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)
Alexei immediately pulled away and shook his head. “Hell, no. They’d probably both celebrate if I gave it up. They never questioned whether I could do it.” He grinned at the man who’d stolen his heart so easily. “They trained me too well. Their problem was the danger and violence. They didn’t want me hurt, and they were both afraid of the eventual wear and tear on my soul.”
“Are you worried about that? I’ve got to admit, I might be as well.”
“I wasn’t at first. Gabriel has always been dark and quiet, but I always thought that was because of his childhood.” He shook his head. “I’ve seen it some in Justin too, and he doesn’t have the same dark history.”
Soren lifted Alexei’s hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across his knuckles. “The blood seeps into the soul after a while, even if you are doing good. I wouldn’t want that for you.”
“If I’m being honest with myself, which I rarely try to do, I think I did all this to prove to my grandfather and all the old ghosts in my head that I could do anything I wanted. Even the things they thought I couldn’t. That I could be lethal and scary while still being me.”
“Angel, you have silenced all the naysayers.” He cocked his head and grinned. “So, what are you thinking for the next act in Alexei’s spectacular life?”
Joy exploded like fireworks in his chest, and he could barely keep his seat. He was ready to jump into Soren’s lap, wrap his arms around the man, and claim his mouth once and for all. “Well, I happen to know this cat burglar—”
“He’s not a hack, right?”
“No, definitely not,” Alexei replied, barely holding in his giggle. “I was wondering if he might let me tag along with him for a while, teach me the tricks of the trade. At least let me drive the getaway car.”
Soren fell back in his chair, a look of open shock on his handsome face. “Really? You’d want to travel with me? Learn my schtick?”
Alexei shrugged. “If you don’t mind taking on an apprentice. I don’t know that it would be a long-term career for me, but I love learning new things and I love adventure.”
Surging forward, Soren kissed him hard but briefly. “I would love to teach you anything and everything I know.”
“And you know, there’s still that favor you owe Charlie and Kairo. It might be fun to help them out occasionally. If you think they’d let me…”
A loud bark of laughter jumped from Soren, and he shook his head. “I don’t think they’d let me help unless I brought you along. I think they’re more impressed with you than me nowadays.”
“You like this plan? It’s okay with you? Because it’s okay if it’s not. I can find something else to do. I don’t want to force myself on you—”
Soren stopped his babbling with another kiss, this one softer and sweeter, but still more than enough to cause his toes to curl in his shoes. “I love this plan. But first—”
“The Maldives?”
Soren hummed and brushed his nose along Alexei’s cheek, nuzzling him. “That sounds amazing, but I don’t think I can wait that long. I was thinking that my hotel is a three-minute walk from here and it has been ages since I felt your body against mine.”
“Yep. Let’s go.” Alexei jumped to his feet and practically pulled Soren out of the chair. The thief’s laughter followed him down the canal as he hurried them along.
This was what his life was supposed to be. Maybe he’d go back to being an assassin. Maybe he’d be a thief or a mercenary. Maybe he’d give all that up and become a pastry chef who worked part-time as a used Cadillac salesman and dog groomer for toy poodles. Who the fuck knew?
The only thing that mattered was Soren’s laughter and his unending love.
Epilogue
Soren stepped out of the private cabin on the water and stretched his arms over his head. Overhead, the sun was shining warm and bright in a pure blue sky that stretched to meet the clearest blue water he’d ever seen in his life.
Four days of absolute bliss and serenity in the Maldives. While still in Venice, Alexei had booked them a private cabin at the end of a long pier out in the Indian Ocean. Around them there was only the soft rush of the gentle waves and the occasional murmur of another guest. Most of the time they could easily believe they were the only two people left on the planet.
It was paradise.
Or it would be if he could find the sexy man who’d fucked him into a coma a short time ago and left him snoring on the bed. When he’d not found Alexei in their rooms, he’d pulled on a pair of shorts and wandered onto the small deck. He padded over to the railing and looked down into the water to find his lover lying in a hammock that swung a couple of feet above the crystal blue water.