The space of this house, the entrenched wealth that filled it, wasn’t comfortable.
“>” Alexei reminded him, using the affectionate diminutive of his name their mother had bestowed on him the first time Alexei dragged him home after school when they were younger.
“>”
Alexei gave him a little shake.“>”
“>” Kyle waved a hand to encompass the space they stood in.“>”
Alexei sighed deeply—then smacked Kyle upside the head.“>”
Kyle elbowed him, hard, in the side.”>”
“>”
“>”
“>” Alexei stubbornly replied.“>”
“>”
Alexei gave him an unimpressed look before shoving him toward the stairs.“>”
Kyle gave him the middle finger, because that was their nonverbal version ofI love youand had been since they were kids, before taking the stairs two at a time to the second floor.He slowed his pace once he came off the last step, his sneakers sinking into the plush runner rug spanning the length of the hallway.Seven bedrooms—not counting an office, parlor, a library with actual books, and an entertainment level on the first sublevel—meant there was enough room for them all if one or two bunked up with each other.
If everyone could hide from the stranger in their midst the fact that Kyle would be sleeping with Jamie.
Figuring out where the master bedroom suite was located didn’t take very long.The door was half-open, Jamie’s many Goyard suitcases stacked neatly near the walk-in closet.The number of clothes and accessories Jamie had insisted everyone bring, not to mention the quality he paid for out of his own pocket when they came up short, would’ve been ridiculous if Kyle didn’t understand that appearances in this world were just as important as a person’s wealth.Shaking his head, Kyle tipped the first suitcase flat on the floor and opened it up, intent on unpacking since it was the only thing hecoulddo.
He was nearly done hanging up all the suits Jamie had chosen to bring with him when he heard footsteps approaching the bedroom.
“Kyle?Alexei said you were up here,” Jamie called out.
“Yeah,” Kyle said as he secured the clasp on the second to last suitcase and pushed it against the wall in the closet.“Keeping busy.”
Jamie stepped inside the bedroom, closing the door behind him and locking it.Kyle ignored Jamie in favor of finishing the unpacking.
“Donovan’s making everyone brunch.It should be ready in about thirty minutes,” Jamie said.
“Great.I’m starving.”
“You’re pissed.”
“That too,” Kyle admitted through clenched teeth.
Jamie unbuttoned his suit jacket and shrugged out of it, carrying it with him into the closet so he could hang it up.He leaned his shoulder against the doorframe once he was done, loosening his tie a little as he watched Kyle work.
Kyle could outwait him, but he wasn’t in the mood to.“I hate being useless.”
“It’s for the cover—”
“Iknowit’s for the fucking cover.I just hate it.”Kyle shook his head, trying to ignore how closelyuselessrubbed up againsthelpless.“Reminds me too much of when I was a kid.”
The admission was hard to make, but Kyle knew Jamie would understand.This wasn’t a wartime PTSD issue so much as a childhood one, and he hated being reminded of that, especially right now.
“I’m sorry,” Jamie said quietly.
“It’s not your fault.”
