Hopelessly Devoted

Chapter 12: Before Sunset

Alyssa found herself getting ready later that night lost in her thoughts. Work had been good, but more importantly it had been easy. She loved a well paying job that wasn't unnecessarily overwhelming.

She wasn't one to desire a professional challenge necessarily but Alyssa wanted to prove to herself that she could do her job effectively and efficiently. Judging by the past few days at Crane Industries, she was proving just that. 

As she moisturized, she allowed her mind to wander from work to more pleasant things. She couldn't help but think on Mikhail and how she wanted to spoil him like he had been spoiling her. The man was so handsome it seemed wrong. His smile and laugh did something to her even now. 

His arms were so safe. Warm. And his fingers. She stopped to fan herself as she thought of the intimate moment they shared. He felt like an anchor to her ever sailing self.

It had only been a few days and she knew from the outside looking in everything seemed a bit rushed, but she didn't regret agreeing to be his girlfriend. She felt deep down that it was right. Meant to be. Alyssa liked him a lot, but she also liked the way he made her feel.

The voices and doubts tried their hardest to break through but every thought of Mikhail seemed to silence them. It was as if he'd become both a balm and a weapon to the enemies that plagued her mind.

Then there was Matvei. Just thinking about him made her groan. Or moan. She couldn't decide. She also couldn't deny that he was handsome. There was a part of her that loved a good bad boy trope and Mattie Melnik checked off every damn box.

Tattoos, check. Ringed fingers, check. Long hair, check. Piercings, check. Motorcycle, check. Big dick, check and check. The list went on she was sure, but his attitude and overall demeanor ruined the aesthetic. Or did it.

Their last conversation was interesting, but it didn't change the fact that Matvei portrayed himself like every man that was dealt a shit hand and wore it like the heaviest badge. Deep down she wanted to know his story. His real story. But Alyssa couldn't get past their initial meeting. 

She was angry and rightfully so, but Matvei was already on the defensive without even inquiring about her plight. He came at her in such a way that raised a bright red flag. Life sucked for most people but it didn't have to be a chip they wore on their shoulder or a reason to exude a certain negative aura.

She could tell by the way he moved that Matvei was a stormy sky personified to most, but to her he was just a man that hadn't come to terms with who he'd like to be rather than the man he presented himself as. Either way, he proved to be a handful and despite herself Alyssa knew she didn't need those problems.

Was their banter fun? Yes. More than fun actually. It lit a fire in her and deep down she hoped it did the same for him, but that's all it was. Banter. Quick quips to rile the other up until it died down only to be stirred anew another day.

Whatever was going on between them was fun and she couldn't keep lying to herself and deny that she enjoyed it, but she wanted more. Not with him, of course. That would be preposterous. Matvei Melnik as anything other than her archnemesis? "Crazy talk." She muttered with a sigh.

Alyssa shook her head and chastised herself. She was in no position to be thinking about Matvei in any light other than begrudging. She didn't need any complications despite Mikhail trying to push Matvei on her like a crackhead on the side of the street.

Mikhail was more than enough Melnik for her and treated her as though she was the only girl in the world. Alyssa had never had that. The wanted attention and affection of a good man. It was foreign but desired and thoroughly appreciated.