Page 14 of Mafia King

Nikolai brushes the question away with a small shrug and a vague comment about flexible work and passive income. Inside, though, the words land sharper than he likes.

Nikolai feels the familiar bristling at the edges of his control.

Theo is probing. Gently, cleverly, but probing all the same.

The heat builds. Sweat begins to bead along his shoulders and chest. Nikolai’s gaze drifts, almost against his will, to the curve of Theo’s thigh beneath the towel, the way the fabric shifts when he adjusts his position. Unbidden, an image forms: Theo across his lap right here on the wooden bench, his swimming trunks peeled down, his hand coming down hard on the bare swell of his ass while the sauna heat wraps around them both.

Nikolai’s cock begins to thicken under the white towel. The bulge becomes noticeable. He shifts, resting one forearm across his lap, and forces the image out of his mind.

Regardless, Theo is trouble.

But he is the kind of trouble Nikolai finds himself wanting to know much, much more about…

Nikolai and Theo step out of the health club into the mild late-morning light. The city feels softer here, the usual edge dulled by the wide pavement and the trees that line the entrance to the park just across the street.

They walk without hurry. Nikolai stops at a small kiosk near the gates and returns with two coffees—black for him, the way Theo had asked for his. Nikolai hands the boy the cup and feels an unexpected comfort settle in his chest as they continue side by side.

Nikolai still does not know exactly where Theo is coming from. The details he offers remain light, carefully chosen. Yet everything about Theo sits at a distance from the boys he usually sees late at night in his bars.

No loud laughter designed to draw attention.

No obvious hunger for free drinks or easy access to power.

For sure, this is no basic fun loving boy around town.

Together, they follow one of the quieter paths that curves beneath the trees. Leaves shift overhead. A few joggers pass.

Up ahead, near a pretzel stand, one of Nikolai’s security detail stands with casual stillness, pretending to study the menu board. Nikolai gives the man a single, subtle look of acknowledgment. Nothing more.

Theo notices. “Who’s that?” he asks, nodding toward the stand.

Nikolai answers without missing a step…

“Business associate. We’re working on a deal for some building supplies.”

Theo turns his head and looks at Nikolai fully. One eyebrow arches.

“That’s a likely story,” Theo says, half a smirk on his face.

The words land with quiet challenge. Nikolai feels the familiar tightening of control in his chest. A little sass if one thing, but a direct challenge to his authority is another. It will not stand.

Nikolai meets his eyes and keeps his voice low, even...

“Unless you want to go over my lap for a spanking right here in the park boy, you need to learn that when I speak, I tell the truth.”

Color floods Theo’s cheeks. He does not look horrified, his gaze does not drop in fear or offence. But his cheeks undeniably turn a crimson color.

Something else flickers there too… interest, heat, a quiet spark that tells Nikolai that Theo likes the thought more than he is ready to admit.

Nikolai lets the moment stretch for a second longer, then reaches down and takes Theo’s hand. His fingers are warm against his. They continue walking, the contact easy and deliberate.

“We’re going to get to know one another a lot more,” Nikolai says. “And this time there won’t be a week’s gap between meetings.”

Theo smiles, the expression shy but genuine… “Good.”

Later that night the street is quiet enough that the two black SUVs sit almost unnoticed beneath the shadow of a half-lit store-cum-warehouse.

Nikolai sits in the passenger seat of the lead vehicle, the weight of the automatic rifle resting easy across his thighs. The balaclava is still rolled up on his forehead.