“No issues?” he asked, smirking.
“Nope, smooth sailing like last time.”
“Good. You got another tonight? I couldn’t remember, and my fuckin’ phone went flat while the goddamn charger is broken. Well, now it is.”
I shook my head. “Sounds like it’s not your night, and yes, it’s only this one. I’m heading home.”
“I’ll follow you.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “You don’t—”
“I’m following.”
“Okay. Thank you, and see you next time.”
He tipped his chin up to me, and apparently, that was his reply. He turned and stalked to his car. Smiling, I suddenly felt more comfortable from my little pep talk earlier.
I would put Adrik in the client bubble, and that was it.
As soon as I googled what he’d said in Russian.
Chapter Three
West
I wasn’t sure what happened to me over the two weeks before our next appointment. But my little talk to myself went out the window. Worse. Adrik kept popping into my mind, even when I jerked off. I tried pushing him out, but no matter who I pictured, it would morph into Adrik, which had me coming instantly.
I’d kept myself busy with other clients, school, studying, and helping Lucas move into the house he and Wreck got, but it wasn’t enough, obviously. I even visited a bookstore to buy the rest of the series for Adrik. The books were bundled in my arms. Death had given me a weird look about the gift, but he didn’t say anything. I wished he had. Maybe then I would have seen some sense and kept the parcel in the car or thrown it out the window. Only books weren’t meant to be treated like that. I could have kept them for myself and had two sets of them or given them to Lucas and Wreck as a present.
Shit, why hadn’t I thought of that before?
I glanced to the shrubbery beside the doors and considered hiding them before I went in. I’d collect them on the way out, but I worried the guards would think I was planting a bomb or something and shoot me before asking.
Taking a deep breath, I placed the wrapped book pile under one arm and opened the door. As I stepped through, the guards looked over. One grunted and nodded toward the elevator. With a smile, I made my way there and pressed the button. It now seemed like the guards weren’t worried about me. I could have gotten away with hiding the books, damn it.
My stomach kicked up its fluttering when the doors opened, and I stepped into the elevator. I knew there were cameras; I’d seen them. It meant I couldn’t drop the books and rest my hands on my knees while I hyperventilated.
Stupid books. Stupid me for being nice.
The ride up went too fast, and when I stepped into the condo, I knew Adrik wouldn’t be waiting, so I quickly made my way into the kitchen before my nerves got the better of me and I hid in the closet.
The lack of scent hit me as soon as I reached the kitchen and didn’t find Adrik in there. He wasn’t cooking. Had I gone on about his food being amazing too much, and it put him off? Or was it the mention of cooking for his family that had done it?
Dear God, why did he want me back if he didn’t like what I said? Again, I’d been surprised when Country told me I was coming back and that Adrik had booked me for the next two months on every second weekend. I acted cool when he’d said it, but on the inside, I was throwing rainbow glitter all around while dancing and singing.
Which wasn’t a good sign. I was too happy to come back.
Although I wasn’t so sure, because with Adrik not cooking, what did it mean? What would we be doing? I doubted having a deep and meaningful chat would be on the cards.
I placed the books on the counter and stilled when I heard pounding footsteps in the house. Could he have forgotten I was coming?
Adrik turned into the kitchen with his phone in hand. He took my breath away. He wore a dark blue suit with a white shirt under it. “We eat out,” he stated. His eyes landed on the wrapped present, and he stopped still.
“So… um, I got you a little something. It’s only small…. Well, it looks big, but really the…. If you don’t like it, I’ll take it and give it to a friend… but you might like it.” His gaze lifted to mine, and my lips snapped shut because intensity filled his eyes.
He moved to the counter and unwrapped the gift in seconds. The pile of books slid to the side.
“I thought you might like the rest of the series. Just remember with each one, they do get better. I thought so anyway, and I also found at the end one, I still craved more, but I don’t think the author will be doing another.”
His jaw clenched. He breathed roughly, causing his nostrils to flare.
“Ty tak dobr. Spasibo za etot dobryy podarok.”
“Sorry?” I asked, not understanding a word since I hadn’t magically learned Russian. Okay, I had started to study it online, but he spoke so quickly I didn’t pick up on one word.
“Thank you,” he said. I was sure that wasn’t all he’d said, but I wasn’t going to ask again.
“You’re welcome.” I smiled. When he didn’t say anything and he wouldn’t stop looking at the books, I asked, “Where are we going for dinner?”
“Somewhere.”
“Okay,” I drew out. “Way to be cryptic.”
His grin clutched my heart and warmed my body completely. Not good.
“Come,” he ordered, and turned. We made our way to the elevator, where he pressed the button, and since I hadn’t long arrived, the doors opened straightaway.
Stepping in, I queried, “Am I wearing the appropriate clothes for this mystery place?”
“Da” was all he said before typing something in his phone. Okay then, I guess where we were going wasn’t too fancy.
Panic took me, and I pulled my own phone free. West: We’re on the move. He’s taking me out to dinner.
Death: Where?
West: I don’t know. I think he wants it to be a surprise.
“Tell your guard he can follow. It will be safe where we are going,” Adrik said.
“Um… you know about him?”
He stared down at me. “Da. My men have seen him. It is good to know they take care of their people.”
I nodded with a warm smile. “They do. They’re great like that.” I glanced back down to the phone. Death: This is not good. I’ll call in more people.
I quickly typed out: No need. Adrik said you can follow, and it’s safe where we’re going.
The doors dinged just as Death replied with: Since he knows about me, I want clearance to wherever we’re going.
“Adrik?”
He glanced over his shoulder as we made our way to the guards waiting by the front doors. “Um, my guard would like clearance to wherever we’re going.”
He nodded. “He will have it.”
“Sir, are you sure about taking—”
“Do not ask question again, Leonid.”
Leonid dropped his gaze. “Yes, sir.”
They scrambled to open the doors when Adrik started for them. We went outside, and I saw Death already sitting and waiting in his car. Adrik slipped into the back of a damn limousine. I refrained from clapping in glee at my first ride and climbed in after him.