"That's the last of the red roses, next are the white ones. Where would you like them, beautiful?"
Nine days left into her stay at the fancy abode and the dreaded day of love was fast approaching. Valentine's Day, the one holiday that Rika could not understand for the life of her.
"I think he wants them in the hallway and the formal living room." She said unsurely, in a baking apron and flour over her rosy cheeks.
"You got it." The delivery man muttered, turning to tell the rest of the men where to put them. She stood, waiting as she watched the insane display be made right before her very eyes.
Curious ocean blue eyes skimmed over her dazed face. Stood in a grey delivery suit and a dark grey hat, the man tucked his clipboard under his arms.
"Do I gotta be worried about competition here?" His accent slid off his tongue like melted butter. "Hell, even I'm impressed with how many roses this guy has ordered. He's won Valentines this year, that's for sure."
Rika gave him a tight-lipped smile, "My boss is quite clearly an extra man, these are for his daughters." She explained.
He let out a dramatic groan, putting a hand to his heart. "Thank god. For a minute, I thought I was gonna have to complete with Slater Ivanov for your attention. Would have no chance there."
Although he was teasing, she couldn't help but wonder if he knew the truth.
She shifted on her feet, resting her body against the door frame. "Would you like to come inside for some cupcakes? It looks like you'll be here a while." she offered, gesturing to her messy apron. "and I need a taste tester."
No, she didn't. She wanted the company, but she wouldn't tell him that.
"What kind of cupcakes are we talking?"
"The chocolate on chocolate kind."
His vibrant eyes flashed with something indescribable, he licked his lips. "Lead the way, trouble."
Archie muttered something incoherent to one of his coworkers, placing the clipboard in their hands.
"You've got a grown man excited to try some cupcakes." He started to say, in that same teasing tone of his. "How often do you hear that?"
She rose a brow, entering the vacated kitchen at a steady pace. Her head turned to catch the genuine expression on his good-looking face.
She beamed at him with a toothy white grin and revealed the delectable treats in front of them. "You're never too old for cupcakes."
She had tried her best. It was a rather endearing sight to behold, a tray of perfectly made chocolate cupcakes sat in the centre of the countertop. Hues of coloured frosting overwhelmed his eyes.
Pushing the tray towards him, she motioned for him to take one of the cakes. She watched as he unwrapped it carefully, her gaze sparked with attentiveness.
"Well?" Eagerly awaiting his response, the nerves fluttering around in her stomach failed to settle down.
He took his first bite, a chocolate overload serenading his tastebuds. A small hum of pleasure escaped him.
"It's good but I feel like it's missing something important." Archie's voice trailed away once he had finished his mouthful.
Her eyebrows scrunched up and she stared at the ground. She was waiting for his explanation, tucking her hands behind her back.
"I've never baked before, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated." She shyly announced, feeling relatively embarrassed to have messed up a seemingly easy recipe.
Immediately, his face fell. "This is your first time baking?" He repeated.
An innocent nod resulted in another strangled groan.
He cleared his throat, letting out a strained laugh. "Excuse me for being such a cheeky cunt then, because that was the best cupcake I've ever had in my life."
She frowned. "B-But you just said it needed something more?"
If she needed to add more sugar, she would rather him tell her now so she could perfect the recipe.
"Yeah, I know what I said. That was going to be my awful attempt to get another date with you." He confided, scratching the back of his neck as he glanced away and she spied a tint of crimson in his cheeks.
Rika let out a small breath and smiled to herself. "So the cakes are fine?"
She stood up straight and examined the cupcakes. A dozen in total, each frosted and coated in chocolate sprinkles.
He watched her near closer to him until her brave finger daringly brushed against his mouth, swiping the goodness on his lips.
She stared at him another minute and weighed her options in her head.
When his tongue darted out to lick the evidence away, she acquired her answer. He was so easy-going and relaxed, conversation with him flowed naturally.
"The cakes are perfect."
Dipping her finger into one of the cupcakes, she took a glob of frosting and held it up in front of his face.
"And you're asking me if I would like to go on a second date with you?" She eyed him warily.
"That I am." He replied with a hitch in his voice, she could hear a hint of doubt in his voice.
She leaned over and settled her arms on the counter.
He looked down at her, looking over at her round face and those feline eyes and rubbed at the back of his neck. He lost his train of thought, focused on the way her full lips dipped slightly at the sides.
"Archie?"
He blinked, lifting his hand up to his mouth. He brushed his beard down, speaking into his hand. "I'm usually a lot better at this, but for some reason you seem to make me act like a fucking idiot boy whenever I'm around you."
