Chapter Text
Nikolai has been in love with Brandon for years. Ever since he realised he is not against commitment, Brandon has been the only one in his heart. But even after being in a situationship (if you call it that) then dating then being fiances and then getting married has been a journey. He always claims he falls a little deeper every single day.
1
"I'm home"
I call out from the entrance.
There is no reply.
Surprisingly there is no music in the house. Ever since we officially started dating, we've started running without our airpods. We joke around, race or sometimes find quiet corners to wish each other good morning, even though that ritual starts at home. The point is because of that Bran has been playing new music at home in the evenings. Every time I enter the house there's a new playlist in the background.
I frown.
Bran is home. The security informed me a while ago. And the only time he doesn't play the music is if we had a fight which we didn't and if he is sick.
I quicken my steps towards the bedroom which is empty. The sheets untouched.
Where did he go?
I turn around and enter the art studio and there he is.
My lotus flower.
My husband.
Sometimes I have trouble digesting the fact that someone as perfect as Bran got married to me.
It makes no sense but I'm not complaining.
His back is to the door as he he paints something with soft pastel colours. He is wearing earphones so he doesn't hear me come in.
I wrap my arms around his waist and plant a kiss to his neck. He startles for a second before relaxing.
"Why are you shocked?"
"What?"
"Who do you think, other than me is going to enter your studio and kiss you like this?"
He chuckles.
"I mean... it could be anyone"
I turn him around so he is facing me.
"There'd be no one but me. I will rip them apart besides no one can get past our security"
He rolls his eyes.
"I'm aware. We have like thousand people guarding this property"
"The more the better. Can't take any risk with your safety"
He smiles softly.
"Give me a kiss"
I demand.
He doesn't waste any time and seals his lips to mine. Kissing him has always been one of my favourite activity.
But then he frowns and pulls away.
"What's wrong, baby?"
"You... Smell different"
"Different?"
I bring my arm up and sniff it. I don't feel anything different.
He leans forward and takes a sniff.
"Did you go somewhere today?"
"No. I had meetings all day. Totally boring"
"Perhaps one of those meetings were with some female clients?"
I frown deeper.
"No"
It's not like we don't have female clients. I just didn't meet anyone of them today.
His eyes flash with a dangerous glint, I've come to love so much.
"Then why are you smelling like a woman's perfume, Nikolai?"
"Woman's perfume??"
I try to recall my whole day. Oh wait, my mom came for a visit. She was near the office so she stopped by for a while. Had lunch with me and then left. I open my mouth to tell him that but his expression is all dark. And I loove it when he gets possessive.
"Oh maybe I did meet a friend today"
"Which friend? What's her name?"
"Who cares, lotus flower"
He fists my hair in a painful grip and tugs my head back.
"I do. Because you are mine. Who the fuck was she?"
just a tiny push.
"Does it matter?"
"I need a name, Niko"
He bends down and bites down on my Adam's apple.
That's it, baby. Burn for me.
I let him do his job for a few more minutes then blurt out dramatically.
"Are you jealous of my mom?"
His wide eyes snap to mine.
"What?"
"The only female interaction I had today was with my mom. I had lunch with her. It's probably her perfume"
His eyes widen at every single word that comes out of my mouth.
"Oh my God"
He hides his face in his hands. I pry them away.
"Why are you hiding my darling husband?"
I tease. He groans.
"I had all those violent thoughts. I'm so sorry mother in law"
He talks to himself.
I turn his head to me.
"I love your jealous side."
He pouts then kisses the spot he just bit as an apology.
"You are so cute"
He nuzzles his nose in my hair.
"I'm not cute"
Why is he so goddamn adorable?
I pull him to me, he instinctively locks his legs around me.
"Now it's my turn"
I announce while kissing him.
"Your turn to what?"
"To mark you"
With that I walk us to our bedroom.
2
It's past midnight.
I checked our bedroom to see my husband snuggled into the blanket and sleeping soundly. I grab a chage of clothes and enter the guest bedroom. I shower and change into comfortable clothes.
Bran was out with some of his friends tonight. And since the home feels too empty without him I decided to stay at office and finish some work. I lost track of time, it's only when Bran's bodyguard messaged me they were home, did I get out of the office. My baby did message me, he'll wait but he probably got tired.
