmunk?” I rolled my eyes at that and he chuckled. “Things are better and you don’t need to be jealous anymore.” I understood what he meant and I simply looked at him and well, we needed no words.

“Boy, I think you’re right about that. Yep, no more need to be jealous; I saw it.” He crossed his brows and narrowed his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”

“Hey chipmunk..”

“Well, good night Anatoly, Dima is waiting for me.”

“Right, I’ll stick earplugs in my ear and let the music blast me deaf.” I felt the impulse to stick out my tongue, but I refrained from that and so moved out of the room. “Jasper?”

“Yes?” I peeked from my shoulder, but he was not looking at me.

“Anatoly is a freaking mouthful for someone so short like you.”

I giggled at that and shook my head. Of course someone as stubborn as him could not say it directly, but the meaning was the same. Anatoly just said I could call him Tolya and that made me really happy. As I walked to the kitchen, I found Dima sitting on the first step of the stairs, waiting for me with two huge bowls of ice-cream, chocolate syrup, cookies and oh boy, even smarties and more. He grinned at me and standing up kissed my lips and handed me one bowl.

“Your ice-cream, Jas. Wanna go upstairs? We can watch a movie or whatever you want.”

“Sure, thanks Dima.”

“So, you had your chat with Tolya?” I blinked surprised and blushed, and he stroked my lips with his knuckles. “I knew you wanted to talk to him and I will not ask you about that. I’m glad you feel more at ease around that blockhead, I mean..” I stopped him with a soft kiss.

“I know what you mean, tiger, and it’s the same for me.”

He stared at me a moment and then a sweet and honey-like beam formed on his lips.

“Jasper? I love you so much you have no idea.”

I shook my head and tangled my fingers in his hair, softly stroking them, seeing how he closed his eyes a moment leaning on my touch.

“Well I think I have an idea about that, because I love you too that much.”

OLEG POV

I closed the door behind me and removed the jeans and shirt to wear something more appropriate to do some exercises. I followed the usual routine of warming up and stretching for the concentrating on weight-lifting, but as soon as my eyes closed at the rhythm of my arms, his eyes and the way his breathing changed when he touched the scars on my forearms occupied my mind. My arms stopped above my head with the barbell in the air and with a long exhale I put it back on place. I kept on the bench staring at the ceiling for long minutes, until I decide it was better to work with the punching bag.

There was something in the way Anatoly slowly traced the line of those scars that had me impossible from moving my eyes away from him; my fists sank into the punching bag as sweat rolled down my neck and bag. His fingers were literally studying the thick and pale skin of it and I knew in that moment something threatened to wake up and come out. I repressed it immediately and severely reprimanded myself for my inconsiderate lack of control, but I knew spending so much time with Anatoly could be risky. Nonetheless, it was something I did not want to renounce. The brat still needed much help in a few matters and I would be here whenever he needed me; of course he had his parents and friends, but I understood that sometimes for him it was not so easy to completely relax. I had my own methods to make him speak and forget about the resentment and sudden anger he felt, and even if they were not properly orthodox methods, they worked perfectly with his attitudes.

I hit the bag several times with jabs and then hooks, mercilessly sinking my fists in it and slowly everything went back to place. Yes, my nature was inclined to self-control and discipline, and spending years in the Army strengthened those traits, but I understood Anatoly. As I told him, we all make mistakes in our life; however, we all have a chance to make up for them.

Another hook hit the punching bag and the chain that kept it attached to the ceiling swung back and forth and so my jab deepened into the sack. In that moment the door opened and I didn’t need to turn to know it was Anatoly.

“You know what old geezer? I’m freaking glad you never decided to hit me like that.” He snorted closing the door and walking close to me. I quickly glanced at him and noticed he was wearing different clothes, a worn pair of sweatpants and a rather fitting wife-beater, and carrying a book. As I have observed in the shower and in the changing room, Anatoly’s body was shaping up rather quickly. What was he doing here right now? “Alright, ignore me. I’ll ignore you. It’s still Sunday, which means you’re still off-damn-duties, so Cinderella has still time before running home like a good girl. I’ll sit here and read this book ignoring you. My brother and the chipmunk are in his room and I just want to stay here a bit.”

I said nothing and kept going on with my routine. He sat on my bed and indeed began to read in rather surprising silence and quietness. As the striking and punching part reached the end, I moved to bench press for more weight-lifting and I let my body took over my mind. My eyes closed and it all concentrated on those moves, as sweat rolled down my neck. I opened my eyes when I felt him staring me and I was right, for he was on the bed, no sitting and openly looking at me. When Anatoly saw that, he shook his head and that made me cock one brow in question. Did he want to talk about something?

“Is everything ok, Anatoly?” I asked while I kept the rhythm steady.

“Yeah, what makes you think otherwise?”

I let it go and then moved to the bar to do some pulls up.

“You never get tired of this? No wonder you look like Hulk.” I pulled myself up grabbing the metal bar I had fixed right at one wall of the room, and then shot a quiet look at Anatoly. “Oh God, please tell me you know who Hulk is, because otherwise I’ll start really worrying about you.” Better ignore those little attempts to provoke me, because aside not working, I knew they were meant to hide something else. The question was discovering what he had in mind right now.

“Anatoly, what do you want to say?”

He said nothing, but followed my pulling up and slowly going down with my forearms and then sighed and passed a hand in his hair; I noticed it was something he had similar to his twin brother, but Dmitri would scratch it or mess it up, while Anatoly simply let his fingers travel over it.

