Either they didn’t care, too caught up in their own existences, or they assumed someone had placed a delivery—which the Velvet Brew didn’t do, but whatever.
He found the elevators across the room and it took him almost five minutes to reach them. There were two others sharing the space on his ride up to the top floor, but one was on her multi-slate the entire time, and the other was an elderly man who didn’t seem remotely interested in why someone like Nate would be heading to the penthouse suite.
Literally no one was bothered by him. He wasn’t causing any sort of problems. This situation was vastly different from most of the ones he’d been in and worried over, of course, but what if the concept was the same?
What if Kaz was right and Nate’s biggest issue was himself?
Maybe he should schedule another appointment with the therapist…
The other two got off before him, leaving him some time alone with his thoughts. This past week, he’d played with the idea of taking Kaz up on his offer about Quartet Air, but part of himself had been holding back. He didn’t like handouts, had been taught to work for the things he wanted. Nuri was the hardest worker Nate knew, and he wouldn’t dishonor his brother by taking the easy route simply because he could.
But…At the same time, Nuri had been trying to convince him to accept help from Silver for over a year now, hadn’t he? Perhaps getting a leg up on the competition wouldn’t be such a bad thing…
There’d have to be stipulations, of course. The fact he was dating Kazimir couldn’t be a reason he was able to keep the position. Nate had to prove he was capable of it. That was the only way to ensure he didn’t become a burden to anyone, not the other employees, the customers, or Kaz. There was also the fact that he didn’t know if they really had a future together to consider.
Kazimir claimed that he wanted Nate now, but would that change? People like Kaz, notorious for turning sex partners into notches on the bedpost, had a tendency to slip back into their old ways, didn’t they? Could Nate really trust that this was real? Hell, it’d only been a little over a month since they’d started. Two since they’d had that first interaction.
Was nine weeks long enough for authentic feelings to form?
The elevator came to a stop and dinged a second before the doors eased open. Nate was an idiot. How could he stand here and judge someone like Kazimir Ambrose when he himself knew absolutely nothing about long-term relationships? This was also his first, same as the Devil. They were both just trying to navigate a surprising turn of events. Neither one of them had expected to catch feelings for the other—
He had feelings for Kaz.
It hit him as he stepped out and he came to an abrupt halt in front of the closed door to the suite.
Nate liked Kazimir. Like, enjoyed his company and thought about him when they weren’t together and wondered what he was up to, kind of liked. Had the Devil fucked his brains out of his skull?
He groaned and ran a hand through his hair, tugging lightly at the strands in a poor attempt to snap himself out of it. The truth was right under his nose however, inescapable now that he’d finally opened his eyes to it. What other reason could he possibly have for spending this past week trying to work on things with Kaz, if not for the fact thathe wantedthings to work?
All those pretty words and promises Kaz had made him at the restaurant must have done a number on him.
And now he was thinking of the word pretty and how silkily it rolled off Kaz’s tongue whenever he—
No.
Nate shook his head and took a step forward. He couldn’t afford to have this crisis out here in the hallway. If Kazimir caught up and found him standing here, he’d pick up that something was wrong and pester Nate until he spilled. He wasn’t ready to talk about his emotions just yet. Wasn’t ready to admit out loud that maybe, maybe, he wanted to be the Devil’s boyfriend more than he’d let on in the past.
A sharp beeping sound pulled him out of his thoughts and he lifted his head, a green light shooting out from a panel directly in front of him, set in the center of the black door. It scanned over him and then beeped a second time.
“Facial recognition successful,” a computerized female voice echoed through the small speaker at the top a second before the clicking of a lock came and the door swung a few centimeters inward to show it’d opened. “Welcome home, Nate Narek.”
His mouth dropped open and he stared dumbly for a moment at those last words.
Home? This was not his home. This was—
What was that sound?
Nate leaned forward, turning his ear toward the crack with a frown. There was the distinct sound of…running water? Had Kaz left the sink on or something? Washer machine? Curious, he pushed open the door the rest of the way and stepped into the apartment, pausing once again to take it all in with a gasp.
The floors were dark gray marble, the walls done in more of the same but a shade lighter. The main area was rectangular with curved corners, windows making up practically the entire wall directly across from the entrance. The velvet blinds had been left open to showcase a view of the city at night. There were two loveseats and two couches, organized so that they all circled around a glass coffee table at the center of the living room. Afireplace set on the right wall was lit, the flames glowing flashes of pale and neon pink.
To the left, was a long bar and a billiards table with an unfinished game, a pool cue tossed casually over its surface as if in a hurry. Nate took a step in further and spotted the kitchen on that side as well, attached to the bar, hidden behind a partial wall that separated the foyer from the rest of the floor. Down the right was a hallway, the lights on, casting a golden glow across the polished surfaces.
The sound of running water was coming from that direction, and curious, Nate headed toward it slowly. There were a few closed doors on the way, but he passed them until he found one slightly ajar. Just as he was about to press his hand against it and force it the rest of the way open, the sound stopped.
He hesitated, unsure if it was safe to proceed. This was his first time here, and despite their efforts to get to know one another better, Nate still didn’t know much about the sorts of things Kazimir got up to with the Brumal. He had bits and pieces from his friendships with Flix and Berga, but even those were vague. What if this was dangerous? What if someone had broken in and—
He cut that thought short, realizing how pathetic he was being.
