Davian managed to choke on thin air, he knew what his mate wanted, and despite his reservations, he had been bracing himself to indulge him. He just hadn’t been expecting the moment to come right after they arrived, Lake asking outrightly ... He was wired to give his pregnant mate everything he wanted, he didn’t even consider turning him down.
"Sure," He agreed in a heartbeat, his voice dropping unconsciously.
Lake lifted his head to look at him, not expecting Davian to give in so easily. The Alpha had been steadfastly avoiding his advances for the past month, and other than being a little sexually frustrated, Lake couldn’t bring himself to be upset.
"Really?" He blurted out with bright eyes, his hands up against Davian’s bare chest. The seawater had dried making the Alpha’s skin sticky to the touch. "Actually, don’t answer that," He cut himself off just as fast, leaning in. "Let’s go back to the villa."
Davian didn’t expect this turn of events, "We just got here..."
"So you’ll take me on the beach?" Lake suggested, seeming very open to the idea.
Davian’s eyes darkened, more turbulent than the sea behind them. "No," darkness threaded through that single word, his voice low.
Lake just sighed, "I knew that was just wishful thinking."
Despite his refusal just a moment ago, Davian got to his feet the next moment to pack up for an early departure, leaving the blanket for last so that Lake could sit for a while longer while he worked.
Hat and sunglasses back on, with his slippers fished some distance away, Lake walked back to the villa clinging to his Alpha’s arm, tendrils of dark brown hair blowing against his content expression.
Angelo forced himself to walk after the madam of the salon who took him to a special section, probably her personal workstation.
"I didn’t think the boss would ever bring anyone here," Roxie struck up a conversation as she threw an apron over him.
Angelo’s eyes were flat, he wasn’t at all interested in a conversation, especially one that involved Nikolai but the hair stylist didn’t seem to care.
"You know, his mom used to be a regular here," She leaned close to whisper like she was sharing a monumental secret.
Angelo had slipped his eyes close as she prepped him for a wash but those pale green eyes flew open at her whispered words, his expression conflicted.
"She didn’t bring him often though," Roxie kept up her one-sided conversation. "Good thing, the kid has always been like that, dangerous and unpredictable."
Angelo tried to picture Nikolai as a child and failed, it was more likely that the Mafia King popped into the world fully grown with a cigar in hand, and a hand-tailored overcoat, his dark blond hair slicked back.
Roxie wisely shut her mouth at that point, wary of saying something she shouldn’t. She didn’t know what to make of this situation, the Beta at her station did have long hair like a woman but that was where the similarities stopped. Why would the boss bring this individual to such a place?
Angelo stopped trying to draw up the image of a young Nikolai, relaxing unconsciously under Roxie’s skilled hands. The old hairstylist might be chatty but she was skillful at what she did.
"Would you like a trim?" Roxie asked when they moved to the cutting station, the backlit mirror in front of him larger than life.
Angelo stared at himself in the mirror, the slight panic on his face at Roxie’s words seemed to belong to another person. He always had an out-of-body experience when he stared at himself, it creeped him out.
"Just to get the split ends out," Roxie hastily explained, seeing his silent panic.
He closed his eyes to avoid staring at his reflection. He was more emotionally dependent on his hair than he thought, Mafia King Nikolai didn’t need to worry, he would sooner cut off his head than his hair.
"Alright," He agreed with difficulty, keeping his eyes closed. Salons were such difficult places, why did there have to be mirrors on every wall and in every corner?
A short distance away, Nikolai was comfortably seated in the waiting room, a beauty magazine in hand. The other occupants of the waiting room sat stiffly, not daring to breathe too deeply so they didn’t attract the Mafia King’s attention.
Nikolai didn’t seem to even notice them, genuinely perusing through the magazines. He sat dutifully without making trouble until Roxie poked her head into the waiting room - more like a waiting corner. "Boss? He’s done."
Nikolai flicked up dark blue eyes like he hoped to see Angelo standing right next to her. He rose to his feet and strode over, reaching into his overcoat with the intention to pay.
Roxie blanched at the motion, waving her hands hastily. "No need for payment, no need." She dissuaded him, "It’s on the house, come again." She forced out through gritted teeth.
Nikolai looked amused by this display, taking out his hand, the appendage empty. "I’ll hold you to that."
Roxie forcibly suppressed a shudder, putting a wide berth between them. "He’s waiting in the parking lot boss." She eagerly told him, adding under her breath. "Please leave before I go out of business."
Nikolai pretended not to hear her, making his way out without saying anything further. Although his men were outside, a part of him expected to come out to find Angelo gone.
None of that happened though, the Beta cut such a striking figure that he saw him first after walking past the front doors of the salon.
Angelo stood dutifully right outside, a hand pushing back his hair to keep it out of his face, his eyes stormy.
Nikolai’s mood improved even further at this sight, above, the clouds hung low but the gloomy weather suited Angelo, the sun would be too stark, too revealing. The blue-tinged light of the cloudy day was perfect, it softened the sharp edges on Angelo’s face and made the color of his eyes more complex.