“My idiot brother’s pet talked to me.” He paused and dropped on the bed with his back, sprawling his arms wide. “He’s not that bad for being a cheesy chipmunk.” I smirked at his words, because it was his very immature and rough way to say he was beginning to like Dmitri’s partner, or at least, he was getting more relaxed around him, which did not surprise me. That young boy, Jasper Lucas, had already forgiven Anatoly for what he did and I am sure it was because of the relationship he had with Dmitri, but nonetheless his attitudes did help this brat here. “I’m not jealous of him for being with Dima, I was just afraid of losing my brother once more.” I was honestly surprised he said that so openly, so I stopped my training and reached the bed.

“And now?” I asked staring down at his silvery eyes, now carefully assessing me. He thought about something and then directly looked at me.

“His words made me think about that.” He shook his head and exhaled. “He’s still a fairy and annoying midget, because damn it, how can you blush for every freaking thing? But well..” He rolled his eyes and snorted, meaning what he was about to say was something that cost him quite the effort and annoyance. I let him elaborate it and then spit it out, because it was what he needed. Confronting and facing was a necessary thing for him. “Alright, it doesn’t mean I like him or anything or that from tomorrow I’ll go to the zoo with him feeding penguins and unicorns, but he’s not a bastard, I mean, I know I call you bastard, but I don’t mean it in that way…you know what I’m talking about, right?”

I sighed and let a hand travel my neck, massaging it as I cracked it.

“I understand ‘bastard’ is one of your favorite epithets, therefore I let it pass.”

“But I mean it differently.” He said now sitting up and boring his stubborn eyes into me.

“I understand that, Anatoly. So, your point about Dmitri’s partner?”

Of course he did not reply immediately, as he kept studying my expression in search of anything that indicated irritation on my part, but I knew how to read into words.

“Well, basically my point is that he did not drive Dima against me. I deserved it and I know it, because I had been a complete asshole with him, but he did not. Travis as well, they both helped me that day and he actually came to talk to me about Sasha.”

“As I said Anatoly, some matters need more time than others; therefore, do not force it, but try to face it and learn through that.”

“Sir yes sir.” He mocked and then rolled his eyes. “I know, I know, you think I’m an annoying punkish brat, but whatever.”

He eyed my bench press and then went back reading his book and I went back to my routine; when it was over, a shower followed it and when I walked back to my room, Anatoly had fallen asleep right in the middle of my bed. I sighed and went to wake him up, but I stopped a moment. It was true I was off-duty today, but it did not change much of the reality. Anatoly still was the forbidden but sweetest fruit. I sighed more and shook my head, sitting there and calling him.

“Anatoly, go to your room. I need to sleep.”

“The bed is big enough.” He grumbled as he lazily looked at me.

“This is my room, not a playground. And you are right in the middle.” He snorted at my words and slowly moved to the side.

“There, happy? Now, let me sleep, I’m tired.”

“Anatoly.” I said with none-too-subtle tone, which made him open his eyes and exhale.

Nothing wrong with him staying over, but the more we spent together the stronger what I felt for him grew. And it was not something I could afford to nourish further than this and have it deeper than this. I had already almost crossed the line a couple of times, when I let my personal feelings out in hearing his reasons that day. For a couple of days I had to literally keep myself chained here before going out and get my hands over those pieces of worthless garbage. When I confronted that vermin, I had already imposed to myself not to go overboard, because all I wanted to do was to end his useless life for what he dared to say and try to do to Anatoly, and let’s not talk about the rest of his sick interests.

“Oleg,” He said sitting up and giving me a strange look. “Can I stay here tonight?”

“I need to sleep Anatoly.” I simply said.

“I will not disturb, as I don’t snore or anything of the sort. It’s just that…” His eyes darted a moment away and his shoulders moved with his deep breaths. “It’s just that I need a moment of break and here..”

I sighed and said something that I would probably regret in the following days, but I did not feel like chasing him away.

“Very well, then keep quiet and let me rest.” My voice kept curt and cold on purpose, but he seemed not bothered as he quickly glanced at me, rolled his eyes in his usual bratty way and then laid down on the right side of the bed, clearly giving me most the space.

“Hope you don’t snore, old geezer.”

“If you’ll be the one snoring, Anatoly, be sure I will kick you out of my quarters. Am I understood?”

“Yiest.” He mocked and then rolled on his side, giving me his back. “Spasiba.” He mumbled almost impossible to hear.

“Nyeh za shto.”

I closed my eyes and took a long and silent breath.

I was sharing my bed right with the last person I wished to, but at the same time right with the same person I only wished to. Whatever was stirring or awakening inside of me I severely and mercilessly shoved it down and away. He was Mr. Denisov’s son. He was almost fifteen years younger than me. He was the son of the man that gave me a second chance. He was young and looking at me as a figure he trusted. He was not aware of my attachment and emotions and that was how it had to be.

I glanced quickly at my right and saw his now sleeping figure, as he had already fallen asleep. Anatoly looked serene and relaxed. I took another breath and rested my head on the pillow as my eyes gazed at the ceiling. I ignored everything I felt in that moment and refused to even take it into consideration or remotely acknowledge it.

Author's chit-chat:

Ha, now, who was expecting that to happen? I mean, all the things that happened in here and especially the last part? What are your thoughts, you liked it? Enjoyed it? I hope so.

Yes, this chapter involved a lot of dialogue and it's how I wanted it and planned it, because it was good to understand many things and know more about Oleg. We are discovering bit after bit of his character, don't you think so? Do you also feel the constant teasing between them?

And what about Jasper POV? Happy to hear again from him and his tiger? Well, I'll be looking forward to hear your thoughts on that.

I know I said a new POV would be here, but while I wrote the chapter I thought to place it on the following one, so expect it in CH. 7, which I should update in the weekend :-)

Until next time!