by Kay Loren
"Ah Nicky!" Michael exclaimed as he stood up and walked away. "Glad you could make it."
Audrina turned to see who Michael was talking to but she couldn't see the guy's face, only his big frame. She turned her attention back to her drink until Michael called her over to where he was. She sighed and got up from her seat despite her nagging, throbbing feet.
"Audrina," Michael started as soon as she was at his side. He put an arm around her waist. "I'd like you to meet my business partner… Nikolai Stratauv."
Audrina's eyes widened when she recognized the intense blue eyes of Nikolai. His hooded eyes widened slightly for a moment but remained cool revealing nothing. It had been a year since the night they had hooked up. Audrina could not believe what a small world it was.
"Audrina," Michael chuckled, squeezing her side so she could pay attention. "This is Nikolai."
Audrina smiled tightly, "It's a pleasure to meet you Nikolai."
Nikolai took her extended hand into his and gave it a firm squeeze, "Pleasure's all mine."
She knew that he remembered her very well and couldn't help but look away from his intense gaze. Oh god, they way he looked at her was so intimidating… She clung onto Michael's hard arm and avoided Nikolai.
"And this is his friend Sergei," Michael introduced the tall, lean guy next to him with the piercing gray eyes.
Audrina shook his hand even though she knew who he was as well. He was the guy who drove them around that night. Of course he knew what happened… If Sergei remembered her, he gave no indication that he did.
"Please join us," Michael gestured over to the table where they were sitting at moments ago.
Before Nikolai could answer, Audrina interrupted.
"Please excuse me," she muttered. She had to regain her composure. "I have to use the ladies room."
Michael nodded. "Okay… Hurry back." He pecked her quickly on the lips.
Audrina turned away quickly and made her way over to the bathroom, pulling Nikki along with her on the way, who was sitting at another table with three guys. As soon as they entered the bathroom, Audrina checked under the stalls for any people. Once the coast was clear she locked the door and leaned against it, shakily.
"What's going on?" Nikki asked, noticing her friend looking a like a nervous a wreck. "Are you pregnant?"
Audrina gave her an 'are you kidding me' kind of look. Nikki always thought that someone was pregnant when they looked or acted nervous.
"No," Audrina shook her head. "That guy is here!"
Nikki was confused. "What guy?"
Audrina walked over to the long, black counter and leaned against it, taking in a deep breath. "Remember when I told about that guy I hooked up with about a year ago?"
"Yeah," Nikki nodded, recalling the memory of the morning Audrina had raced to her apartment and told her about her one night stand. Nikki had initially laughed and didn’t believe Audrina since that was not in her character. "The Russian dude."
"Well he's here!"
"No way!" Nikki's eyes widened. "Where's he at?"
"Oh funny you should ask," Audrina said putting a hand to her forehead. "He's sitting at our table with Michael… apparently they're business partners."
Nikki couldn't help but chuckle, "Who cares Audri? That happened one year ago! He was just a one time thing… Michael is your fiancé!"
Audrina just shook her head. Nikki did have a point… She was going to be Michael's wife… Nikolai was just part of one hot night. He had to have moved on and found somebody else like she did. He had to, she thought.
"Oh crap!" Nikki said as she looked over to Audrina. "Do you think he's telling Michael about you two right now as we speak?"
Audrina's eyes widened again and her heart sank. She hadn’t thought that far. She pulled Nikki along with her as she rushed over to the door and unlocked it.
"Where are we going?" Nikki asked as Audrina dragged her out of the bathroom.
"To my table," Audrina whined. "Please help me."
Of course Nikki was going to help out her best friend of nearly 13 years. They've known each other since they were twelve years old and had always stuck up for one other. No way was she going to let this whole situation ruin her friend.
As soon as they reached the table, Audrina took her place next to Michael and had Nikki sit in the empty chair next to Nikolai. She could feel many eyes burn through her as she kept her gaze down.
