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Adrik was standing quietly beside me this whole time, listening to my story. I had been avoiding looking at him. It was just easier to get through the story that way. He stood in front of me, taking my hands in his and wrapping my arms around his waist. He then pulled me to him and held me tightly. I rested my head against his chest, inhaling his scent to help me stay calm.
After several minutes in silence, he cupped my face in his large hands, forcing me to look at him. “You are remarkable,” he said, hugging me to him once again.
As we walked back toward the house, his fingers laced in mine, he was quiet. I didn’t mind the silence, but I was waiting on the usual change in behavior to happen. I was waiting for the way he looked at me to change.
He looked at me out of the corner of his eye, with that sexy smirk that I loved. “Bingo is definitely happening,” was all he said as he grinned at me.
It was exactly the thing I needed to hear. I started laughing and wrapped his arm around my shoulders so I could slide my arm around his waist. We walked in silence the rest of the way to the house, but he would periodically peek at me and kiss the top of my head.
Maybe he was going to be different too.
As we came out of the woods, the clouds were growing darker above us. Thunder rumbled in the distance and within a few seconds, a flash of lightning lit up the sky. I inhaled deeply, loving the smell of rain.
Adrik stopped and pulled me to him. He kissed me deeply, holding me against him tightly. My knees threatened to give way beneath me. I clung to him to keep from falling as I was caught completely off guard by the passion behind this kiss. My breaths came heavier as he was unrelenting. I felt like he was trying to convince me of his passion in just one kiss. Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, he kissed my lips softly. He looked deeply into my eyes. I was searching his eyes for the change I was expecting, but I saw nothing different. He looked at me with the same intensity he always had, maybe even a little more.
He kissed the tip of my nose and with an impish grin said, “Race you!” as he took off running toward the house.
“Oh, it’s on,” I said, taking off after him. He was fast, but so was I and he didn’t have couches to jump this time. On a straightaway, I was pretty fast. I easily caught up to him in a short distance. We still had around 200 yards to the house. He glanced to the side and saw me right at his heels, a wide smile on his face. He tried to speed up, but I was prepared and increased my speed as well, so I stayed right by him. I was expecting him to tire before we reached the house and then I could pass him.
We had maybe twenty yards to go and he started to give out. I easily passed him. Looking back, he had slowed to a walk, trying to catch his breath. I kept jogging the rest of the way to the back patio. I stood waiting for him, looking at my pretend watch the whole time. He was still panting when he finally caught up to me.
“How?” he said, breathlessly. “How are you so fast?”
“Many of those nights I spent away from my uncle’s house were spent running.” I winked at him.
“You’re like a gazelle.”
I laughed at him, still trying to catch his breath. “You okay? Do I need to send for someone to carry you in the house? I don’t think I can do it by myself,” I said as raindrops started to fall.
He was still partially bent over, trying to catch his breath, but he slung one arm around my shoulders and lifted one leg like I was going to pick him up. “Come on, I think you can do it. You almost killed me. It’s the least you can do.”
The rain started to fall harder. I grabbed his hand, pulling him along behind me. “You’re very dramatic for a Lord King Boss.”
As we got under one of the balconies and out of the rain, he suddenly stopped. “Lord King Boss?”
I laughed, “Yeah, that was the title I came up with for you the first night we met. I didn’t know who you were or what your title was.”
He thought for a minute. “I like it. It’s authoritative.”
“That’s exactly what I said!” I said dramatically. “Where are Viktor and Andrei? They need to hear this.”
As if he was waiting for me to say his name, Viktor appeared outside. “Boss, you have an important call.”
“Who is it?”
“Salvadori.”
He glanced at me, almost like he was seeking permission to take the call. I knew Salvadori was Anthony’s father. This was important. “Go. I’ll be fine,” I said.
We followed Viktor in the house. Adrik immediately went upstairs to his office with Viktor. I wandered into the kitchen to get a drink of water. Sprinting makes me thirsty. The house was quiet. Everyone must be in their rooms or gone. I stood in the kitchen, leaning against one of the counters, lost in my head. So much had happened in the last three days.
I heard heavy footsteps coming toward the kitchen. I looked up to see Ivan, Misha, and Stephen walking together, all looking very determined.
“You guys are going to fuck some shit up, aren’t you?” I asked.
Before they could answer, Viktor and Adrik came into the kitchen from upstairs. Adrik had changed into slacks and an oxford shirt, with the top two buttons unbuttoned. His hair was combed neatly, but he still hadn’t taken the time to shave. His stubble was fast approaching a full beard. I can’t say that I hated it, though. I caught myself looking forward to running my hands over that stubble later.
“Solnishko, Salvadori wants to meet with me,” Adrik said, walking to my side. He took my glass of water from my hand and finished it.
