“It’s fine,” Seanfinallysaid.
Alexei didn’t look like he believed him, but he eventually stepped back, taking with him a warmth that Sean immediately missed. It was annoying to see that Alexei didn’t seem at all affected by what they’d just done. Whatever shred of hope Sean carried at the thought that maybe Alexei’s aggressive need had been real and not a show withered away at the nearly put-together pictureAlexeimade.
Sean could do nothing but focus on the mission, so he did his best to will away the desire crawling beneath his skin. Ignoring everything they’d just done took more effort than he was used to, but by the time Alexei palmed open the door, the flush throughout Sean’s body had died down and he could meet Jansen’s too-knowing eyes and disgusting smirk withoutflinching.
“Upstairs is off-limits,” Declan snapped at theirarrival.
“Was line for bathroom,” Alexei said with an insolent shrug before wrapping his arm around Sean’swaist.
The touch, even through his clothes, was almost electric. Sean leaned into Alexei, knowing he couldn’t very well put distance between them now, not after what Declan and Jansen had seen in the bedroom. He’d be embarrassed about his reactions in the bedroom later, when he was alone, and the mission was completed. Right now, the only thing that mattered was getting through the rest of thenight.
Declan and Jansen escorted them back downstairs, with Alexei never letting him go. Sean was aware of the eyes on them as they rejoined the party, of the way people seemed more amused than anything else. The handful of rude compliments directed Alexei’s way were laughed off, but Sean was aware of how hard Alexei held onto him whenresponding.
He wasn’t sure if Alexei was angry that people had drawn the correct conclusion or not, but they weren’t in any position for him to ask. So Sean kept his mouth shut and smiled blandly through the subtle and not so subtle teasing in the lead-up todinner.
The tables outside on the patio were lavishly set and decorated, with everyone’s names floating across a tiny holographic display above each plate. Sean found their spots at the table overseen by Adrian and Chloe, with Declan, Jansen, and one other couple they’d met earlier as their fellow diners. Sean smiled at the table at large as he and Alexei took their seats between Chloe on his side and Jansen onAlexei’s.
Chloe ducked her head a little, catching Sean’s eye to give him a quick wink, discreetly tapping the side of her neck. “Looks like you and Alexei managed to find some time for yourselves judging by thatmark,hmm?”
Sean lifted a hand to a spot of warmth his collar had been rubbing against since the bedroom. He couldn’t see it, but he could feel the faint heat of a bruise coming up against his fingertips, drawn from Alexei’smouth.
“He gets bored easily,” was the only thing Sean could thinktosay.
“I’m sure youentertainhim.”
Sean managed a faint smile at her words, hoping she’d let thesubjectdrop.
Dinner passed by in a blur Sean would remember later, when he could pick it apart in detail beyond the warm press of Alexei’s hand on his thigh that came and went throughout the meal. The way his voice sounded, low and deep in the curve of Sean’s ear when Alexei would whisper about the ridiculous food being served before the English dropped into Russian that Sean couldn’tunderstand.
But Sean was a professional and incredibly good at his job, even with the distraction Alexei presented. Sean smiled and laughed and talked his way through the meal, through the toasts, and through dessert, keeping up the conversation while ignoring Declan’s heavy stare. Jansen and Declan talked off and on, keeping their voices low enough that Sean couldn’toverhear.
Even if he couldn’t eavesdrop, Sean knew they’d accomplished what they needed to while here. The surveillance bugs were currently embedding themselves in Adrian’s home office. The MDF would be able to work on accessing them once they got off the property and gave headquarters aheadsup.
It was closing on midnight when the dinner party finally wound down, the after-dinner drinks decimated along with late-night snacks the caterers offered up to anyone still hungry. Alexei wasn’t one to say no, even after dinner. Sean was too focused on taking names and contact information from prospective clients to be derailedbyfood.
“I hope you enjoyed yourselves tonight,” Adrian said with a pointed smirk in Sean’s direction as they were shown to the front door by thehosts.
Sean glanced over his shoulder at where Declan and Jansen were still engrossed in an intense conversation in the sitting room they left behind. Neither man seemed ready toleaveyet.
“Good time,” Alexei replied with a grin Sean could tell didn’t really reach his eyes. But Adrian wouldn’t know that about him, and found Alexei’s response amusinganyway.
Adrian laughed deeply at that comment, patting Alexei on the shoulder as they walked down the hall. “If you have time tomorrow, we can finish up the meeting from last week. Say, overlunch?”
“Sounds great,” Sean said. “Where should wemeetyou?”
“My brother has a morning meeting with a client he wants me to sit in on. I’ll have someone escort you to my office in Olympus around 1:00 p.m. We’ll go to The Vine afterward. They always have a private room readyforme.”
The Vine was the exclusive three-starred Michelin restaurant inside Olympus where a meal could run into the thousands of dollars for a single person. Sean absently wondered if they’d be expected to pick upthetab.
“We’ll bethere.”
“Thanks for dinner,” Alexei said as they reached thefrontdoor.
The maid from earlier was still on duty and silently palmed open the door for them. Sean quickly scanned the front drive, only seeing two vehicles left, one of which wastheirs.
“Yes, thank you,” Sean said, remembering to smile at their host. “We’ll see youtomorrow.”
Adrian’s smile turned lascivious. “Have funtonight.”
