“Because I wanted to do this.” He slid his card through the keypad and then faced me. Dropping my bag to the ground, he cupped my face and kissed me. I stumbled forward, bracing my hands on his hard chest when he deepened the kiss. He pulled away, and I whimpered. His smirk was cocky. “My men fear me. If they see the sap I have become around you, they would think me soft.”

“You are soft,” I teased.

“Only with you. Actually, with Dimitri being up there with them, they are probably watching this on the cameras. I just wanted you alone down here.”

I stilled for a second before I pushed Adrik’s face away and looked around for the cameras. When I spotted one, I ducked behind the car.

“May I ask what you are doing?” Adrik questioned, the humor evident in his tone.

“Shit, I don’t freaking know. My head jumped to cameras and being caught. I panicked.”

Adrik’s phone rang. “Da? He panicked when I mentioned cameras.” I could hear Dimitri’s loud roar of laughter from where I crouched. Standing, I shot a glare and the middle finger to the camera. Thankfully, the doors to the elevators dinged open. I swiftly made my way inside.

Adrik ended the call, picked up my bag, and chuckled his way over.

“I looked like an idiot.” Turning into Adrik, I pressed my face into his chest. “Your men will think I’m foolish.”

He snorted. “I doubt that. I’m sure you will charm them.”

“I know, I’ll bake them something.”

“You will not. They are my baked goods.”

His rough tone sent a shiver over my body. “Okay,” I got out before Adrik was kissing me again. I heard the bag drop as I wound my arms around his neck, and Adrik circled my waist with his.

The doors opened too quickly. Both panting heavily, we parted. I wanted more of that, but while we were naked.

“Bed?” I asked softly. I stepped into Adrik’s condo and looked over my shoulder, catching Adrik adjusting himself in his pants.

“We do not have to do anything— Fuck,” he clipped when I pulled my shirt over my head. Panic caught me for a moment, but all I had to remind myself was that it was Adrik. The man I loved. The man who wanted me as I was. Scars and all. I sucked in a shuddering breath and watched his chest rise and fall rapidly. “Are you sure?”

My heartbeat was erratic, and I felt like I was going to burp with the amount of rolling my stomach did. But I wanted him. I needed to show him. I popped the button to my jeans, loving the way Adrik’s eyes darkened.

“Your back—”