“You were young. I didn’t know who you were at the time, I just saw this beautiful man.” Devin opened his eyes. “But then I saw the real you.”
Andrei cupped Devin’s face. “This is the real me, Devin; right here, right now.”
“I want to believe that…so badly,” Devin sighed.
Andrei felt Devin’s forehead; he was out again. Hopefully, the fever would come down and Devin would be back in shape soon. Andrei tried to stay awake as long as he could but, in the end, exhaustion pulled him under.
~*~
Andrei’s eyes flew open and he grabbed at the hands around his neck. Devin sat on top of him, a look of complete rage on his face.
“Devin,” Andrei choked out.
“I want to see your eyes as the life drains out of you. I want you to know it’s me ending it,” Devin snarled.
“Devin, please…” Andrei tried to pry the fingers off his neck to no avail. He let go and hit Devin on both sides of his ribs with his fists. Devin cried out and let go. Andrei flipped him onto the floor and pinned his hands. “Devin!” Andrei shouted.
Devin’s vision cleared and he jerked.
“I…” Devin stammered.
The door slammed open and Ivan rushed in with Viktor, guns pointing at Lyons on the floor.
“Don’t!” Andrei shouted.
“He just tried to kill you!” Ivan shouted. “Thank God we put a camera in here! I have told you, Andrei, this man will be the death of you!”
“Put your guns down and back away!” Andrei commanded.
“Andrei! Listen to reason!” Viktor pleaded.
“Do not touch a hair on his head. Do I make myself clear? If anything happens to Agent Lyons, there will be a price to pay!” Andrei stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
“I…I don’t know what happened,” Devin rubbed his face with his hands. “I was dreaming, I think.”
“Next time you touch Andrei, it will be a nightmare for you,” Viktor barely managed through clenched teeth.
“I wasn’t—” Devin stammered.
“But you were! He could have killed you and been justified in doing so! But he didn’t!” Viktor shouted in Lyons’ face.
“That is the second time you have hurt Andrei, Agent Lyons, both physically and emotionally. If you even breathe on him, I am going to kill you whether or not Andrei likes it!” Ivan slammed the door open and stalked out of the room, cursing all the way down the hall.
“Viktor…” Devin’s eyes met with the older guard’s.
“No.” Viktor walked to the door and looked over his shoulder. “I have only seen Andrei cry one time, Lyons. That was when Nikolai was kidnapped. As strong as he is, as vicious as he is, he is still a man. And a good one at that. He feels, whether you want to believe it. You hurt him tonight and not just physically. As Christophe has told you - fix it, or Ivan and I will.” Viktor left the room, closing the door behind him.
Devin fell back on the floor and sighed loudly. “Shit.”
~*~
There was no fixing anything because Andrei refused to speak to him. It had been two weeks and Devin was back to full strength. Andrei walked around Paris as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Devin was working overtime just to keep the damn man alive. Not only did Andrei go to museums, but he took side trips to Rome and Spain – on which Devin accompanied him. Andrei also visited children in orphanages. The man donated money all over the world and the kids knew him by first name - which meant that it was not Andrei’s first trip to any of them. The more time he spent with Andrei, the less he understood him. At least not the Andrei he thought he knew.
The worst part? Watching the tape of what he’d done to Andrei that night. Ivan had thrown it at him two days after the incident and he had watched in total confusion as his delusional, fevered self told Andrei that he found him attractive. Well that much was true. Devin grimaced. He thought back to that night long ago when he’d been on guard duty in front of Borkosky’s room. The men were all sitting around playing cards and Devin had overheard them talking. Borkosky had been laughing as he told Alphonse and Carmine that Andrei Panchenko had killed a couple who were causing him problems by cutting the brake lines on their car.
He’d found out that night that Andrei Panchenko had killed his parents. When the complex had gone up in flames, he could have sworn he saw Andrei leaving the scene. He’d followed the black-haired man, only to be shot in the back. Devin looked up at the sky. The Andrei he’d been with didn’t even resemble the man Borkosky had described. Yes, Andrei killed people; but Devin couldn’t dispute the fact that the men Andrei had killed deserved it.
Devin rubbed his sore feet as Andrei stood at the River Seine. The sun was setting, casting a glow over the water. Andrei had never looked more beautiful than he did at that moment. Devin was sure his mouth must be hanging open.
A group of women were giggling and staring at Andrei. They approached him and Devin stood, ready to protect his charge. Their eyes met and Andrei shook his head no. The women draped all over him and posed for pictures. One of the women noticed Devin and waved him over. She asked him in French to take a picture of the group with the famous Andrei Panchenko. Devin almost rolled his eyes but Andrei shot him a look and then turned his attention back to the women.
They gathered together and Devin looked at the screen. Andrei’s hair blew slightly in the breeze and his grey eyes sparkled. Devin cleared his head and snapped the picture.
