It had to be the accent. It had to be. There was no other reason. He hardly spoke to me. He was gruff, almost looked like he could kill with one look, and was obviously important in the world. Shit, he could even be in the mob, and I wouldn’t have a clue.

I scrubbed a hand over my face and silently snorted. I was getting lost in my thoughts too much.

“Zharkoye,” he said roughly.

I dropped my hand. “Sorry?” What had we been talking about?

“In the pot. Zharkoye. It is like beef stew.”

It sounded good, especially coming out of his mouth. Dang it, I had to stop. I had to pretend he sounded disgusting.

“Well, I’m looking forward to it. Is it nearly ready?”

“Da. Take seat.”

“Will do, captain,” I teased, and then regretted it when he paused halfway turned back to the stove. Did I apologize? Did he not like people messing with him? Not that it was really messing, I was just trying to be cute.

Note to self: do not be cute with Adrik.

Shifting over to the table, I quickly took my seat. I anxiously bounced my knee up and down and jumped when Adrik set a bowl in front of me.

“Thank you,” I told the table.

“Welcome.” He took the seat at the head of the table with his own bowl, and we ate in silence. My arch-nemesis.

On the first taste, my mouth orgasmed. At least a part of me was getting action. The stew was melt-in-my-mouth delicious and the meat so tender. “You need to be a chef. Tell me you’re a chef. Your meals are amazing, and they can’t be just wasted on you and me. Do you cook for your family? Friends? They must rave about how incredible it is.”

I clamped my lips closed when I took in his stormy look.

If nut-punching myself wasn’t weird, I would do it.

“Sorry,” I said softly. “You may have noticed I tend to ramble sometimes. Just… I don’t know, shove something in my mouth when I say something you don’t like.” My eyes bulged out of my head when I realized what I’d said. “I mean a sock or a rag or a towel. Shove something like that in my mouth.” Why did I explain that? Now he knew my mind went to the gutter. I could tell he knew. The stormy look faded, and his lips twitched.

“My family is in Russia.”

Fuck me in the dark. That was a sentence. I wanted to pat him on the back and say, “Good boy,” but I knew it wouldn’t go over.

I didn’t ask about friends. I already presumed Adrik didn’t like to make them. It seemed he kept his private life very private.