So, after finishing my other story, I decided to at least throw one chapter of this one out. I'm going to try for weekly UDs. We'll see how that works out. The chapters may be smaller than normal, but will hopefully be more regular. This chapter is kind of setting everything up and leading into the action.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story, only the plot. All races mentioned in this story belong to the respectable tracks, not me.


Fuck. That was the first thing that popped into Dimitri Belikov's mind as he woke. I'm way too hot. He made to move from his position on the bed, only to find his movements constricted. He tensed. How did I fall asleep with someone in my bed? Number one, no one, I mean no one, sleeps in my bed. Especially if I'm in it. Number two, I never brought women back to my apartment. I groaned. Shit faced was not becoming on me. Glancing at my bedside clock, I realized I had three hours before my seven o clock meeting.

It could be worse. I grimaced as thoughts of my abusive father, who so happened to leave an empire for me, came to mind. Being New York's most eligible and rich bachelor had it's perks, but past wasn't something you could run from. I looked at the brunette from my spot at the side of my bed. She was pretty enough. She's beautiful, you ass. I scowled at my subconscious. Her skin was flawless and tan. She had a toned body that screamed athlete. Her figure was slim, but curvy at the same time, almost like she was built to be lightweight. I sat, staring in a fashion that would certainly be creepy had she been awake, until an alarm blared through the silence.

The beautiful creature inhabiting my bed jumped from the sheets. She searched frantically for her clothes, dressing hastily. I smirked, realising she had no idea I sat watching her. I cleared my throat, causing her to jump, then freeze. She turned slowly, the expression on her face causing me to laugh. The blush on her face was tantalizing, causing other parts of myself to awaken. She bit down on her lip, ripping a growl from my chest. I stood abruptly, not missing the once over she gave my body. I smirked. I'm pretty baby, but only on the outside. I strode to her, capturing her lips in my own, dominating her effectively. She melted instantly, meeting each thrust of my tongue with her own. Pulling back, I registered the breathless state she was in. She stepped back shakily, motioning to the door.

"I have to go. I'm already late…" I nodded, rubbing my chest absentmindedly.

"Bye, baby." She smiled wistfully, before turning and striding towards the foyer of my penthouse, black pumps clicking against the wood floor. Sighing, I turned towards the shower.

As I stepped under the spray, my mind strayed back to the dark haired beauty. Why couldn't I forget her already? She wasn't the first to be sexed up by me. Granted, I couldn't really recall the events of the previous night, only that my needs were satisfied and several of my well toned muscles ached in a delicious way. I hummed. Good night indeed. Only, how did we end up here? Normally, my needs were met somewhere else, suchs as their apartment, a club, a car, etc. I wasn't picky. But NEVER in my penthouse.

I towel dried, tying my hair back in a messily fashion. I threw a white dress shirt and black slacks on, not bothering to button the shirt. I padded to the kitchen, smiling upon seeing Sonya. She, as well as my head of security, Mikhail Tanner, lived with me. She cleaned and cooked, seeming all to happy with the tasks. Tanner was my shadow, effectively being paid to babysit a full grown man.

I thanked Sonya as she poured a bowl of cheerios for me. I pulled my phone from my pocket, calling my CFO. After his death, my father's empire of a company, Belikov Industries, was handed down to none other than me. I made my best friend, Ivan Zeklos, my CFO effective immediately. The man had been through more shit with me than his own family.

Ivan also had a side hobby he had conned me into investing in. Horse racing. He and I each owned a few, making up Belikov-Zeklos Stables. Our horses wore the colors royal blue and lime green. Our home track was here in New York at Belmont Park. This year, we each had a two year old colt a piece. Ivan's was a large dark bay horse by the name of Noble Renegade. He was a strong willed colt, giving Ivan a good chance of going to Kentucky next May. I, on the other hand, had a huge sorrel colt. Little Jubilee was anything but. He was ornery, ill-willed, but if he received a good trip, would blow the competition out of the water. "Tiny" as I called him, broke his maiden, or his first win, back in June, remaining undefeated through one more start.

