Chapter Text
Fridays had an almost sacred rhythm for Shane Hollander. It was the one day of the week he allowed himself to slow down and actually enjoy the day. He could wake up without rushing out of bed, have breakfast at home instead of grabbing coffee from the café on the corner by the office, and walk to work instead of practically tripping over his own feet because he was moving too fast. It wasn't as if he didn't work on fridays, the workload was still intense and deadlines never stopped, but Shane had learned the hard way that if he didn't start setting limits for himself, he'd burn out before he turned thirty.
At twenty-seven, seeing his name etched into the glass plaque outside the architecture firm next to JJ's still felt like the kind of achievement that required pinching himself to make sure it was real. After countless sleepless nights and giving everything he had throughout college, surviving on energy drinks and ambition alone, the life he had now felt like a dream come true. An office in the heart of the city, along with a small apartment just a few blocks away in an equally convenient neighborhood, meant he could do practically everything on foot, even though he owned a car he barely ever drove. To this day, he still wasn't entirely sure what miracle had brought high-profile clients to the firm during its first few years, but he certainly wasn't about to question his luck.
His life had changed about a year earlier, when, in the middle of a chaotic project deadline, a severe anxiety attack had left him gasping for air right at his desk, in front of a room full of clients. It had gotten so bad that JJ had stepped in and made a drastic decision: Shane could keep being the obsessive workaholic control freak for most of the week, but as friday approached, he had to start easing up on his hours. At first, it had been incredibly difficult, but little by little it became routine, and eventually he got used to it. Shane learned to appreciate the quiet of his apartment in the early mornings and even found time to squeeze in a workout before heading to the office. As much as he loved being in control and making himself indispensable at work, he couldn't deny that he'd grown to love having those moments to himself just as much.
Now, with the setting sun spilling warm shades of orange through the office windows, Shane shut down his computer. He stretched in his chair with a long sigh, his spine cracking in several places as though everything were finally settling back where it belonged after hours spent in the same position. He noticed that JJ had already sent home the junior architects they'd hired at the beginning of the year, leaving just the two of them in the office.
"You going tonight?", Shane called out, loud enough for JJ to hear him from across the room.
JJ mirrored the stretch with an exaggerated groan before looking over at him. "Not tonight, man. But tell Rose I haven't forgotten she owes me a drink."
A small smile tugged at Shane's lips as he finished organizing the papers on his desk. "Will do."
A few months earlier, what had started as an emergency venting session after a disastrous week at work had quietly turned into a tradition for Shane, JJ, Rose, and Hayden. Before any of them realized it, the booth tucked away in the back of the bar a few blocks from the office had unofficially become theirs. Even the staff knew them by name now, greeting them with their usual drinks before they even ordered, and somehow, on the busiest nights, their favorite booth always seemed to be mysteriously available.
For someone who had never really been a bar person, not even back in college, the change had been surprisingly welcome. Instead of ending every week alone in the silence of his apartment, surrounded by blueprints and the television humming in the background just to fill the emptiness, he now wrapped up his fridays laughing with the few people he genuinely trusted.
Glancing at the clock on his desk, he realized it was time to leave. Shane said goodbye to JJ, grabbed the backpack he always carried with him, and headed toward the bar. The late afternoon was warm, hinting at the heavy Ottawa summer that was just around the corner. He rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up to his elbows, relieved to free his arms from the fabric that had started sticking to his skin as he walked at an unhurried pace.
The moment he stepped inside the bar, he let out a quiet sigh as the cool air from the air conditioning washed over him. He greeted Kyle, who didn't even bother asking for his order before sliding a bottle of beer across the counter toward him. Shane thanked him with a smile and headed straight for the booth in the back, where Rose was already sitting, completely absorbed in her phone.
"Hey", he greeted, sliding into the seat beside her.
Rose smiled the moment she saw him and leaned over to hug him, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "Hey, sweetheart. Is JJ coming?"
"Nope, but he asked me to remind you that you still owe him a drink."
"The house rules are very clear”, she replied before taking a sip of her cocktail. "That debt expires after a week. If he didn't show up, that's his problem."
Shane simply shrugged. "That's between the two of you."
As Rose launches into a rant about how her clients that week had drained the last bit of sanity she had left, Shane's attention slowly drifts around the room. He takes a sip of his beer, letting his gaze wander across the bar. It wasn't packed yet, but there was already a decent crowd. Most of them were regulars, just like they were, so his eyes skimmed right past them until they caught on a table against the opposite wall.