I settle in the guest bedroom. I just need to send some emails and then I'll go to sleep. I could do this from our bedroom as well, but Bran is a light sleeper, he might wake up because of the screen light.
After about 15 minutes later, I'm almost finished, just five more minutes. That's when my lotus flower walks in with an adorable pout on his face. He is wearing a blue pajama set that we brought from our honeymoon. It matches the colous of his eyes.
I love the fact that only I get to see him like this.
"What's wrong, baby?"
"Are you mad at me?"
I frown
"No. Why?"
"You aren't in bed. You didn't hug me today and I did not get my good night kiss"
He pouts further and my heart practically bursts. I shut my laptop off. Work can wait.
"Come here"
I extend my hand for him to take it, he does and settles himself on my lap burying his face in my neck.
"Did you miss me today?"
It's a silly question but I love hearing he wants me.
"A lot"
He mumbles.
I kiss his shoulder.
"I was finishing up some work. I was going to join you in a few minutes"
He snuggles in like a cat. I pull him closer.
"Is this better?"
He turns a little and completely settles on me and wraps his legs around my waist and hands around my neck.
"This is better"
"How was your evening?"
"Good, still missed you"
Every single day he reminds me that I'm the most important person in his life.
"I missed you too. Let's go back to bed, okay?"
"You can finish your work, I'll stay like this"
His voice is getting sleepier.
"It's ok. I can finish it tomorrow"
He slowly untangles himself from me.
"Give me my good night kiss first"
I boop his nose at how cute he looks.
This is the same person that can get me worked up in few simple touches.
I capture his lips in a slow, sensual kiss. He instantly reciprocates, opening his mouth for me. It's not the hard and fast kinda kiss, it's slow and familiar. As if someone coming home after a hectic day.
With our arms around each other, I'm finally home.
3
"I'm dying"
I wail.
"You have a cold. You are not dying"
"I am. We just don't know it yet"
Lotus flower just rolls his eyes at me.
"I'm going to write my will"
He sighs, tired of arguing with me for a while.
I woke up to an empty bed today.
I hate waking up alone as much as I hate someone who tries to take my lotus flower's attention away from me.
But when I tried to get up, I felt a little fuzzy.
What is this?
Then I realised my throat was all scratchy and I felt warmer than usual.
That's when my husband walked in with a tray full of various things.
"Lie back down. I'll check your temperature"
"You left me alone."
I pout
"You have a fever. I just got some things that we'll need"
"I'm sick and you left me"
He just places the tray on the bedside table already used to my complaints.
He checks my temperature and helps me get out of bed so I can brush my teeth and change my clothes. Then feeds me some breakfast and gives me two pills.
"Go back to sleep"
I clutch his hand tighter to my chest and fall asleep again.
When I wake up again it's already afternoon that's when the argument starts.
I complaint about every single thing but he does not get annoyed not even once.
"Would you miss me if I die?"
"You are not dying"
He tells me for the millionth time today.
"But what if I am? Will you miss me?"
"No, I wouldn't"
I stare at him wide eyed.
"If something happens to you, I'm gonna die with you. I don't want to survive in a world that you are not a part of"
He tells me sincerely and my sick body reacts with stupid tears.
He gently wipes them away.
"I won't leave you alone, Niko. No matter what the situation is"
I want to cry at his words but he just shushes me and feeds me lunch.
When I wake up again it's already evening and I feel really good. I turn my head around and see him lying beside me with a hand in my hair. He smiles softly and something gets clogged in my throat.
"I'm so glad you are better"
Is it possible to fall deeper every second of every day?
4
Somehow I ended up in a small restaurant Bran has a meeting in. I only knew he was going out with some of his juniors, I had no idea where they were going. Coincidentally I walked into the same restaurant. Me and Jer got caught up with something and skipped lunch, we are starving now. Jer is having a late lunch with Cecily, so I came here.
That's when I saw him, sitting just a table ahead of me. His back was against my own so no one from the table saw me.
"Mr. King? I have a question"
Someone asks.
"Yes?"
"Um... Are you really married to someone from the mafia?"