"Ah, Audrina," Michael smiled as Audrina sat. "We were just talking about you."
Audrina turned to him, smiling tightly. "Oh really? What about?"
"Just about how you two 'love birds' met," Tony said referring to her and Michael.
Audrina sighed in relief and gave a quick look over to Nikki who also gave the same sigh. She couldn’t help but feel her nerves settle in and wreak havoc on her stomach. She grabbed the fresh glass of champagne before her and took a long sip.
"Oh before I forget," Michael said after he took a gulp of his scotch. "Nikolai, this is Audrina's best friend Nikki."
Nikolai turned to Nikki and shook her hand politely, "Nice to meet you."
Nikki smiled and then introduced herself to Sergei who had his eyes glued to her the entire time. Nikki knew how to flirt with men just by one look and Sergei seemed hooked. Audrina caught Nikolai’s gaze for a moment before she quickly looked away.
"Oh god there's that broad again," Tony sighed annoyed as he put a hand over his eyes, hiding.
"What broad?" Michael asked looking around the room.
"The blonde talking to Jimmy the ‘Gem’ at the bar," Tony replied quietly for only Michael to hear. "I slept with her a month back and now she calls me nonstop," he said in a hushed voice.
Audrina was not only mortified that she overheard this, she was horrified to learn Tony had cheated on his wife. Marie was a sweet woman who doted on Tony and calmed his temper. The woman at the bar seemed like a floozy compared to Marie. She glanced at Michael who only shrugged her way with a smirk.
"One night stand huh?" Sergei laughed as he gave a really quick glance over to Audrina.
Audrina narrowed her eyes at him. Nikolai muttered in Russian and Sergei quickly wiped the smirk off his face.
"Yup," Tony nodded, taking a swig of his whiskey. "Ever had one? My advice… don't."
Maybe it was the liquor talking for him, she thought. She had never heard any of Michael’s friends speak in this way before, especially while she was present.
"Had a few in my younger days," Michael admitted. He was only thirty and he called his '20's', the younger days.
This was no surprise to Audrina - who had pressed her lips together. Michael had always been a ladies man and swore time and time again that she was the one who had made an honest man of him. She could only roll her eyes each time he declared this.
"What about you Nikolai?" Tony asked Nikolai, who was quiet the whole time. "Ever had a one night stand?"
Audrina looked over to Nikki and then over to Nikolai, who just smirked. She hoped he wasn't going to say a word about them two. Nikolai set down his drink with a sigh.
"No," he shook his head after a while.
The nervous feeling arising in Audrina's stomach left. Whew, she thought. But it seemed too good to be true.
"Really?" Michael questioned.
"Wait," Nikolai smiled. "Now that I remember… yes I have… About a year ago."
The nervous feeling returned back to Audrina. Nikki kicked her under the table to get her to calm down. Was he going to mention that night in front of everyone here? If he did, she thought, I will deny it.
"How was it?" Tony smirked. He was always interested in stories like this.
Nikolai took a long drink of his whiskey before he replied, "Best night of my life."
Audrina looked over to him and lightly blushed. He didn’t look her way once, but she knew he was enjoying messing with her. She bit her lip in anticipation for what he was going to say next.
"Give us details," Michael said.
<
br /> "No," Nikolai shook his head. "A gentleman never tells."
Michael killed the rest of his drink and pecked Audrina on the cheek, "Well this gentleman has some business to attend to… I'll be right back."
Michael stood up with Tony and walked away from the table. Audrina thought she was left with Nikki, Sergei and Nikolai but she was wrong. It was just her and Nikolai… alone… She looked for Nikki and spotted her walking away with Sergei to the dance floor. So much for her help, Audrina thought.
"It's nice to see you again," Nikolai spoke in that same deep tone she remembered so vividly. He was now sitting in the empty chair next to her. "What's it been… a year?"
“Yeah- a year,” Audrina said trying to avoid his gaze that was burning into her. “Your English has gotten better."
