Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

"The game itself is bigger than the winning."

― Dejan Stojanovic

Caia

I let out an exasperated groan as I futilely tiptoed, trying to reach the large ivory bowl on the top shelf. After a moment of struggling, I gave up and grabbed a chair to finally retrieve it.

My craving for something sweet was intensifying by the second—I needed a fix, and I needed it now. So, I decided to roll up my sleeves and bake a batch of cookies.

After that incredibly strange breakfast, which left me breathless and still shaking, I figured a bit more sleep was in order before exploring Lucifer's home.

I made my way to his bedroom, adorned with black sheets, which gave off a mysterious and sexy vibe. Surprisingly, his bed was neatly made, and the room was spotless—impressive for a guy. The large windows were partially veiled by sheer curtains, offering glimpses of the stunning Moscow skyline.

As I closed the door behind me, I ventured down the hallway and was taken aback when I opened the door at the end to find a home cinema. The room boasted plush red couches against black walls and a huge screen. Jesus, Alexsei was really loaded.

Shutting the door behind me, I moved on to the last door next to his bedroom, curious about what lay beyond.

Inside, I found what looked like his office—a clean, minimalist space with white and dark grey walls. A sleek black desk stretched across the room, adorned with a chessboard that looked way too complicated for my taste.

On one wall, a set of library shelves displayed an eclectic array of decorations—Latin vases from Colombia, Russian ivory dolls, and even a miniature Eiffel Tower. A sculpture of Dante and Beatrice embraced in a hug, along with a small painting of Tsar Nicholas, stood out among them. And then, there was a skull decked out with glittering diamonds.

I couldn't help but wonder if that skull was real…

I hope it isn't.

Driven by curiosity, I couldn't resist the urge to explore further. I opened some drawers in his desk, hoping to uncover intriguing secrets. However, all I found were mundane papers on the stock market, the Big Bang theory, and an essay on the correlation between cancer and ultra-processed food consumption.

No wonder he was always cooking—man was obsessed with health. Yet, there he was, smoking away. Go figure. I suppose we all have our vices.

Buried under this mound of useless documents, I stumbled upon a small black jewelry box. With eager hands, I scooped it up and sank into the plush gray desk chair, feeling like I was sitting on a cloud as I opened the box. Inside, I was surprised to find two small pictures.

One was of a woman with blond hair and piercing blue eyes, likely in her twenties.

She wore an expression devoid of joy, yet there was a haunting beauty about her. She bore a striking resemblance to Alexsei, or maybe it was the other way around. The colors were a bit faded, and the edges worn. This must be an old photo.

Turning it over, I found a name written on the back: Katya Lenova.

I guessed that must be his mama.

A pang of guilt washed over me as I recalled the harsh words I had spoken about her.

Caia, you really are so stupid!

The other picture was of a small boy, probably around three years old, with a wide grin that revealed two missing front teeth. In one hand, he held a lollipop, and his joy was infectious. Looking at him, I couldn't help but smile too. With light brown hair and bright blue eyes, it was clear this was a young Alexsei. He looked so innocent and endearing—quite a contrast to the man I knew. Turning the picture over, I noticed two simple words written in feminine handwriting: "My Alexsei."

As I felt like I'd stumbled into something deeply personal, I realized his office was his private sanctuary. Even though I was legally his wife and had a share in this house, it didn't give me the right to invade his privacy like that.

With a twinge of guilt, I quickly returned the pictures to the box and tidied up the papers, closing the drawers with a gentle click. Leaving the room promptly, I headed straight for the kitchen, eager to distract myself by baking some cookies.

Grooving to the infectious beat of "Suavemente," I let the rhythm guide my movements as I swayed my hips, allowing the music to wash away my negative thoughts. With each step, I tossed my salad and drizzled on the dressing, the salsa music fueling my energy.

Checking on my cookies, I pulled them out of the oven—perfectly done. I figured I might as well multitask and prepare dinner too. Compared to Romaniev, I was a disaster in the kitchen, but I could manage a Caesar salad and salmon—especially with a pre-made salad and dressing I fished out of the fridge. Gourmet, I know.

Unable to resist, I grabbed a warm cookie and took a glorious bite, practically melting as the gooey goodness hit my taste buds. This was the real MVP in life. Who needs romance when you've got cookies?

Closing my eyes, I let out a dramatic, satisfied sigh, practically ready to marry the dessert. But then, a voice came out of nowhere, crashing my cookie bliss.

"Look at you, already playing the perfect little wife."

Startled, I let out a yelp that could've woken the dead, the rest of my cookie slipping from my fingers.

"I dropped my cookie because of you!" I snapped, pointing accusingly at the fallen masterpiece like it was a crime scene.

Alexsei chuckled as he shrugged off his coat, letting it fall onto the couch. "You must be deaf. I called out your name the moment I walked in."

He then walked over to the sound system and abruptly turned off the music, filling the room with an awkward silence that made me feel uneasy.

He was right. What was I even doing? Why was I cooking dinner for a man who had forced me into marriage and taken away what little freedom I had?

I stayed quiet, arms crossed, watching him as he strolled over, dark gray pants and a matching shirt, topped off with a black Hermes belt. I wasn't about to back down, so I stood my ground.

He ditched his phone on the table and moved closer, each step calculated. I could feel the tension build as he got right up in my space, wrapping his arms around me, pressing his face into the crook of my neck like it was the most natural thing in the world.

My heart raced, nerves kicking in, and I stood there stiff as a board, unsure of what to do.