The woman sitting in profile was undeniably beautiful. Dark-haired, dressed simply, she lifted her glass to her lips with a grace and poise that felt oddly out of place in such a laid-back bar. As striking as she was, though, it was the man sitting across from her who made Shane's pulse quicken. Blond, with short, messy curls that bounced slightly as he laughed at something she'd just said. He was sprawled comfortably across the booth, legs spread, completely at ease, as though the whole place belonged to him. Broad shoulders, an effortless confidence, and a dangerous kind of magnetism that made it impossible to look away. Then, as if he'd felt Shane staring, he slowly turned his head in his direction.
Their eyes locked, and Shane forgot how to breathe for a full second. Not just because the man was handsome, because he was gorgeous, but because there was something unsettling about the pull between them. Something dangerous that Shane couldn't explain, yet strong enough to keep him from breaking eye contact. As if that weren't enough, the stranger's lips curled into a slow, teasing smile, utterly self-assured, like he already knew exactly what kind of effect he was having. Shane hurriedly raised his beer to his lips, hoping to hide the smile threatening to spread across his own face.
"Shane?", a light elbow to his ribs snapped him out of the trance.
He turned to Rose, who was watching him with narrowed eyes. "Sorry. What?"
"Who is he?", she asked, openly glancing toward the stranger who'd had Shane's full attention just moments ago. Shane looked back as well and noticed the blond man had already turned his attention back to the woman across from him.
"No idea. I've never seen either of them around before."
"Well, he definitely seemed interested in you”, she said with a smug little grin.
"He's here with someone, Rose."
"So are you, and that doesn't mean we're together."
They stared at each other for a beat, both processing the sentence at exactly the same time. "Ew”, they said it in unison, pulling identical faces before dissolving into laughter.
"Hey, guys. Sorry I'm late, the meeting ran way longer than I expected", Hayden said breathlessly as he practically collapsed into the booth across from them. He set his beer on the table and looked between the two of them. "What are you laughing about?"
"The horrifying idea of us being in a relationship", Rose answered without missing a beat.
"You two?", Hayden frowned, his face twisting into pure disgust.
"Exactly", she laughed again. "It would never work."
"Obviously not. I'm gay, Rose", Shane pointed out, as though she somehow didn't already know that tiny detail.
"Not just because of that. Even if you were straight, you still wouldn't be my type", she replied, lifting an eyebrow with exaggerated superiority. "You need someone who matches your personality. Someone who's willing to give up control so you can micromanage every aspect of their life. And we both know I'd never let that happen."
Hayden let out a short laugh, resting his elbows on the table. "Why are you two even talking about this?"
"Because Shane was flirting."
"What? I was absolutely not flirting", Shane shot back, thoroughly offended by the accusation.
"Oh really? Then what do you call undressing someone with your eyes while they smile right back at you?"
"Who?", Hayden asked, already looking around.
"Behind you!"
"Hayden, don't!", Shane spoke at the exact same moment Rose pointed toward the booth where the blond stranger was sitting, but Hayden was already turning around.
"Even if I had been flirting, you two manage to ruin every chance I have of meeting someone", Shane muttered as he watched the other table carefully, silently hoping the blond man wouldn't notice Hayden staring.
"Hmm... he looks..."
"Hayden, please stop staring."
"He doesn't really seem like your type", Hayden said as he finally turned back around to face them. "And even if he was, he's holding hands with the woman he's with. I doubt he's single."
The moment he heard that, Shane's gaze drifted back toward the opposite booth on its own. Hayden was right. The blond man's fingers were laced with the woman's, and the soft smile on his face made it obvious there was genuine affection between them. A subtle wave of disappointment settled low in Shane's stomach, even though he tried his best to pretend it didn't bother him at all.
"It was nothing. Forget about it", Shane said more firmly, making it clear he didn't want to talk about it anymore.
"How did the meeting with the cottage clients go? JJ said they've been brutal", Hayden asked, quickly changing the subject, and Shane perked up almost immediately.
"JJ only says that because it isn't his project. Okay, sure, we've spent hours arguing over things that should've been settled weeks ago. Maybe. But he doesn't know the project the way I do, and... I don't know, there's something about that cottage that makes me want to create the best design of my life. I even came up with a few new ideas I'm sure they're going to love."
