“Come on, Roma,” Luke said, sounding amused and a little resigned. “I feel like Rapunzel as it is.” He chuckled softly. “I even have the golden hair.”
Whatever Roman said, it made Luke’s smile dim. “Enough,” he said. “I’m neither careless nor dimwitted, Roma. Sebastian is a friend and he needs help. I know you’re worried, but I’m not budging on this.”
A pause.
“About that,” Luke said. “I don’t want Vlad around my place.”
Roman’s response made Luke roll his eyes.
“He’s a homophobic prick,” Luke said.
A pause.
“No, he hasn’t, but my home is my safe place,” Luke said. “I don’t want people like him looming over me and my guests. I know he’s bothering Sebastian.” Luke sighed. “Fine. But when are you coming home?”
There was a pause again.
Luke pouted. “That’s not soon.” He bit his lip. “I miss you. The bed is cold and empty without you.”
Roman’s response made Luke smile softly.
“Yeah,” he said. “Please be safe. Love you.”
Sebastian felt something in his chest clench. There had been a time when he’d dreamed of love, too, of having a steady partner to spend his life with. A time when he hadn’t been afraid to get hurt—couldn’t even imagine getting hurt by love. It felt like it had been in another life.
Luke hung up and sighed, dropping his head into his hands.
Sebastian cleared his throat and stepped into the kitchen. “Sorry—I didn’t mean to overhear, but…I’ll move out if your boyfriend is against—”
“Never mind him,” Luke said, lifting his head. “He’s just worried for me.” His expression became curious as his eyes swept over Sebastian, lingering on his neck. Luke smiled. “Got lucky tonight?”
Not exactly.
Sebastian shrugged and went to pour himself a glass of water.
“Did Vlad behave? I saw him when he returned. He was like a dark cloud.” Luke chuckled. “When he growled at me, it sounded like thunder.”
Sebastian gulped his water down and set the glass on the counter next to the sink. “Yeah,” he said, glad that his back was to Luke and he didn’t have to look him in the eye. A fresh wave of shame and mortification washed over him. Luke would judge him if he found out about what Sebastian had allowed to happen. Heck, Sebastian would judge the hell out of himself if he were in Luke’s place. But then again, Luke was dating a Russian.
“Can I ask you something?” Sebastian said after a moment of hesitation. He’d always liked Luke—he was easy to like—but he and Luke were more of casual friends. Sebastian didn’t think they’d ever talked about something serious.
“Sure,” Luke said, looking at him curiously.
“How can Roman not mind Vlad’s homophobia?”
A wrinkle appeared between Luke’s brows. “It’s not that Roman doesn’t mind—he just gets why Vlad is the way he is.” He sighed. “You have to understand that things are different in Russia, especially in the countryside. Homophobia is considered the socially acceptable norm rather than something close-minded and bad. It’s terrible, I know, but it is what it is.”
“Why isn’t Roman homophobic, too, then?”
Luke made a face. “Roman has his moments, too. And his situation is pretty unique: most of his family lives in Switzerland, and he spends a lot of time in the U.S. and Europe. He’s been subjected to homophobia to a lesser degree than most Russians.” Luke shrugged. “It helps that Roman is very open-minded when it comes to sex, so it wasn’t such a big leap for him.” He winced. “There are still times when I want to smack him. Roman doesn’t consider himself gay—he says he’s with me because he wants me, not my prick.” A soft, rather dopey smile appeared on Luke’s face. “It makes me a bit mad, but it’s also kind of sweet? I love him, and he loves me. No one is perfect. Some things are worth it. Love is worth it.”
Sebastian smiled faintly. He didn’t know whether he felt jealous or terrified for Luke. How could Luke allow himself to be so gone for a man who didn’t even identify as gay? It was a recipe for heartbreak—or happiness, if Roman’s feelings were genuine.
“Anyway, why are you asking?” Luke said, giving him a long look.
“Just curious.” Sebastian faked a yawn. “I’m knackered. Good night.”
“Good night,” Luke said, something like amusement flickering in his eyes.
Sebastian hurried out of the kitchen, hoping he wasn’t an open book.
He came to an abrupt halt in the corridor. The door to Vlad’s room was cracked open.
Wetting his lips, he walked to it as quietly as he could and peered into the crack.
Shirtless, Vlad was doing push-ups with one arm, his back muscles shifting and flexing with beads of sweat dripping down his spine.
Sebastian swallowed and tore his eyes away.
He returned to his room, wondering if the risk of being kidnapped by homophobic lunatics was preferable to staying under the same roof as Vlad.