ELI
I stirred to the light tap-tap of small fingers nudging my cheek. "Eli! Eli, wake up!" Sonya's sweet voice rang out, excited and insistent. Groaning softly, I peeked an eye open and saw her face lit up like a sunrise.
"What's going on?" I mumbled, voice thick with sleep, stretching slowly under the soft warmth of Damir's sheets.
She giggled and bounced on her knees beside me. "Uncle Damir and Daddy said the maids are suspended today! They're gonna do a cooking contest! Just them!"
I blinked. "What?" I sat up too quickly, ignoring the sore tug in my thighs. A laugh bubbled out of me as I imagined Damir in the kitchen trying to figure out where the frying pan even lived. "You're kidding."
"I'm not!" she chirped. "Hurry! It's starting soon!"
I grinned, adrenaline waking me up faster than coffee. I tumbled out of bed without a second thought, still giggling to myself. I didn't even glance at the mirror or think about what I had on, just the oversized black hoodie I always stole from Damir and one of my old sleep shorts that barely even counted as decent coverage. It wasn't until I was halfway down the stairs, warm light flooding the grand spiral staircase and laughter echoing from the massive kitchen hall, that I realized how bare I felt. The shorts rode up, exposing far too much of my backside, but my excitement had already drowned out the embarrassment.
I turned the corner with a joyful skip…and collided into a broad chest.
"Oof…."
Strong hands caught me by the waist before I could stumble, firm but strangely careful. My heart skipped. I looked up.
Regio Volkov.
Damir's brother. Tall, imposing, with the same sharp Volkov jawline and those haunting grey eyes that always looked like they were calculating something. His expression was neutral…but only on the surface. There was something else in his eyes.
"Careful, little one," he said, voice calm. But the hand on my waist lingered a beat too long, his gaze sweeping lower than necessary.
I forced a polite smile, stepping back subtly. "Thank you," I said quickly, brushing past him.
His eyes didn't follow me, but I could feel the weight of them clinging to my skin.
The second I entered the kitchen, all tension melted off me like morning dew under the sun. I saw Damir…my beautiful man..standing in the center of the gleaming marble kitchen, shirt sleeves rolled up, an apron tied over his perfect tailored trousers, looking absolutely ridiculous and utterly delicious.
He was holding a ladle like it was a weapon, his expression as serious as if he were about to sign a billion-dollar contract. Across from him, Regio was already at the counter, sleeves rolled just as high, a smug grin on his face like he was about to win a war.
And in the center of it all, Sonya sat perched on a stool like a tiny judge, holding a fake bell. "Contest starts in five minutes!" she declared.
I let out a laugh I couldn't contain.
Damir's eyes lit up the moment they landed on me. He didn't even hide it, the way his gaze trailed down from my flushed face to my legs, pausing a little too long where the hem of my hoodie barely covered me.
"Look who finally joined us," he said, smirking. "My sunshine."
I skipped straight to him, giggling as I launched myself into his arms. "You in an apron. I've seen everything now."
He chuckled low in his chest, catching me by the waist and lifting me slightly off the ground. "Careful what you say. I might throw flour in your face."
I pecked him on the cheek with a giggle. "You'd miss."
He pretended to pout, then leaned in to kiss my temple, whispering against my skin, "You shouldn't walk around looking like this, kotenok. I can't focus on anything."
"Good," I whispered back, pulling his collar playfully.
Behind us, Regio cleared his throat loudly. "Are we cooking or flirting?"
I stuck out my tongue at him without looking back. Damir just laughed.
"I can do both," Damir said smugly. "But you? Can you even boil water without burning it?"
Regio scoffed. "I'll have you know I cook breakfast for Sonya every weekend."
"Microwaving frozen pancakes doesn't count."
Sonya gasped dramatically. "Hey! I like those pancakes!"
"You poor child," I said with mock horror. "You deserve better. Team Damir, obviously."
Regio made a sound of disgust. "Traitor."
Sonya giggled, clearly loving every second of this.
Damir turned back to me, resting his hands on my hips. "You're really not going to change?" he asked softly.
I raised an eyebrow, pretending innocence. "Change what?"
His thumb brushed the bare skin just under the hoodie hem. "Don't tempt me, lyubov' moya. I'm trying to make you breakfast, not eat you."
I blushed, heart thudding too loud. "You're impossible."
"And you're too gorgeous to be real," he whispered, kissing my forehead.
Sonya rang the bell. "Contest begins! Whoever makes the best pancakes wins!"
"I don't eat pancakes," I said.
Damir looked scandalized. "You'll eat mine. I'll make you love them."
"Make him love them?" Regio teased. "That's what you say about every problem, huh?"
"I solve all my problems with love. You wouldn't understand."
The air between them crackled like static. I watched as their playful sarcasm skirted the edge of something deeper. Something old. Maybe even bitter.
"Just don't poison each other," I mumbled, taking a seat beside Sonya.
Damir winked. "Only if I lose."
"You will," Regio said flatly.
Sonya clapped. "On your marks, get set… GO!"
And chaos began.
Eggshells flying. Flour poofing into the air. Syrup debates. Both of them moved with a strange blend of elegance and aggression like cooking was a battle of pride. I watched them, laughing so hard my stomach hurt. And through it all, Damir kept sneaking glances at me. The kind of glances that weren't just lustful…they were drenched in adoration. Like he was watching his whole future giggle beside a child and eat stolen bits of pancake batter.
I hadn't felt this much warmth in a long time. It was stupid how happy I was.
And as I leaned my head on Sonya's shoulder, watching the man I loved pretend to duel his brother with spatulas, I knew something for certain:
This was home
This messy, absurd morning?
Was everything I never knew I needed.