Chapter Five
Vitki knew Ivo had questions, reservations, and he wished he could answer them all. He just couldn’t. That wasn’t his place. The urge to wrap his fingers around Max’s throat was riding him hard. It was too bad the man was already dead.
All of this should have been explained to Ivo before he even left the United States. The council should have sent an envoy at the very least. Ivo was walking into this blind, and from what Vitki had been able to put together, the man had no idea their world even existed.
Vitki pulled Ivo to a stop when Yuval hurried up to them. “Report.”
“The way ahead is blocked.”
Vitki raised an eyebrow. “Blocked?”
“I spotted at least three shooters in the trees surrounding the gate.”
“More shooters?” When Vitki nodded, Ivo turned and headed back the way they’d come.
“Where are you going?” Vitki asked.
Ivo paused and turned, a scowl on his handsome face. “I’ve had it with all this danger crap. If this is what being rich is like, Max can keep his damn money.”
Ivo started to walk again. Vitki growled and went after the man. “You came here to bury Max, remember?”
“You said he’s already here. My job is done. See you around, Vitki,” Ivo said without looking back at him.
“He is really leaving?” Yuval asked. “But it is not safe.”
“Him, I like,” Miro said with a snicker.
Vitki gave a growl as he hurried after Ivo. “You can’t go into the forest alone, Ivo. I have already told you it is dangerous.”
“And so is being around you guys. I’ll take my chances with bears and lions, or even a deer at this point.”
Vitki heard thecrackof a rifle and reacted out of instinct. He slammed into Ivo, taking the man down. He pressed his chest into Ivo’s back as Yuval and Miro returned fire.
So much for sneaking Ivo into the estate.
* * * *
“This is exactly what I’m talking about!” Ivo yelled beneath Vitki, his terror tangible. “Get the hell off of me so I can get out of here.”
“Standing will only make you a target.” Vitki’s words were spoken so close to Ivo’s ear that a shiver raced through him. As dire as the situation was, Ivo couldn’t help but squirm under Vitki’s weight. When was the last time he’d had a lover? It was sad that Ivo had to really think about it and even sadder when he couldn’t remember.
Vitki’s scent filled Ivo’s lungs. It was warm, masculine, and made Ivo’s cock hard. He squirmed again. He just wasn’t sure if it was to get away or get closer.
“Lie still,” Vitki growled into his ear, but Ivo detected the note of need in his voice.
The attraction was mutual, and why on earth was Ivo thinking about this right now? There were snipers in the trees who were probably aiming their scopes at him at this very moment. Ivo should be worried about dying, not getting laid.
“Then get off of me.” He bucked, but Vitki didn’t move an inch. The only thing Ivo managed to do was rub his butt against Vitki’s cock.
Which had grown hard.
Ivo struggled to turn over so he could push Vitki off of him. As he spun, their lips brushed. Vitki leaped off Ivo so fast that, for a second, Ivo thought the man had been shot. He stared down at Ivo with a shocked expression.
“Now, you’re a target,” Ivo said.
“That is my job.” Vitki jabbed a finger at Ivo. “Stay down.”
Ivo watched Vitki walk away, and damn if the sight of Vitki’s backside wasn’t enjoyable. But now Ivo was confused. He knew he had felt the intense attraction between them. So why did Vitki act as if his lips had touched a rattlesnake’s?