"You've been talking about that damn cottage for weeks, Shane. I'm starting to think you're in love with it", Rose teased, nudging him.
"Maybe I am...", he admitted, earning a round of laughter from his friends.
"Hayd, how are the kids?", Rose asked, and his eyes lit up instantly. There wasn't anything in the world he loved more than his wife and the million children they seemed to have.
Hayden immediately launched into an enthusiastic story about how the twins had baked a chocolate cake loaded with decorations the previous weekend and somehow managed to cover the entire kitchen in flour. Rose chimed in with perfectly timed comments and jokes that never failed to make all three of them laugh. These were the moments when Shane could finally switch off the work part of his brain and genuinely relax as the conversation flowed effortlessly. Even though the atmosphere inside the bar had shifted, growing louder as more people filtered in and bursts of laughter filled the room, it still wasn't crowded enough to keep them from hearing each other or enjoying themselves.
Even with his attention on his friends, Shane couldn't shake the persistent curiosity that kept pulling his gaze back toward the booth across the room. Discreetly, over Hayden's shoulder, he continued watching the blond man, noticing tiny details, the mole on his cheek, the way his eyebrows lifted at certain moments in conversation. He tried not to linger too long, because they clearly looked like a couple, and, well... that alone should've been enough to make it obvious nothing was going to come of this.
After a few more stories from Hayden, Shane noticed they'd all finished their drinks. He got to his feet and headed toward the bar to order another round for everyone. He straightened his posture, trying to convince himself he wasn't making an effort to look attractive as he crossed the room, secretly hoping the blond man would notice him and, by some miracle, be interested. He kept his eyes fixed on the bar, pretending to have absolutely no interest in what was happening at the surrounding tables. Once he reached the counter, he rested his forearms against it and waited for Kyle to finish serving another customer.
"Another round?", the bartender asked with a smile as soon as he walked over.
"Please", Shane smiled back and Kyle nodded, giving him a playful wink as he started mixing Rose's signature pink cocktail.
For a moment, Shane watched Kyle's practiced movements behind the bar, wondering how things might have turned out if the date they'd gone on had been better. If they'd had more in common than simply ending up at the same bar every friday night. Life probably would've been easier. Kyle was undeniably handsome and charming, and although they occasionally exchanged harmless flirting, they both knew it was nothing more than playful banter that wasn't going anywhere.
"You're looking at him like you want to take a bite",the deep voice, colored by a heavy accent, came from beside him, startling Shane out of his thoughts.
He turned his head and found himself face-to-face with the blond man he'd spent half the evening watching. This time, the stranger was looking directly at him, as though he'd appeared out of nowhere. They were standing close enough that Shane could fully appreciate just how magnetic his presence really was. Up close, he was even more striking. A rich cologne clung to him, the first few buttons of his shirt left undone to reveal a gold chain and a glimpse of warm skin beneath. His light-colored eyes, green, Shane realized now, held his with an almost taunting intensity.
Shane cleared his throat, trying to regain control over his own body. "I was just waiting for the drinks", he replied, keeping his voice as neutral as possible despite the warmth creeping up the back of his neck beneath the man's stare. "And I wasn't looking at anyone like I wanted a bite."
The blond man let out a low laugh, rough enough to send an involuntary shiver through Shane's body. Resting one elbow on the counter, he turned fully toward him. "I'm just teasing you", he said, extending his hand. "Ilya Rozanov."
Shane looked at his hand for a few seconds before taking it. "Shane Hollander", the handshake was firm. Strong. Very strong. But before Shane could let go, Ilya leaned in, closing the distance between them even further.
"But if you did want to look at me like you wanted a bite...", he murmured, his voice low enough to brush against Shane's ear, "...I wouldn't complain."
Shane blinked, momentarily stunned by the man's audacity. The pickup line, if it could even be called that, was so terrible it bordered on ridiculous. In any other situation, Shane would've dropped his hand and walked away without a second thought. But there was something about this man that rooted him to the spot, leaving him completely unable to move.
"So, is this how you usually hit on people, Ilya Rozanov? With pickup lines this terrible?" Shane shot back, unable to stop himself.
A smile spread across Ilya's face, and he looked thoroughly amused by Shane's response. "Only when someone spends the entire night undressing me with their eyes from the other side of the bar, Shane Hollander", he replied without missing a beat, making heat rush straight to Shane's face.
