“Morning, puppy.”
Chad’s shoulders stiffened at the sound of Aiden’s voice. Peter had already left for work, and even though they were all but sure the danger was over he’dinsistedthat Aiden keep working as his bodyguard until Karen Pen was caught.
“I said, good morning,” Aiden said, walking around the table and coming into Chad’s view. He moved to the fridge and examined the bare shelves, turning to Chad with a frown. “What is it with you and Peter, huh? Are you allergic to actually stocking your fridge?”
“Hello, Aiden,” Chad said, ignoring the question. He took a sip of his protein shake and studied the other alpha over the rim of his glass. For some reason Aiden had skipped the professional suit he’d worn the two previous days, opting instead for tight jeans, a white t-shirt and a vintage brown leather jacket. He looked good, and Chad was annoyed with himself for noticing.
“So, a secretary, huh?” Aiden said, grabbing a bottle of water and coming to sit down across the table from Chad. He unscrewed the bottle and smirked. “You have interesting enemies.”
Chad rolled his eyes and Aiden laughed.
“So what’s on the agenda for today?” Aiden asked, leaning back in his chair and spreading his legs out under the table. His boot bumped into Chad’s bare foot prompting Chad to move his leg back.
“Precision rifle training,” Chad said. Aiden perked up at that, his smirk turning into a genuine smile.
“I’m an excellent marksman,” he said, sounding proud. “I’ll help you out.”
Chad frowned. Aiden sounded sincere and eager, and Chad wanted to know the catch.
“Help me out how?” he asked suspiciously.
“Scope adjustments, wind estimation, you know, whatever you need help with,” Aiden said, grinning happily. “I used to teach the precision rifle training class before I took over advanced hand to hand combat.”
“Did you like teaching?” Chad asked. He’d sort of had the impression that teaching classes at the training center was something Peter forced his more experienced men to do as part of their contracts, not something they volunteered for.
“I liked making sure the guys I would be working with were up to scratch,” Aiden said, shrugging. “And it’s a good way of keeping yourself from developing bad habits.”
“Well, I guess that’s true,” Chad conceded.
“So when are we leaving?” Aiden asked, bouncing his knee. He looked impatient.
“Are you in a hurry?” Chad asked, tipping his glass up high and finishing off the rest of his protein shake.
“No, but watching you slurping down that shake is boring as hell.”
Chad frowned. He wasn’t slurping, and Aiden was way out of line. He didn’t have the right to be bored. He was supposed to be silent and unobtrusive and make sure Chad was safe. Nothing else.
“Fine. We can head out now and get a workout in before the class,” he said, rising from his chair and rinsing out his glass. “Let me just go get my stuff and I’ll meet you in the hallway.”
Chad left the room, grabbing his gym bag from the closet in the bedroom and packing some workout clothes and his toiletry bag. Then he hesitated and put the bag down. If he changed now he wouldn’t have to do it at the training center, and Aiden would be deprived of the chance to ogle him as he changed. He hastily stripped off his clothes and changed into the athletic briefs, nylon shorts and compression shirt he’d packed in the bag and shoved his normal clothes into the bag in their place.
“I’m ready to go,” he said, walking into the outer hallway. Aiden gave his changed clothes an arched look, but he didn’t comment.
“You’re not bringing your own rifle?” he asked instead.
“I don’t have one,” Chad said, walking to the elevator with Aiden beside him.
“And you don’t think Peter would let you borrow one?” Aiden asked, stepping into the elevator and pushing the button for the underground garage.
“I don’t need to borrow one,” Chad said, annoyed. “The class description said all equipment would be provided.”
“Well then,” Aiden said, smirking. “If the class descriptionsaid.”
Chad had to swallow the urge to punch the other alpha, only the reminder of how outclassed he was letting him keep his temper in check.
As the door opened and Aiden stepped into the garage, Chad prayed that Merchant and Dawn managed to track down Karen Pen as soon as possible. He didn’t know how much more of Aiden he could take.
***
