Under the Skin by Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna

Author:Nicki Bennett & Ariel Tachna [Tachna, Nicki Bennett & Ariel]
Language: eng
Format: epub

PATRICK stood outside the door to the sauna, debating whether to go inside. He knew Alexei was waiting for him, though it had been hours since the sting ended. Hours since he had seen Alexei holding another man. That sight had stolen all the satisfaction he’d felt at nabbing the band of Chechens and their contraband. It had taken him some time, as he’d predicted, to finish the paperwork associated with the arrests, but longer still to come to terms with what he’d seen. He had considered not coming back to the gym, but in the end, he had decided to trust Alexei. It had hurt to see his lover’s arms around another man, but maybe there was an explanation. Unfortunately, none of the ones he could come up with were good ones. He hadn’t been able to see Alexei’s face, but he’d seen the other Russian’s. Patrick knew that expression. He saw it on his own face each time he looked in the mirror with Alexei on his mind.

It galled him to see it, but that didn’t mean Alexei had worn the same expression, no matter how tenderly his arms encircled the other man, no matter how intimate it had appeared as he whispered in the mob boss’s ear. Patrick could easily imagine them as lovers, though. Alexei wouldn’t have to sneak around to meet with Konstantin, not like he did to meet with Patrick, and while Alexei had said that the vory frowned on homosexuality, it would still be safer than being caught with a cop. He and Alexei hadn’t made any promises, hadn’t talked about exclusivity or anything else, although their meetings in the warehouse and since had led Patrick to believe Alexei wanted it, even if he couldn’t ask for or promise it. Had he been wrong? Had it been just a ploy to get Patrick to agree to have sex that night?

Almost immediately, Patrick scolded himself for his doubts. Alexei wasn’t such a good actor that he could pretend to the depth of tenderness he’d shown that night and since then if he didn’t feel something at least. Patrick owed it to them both to allow Alexei to explain what had happened on the docks without accusation. And if he wasn’t satisfied with the answer, he could always leave. Stripping down, he wrapped a towel around his waist and walked into the steam room.

The litter of crushed cigarettes at his feet gave evidence to how long Alexei had been waiting for Patrick’s arrival, but his expression was calm as he acknowledged his lover’s entrance. “Your supervisors are pleased?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow when Patrick seated himself on the bench opposite the one Alexei lounged on rather than joining him. “You brought them very rich catch.”

“Curious how I managed,” Patrick admitted, “but very pleased. They still want to talk to Konstantin, but the new arrests will keep them busy for a few more hours.” Despite his resolutions in the locker room, he couldn’t keep a

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