“I said I wouldn’t do it unless I met the boss. And I made it very clear that I was needed to override all of your tricks.” Andrei’s smiled broadly, his dark eyes flashing with mischief. “They need me.”
Rowe scratched the red stubble on his chin, turning over Andrei’s words. “Risky but it might work.”
“They’re convinced I hate Vallois. That he’s the reason I got canned and I’m broke.” Andrei paused, his eyes pinned on Lucas. “Made it clear I’d be happy to be the one to pull the trigger.”
“I’m convinced,” Rowe muttered, his gaze moving between Lucas and Andrei, who continued to stare at each other as the tension built in the room.
“Anything else?” Lucas demanded in a low, business-like tone.
Andrei clenched his teeth, barely holding back a curse. What about the fact that he’d descended into hell to protect him? What happened to the ‘Come back to me’? He had a sickening feeling that what he’d thought had been happening was sadly one way. He’d thought that maybe Lucas could truly see him as a friend, as someone you have a beer with on occasion and just shoot the shit for laughs. Sure, he’d never reach the elite status of Ian or Rowe—and no one would be as precious to Lucas as Snow—but at least a regular friend.
No. Lucas obviously felt nothing more than guilt. Not real concern. But then Andrei had no one to blame by himself. Ian had warned him and two weeks apart had obviously given Lucas time to come to his senses.
“No,” he finally bit out.
“Rowe, leave.”
Rowe’s head snapped up and he grinned. “That’s probably not a good idea since I’m supposed to be keeping you alive.”
“Get the fuck out,” Lucas repeated, his voice little more than a snarl that left no question that he would physically throw the man from the room if his order was not immediately obeyed. Andrei remained guarded, surprised by his sudden display of emotion.
Rowe hesitated another couple of seconds, obviously enjoying his ability to annoy Lucas before he shrugged and ambled out of the room. Lucas followed closely on his heels, shutting the door behind him. He paused, his hand on the back of the door as he took a deep breath as if to steady himself.
“What do you want?” Andrei demanded, unable to keep the anger out of his voice.
Lucas was on him in a flash, slamming Andrei against the wall. Andrei’s grunt of pain was immediately followed by a long, deep groan of pleasure as Lucas kissed him. Two weeks of pent-up hunger and fear burned through them in a blinding flash. Lucas pressed the length of his body against Andrei’s and he still wasn’t close enough for Andrei. He slid one arm around Lucas’s waist while the other cupped the back of his head, holding him captive as he deepened the kiss. Damn, the man could kiss. If it wasn’t a slow seduction sneaking in past all of Andrei’s defenses, the man was a battering ram, busting through and claiming everything as his own.
Shifting, Lucas pressed one hand against Andrei’s recently damaged ribs, wringing a hiss of pain from him. Lucas broke off the kiss immediately and tried to step back, but Andrei tightened his hold, allowing barely more than an inch to separate them.
“You’re hurt,” Lucas ground out between clenched teeth.
“Nothing serious.”
Lucas’s eyes methodically swept over his face, mentally cataloguing each bruise and cut. “I want names. Everyone who touched you.”
Andrei couldn’t stop his grin. “Why?”
“To kill them.”
Andrei laughed then winced, his head dropping back against the wall. “Stop it. It fucking hurts to laugh.”
“Give me this,” Lucas snapped, glaring at the other man. “I’m stuck here with my thumb up my ass, waiting to hear something and I can’t do dick.”
Andrei slid the hand holding the back of Lucas’s head around to cup his cheek. He skimmed his thumb along his hard jaw, taking in the angry spark in his green-gray eyes. “This is a nice distraction.”
A lazy grin spread across Lucas’s soft lips and Andrei’s heart sped up. He’d missed that smile. “Wait till this is over and I own your ass again.”
“And here I thought you’d forgotten about me,” Andrei teased. He instantly felt lighter, the aches and pains spread throughout his body wiped away for now.
“Fuck you,” Lucas mumbled, but there was no heat to it.
“Gotten bored. Found a new ass.”
“Shut up.” Lucas swooped in for another rough kiss, but this time he moved his hand from Andrei’s ribs to press against the wall. When he ended the kiss, he pressed his forehead to Andrei’s and closed his eyes, exhaling noisily. “I’m tired of feeling useless while you take all the risks.”
“You can stay safe. If you’re not doing stupid shit, then I don’t worry while I’m in a fight.”
Lucas huffed as he pulled back. “I work. I spar with Rowe. I go home. That’s it.”