Ivan and I both were trying for the Kentucky Derby next May. "Reny" was being transported to Aqueduct in a month and a half to start his derby prep races, whereas "Tiny" would leave at the end of this month to prepare for his prep race at Churchill Downs in Kentucky the first weekend in September.

Ivan answered on the first ring. "Dimka! How was your night? Did you score with the brown haired bombshell?" I laughed, typical Ivan.

"Yeah, that's beside the point. Are we heading to Belmont after our seven o clock?" Not that I had to ask him twice.

"Absolutely. Aren't you meeting Tiny's new jockey? What with him trying to kill Castile and all?" I chuckled, recalling the conversation I had with our trainer, Alberta Petrov, regarding Tiny's latest casualty. Castile now had a splinted forearm and a small limp, but still wanted to work as a groom. Gutsy.

"Yeah, yeah I am. Should be entertaining anyway. Alberta swears she can handle Tiny though. Says she's coming from Kentucky, straight off a breeding farm." Ivan hmmed.

"I wonder if she's hot?" I rolled my eyes, regretting that he couldn't see the action.

"In your pants Zeklos." He chuckled. After discussing more business, I finished my breakfast, dressed, and headed to the large, towering building with a 'B' plastered on the side.

My veyron came to a halt and I felt Tanner relax. I chuckled.

"Tanner, I like myself way too much to hurt either one of us." He smiled easily, nodding as he fell into step with me.

I strode through the foyer of the top floor. My assistant, Mia, immediately jumped to her feet. Before she would utter a word, I turned cold, almost black eyes on her. She seemed to wither on the spot.

The meeting dragged on endlessly, discussing an international merger. My mind kept wandering back to my bed this morning. The connection that had caused me to be so close to the mysterious woman I had woken up to was baffling to me. Never had I felt so, nice, to be that close to someone.

"Sound good Belikov?" I faced the man who spoke my name, tuning back into business.

xRose Garlandsx

My bugatti veyron slide easily into the parking space behind the shedrow of stables. Ivan and I stalked soundlessly towards the barn. Alberta emerged from a stall, hanging the banner with our brand back across the opening. Reny's handsome head popped out from within the stall. He grabbed a mouthful of hay before returning to the seclusion of his stall.

"Mr. Belikov, Mr. Zeklos. I assume you have come here to watch Rose work Tiny for the first time?" We nodded.

"Very well, I think they took to the track a few moments ago. They should be warming up now." We walked from the barn, making our way around the track to stand in front of the finish pole. I saw the familiar blonde, who worked as an outrider with our barn. I also noticed another colt that Alberta trained from a different stable. Colorful Ransom was his name I believe. The jet black colt jogged just in front of my sorrel colt. As they made their way towards the five furlong pole at the back stretch of the track, Alberta clicked her watch. The horses surged forward from an easy lope to an almost lazy run. Tiny stayed right behind the black colt before making a move around him as they turned onto the stretch. A smiled stretched across my face.

"There were no incidents?" Alberta shook her head as Ivan clapped my back.

"Welcome aboard the train to the Derby, my brother." His grin was contagious, soon resulting in Alberta and I both smiling. I nodded.

"He's found his match. I want to meet her." Alberta nodded.

"Absolutely, Mr. Belikov." She turned on her heel, presumably to fetch my new jockey.

"This is going to be amazing! Who knows! With two horses from ZB stables, we may have a shot at the crown!" I shook my head at his enthusiasm.

"One race at a time Ivan. Tiny will race in the Iroquois at Churchill in three weeks. We'll see how he handles being shipped to a new track and how he adjusts." He nodded, making a move to speak, but instead slamming his mouth closed. His eyes widened to the size of saucers. I turned to look behind me, curious to see what elicited that kind of reaction from Ivan, only to have myself freeze. Holy hell, this can't be reality.


There it is. Good? Bad? Can't tell? Let me know, your feedback means a lot to me.