“Un autre, avec lui,” one of them pointed to Devin.
“Oh, I don’t know…” Devin started.
“Bien sûr, pas de problem.” Andrei grinned.
Devin narrowed his eyes at Andrei. Fucker spoke French. He hadn’t known that little bit of info. Andrei had just told the women that Devin would pose with them. Fuck. Devin plastered a smile on his face and got into the group of women, who immediately grabbed his ass. Devin’s eyes went wide and Andrei snapped the picture.
“Thank you!” one of them giggled.
Andrei waggled a finger at them. “Shameless!”
“You are very sexy, Mr. Panchenko. It’s a shame you are gay.” The woman turned to look at Devin. “Are you his boyfriend?”
Devin almost choked and Andrei cut in.
“No, he is not. You ladies have a wonderful evening! Grab some more asses.”
The women left in a fit of giggles and Devin crossed his arms, glaring at Andrei.
“Are you going to talk to me now?”
Andrei walked over the bridge. “There is nothing to talk about.”
Devin opened his mouth to respond when his eyes glimpsed salt and pepper hair coming from the opposite side of the bridge.
“You have got to be shitting me!” he exclaimed.
Andrei tilted his head. “What is he doing here?”
“Gee, I don’t know!” Devin grabbed Andrei and spun him around to face him. “Let’s pretend for a moment that I know everything.” Andrei rolled his eyes. “It’s not a stretch because I do. This is not right, Panchenko. You have to know that!”
“Does my opinion even matter?”
“Yes, your opinion matters! Just not to me!” Devin pulled Andrei in the opposite direction.
“Your psycho is showing, you might want to tuck it back in,” Andrei drawled.
Devin sighed in frustration as they were spotted by Mikhail. The man practically ran across the bridge to catch up. Devin looked him over all while keeping Andrei close and his hand on his gun.
“I thought that was you!” Mikhail tried to regain his breath. “What a surprise!’
Devin snorted then laughed loudly. “Can you die of constipation? I’m a little concerned at how full of shit you are. I’m supposed to believe that you just happen to be in Paris?”
“Go to hell, Agent Lyons,” Mikhail fired back.
“I’m already going there, Mikey, now I’m just looking for the best spot.”
“You are insane, you do know that right?”
“Sa
nity is highly overrated.” Devin took Andrei by his bicep. “Let’s go, Andrei.”
“You are being rude, Lyons,” Andrei pointed out.
Devin eyed Mikhail with narrowed eyes. “I’m not being rude; he’s just insignificant.”
“Would you like to have dinner tonight, Andrei?” Mikhail smiled wide at Agent Lyons.
“I would like that very much.” Andrei shook his arm loose from Devin. “Let me just shower and change?”
“All right. What hotel are you in?”
“It’s the Motel 6,” Devin deadpanned. “And we really need to go. They’re leaving the light on for us.”
Andrei gave a frustrated sigh. “Tiara Chateau Hotel Mont Royal.”
Mikhail looked at his watch. “All right. I shall pick you up at eight?”
Andrei nodded. “That would be fine.”
The ride back to the hotel was quiet. Devin sat opposite Andrei in the limo, looking out the window. As soon as they arrived at the Chateau, Devin did his usual sweep of the area and then allowed Andrei out of the car. He stepped into the hotel and found Viktor and Ivan waiting for him at the desk. Andrei frowned and looked over at Lyons.
“Good night, Panchenko.” Devin nodded to Ivan and made his way upstairs.
Andrei turned to Ivan and Viktor. “What is going on?”
“Viktor and I will accompany you on your date.” Ivan took Andrei by his arm.
“Why is Lyons not coming with me?”
“He is tired.” Viktor walked ahead of them.
“What is the real reason?” Andrei stopped walking and pulled Ivan back.
“I believe you know. Agent Lyons has made it quite clear that he does not trust Mr. Borkosky. He has been awake for over forty-eight hours and feels he cannot protect you if he does not rest. Viktor and I had a full eight hours of sleep.”
Andrei blinked. “He hasn’t slept?”
“No, you wanted to go out. He went with you.” Ivan resumed walking, dragging Andrei with him. “Hurry up and get ready. Viktor and I will be right outside your room.”
Andrei walked into his room and looked at the made bed. He sighed and sat down, looking out the window at the beautiful forest surrounding the castle. Devin would not be going with him. Andrei curled up on the bed and closed his eyes.
He wanted Special Agent Devin Lyons. The man didn’t want him.
~*~
The date was not the same without Devin there. Mikhail was his usual witty self but Andrei was finding it hard to have a good time. Dammit, he missed Devin. Mikhail was handsome, smart and funny. He just wasn’t Devin. Andrei sighed and watched Mikhail butter his roll. He smiled faintly at the memory of Devin threatening to kill Mikhail if he so much as touched even a butter knife.
