Lucas closed the distance between them and threaded his fingers through Andrei’s hair, so that the other man sighed happily. “Get there early. Leave early. And the rest of the night is ours.” Lucas’s hot breath danced across Andrei’s ear.
“Thank fucking God,” Andrei growled, grabbing Lucas’s arm to pull him out of the elevator and toward the car. Lucas’s laughter echoed through the parking garage, bouncing off the concrete structure so that it wrapped around them. It lifted Andrei’s spirit. The cold, distant man he’d spent the day with was fading, giving way to the man that sent chills through him and made him long for something more.Chapter 13The Art Museum glowed with twinkling white lights and candles in delicate hurricane glasses reflecting off shining marble. Cincinnati’s elite had turned out in their finest to flaunt their wealth and, if anyone happened to remember it, raise money for the Fine Arts Fund. Lucas had attended only once several years ago at the request of a woman he’d been dating at the time. The relationship had ended the next day and Lucas had been content to cut a check each year rather than make another appearance. In fact, he had a rule that he only attended these functions if he could accomplish other business while making the required social appearance.
Tonight held to that rule if he could get in a few words with Thomas Lynton while making his usual donation. But instead of a high-heeled beauty wrapped in a designer gown on his arm, Lucas walked next to a man who simply took his breath away. When Lucas had first seen Andrei in his tailored tuxedo, he was sure he’d never seen anyone look more handsome. His raven-black hair shone as it fell free and framed his clean-shaven face. It cast his dark eyes in shadow, making him look even more mysterious and exotic. Lucas was torn between wanting to show Andrei off to the glittering elite and locking the door of the penthouse so that he would never have to share the man.
“Any last words of advice?” Andrei said in a low voice after Lucas handed over his tickets and they stepped inside the museum.
“Smile. Keep it simple. And if anyone asks you a question, spout a bunch of useless gibberish. No one will question it.”
A snort escaped Andrei and he grinned, causing Lucas’s heart to quicken. “Got it.”
“And don’t leave the main room without me.”
Andrei lifted both eyebrows in surprise.
Lucas smirked. “Both the men and women at these things are wolves. They get you off alone and they’ll eat you alive.”
Andrei coughed, covering up his laugh as Lucas smiled and strolled over to the nearest bar. He bypassed the champagne and various wines for a tumbler of bourbon while Andrei stuck with water and a slice of lime. They paused for a moment, surveying the scene.
“With all this security, it doesn’t look like you needed me tonight,” Andrei said as he lifted his glass to his mouth.
Lucas frowned, his eyes skimming over the guards in obvious blue uniforms mixed with the grim-faced men with ear pieces and bulges under the jackets marking them as part of the private security force. Would any of them risk their lives to protect Lucas? No. But that wasn’t why Lucas had brought Andrei along. If he was honest with himself, security hadn’t even crossed his mind, but he wasn’t ready to face those thoughts just yet.
From there, Lucas launched into the fray with Andrei at his side. It had been months since Lucas had made a social appearance and everyone was eager to hear about his supposed car accident and the unfortunately break between him and Stephanie Breckenridge. Lucas deftly dodged and maneuvered through the pointed questions like a championship boxer, while introducing Andrei as an old friend who was in the security business.
To his surprise, Andrei took to the party and the people as if he’d been born to it. More than once, Lucas found himself staring as Andrei easily chatted about one thing or another with a voice of authority and then switched to politics or the Bengals season with a natural ease. Andrei was a chameleon and briefly, Lucas was jealous. He’d had to work so hard to become comfortable around these people, to give himself the right polished shine so that he wouldn’t betray his own humble beginnings. But Andrei just made it look…easy, almost enjoyable.
While the sponsors made their speeches, Lucas and Andrei slipped away to a nearby gallery, pretending to look over the items for the silent auction.
“I’m impressed,” Lucas said, keeping his voice low so they couldn’t be overheard by the few people who were lingering nearby.
“Thought I’d embarrass you?” Andrei murmured.
“No, I just never thought you’d be so at ease considering your comments about your past.”