"I wasn't—"
"Oh, please. You absolutely were", the smug smile never left his face, and he finally let go of Shane's hand, leaving behind an unexpected sense of emptiness as the warmth of his skin disappeared.
"Here you go, Shane", Kyle interrupted them, and Shane looked down at the pink cocktail and two bottles of beer being set in front of him, as though he'd momentarily forgotten why he'd come to the bar in the first place.
"Thanks, Kyle", he said, picking up Rose's drink in one hand and balancing the two beers in the other. Then he turned back to Ilya. "And you", he said, "should be ashamed of yourself for flirting with me while you're here with your girlfriend." He started to walk away, but felt Ilya's hand lightly wrap around his forearm, stopping him.
"What? You mean Svetlana?", Ilya nodded toward the woman sitting in the booth. "She's not my girlfriend. She's just a friend."
"A friend...", Shane repeated slowly, furrowing his brow.
"Yes. A friend", Ilya looked him up and down. "Now... can we get back to talking about us?"
"There is no 'us'", Shane replied immediately.
"But there could be, don't you think?"
"You're incredibly persistent, huh?"
"I wouldn't be if I didn't know you wanted this too, Shane. You think I didn't notice the way you kept looking at me, but I have very good...", he paused, searching for the right word. "What's it called when you can see things out of the sides of your eyes?"
"Peripheral vision?", Shane offered.
"That's it! I have very good peripheral vision", he smiled at Shane, who could only shake his head, completely baffled by how this conversation had turned out.
Shane let out a sigh, but the truth was that Ilya's self-satisfied smile and heavy accent were working far better on him than they had any right to. Deep down, he'd spent the entire evening hoping Ilya would come talk to him, but another part of him insisted he had to play hard to get. Or at least try. Ilya, however, didn't give him the chance to answer, or even think. In one smooth movement, he stepped closer and wrapped his hands around the drinks Shane was holding, gently taking them from him before setting them back on the bar.
"What are you—", Shane started to protest, but the words died in his throat as he realized just how close Ilya suddenly was.
"The drinks can wait a few minutes", Ilya murmured. His gaze alone seemed enough to hold Shane in place. Shane felt his throat go dry, his breathing catch, and every ounce of the composure he'd been clinging to began to melt away. "We both know what I want. And you know what you want too. So why are you pretending otherwise?", he lifted one hand and brushed his thumb lightly along the line of Shane's jaw, the featherlight touch sending a shiver racing through his entire body.
Shane's heart hammered against his ribs, making the whole situation feel even more unbelievable. They had literally just met, yet his body was responding to Ilya in a way it never had to another man before, not without already sharing something deeper first. But the way Ilya looked at him, hunger burning in those green eyes, made Shane's body react all on its own, every inch of his skin suddenly awake.
"Tell me you didn't feel it too, дорогой (darling)...", Shane's eyes dropped to Ilya's lips before drifting back to those green eyes, just in time to catch another smug smile spreading across them. "You're terrible at hiding it, Shane."
"If I told you I wasn't interested...", Shane asked, his voice rough, giving himself away completely. "...would you leave?"
A victorious grin spread across Ilya's lips, equal parts satisfaction and mischief. "No", he murmured, leaning in until his mouth hovered beside Shane's ear. "I'm terrible at giving up on something I want. Especially when I know you're lying."
Shane closed his eyes as Ilya's lips brushed lightly against his earlobe, doing everything he could to keep his hands at his sides instead of giving in to the urge to touch the man standing in front of him. His resistance didn't last long. The moment Ilya's warm breath trailed slowly down the side of his neck, the last of Shane's self-control snapped. He lifted his hands and settled them on Ilya's waist, feeling the solid strength beneath the fabric of his shirt. A quiet gasp escaped Shane's lips as Ilya's hands slid around his back, pulling him even closer until there was almost no space left between them.
"You're dangerous, Rozanov", Shane murmured.
A low laugh vibrated against the skin of Shane's neck. "You have no idea how dangerous...", Ilya pulled back just enough to look him in the eye. "But first, Shane Hollander... I want to find out if you taste as good as you look."
Before Ilya could close the remaining distance and finally kiss him, a woman's hand settled on his arm, and they both turned to find Svetlana standing beside them.
"Илья, нам пора (Ilya, we need to go)", she says, her voice tight with urgency.
"Ох, нет... Уже? (oh no... already?)", he sounds genuinely disappointed, hating the words coming out of her mouth.
