Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
He’d never really doubted that Justin and Gabriel would be fine. His uncles would be causing mischief and shaking up the world for many years to come. Kairo and Charlie were probably fine too, not that he’d heard from them.
And Soren. He had to be fine.
Then why was he late?
Alexei had arrived in Venice a day earlier and walked around in search of Libreria Acqua Alta, but he hadn’t allowed himself to go into the shop until today. The self-proclaimed “most beautiful bookstore in all the world” was rather adorable. There was a very tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that he appreciated from some of the kitschy items for sale to the Fire Exit sign that pointed out a door that dropped straight into a canal.
Then there was the fact that many of the thousands of books were piled in gondolas, a bathtub, and even buckets to protect them from the rising waters that constantly plagued this sinking city. More books were stacked straight to the ceiling on all sides, giving the place a claustrophobic but charming feeling.
Unfortunately, there was no place to simply wait for Soren in the bookstore. He’d lingered inside and outside for an hour. He sat on the staircase made of books nearby. But the man still hadn’t appeared.
Shortly after lunchtime, he’d retreated to a nearby café for a quick bite, hoping he’d be able to catch sight of the man as he approached the store. Had something happened to him after they’d all made their escape from Amsterdam?
No, he didn’t believe that. Soren was fast, smart, and resourceful. He’d worked for the CIA and knew all their tricks. The contract on his head had been removed. Soren was safe.
So, what was this horrible twisting in his stomach? It was growing worse with each passing second. His heart was little more than a lead weight in his chest. Each beat was painful, and it was trying to crush his lungs.
At last, he let himself think it.
What if Soren didn’t want to meet him? What if he changed his mind? The week apart might have convinced Soren that he didn’t need someone like Alexei in his life. Maybe he’d figured that he was more trouble than he was worth.
Maybe it hadn’t been love. Just common lust. Time and distance had finally broken the spell between them.
Alexei glared at his silent phone resting on the table in front of him. He willed it to ring or a text to pop up on the screen. A quick message to say that he was running behind but on his way. Something. Anything. But nothing happened.
He was now afraid to touch it. He didn’t want to see the hour or the complete lack of texts or calls.
“You have the look of a man who is stuck waiting for an inconsiderate asshole that’s running late but doesn’t have the balls to call you,” a warm, familiar voice from his left said.
Alexei’s heart skipped a beat and then was off to the races, but he didn’t move. He kept his head down, eyes locked on the phone on the table. He listened as the chair beside him was pulled out, a small smile starting to tug at his lips.
“Maybe,” he softly ventured.
“That is a fucking crime. You are a diamond of the first water. Stunning. Your eyes shine with sharp intelligence, and I bet you have the kindest, most forgiving heart.”
A choking noise left Alexei as he tried to swallow his cough. He wasn’t entirely sure he could agree with it, but he did like the sound of it. “Are you going to steal me?”
“I would love to, but I’d hate to steal you only to discover that your heart is still with the asshole who’s late. Maybe you should give the other guy a second chance.”
Unable to stay still any longer, Alexei turned his head and soaked in the sight of Soren. His bright blue eyes were wide with worry and hope.
“I’m so sorry, Angel. I didn’t mean to leave you waiting for me. My plane in was delayed, and I stupidly didn’t want to ruin the romance of meeting you in Venice with a phone call saying I was going to be late.”
“You didn’t have second thoughts?”
Soren jerked backward, his brow furrowing. “Second thoughts?”
“About meeting me. About us.”
The thief was across the table in a heartbeat, his large warm hand cupping his cheek as he moved in close. Alexei barely made out the throaty “God, no,” before those wonderful lips covered his. It felt like Soren was trying to consume him, and Alexei welcomed it. He’d missed this man more than he thought possible in only a week. Soren’s tongue slid along his, stroking and exploring, as if he were trying to memorize the taste of him all over again.
All too soon, Soren was pulling away. He smiled and pressed a kiss to the tip of Alexei’s nose. He dropped into his chair, looking more relaxed. “Never, Angel. This was the longest damn week of my life. It’s a good thing I didn’t know where you went, because I would have chased right after you.”