"Fuck," he hummed softly, drawing me nearer. "You feel so good."

"Romaniev—"

"Just a second more."

I fell silent, my arms remaining stiffly at my sides. I couldn't deny that this felt... pleasant. More than pleasant, actually. I yearned to wrap my arms around him too, but I held myself back.

A moment later, he planted a delicate kiss on the curve of my neck, sending butterflies fluttering through my stomach, before pulling away and standing upright, his hands now resting lightly on my hips.

"Hey."

"Hi," I breathed out.

His fingers delicately tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle against my skin.

"It smells incredible."

I swallowed nervously. "I baked cookies."

"I can tell."

"Do you…want one? "

As he nodded, I went to grab a cookie, but he stopped me, making me raise an eyebrow in confusion. Before I could say anything, he picked up a cookie himself, holding it up to my lips, signaling for me to take a bite.

A bit unsure, I leaned in, holding onto his wrist as I took a small bite. The cookie was sweet, but the warmth I felt was even sweeter. Everything Alexsei did had

this weird way of feeling almost too seductive, toeing the line between casual and... something else. Getting fed a cookie by him felt oddly intimate, like it shouldn't be.

"Good?"

I glanced away, not ready to meet his eyes, and gave a small nod, letting go of his wrist as I wiped my mouth. Before I could finish, he brushed the crumbs from my lips with his thumb, then casually brought it to his mouth, cleaning it off.

He took the last bite of the cookie, eyes closing for a moment as he let out a quiet, satisfied sigh. "So damn good," he murmured.

His tone was so damn suggestive, I knew he wasn't talking about the cookies. His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my stomach tighten. I swallowed hard, his lips pulling into that smug little smirk that always managed to mess with my head.

"Let me take a quick shower, and then we'll have dinner," he said, planting a soft kiss on my cheek before disappearing into his bedroom.

What the… What was all that about?

"Is the skull in your office real?"

He nodded, taking a big bite of salmon. "As real as it gets."

True to his word, his shower was quick. He came back, shirtless, in a loose-fitting black Under Armour jogging suit. With damp hair and a hint of color on his cheeks, he looked so effortlessly hot .

I had to clench my jaw to keep from gasping when he walked in.

I gulped. "Who's it from?"

"No one you know," he replied casually.

That didn't make the fact that he had a REAL skull in his office any less creepy.

"Did you… kill him?"

He shook his head, still smiling. " Nyet. "

"I don't believe you."

"Volk gave it to me for my twenty-first birthday."

I raised an eyebrow. "And you just keep it in your office? That's… normal?"

He shrugged, his nonchalance making it all the more absurd. "I like sparkly things."

I scoffed. "Sparkly things. You really are a man of taste."

He grinned, his eyes twinkling. "I married you, didn't I?"

Warmth spread through my chest. Everything felt oddly domestic, almost normal, and dangerously comfortable. It was strange to start enjoying myself here, and a little unsettling too.

After everything that's happened, I guess I just needed a break, a moment to let my guard down.

Yes, I just wanted to let my guard down and... exist.

So, I decided to play along.

"Touché, husband ."

He was silent for a moment, taking another spoonful of salad. "Good salad, wife ."

"Don't be an asshole now."

We finished our meal in silence, the only sounds being the clinking of cutlery and soft piano music filling the room. It felt almost peaceful.

"I've got another surprise for you," Alexsei announced.

I leaned back, tapping my chin with a finger. "Let me guess. A puppy?"

" Nyet. But if you want one, I can get you one. Anything you want, really."

I wiped my mouth with a napkin and carried my empty plate to the sink. "Don't. I love dogs, but I'm not that responsible yet."

He followed, helping me load the dishes into the dishwasher. "Too bad. I still see you with a Doberman, you know."

"Maybe one day."

I finished washing my hands and turned to find him taking my hand and guiding me to the couch. He gently seated me and said softly, "Close your eyes."

I arched an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Just do it, Caia."

I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds around me. I heard his footsteps as he moved around the room and tapped my feet lightly on the carpet, waiting for whatever surprise he had in store.

Hopefully divorce papers.

As his footsteps approached, my anticipation grew, my mind running wild with possibilities.

"Open your eyes."

I hesitated. "You better not be standing there naked, Romaniev, or I swear I'll grab a knife and?—"

His laughter cut me off. "I assure you, I'm not naked. Now, open your eyes, Caia."

I peeked through one eye, half-expecting a prank. With a final dramatic breath, I opened them wide.

No way!

He was holding a stunning Asahi Pentax Tower 26 camera, with intricate engravings and a f/2.4 58mm Takumar lens. It was a collector's dream, and incredibly expensive and rare. Yet, here it was, in his hands, as a gift.

"Why? How? Oh my God?—"

He interrupted my jumble of thoughts with a mischievous grin. "You mentioned how much you love black and white photography, so I thought I'd get you a ‘70s camera that specializes in that."

I reached out, trembling with excitement. This wasn't just any gift.

"I can't accept this. It's too much."

As he settled beside me as he handed over the camera. "It's all yours now."

"Thank you," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.

Between this and the photography studio, he had made two of my wildest dreams come true in just two days. I met his eyes, and in that moment, maybe driven by gratitude or just overwhelmed emotions, I found myself inching closer and pressing my lips to his.

This game had evolved beyond deception, betrayal, and bruised egos.

It was uncomfortably real now. And just as he warned, playing with fire means you're bound to get burned.