We stopped at the passenger side to Adrik’s car. I waved to Dimitri in his own vehicle, which he returned. I glanced back to the house to see the others had gone back inside. But then Adrik’s hand cupped my cheek. I faced him, tipping my head back in time to have his mouth on mine.

“There will be no trouble. Dimitri is just a… what do you say, worrywart?”

I grinned. “That’s it.”

“I am businessman. I have people wanting attention. The security keeps them at bay.”

“Okay.”

“You trust me to take care of you?”

Of course I did. Lucas had told me how he saw Adrik lost with rage on my behalf. I’d asked for the details the other day, and Lucas mentioned how he’d never heard such an animalistic roar come from someone before, but he did and then witnessed Adrik advance on that man and snap his neck. All in a matter of seconds. Apparently, he’d been wracked with fury on my behalf.

I rested my hand on his chest. “I trust you with everything, Adrik.”

His eyes darkened right before he claimed my mouth in a wild, searing kiss.

I looked forward to seeing where the night would take us.

Chapter Nineteen

Adrik

West looked from the restaurant back to me. His gaze ran over me, and he bit his bottom lip. He had not leaned all the way back in the seat, since it agitated his back, but right then, he had once again tilted all the way forward to study the restaurant I had picked to eat at.

“Are you sure I’m dressed all right for this place?” he asked once more.

“Da, you look good.” My voice came out a little lower than usual, agreeing wholeheartedly with my words. West looked good enough to eat.

“Adrik, I don’t know.”

Smiling, I opened my door and told him before I climbed out, “You will be fine.”

“What was the holdup?” Dimitri asked where he waited in the cooling breeze after a warm day.

I walked around the car and opened West’s door. “West is worried he does not look good for the restaurant.”

Dimitri chuckled. “It just means he is trying to impress you.”

West gasped as he exited. “I am not!”

“See, he is very defensive. Means he cares.”

“Shut up,” West grumbled and stalked toward the front entrance. Both Dimitri and I laughed.

I had never felt this light before. My chest expanded with the warmth I felt for the man still muttering to himself. It had something to do with Russian men.

I quickened my pace to slip in front of him and open the door. West’s glare at me made me grin.

“Your one has fire inside him.”

“Da, he does.”

“I’m going to kick the both of you in a second,” West said, pausing just inside the door for us.