It's not a secret. Our marriage was a lavish affair.
"Yes, I am"
He replies truthfully.
"And are you happy?"
The urge to turn around and see who asked that ridiculous question is extremely strong. But my lotus flower always has a way of soothing my worries even unintentionally.
"Yes. Don't worry about my marriage and focus on the meeting"
"But Mr. King, I've heard some rumours about your husband, people say he is like a monster. And you look tired today, so I hope everything is ok"
Now, now this is getting personal.
I know what kind of rumours but I don't really care, people can think whatever they want about me.
About his tiredness, we barely slept last night. In my defense, the lady from the grocery store, Bran usually visits was flirting with him yesterday and he was being too polite. The worst part she knows he is married. I pulled him away from her and one thing led to another and it was already early morning when we slept.
"Do you need help Mr King?"
I heard the chair scrapping against the floor and I know my lotus flower is getting up.
"Let me make something very clear here. I started dating my now husband when we were still in college. So no I don't need any help. My marriage life is great. Second, I don't care what kind of rumours you heard about him but it is extremely inappropriate to mention it in front of me. And most importantly this was a work meeting, if you can't be professional, I don't see any reason why we should continue this and for the record he is NOT a monster. This meeting is dismissed"
I hear Chorus of "Mr King" and "Sorry" but I know he is already leaving. I grasp his hand in mine when he passes by. He startles then relaxes when he sees it's me.
"Niko, what are you doing here?"
"I didn't have time to eat lunch, just grabbing a bite"
His eyes softens.
"Are you alone?"
"Yes, join me"
He nods and sits down beside me.
The guys he was sitting with aprroach our table. I sent a glare their way and they all pale.
"Mr King"
"Not now. I'm having lunch with my husband"
I absolutely love it when he addresses me as husband in public settings.
They all leave, reluctantly.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that"
He brushes his lips against my knuckles as an apology.
"All I heard was you defending me"
He smiles, tired.
"Let's call it a day after we eat."
He nods.
"I love you."
He blurts out.
I pull him closer and drop my forehead against his.
"I love you too"
5
I rush inside the house completely drenched from the rain. It's been raining for hours now. I've started using a car but I just had to take my bike today. I was missing my precious harley. To be honest, I wasn't even going to come home because my lotus flower isn't here tonight. The house feels empty without him and call me dramatic but my chest aches if I don't see him as soon as I come back.
Bran was having a family night with his siblings and cousins. I obviously threw a fit about it when he told me but he eventually convinced me. A lots of kissing and sex was involved but I agreed reluctantly.
I had to come home because of this stupid rain and now I don't know what to do.
I feel a something drop on my head and I turn around fast to look at the intruder.
To my utter surprise it's Bran. He is looking at me with the softest of expression.
Have I started hallucinating again?
I've always been a delusional when it comes to him.
But he starts drying my hair and I get up so fast from my place.
"How are you here?"
I ask cupping his cheek.
He looks down at his feet.
"I...I couldn't sleep. I needed to see you"
One moment we are standing in front of each other, the next I'm pulling him flush against me so I can devour him.
I bite down on his bottom lip and he moans, grabbing fistfuls of my shirt and pulling me closer. I tug his Tshirt off and he helps me get rid off my clothes.
"Umm... baby? We are making a mess"
"I don't care"
He replies kissing me harder.
We end up in tangle of limbs on the bed.
"We were talking about what happened back in Landon"
Back in London?
His suicide attempt.
My mood instantly sours. Who talks about something like this in family gatherings?
Idiots
"Glyn said you didn't leave even when they aksed you to bandage your hand"
I kiss his forehead.
"Let's not talk about that, lotus flower"
The whole ordeal was and still is a sensitive subject. There is no amount of therapy that can cure what I felt that day. It's been years but that memory is still so vivid. The only thing that tethers me to reality is him. He is alive, safe and mine. And it's going to remain that way.
Bran holds my face in his hands.
"You are never getting out of my sight again."
"Good. Because you're not getting rid of me"
I kiss him again.
"I can't sleep without you anymore. God, everyone is going to make fun of me now"
I bite his earlobe.
"They won't, baby"
He whimpers
"I love you"
"I love you too"