Bound by lies Trapped by Desire novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Elena’s POV:

I bent down to pick up Nikolai’s blazer and tie, which he’d carelessly draped over the back of the sofa earlier. The fabric was warm, holding onto the residual heat from his body. As I folded them neatly over my arm, I couldn’t help but notice the faint, familiar scent of his cologne–clean, crisp.

+

Turning off the lights as I moved, I made my way up the stairs, each step creaking softly beneath my weight. The house was old, and the wooden staircase had a character of its own, groaning and sighing with every footfall. As I reached the landing, I saw Nikolai stepping out of my mother’s room, his brow furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line.

“Everything okay?” I asked, pausing at the top of the stairs.

He looked up, forcing a wry smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “Just… had a chat with your mom.”

get

rest.

I raised an eyebrow but decided not to press further. Instead, I gestured toward my room. “Come on, let’s

He followed me into my room, his gaze sweeping over the space. “This room is honestly exactly like I imagined it would look like,” he said, a hint of

amusement in his voice.

I looked around, trying to see it through his eyes. The room was modest, with a wooden queen–sized bed that had seen better days, a matching side table, a study desk cluttered with books and papers, and a single cupboard that groaned every time I opened it. A long, thin floor–length mirror leaned against the wall, its frame chipped in places.

“Isn’t it too congested for you?” I asked, moving to close the window that overlooked the backyard. The night air was slightly I turned on the air conditioner to keep the room comfortable.

warmer than usual, and

Nikolai shook his head, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling off his socks. He rolled them up and looked around for a place to put

“Just set them below the side table,” I said, and he shrugged, placing them there.

“Honestly? I kinda like the vibe,” he said, leaning back on his hands. “It doesn’t seem as desolate as my house.”

them.

I snorted, the sound escaping before I could stop it. “Yeah.” But then I paused, realizing how sad that actually was. I shook my head, trying to dispel the thought.

“Do you want to shower first?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.

He pushed himself off the bed and made his way over with a smirk, that familiar mischievous glint in his eyes. “We should shower together.”

I rolled my eyes, “Yeah, that’s not possible, big guy. My bathroom is only big enough for one.”

His brows hooked in mock disappointment as he glanced toward the conjoined bathroom. “Alright, but… I didn’t really come prepared. This was just a last–minute decision.”

I looked him over, taking in his office attire. “Yeah, I could tell. You do that a lot, don’t you?” He always seemed so sudden in everything he did or decided. Like he constantly had something on his mind that he needed to distract himself from. I didn’t understand why I felt this way. I’d only known him for a week or so up close.

He frowned, shrugging. “Life as a kid was really boring, so my spontaneity started when I turned into an adult.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Go ahead and shower. I’ll bring you one of George’s nighties after asking Mom.

He frowned at that, shaking his head. “It’s not needed. I can just sleep like this.”

His refusal made me more suspicious and curious. “What exactly did you two talk about?”

He sighed after a long pause, running a hand through his hair. “She asked me why I invited Dmitri to the wedding. And if I had, then why had I let him cause a scene?”

My heart dropped Of course, Mom would notice and question Nikolai’s motives.

“What did you say then?” I asked, my heart jumping.

He looked a little guilty. “I kind of lied to her.” He paused, and I waited with bated breath before he finally continued, “I told her that you wanted

Dmitri to see.”

My eyes widened, and my stomach recoiled. “You said what?”

“I’m sorry. It’s just… had I said that he was my family, your mom would think my feelings for you weren’t genuine. She’d question the story we’d already given her, and so I-”

1/2

8:42 PM

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “She thinks too highly of me.”

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