Thanks to a private tutor, Nikolai was now fluent in English and could speak it perfectly without it sounding broken.
He chuckled, "Yes. Lot's things change in a year I suppose." He pointed to the sparkling diamond ring on her left hand.
Audrina stayed quiet not knowing what to say. She could feel his eyes burn into her as she looked down at the ring on her finger. It seemed heavier now that he pointed it out. Quickly she put a hand over her ring.
"I tried looking for you after that night," Nikolai stated after a long pause. "You are hard to find."
Audrina chuckled, "I was traveling Europe for a little while then came back… I missed Deep Falls too much to stay away for long."
Nikolai rubbed his chin. Perhaps Sergei was losing his touch.
“So when is the happiest day of your life?” he asked.
Audrina sighed. They had just gotten engaged. Of course no date was set.
“We just got engaged.”
There was another long awkward pause between them…
Nikolai rubbed the side of his jaw with one hand, “ You don't love him."
He was referring to Michael. Of course Audrina loved him. Why else would she be marrying him? Nikolai didn’t know her or anything about her and Michael’s relationship. Who is he to make assumptions, she thought.
"Look Nikolai," Audrina shook her head and whispered. "You don't know me and I don't know you. We only had that one night together… That's all it was and that's all it is ever going to be."
Nikolai chuckled and raised an eyebrow, "You think so?"
Before Audrina could reply, Michael walked back over.
"Sorry Nic," he apologized to Nikolai as he shook his hand. "But we have to go. You know how it is."
Nikolai stood up, "No need to apologize. I understand."
"Thanks buddy," Michael smiled as he took Audrina's hand in his. "See you."
"It was nice meeting you again Audrina," Nikolai smiled. "Hope to see you soon."
"Likewise," Audrina said through gritted teeth.
She didn't forget about what he had said before Michael came. The whole car ride home, she thought about what he meant by ‘You think so’. Who does he think he is, she thought. It was only one night the two had shared and as much as she tried not to think about it, memories from that night came rushing back into her mind as if it had recently happened. Her on top, then him, claiming her body like no one had ever. She crossed her legs when she remembered his face between her legs and then fighting over who dominated who. She shook her head clear and initiated a small conversation with Michael to take her mind off of Nikolai.
“So… Everyone was asking when we were getting married,” she said running her nails softly over her his hand that was gripping the stick shift.
Michael glanced at her with a knowing smile, “Did they? What did you say?”
“I told them we were still discussing it.”
Michael kept his gaze on the road, “I was thinking sometime in the beginning of the next year… ”
Audrina bit her lip. “So in about six months?”
“Yeah.” Michael shrugged. “Unless you want to get married sooner… Shit, we can fly to Las Vegas tonight.”
Audrina giggled and shook her head. She wanted to marry soon but a Vegas wedding was not for her. She always dreamed of a big wedding even though she had no family. She’d be marrying into Michael’s huge family who were very welcoming and loving towards her.
“I don’t think nonna would like that,” Audrina smiled referring to Michael’s beloved grandmother who had raised him since he was fifteen after the deaths of his parents and two brothers.
“No she would not,” he grinned. “She’d beat me with a wooden spoon…”
As soon as Audrina and Michael entered their lavish bedroom, Michael threw off his jacket and pulled Audrina roughly to him, pressing his lips hard against hers. He pulled off his tie and rolled up Audrina's dress to expose her white, lacy thong. Audrina got to work unbuttoning his white shirt and let Michael pull off her dress completely.
"Told you I couldn't wait until we got home, " Michael growled as he picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist.
He threw her on the big, black satin bed and unbuckled his pants revealing the fact that he wasn't wearing any underwear. He got ahold of Audrina's thin thong and ripped it off of her, discarding it to the side. He straddled her hips, pinning her hands above her head, and began to suck on her one of her nipples. Audrina's eyes rolled to the back of her head when she felt Michael's hard member enter her after a while. Moans began to escape from her lips.