The words come out in a rush, almost pained. He reached for another cupcake, shoving it into his mouth and swallowing harshly so that he can shut himself up.
Rika giggled, her own cheeks on fire. "You should tell that idiot boy that I'd love to go on a second date with him."
"Great. He'll see you at seven."
She pursed her lips as a way to stop herself from laughing at the whole situation.
"Obviously, I'll pick you up first," Then he paused, his eyebrows knitted together for a moment in thought. "so that we can go together. For the date."
"I got that."
"Mmph. These are so good." He let out, muffling his voice with yet another cupcake.
• • •
Standing in front of the intimidating door, Rika balanced the small tea plate in one hand and raised the other to knock on the wood's surface.
She waited for an answer, looking down the hallway and catching a glimpse of her room two doors down.
It was foreign to be this far into the hallway, usually, she never passed by her door. The room next to hers was forbidden, as was the one she was currently standing in front of.
She had tried asking Ruth, the housekeeper, what was in the room in the middle but she had received a coy; 'nothing you would need to concern yourself with' and figured it was probably best to not press any further on the issue.
Though her suspicions were confirmed with the strange reaction. It was something related to Dasha, meaning it was most definitely none of her business.
Knocking again, only this time harder, she tried to keep her mind in one place.
The deliveries were complete and the children were in their after school activities. She had attempted to complete some of her own college work, but her procrastination had led her to test out some more cupcake recipes and thus, here she was.
Standing at her boss' door with a vanilla cupcake and white frosting. There was a strawberry to top it off, after all he didn't like chocolate.
When he didn't answer, a sigh escaped. "Figures." She knew it was a long shot in the first place and she leaned down to leave it at his doorstep.
But when her forehead hit the door by accident and the ajar door started to creak open, her posture shot upright.
It was open already? She thought.
She had always wondered what was behind his doors, he seemed to lock himself in his room if he wasn't working in the studio and she wanted to know what his place of rest looked life.
A tiny peak wouldn't hurt, right?
She would leave the plate on top of his bedside table and if he asked she would tell him the housekeeper left it there.
Okay a good plan, but what if he was already inside?
She shook her head.
She would've heard him had that been the case.
She peaked into the slit, no one in sight. The doors and windows were all still closed, shutting the morning light and the city out.
Pushing the door wider, she took the first few strides and entered the dim room. It was big, to say the least, and decorated in shades of darkness.
She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but it wasn't this.
The room was lived in, normal looking. There was no extravagance, or overindulgence of designer goods.
Setting the small place down on the closest bedside table, she searched the room with her eyes.
It was neat, well kept. One of his bedside tables had a funny looking bong on top of it, covered in pictures of a green leaf of sorts. She didn't quite understand what the bong was used for.
"It's almost unbearable watching you try to figure out what the bong is used for. You use it to get high, Johnson. And that big green thing you see there is called weed."
Her heart nearly fell out of her chest when his deeper voice circled around the sizzling air.
She exhaled the breath she was holding, realising she had been caught red handed.
"I don't remember there being any company in my room when I left for my shower." He didn't sound annoyed, rather amused.
"The door...was open?" She found herself explaining, though it was more of a statement than a question.
"Mm. And that means you are to come as you please, yes?"
"N-No, it doesn't. You're right. I'm sorry." To be fair, she had knocked many times and he hadn't heard her but she now knew that to be the fault of his shower.
She lifted her head up and froze, but only after her dark eyes swooped over his entire body, from top till bottom.
"Oh my gosh." Rika gasped, bringing a hand to her mouth. "I, uh, I didn't mean to barge in like that."
God, she couldn't even look him in the damn eye.
He was confused by her reaction, standing there stark naked as she tried to think of a tangible thought.
Surely, she could not be that shocked, she had seen his naked before. Hell, she had done more than that.
He was ripped, covered in obsidian ink and dripping in water droplets, however, none those factors had anything to do with her dazed state.
He had an impressive size, there was no denying that. And yet, even that was not the cause of her insanity.
Sure enough, through the head of his cock was a thick, internally threaded silver barbell. It went in through the urethra, and came out through a hole on the underside of the shaft about an inch or so below the urethra itself. Now, while the piercing was indeed fascinating, as she had never seen one in person.
Slater followed her gaze, landing on the shiny piercing she was so taken back from and his frowned morphed into a lazy half-smile.
