Chapter 277: Stay With Me; A Landmine Proposal

[KATYA]

"I trust you," Alek said confidently, like that was the only truth he was choosing to live and die by. Like the world itself was filled with so much noise, and the only thing that mattered was the two of them.

It was a tender truth, one that Alek had leaned into.

But was that it?

"Enough to tell me why you really went to the bratva?" Katya asked as he looked at Alek almost like he was daring the alpha to say something.

To say why he had really gone to the one group that was not making any sense to anyone in the city at the moment.

"Because we both know it wasn’t out of jealousy," Katya added, his assumption of the day striking right at Alek’s face and waiting for the alpha to deny it.

To say that it was not true.

To say that that was just what the narratives were spinning for him.

"Where did you even get that from? Don’t tell me you’re believing Sergei again," Alek said flatly, like he couldn’t believe his boyfriend was doing this to him. Like the truth was far different.

Yet Katya didn’t flinch.

Didn’t even seem disturbed.

He stayed calm, like he had been expecting this reaction. Like all these were data points he was just collecting.

Because he knew something had to give.

Something that right now was staring at him in the kind of way he was not even sure he wanted to proceed with yet.

"Come on, Alek, let’s not play this game with each other," Katya sighed as if to remind Alek that he was not just some streetside omega and that he was running a multibillion-dollar empire that wasn’t even falling to the ground.

One that was still so successful under his leadership.

"What do you want me to say, huh? That the footages were real? You know they are real. I told you I got involved with the bratva because I was afraid Sergei would take you from me. I was honest with you the moment I returned.

"If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re suspecting me of something different, like the rest of society, little rose," Alek argued, and Katya let out a chuckle at that.

It was interesting how his boyfriend still determinedly clung to the same narrative that wasn’t even bothering any of them.

Katya wasn’t against Alek doing whatever the fuck he had to do to survive the bratva. In fact, Katya understood him because the bratva weren’t exactly the kindest people in the realm. It made sense for him to always be on errands.

But what bothered Katya was the core reason for the initial betrayal.

Alek had insisted it was because of jealousy, but Katya thought it was something else. Something that he was still too horrified to spell out. That’s why he wanted to hear it from Alek himself.

But then again, expecting the truth from a cornered alpha was not the best of ideas because there was no telling what Alek would and would not do when he felt unsafe.

Did Katya even have to worry about that, too?

"If you say so. I won’t ask again. I just wanted to be sure because there are so many narratives out there about why you chose the bratva, and I don’t want to believe them.

"I can’t lose you again," Katya lied as he set his cup on the table and pulled closer to Alek. He knew the man was lying to him for some reason. But he had to wait and see where this would all take them.

Funny how Katya had believed that Alek was a safer relationship that didn’t come with emotional turmoil.

When in truth they both couldn’t remember the last time they had sat down and talked about them, and not the accusations that were spreading throughout the city. It wasn’t fair, but life had never been fair most of the time, no?

"Can we just... stay... in the here and now?" Alek asked defeatedly.

Katya nodded.

He had many more questions, bigger suspicions, but for now, maybe it was the moment that they needed to stay in to keep everything else on the side. After all, life was worth something for them.

It had to be.

"Of course... I want that for us too. I don’t want to fight with you. You’re the only person I trust," Katya said, ignoring his subconscious that was just laughing at how good he was getting at managing Alek’s feelings.

"Moskowsky sent my office an invite to the research expo your department is holding for investors," Alek said quietly, like he was testing the situation.

He had to get in there smoothly, and while Kenzo had secured the invite himself, Alek didn’t need to tell Katya that it was Kenzo who’d done it.

"I figured as much when I saw your name beside mine," Katya said, and Alek stared in confusion this time.

"What?"

"Well, you’re the senator of Frolo City, and I’m the chairman of the company. It only makes sense that we’d want you to see what good we do in there before the public starts thinking otherwise," Katya stated calmly.

Alek still didn’t understand.

Instead, he looked at Katya like Katya was speaking a whole different language, and he was just trying to survive understanding whatever the fuck Katya was saying.

"They didn’t invite you because we’re boyfriends if that’s what you’re thinking," Katya said, like that was the simplest explanation he could come up with.

But even so, it didn’t make it any better because for the first time, Katya wasn’t sure he fully trusted Aleksandr.

"I know my boyfriend’s a capable chairman, never doubted him," Alek said with pride, and Katya couldn’t help the smile that brightened his face.

’Sergei never doubted you, either,’ his subconscious reminded, and Katya smiled at Alek because he couldn’t deal with his annoying subconscious right now.

"I really want us to have a future, Alek," Katya said softly, as he rested his head on the senator’s shoulder. His voice was soft, his intentions evident. Even if he didn’t fully trust the man.

"Even if it might be riddled with political chaos?" Alek asked like he was reminding Katya of the life he was about to get into.

"I love you. That’s all that matters," Katya said, and Alek gently pushed him off before they sat looking at each other.

Alek’s eyes then went to Katya’s neck...

"I love you too. I just... I guess I’m always too jealous to think straight when it comes to you," Alek said, before he leaned gently toward Katya’s open neck and kissed it softly.

Sucking and nibbling the delicate scent gland.

Katya didn’t push him away.

"Your scent drives me crazy, little rose," Alek breathed hungrily.

"Alek..." Katya called out softly, his neck still barred.

"Let me mark you, little rose, please," Alek begged, his teeth scraping Katya’s neck.

"We’re not married yet," Katya chuckled, and Aleksandr kissed his neck one more time before he pulled back and looked into Katya’s eyes like the man was worth every war he’d fight.

"Then marry me, little rose," Alek said as he pulled a ring box from his coat.

The alpha then went on his knees, right in front of Katya, eyes hopeful, smile on his face, devotion evident.

And Katya...

He didn’t even think about his answer. He just smiled at the alpha before giving him the one answer that would change their fates.