The pleasure began to build in her little by little as he thrusted. Audrina finally opened her eyes, seeing Nikolai on top of her smirking. Audrina touched his face hoping she was just imagining things, but he just kissed the palm of her hand. It was him! He began to thrust faster and his breathing came out in heavy grunts and pants. Audrina moaned in pleasure as she felt herself on the verge of coming.
Suddenly he flipped her over onto her knees and with strong hands held her hips in place. This is new, she thought to herself but then he slammed into her before she could give it more thought. She gasped when his hand connected to her left cheek with a harsh sting. He slapped the other side of her butt and continued thrust harder and faster into her. His hand went into her hair and pulled her head up so she got a view of the white ceiling. Audrina arched her back -moaning loudly, as she reached climax- and after a while, felt him shudder on top of her back as he came with a whisper of her name that didn’t quite sound like her own. He rolled off of her and pulled her along with him. She wrapped one arm loosely around his waist and rested her head against his rapidly beating chest.
"Damn baby," Michael sighed, stroking her long hair. "That was good."
Audrina looked up and saw that it was Michael and not Nikolai that was next to her.
"Yeah it was," she whispered. Her backside was still stinging from when he spanked her.
Michael was soon off to snoring but Audrina could not get the image of Nikolai out of her mind. His blue eyes and knowing smirk haunted her every waking thought before she sleep finally found her.
Chapter Five
Audrina was in the big, modern living room reading a fashion magazine on the plush, black couch. She was trying to relax and take her mind off of the other night, but somehow she couldn't. The more she tried to forget about Nikolai, the more she thought about him. Nothing could take her mind off of him.
The way he looked at her and how he said, ‘You don’t love him,” as if he knew her, kept on nagging her. She loved Michael. Michael was her knight in shining armor. He was the one who swept her off her feet and would finally give her the family she yearned for.
"Audrina!" Michael called out from his upstairs office. "Come here!"
Audrina rolled her eyes as she tossed the magazine onto the couch. She got up and could feel the cold marble floor go through her thin socks immediately. She made her way up one side of the huge U shaped staircase -with royal purple carpet- and up to Michael's office. She stopped when she stood in front of the partially opened, big, white doors.
"Yes Michael?" she asked as soon as she entered his large office.
Everything was wood, white and closed up. There were no windows or anything. It made Audrina hate his office. It was so impersonal except for the large oak desk that had a few family photos adorning it.
Michael smiled as soon as he saw her, "Come here mi amore."
Audrina pulled down her jean shorts a little, then walked over to him and sat on top of the hard desk facing him. She stayed quiet and looked him in the eye until he spoke.
"I just found out something so interesting today," he smiled as he rubbed her toned legs.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Remember the guy I introduced you to the other night?” he asked. "My partner Nikolai?"
Audrina swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. She didn't want Michael to see her get nervous so she tried her best to keep her cool as much as possible. He was too calm and happy in a way, so she knew he most likely didn’t know about the two of them.
"Yeah," Audrina nodded. "What about him?"
"Well I heard he left with Nikki that night," Michael laughed as he slapped Audrina's leg lightly.
In an instant, her heart sank. Why would her best friend leave with Nikolai? Nikki knew who he was and what had happened between them. She would never betray Audrina like that. Oh my god, Audrina thought. Why do I even care? Nikki is beautiful and single. Of course Nikolai would go home with her.
"Well that's… good… I guess," Audrina said scratching the top of her head.
"It is," Michael agreed. "That guy needed to get laid. Maybe he won't be such a fuckin’ shrewd now."
Audrina giggled, pretending to find what he said funny. Nikolai, a shrewd? No, not him, Audrina thought.
"Anyways," Michael started, running his hand through his wet hair, then getting up from his seat and walking over to the mini bar he kept in his office. "I'm gonna be gone for a few days."
Audrina looked over to him, “What? Why?”