"Really?" He questioned, a dry laugh emptying out of him. "This is whats making you behave like a stuttering idiot?" When he said the word 'this', he grabbed ahold of his manhood.
She cleared her throat, swallowing back her amazement. "I-uh, I'm sorry I should've... knocked."
He was quite clearly not the average thirty-four year old man, she had forgotten all about his lifestyle and image when she saw him around his children on a daily basis.
However, it was times like these where she remembered that he had a lot of interesting stories to his name.
Amusement glimmered in his eyes as he made a way towards the towel on his bed, passing her seemingly still figure. Wrapping the towel around his waist, his wet dirty blonde locks stained water droplets on his shoulder blades. "You're more than welcome to touch anything that catches your eye in here."
That brought her back down to reality and her cheeks flushed in intensity.
She responded curtly, careful not to say anything suggestive in return. "I don't think that's a very wise thing to say to the ex-nanny, Mr. Ivanov. I might take that the wrong way."
"How so?" His chest rumbled. "You gonna go to the press about this or something?"
She pursed her lips, knowing he was winding her up for his own enjoyment.
He continued, tutting his tongue. "I didn't think you'd be the one to air all my dirty secrets."
His eyes skimmed his bedside table, spotting the cupcake set out for him.
"Are you finished?" She sighed, referring to his inappropriate remarks.
Slater turned his head, catching her flaming cheeks. "Do you want me to be, baby?" He asked, his throaty tone going down her shivering spine.
She wasn't sure if she had heard him correctly, but the moment her head snapped up to meet his, he was busy applying aftershave on his cheeks.
Of course, his words was soaked in sarcasm as per usual.
Still, she couldn't help the butterflies she felt upon hearing the silly pet name.
"Um—Yes?"
His lips twitched, her awkwardness reminded him of her sheer innocence and how he could corrupt her in more ways than one if he wanted to. "Sit down and make yourself comfortable then. I need to find some clothes to put on."
As she sat there in silence, he pulled his closet doors open and started to rummage around for t-shirt of choice.
His voice was muffled into the clothes as he spoke. "I didn't realise delivery boys were your type."
"What?" Rika spat incredulously. "Are you stalking me?" She didn't know why that was the first thing that came to mind, but it was.
She tried to glare at him, but just couldn't summon the expression.
"Or maybe, I have access to my security footage." He retrieved a cotton shirt and silk briefs, pulling the shirt on a shirt, he put his head through it. "Don't flatter yourself, kotik. I have it in my room so I can see what's going on at all times."
She shrugged. "I don't see how my personal life is any of your concern."
He bent slightly to tug his boxers on, for her sake, he kept the towel on and pulled them on underneath.
Once that was done, he heaved the towel off and threw it into the hamper. Finding a pair of sweats, he easily got himself into them.
"Believe me, it's not."
Then she smelled it; a waft of cologne, warm and masculine, completely out of place... yet so familiar.
His hands came down, planting either side of her rigid body and ontop of the plush mattress.
"But you see, when you bake cupcakes and gift them to two different guys in one day," He made sure to make note, cocking his head over to the plate behind them. "the sentiment feels spent."
Her heart hammered, her stomach churned.
Their gazes met and a sleepy smile lifted the corner of his mouth. Tenderness shined in his hazel eyes as they roamed her features. "Who knew you'd quite the heartbreaker, Johnson.
Was he saying that he wanted something more personal from her?
He rose to his full figure, walking around the room until he was by his dresser. Chunky rings were placed on his long fingers, she blinked.
Suddenly, the desire to stand up forced her unsteady body to thrust up from her seated position.
She put her hands on her hips without hesitation, keeping her attention on his face.
"I should, uh, get on. The kids will be back soon." Emotion clogged her voice, thickening it until she barely recognised herself anymore.
"Shit." He said dryly, in a way as if he was just remembering something important. "I hope it's no trouble for your little delivery lover boy, but I no longer require his services so unfortunately I have no other choice but to fire him."
His eyes roamed her body, intent and full of purpose. They took in everything. Something about the way he watched her, the look of possession in his eyes, pushed her over the edge.
"Entering the property to eat cupcakes with the nanny isn't exactly what I hired him for. I'm sure you can understand why I need to fire him."
His gaze was envious as it held hers. Any remaining chaos inside her melted away, for now at least.
Although she couldn't see it, the green-eyed monster was creeping into the older man's bones. Something he had never been bothered by before was itching to make its way out.
Envy. Jealousy. He knew he was in too deep but there was no going back.
There was one thing for certain, Slater Ivanov did not share.