“It’s not my place to inquire about your love life,” Andrei said a bit stiffly when they were alone again.
“But it is the place of a ‘good friend,’” Lucas teased, but was disappointed when the smile didn’t returned to Andrei’s lips. “I said something earlier that bothered you. What was it?”
“No, you didn’t.” Andrei’s response came fast as he picked up his glass to sip his wine.
“Don’t lie.”
Andrei’s eyes snapped to Lucas’s face and narrowed over the rim of the glass. Setting the glass carefully on the table, Andrei sat back in his chair. He looked as if he were trying to appear relaxed and at ease, but there was no missing the tension in his frame. “If we’d met under normal circumstances, do you think we could have been friends?”
“No,” Lucas said without hesitation.
Andrei gave a jerky nod, his jaw clenching at that emphatic declaration.
“My answer has nothing to do with you,” Lucas continued. “I don’t have friends. At least, not what you have in mind.”
Andrei frowned. “What about Dr. Frost and Rowe and Ian?”
“They are my family.” Lucas paused and picked up his glass, swirling the wine for a moment. He watched the color wash over the fine crystal, catching the light. “For me, there is my family and then there’s the rest of the world. There’s nothing in between.” Lucas took a sip, savoring the wine as he set his glass on the table. He looked at Andrei for several seconds before venturing a tentative smile. “But talking to you has me thinking that I may need to reconsider adding a new layer to my life.”
“Forgive me if I don’t hold my breath. A controlling bastard like you would probably need a few years to examine the pros and cons of such a decision.”
“Without a doubt,” Lucas said, his grin returning.
“So it’s got nothing to do with the fact that I come from a poor family and that I work for your family and I’m still trying to get my bachelor’s degree from an online college and not some ivy league college and—”
Lucas’s loud bark of laughter halted Andrei’s list as he slumped in his chair. Swallowing the last of his chuckles, Lucas leaned forward, both his hands sliding across the crisp white tablecloth as if he were struggling to keep from reaching for Andrei. He pinned the other man with his eyes and Andrei dragged in a deep breath. “The only one at this table who cares about where you came from is you.”
Lucas saw it then. The last of the tension fell off of Andrei and his smile became more open. He hadn’t even realized that the man was holding some last protective barrier around him, but when it finally fell away, Lucas was…shocked. As they talked and enjoyed their food, Andrei’s face became more animated when he spoke and his laughter tumbled from his lips a little easier and fuller. The light he had been guarding inside of him had been set free and Lucas was simply in awe that he’d shielded it that effectively.
“Are you straight?”
Andrei’s entire body froze except for his gaze, which jumped to Lucas’s face. Their plates had just been cleared away and they’d been easily chatting all evening. Lucas almost regretted the wariness that crept into Andrei’s eyes, but he simply couldn’t hold back the question any longer.
What surprised Lucas was that Andrei didn’t immediately answer. Seconds stretched on and the other man stared at him like a deer in the headlights. That was almost more telling than any answer he could utter now.
“Why?” Andrei finally replied.
Lucas smiled slowly and they both knew Andrei had evaded the question. “I’m curious. You asked about my preferences. It’s a fair question.”
“I don’t know.”
Lucas’s frowned. “You don’t know if it’s a fair question?”
“I don’t know…if…I’m…straight,” Andrei admitted haltingly.
Lucas carefully smoothed his face of expression while his heart lurched in his chest. That was certainly not the answer he’d been expecting. He’d fully anticipated a lusty and maybe even a laughing YES that would finally stomp out the last of his attraction for Andrei. But that…was thrilling and frightening… and even hopeful.
Andrei looked torn. Panic edged his gaze. If Lucas said the wrong thing here, Andrei would forcefully shut him down and there would be no broaching this topic again. Lucas needed Andrei to feel safe and comfortable with him, but that wasn’t exactly his specialty. That was more Ian’s domain. He was going to fuck this up.
“That’s a surprisingly honest answer,” Lucas said carefully. “Have you been with a man?”
Andrei glared at him, clenching his jaw.
Lucas inwardly winced. That was wrong. “I’m sorry. Is this too personal for two good friends? Should we talk about something else? What chance do you think the Bengals have of making it to the Super Bowl this year?”