"Да, сейчас. Пойдём (yes, now. Let's go.)”, her tone leaves no room for argument, ending the conversation before it can continue. She lets go of his arm and simply walks away.
"Argh, блядь (fuck)", Ilya rests his forehead against Shane's shoulder for a few seconds before straightening up and taking a step back. "I'm sorry, дорогой (darling). I have to go."
"What? What do you mean? Ilya—"
"I know", Ilya cups Shane's cheek for a brief moment before stepping back again. "I'm sorry, I...", he glances toward the entrance, notices something that makes him shake his head, gives Shane one last intense look, then disappears into the crowd filling the bar.
Shane stands there, staring at the empty spot where Ilya had been just seconds ago, unable to make sense of what had just happened. "What the fuck was that?", he mutters more to himself than anyone else, but Kyle's voice snaps him out of it.
"Guess I don't seem like such a bad option anymore, huh?"
"Oh, shut up."
Kyle's laughter echoes through the bar as Shane grabs the drinks he'd abandoned on the counter and makes his way back to the booth, where Rose and Hayden are staring at him with matching looks of shock.
"What did you do?"
"Why the hell did he leave like that?", they ask at the exact same time.
"I didn't do anything", he sets the now-warm drinks down on the table. "I have no idea what happened."
Between his friends teasing him relentlessly and his mind spinning with questions, Shane drags himself through the rest of the evening, doing his best not to let his disappointment show. Eventually, he gets tired of pretending to listen to whatever Rose and Hayden are talking about, claims he's exhausted, and heads home. During the walk back, he replays the scene over and over again, wondering if he'd done something wrong or said something he shouldn't have. Once he gets home, he gives up trying to find an answer and tries not to feel pathetic when, halfway through his shower, he gives in and jerks off thinking about Ilya, the warmth of his hands on his waist and the kiss that never happened.
The weekend passes without anything particularly eventful happening, except for one thing: Ilya Rozanov refuses to leave Shane's mind. Not during his workout at the gym. Not while eating. Not during his morning runs. Not halfway through a movie. And definitely not while touching himself before bed. He hates that he ever met the man, because now his brain seems completely incapable of focusing on anything else.
By monday morning, his routine is back, and Shane thanks God for it as he rushes to get ready before leaving the apartment. He stops by the coffee shop on the corner next to the office, fully determined to have a productive day, forget all about Ilya, and focus one hundred percent on the cottage project. But the moment he takes his first sip of coffee, he freezes. Ilya Rozanov is standing directly in front of him.
"Shane Hollander", he drawls, wearing an easy smile as he blocks the exit from the café.
"Ilya? What are you doing here?"
"Well, people usually come to places like this to buy coffee and food... but who knows?" he shrugs, shamelessly teasing Shane, who immediately narrows his eyes.
"Right", Shane makes no effort to hide how annoyed he still is about the way friday night ended. "Now, if you'll excuse me...", he steps to the side, but Ilya moves with him, blocking his path again.
"I'm sorry, дорогой (darling). I swear I wanted to stay longer that night, but I really couldn't", he tries to step closer, but Shane immediately takes one step back. "If I tell you I spent the entire weekend thinking about you, will you forgive me?", Ilya looks at him with the saddest puppy-dog eyes imaginable, and Shane can already feel himself wavering. "Please", he tries again.
Shane lets out a long sigh, remembering exactly how many times he'd gotten himself off over the last two days thinking about the man now staring at him with those bright, pleading eyes. "Fine, Ilya. You're forgiven. But I really have to get to work now", he tries to walk past him again, but Ilya still doesn't move.
"Let me make it up to you", he says softly. "You have a phone, right? Give me your number. I want to take you out. A real date, without anyone interrupting us", he keeps up the pitiful expression while Shane simply watches him. "Please", he repeats one last time.
"Fine. Give me your phone”, Ilya hands it over immediately, and Shane types his number into it. "Now I really have to go. Bye, Ilya", he heads quickly toward the door while Ilya stares down at his phone as if that phone number were the most precious thing in the world.
"Bye, Shane."
Shane walks to the office knowing his entire plan not to think about Ilya had been ruined the exact moment their eyes met inside the café. Once he arrives, he greets JJ and the assistants before sitting down at his desk. He has barely settled into his chair when his phone vibrates inside his pocket with a new message.
Saturday. 7:00 p.m. Maison Laurent.