Chapter 5
The thing about Andrei was that though they had been together for roughly three months now, Eric still felt like he knew nothing about him. He knew he was rich; that was obvious. He had several properties in the States which they spent hopping to and from depending on their schedules and whims. He also knew he was motivated; there was perhaps no one who worked harder and smarter than he did.
He liked to smoke, but he was particular about the brand. When it came to his taste in alcohol he favored strong liquors but never seemed to get drunk, and he tended to drive himself around rather than hire a chauffeur. But that was only surface level things. Forget lovers, even a relatively close acquaintance could pick up on those things.
Andrei had no particular fondness for animals. He liked physical books rather than electronic versions. He always took his coffee black. He woke up early, stayed up, and yet never seemed to be tired. When he spoke his voice was low and level. He never raised his voice and yet everyone always listened.
He was a man of magnitude with which Eric had never seen before, and he was fairly sure he was in love.
Currently it was early morning. Seated against the headboard and leaning into Andrei's hold, his eyes were only blankly staring at the TV on the wall, head resting against his lover's broad chest. With his index finger he was lazily tracing fingers across his torso, feeling the firm muscle beneath the smooth skin.
"Should we go out tonight? We hardly got to see each other at all this week." Eric asked, looking up at Andrei in a slightly spoiled manner. Fortunately Andrei always seemed to be willing to indulge him.
"Where would you like to go?" He asked.
Eric let out a noncommittal hum. "Anywhere, it doesn't matter." Feeling a pair of lips kiss the top of his head he pressed even closer to his oh-so-perfect boyfriend.
"I'll bring you somewhere nice."
*
Chancy Aubert- otherwise known as Eric's older brother- did not trust Andrei in the slightest. To begin with, he seemed too good to be true. A wealthy foreigner suddenly enters the scene, catching the eye of everyone around him. And then only a few months later he somehow got together with his precious little brother…
Eric was naive, there was no denying that. While he was smart he had also been sheltered by their family since the moment he was born. He'd never suffered any sort of hardship, and even if he had, the culprits were soon met with fierce retribution.
Unfortunately, he wasn't sure if he could protect him from Andrei. Chancy had been too busy with a number of matters and had neglected this. As a result it seemed it was too late; his father was sold on the idea that they made a good match, and Eric refused to listen to anyone who spoke ill of his "perfect" lover.
"Is this everything?" He asked to the man standing in front of his desk. Picking up the file folder he flipped through the pages.
"That's all we could find for now, sir."
The furrow between his brow deepend as he read. Andrei's history was clean… too clean. Born on December 4 to a wealthy couple he was raised in Vladivostok, Russia until at age 13, his family's home was destroyed by a fire. Of the people inside only Andrei and a few domestic servants had survived. Andrei's parents and the majority of his extended family who had been staying at the time had all been burned to death.
He had then been raised by his elderly grandmother before she too passed away when he was 18. After that he graduated from university and took over the family business, which had been previously managed by a few of his father's trusted subordinates.
This was all well and good, however there were too many "coincidences" around him that somehow left his reputation perfectly white. Former subordinates suddenly dying or being murdered, competitors going mission or being exposed for some hidden crimes… the list went on.
"See if you can find out anything more. I don't think the truth can be dug out so easily." He said, suggesting they dive into their more unsavory contacts. But for Eric's sake, he hoped that he was wrong.
*
On Eric's 26th birthday, he threw one of the biggest parties of the year with a guest list that hit the floor. His father had rented out a very expensive venue for him as an apology for being too busy to attend, but Eric didn't mind, there would be plenty of other people around him. Friends, aquaintances, enemies that pretended to be friends, and so on.
But best of all, Andrei would also be there so he could rub it in the faces of the petty bitches that thought they had a change.
He received and endless number of well wishes as the guests began to arrive, and the table designation for gifts was soon piling up. He loved it all; the attention, the admiration, the envy. Holding onto Andrei's arm he sent a very smug look to a brunette who was not so subtly glaring at him from across the room.
"I have to get something for a second, I'll be right back." He heard Andrei said.
"Alright, but don't take too long, we're going to pop the champagne soon." He replied, accepting Andrei's soft kiss before he left.
A moment later a tall, dark skinned woman with beautiful brown curls walked over. "It's only been seven months and you already found a better boyfriend than mine." She said, causing Eric's smug smile to grow.
"It's because you started lowering your standards after Jason. What about Liam? I thought things were going well?"
The woman sighed, waving her hand dismissively. "He's sweet, just too boring… I'll break up with him gently." This was Khalisa, one of his closest friends. Her family ran a modeling agency and she herself was a top supermodel. His father had been hinting for them to get together for years but they truly only thought of each other as siblings.
"But you know… I've heard a few things about him." Khalisa then said, her tone more serious and her voice a bit softer. Eric's lips tugged down slightly into a frown.
"What kind of things?" He refused to listen to baseless rumors about his lover, but since this was Khalisa he'd give her the benefit of the doubt. She looked a bit hesitant to disclose things fully, as if she were frightened of something.
"A few things here and there that I'm not sure I can trust… but be careful. I know you like him but don't rush into things too quickly."
Eric simply rolled his eyes, completely unconcerned. "You worry too much."
They didn't speak more on the topic, instead catching up on what they had been up to recently. The venue was very lively; there was an indoor and outdoor section only separated by glass doors with had been opened up to let in the cool night breeze. To the left side was a pool which a number of the guests were currently enjoying, laughing and splashing around.
But as they chatted the sound of something clopping against marble caught his attention, and turning around to see what it was Eric's jaw dropped. "Oh my god." He said aloud, not believing his eyes.
Andrei was currently leading in a beautiful white stallion by the reins. But this wasn't just any horse- Frost was the previous year's champion of the most prestigious equestrian race in the country. Eric had raised horses since he was young and he'd desperately wanted him after watching the race, but unfortunately the owner was unwilling to sell such a fine stallion. He could only imagine how much money Andrei had to have spent in order to buy him.
"Happy birthday, Eric." Andrei said with a gentle smile. Rushing over he hugged him tightly, kissing him on the lips.
"Do you like your gift?" The Russian man asked knowingly as Eric moved to pet the white horse.
"I love him!" He said with unbridled enthusiasm as the guests began to gather around, oohing and aahing. Unable to stop smiling as he pet Frosts's mane, he felt that this would most definitely be his most memorably birthday yet.
*
When the guests had all returned home and his new horse had been brought to its stable, Eric went back with Andrei to his hillside mansion. He was still buzzing with delight, which translated into physical affection as he stuck to Andrei like glue. "You're so good to me." He said between kisses, seated on Andrei's lap while the man held him firmly around the waist.
"You deserve no less." A pair of hot lips moved down his neck, causing soft moans to escape his mouth.
"Andrei…" His soft voice was cut off as his lover kissed him again, rolling them over and pinning him down onto the bed.
*
Eric was fast asleep in his arms, completely unmoving except for the rise and fall of his chest. Looking down at his sleeping face, Andrei was carefully considering what to do next. It seemed like the pampered young master had really fallen for him. Things were going well now- he was an obedient lover and his father was generous- but as time passed they would begin to expect more.
Reaching down he lightly brushed a stray strand of hair away from Eric's face. He looked like an angel like this, and to some degree he was.
"Poor thing. You could have had someone who loved you." He said in a whisper so soft it might not have been heard even if Eric were awake.