“You are smiling?” Mikhail said.
Andrei blinked. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”
“I was telling you that I lost my case.”
“I am so sorry, Mikhail. I was…”
“Daydreaming?” Mikhail signaled the waiter and smiled at Andrei. “You look tired.”
Andrei sighed. “I am. I am sorry.”
“It is all right, let’s get you back.”
Andrei fidgeted in the limo. Mikhail was sitting right next to him and although his body was in overdrive needing release, he couldn’t see getting it with Mikhail. Devin had even managed to ruin his non-existent sex life. Asshole. Mikhail walked him to his suite and Andrei turned at the door. Mikhail moved closer and Andrei leaned against it.
“You do not seem to be having a good time.” Mikhail reached out to palm Andrei’s face. “Do you not want me to kiss you goodnight?”
Andrei regarded Mikhail’s face. He couldn’t deny the man was very handsome. He was as tall as himself, with a broad chest and wide shoulders. His hands were strong. Andrei turned and opened the door to his suite without a word. He kept the door open and turned to face Mikhail.
“Come in.”
Andrei stood against the closed door and looked at the man in front of him. Dammit, he needed to be touched. He needed to get Devin out of his head. He reached for Mikhail’s hand and pulled him forward. Their hips met and Andrei pulled the man to his lips, threading fingers in Mikhail’s hair. Andrei’s tongue met with Mikhail’s and he moaned. They were against the door and Andrei’s hands dug into Mikhail’s ass. He gripped the taut cheeks and rubbed his hardened cock over the other man’s slowly.
“Andrei,” Mikhail broke from the kiss. “The bed?”
Andrei opened his eyes and saw Devin standing in front of him. He blinked rapidly, clearing his vision. Mikhail stood in Devin’s place.
“I am sorry. I am more tired than I realized.” Andrei sighed in frustration. Now he was seeing Devin everywhere.
Mikhail kissed Andrei’s hand and smiled. “I shall see you at the benefit then?”
“Yes,” Andrei nodded. “Goodnight.” Andrei let Mikhail out and then made his way to the door that linked his room to Devin’s. He pressed a hand to the door, closing his eyes. “I wanted it to be you,” Andrei whispered.
~*~
Devin leaned against the door that separated his room from Andrei’s and closed his eyes. The voices had stopped and Andrei’s door had shut. Devin rested his forehead on the door, both hands splayed out on the wood separating him from the man he wanted so badly - and knew he shouldn’t.
“Goodnight, Andrei,” Devin whispered.
~~Chapter Seven~~
Devin paced the room nervously. The night of the AIDS benefit had finally arrived and security was extra tight. He was going to have to keep a close eye on Andrei. The world knew the man attended every single AIDS fundraiser. Devin adjusted his bow tie for the hundredth time and stared at the bathroom door. Had Andrei fallen in?
“Panchenko!” Devin barked.
“I am almost ready! Keep your boxers on!”
Devin had to chuckle. If that wasn’t Nikolai talk, he didn’t know what was.
Ivan and Viktor chuckled on the bed.
“Don’t encourage him.” Devin lifted a brow.
Andrei swept out of the bathroom in a cloud of cologne and Devin’s cock thickened in his pants. The man in a tuxedo — there were no words to describe the beauty that was Andrei Panchenko. Devin pulled himself together.
“Finally!”
Andrei turned to speak and lost all ability to breathe. Devin Lyons in a tux. Holy shit.
“I am ready,” Andrei managed.
The hotel was covered in lights and limos lined all the way down the narrow road. It looked like a damn movie premiere. Devin got out of the limo and swept the area quickly. Andrei got out and Devin put his arm out. Andrei smiled, slipping his arm through Devin’s. Viktor and Ivan flanked them as they entered the hotel. They found their seats and Devin groaned at the sight of Mikhail sitting at their table.
“Mikhail,” Andrei nodded to him.
“It is good to see you,” Mikhail leaned in and kissed Andrei’s cheek. “You look stunning, Andrei.”
“As do you.”
Devin coughed into his hand, letting an expletive out. Chris snickered and sat down next to Devin. Dimitri sat on his other side and Chris picked up his half full champagne glass.
“Isn’t this supposed to be filled to the rim with golden goodness?”
Dimitri chuckled. “Christophe, are you that eager to drink the night away?”
“Nope, I wanna fuck the night away,” Chris sighed comically. “But I’m stuck here.”
Mikhail inhaled his water and coughed. Andrei patted him on the back.
“You’ll have to excuse Christophe, Mikhail. He does not know proper etiquette,” Andrei laughed.
“Yes he does,” Dimitri winked at his husband. “He just does not use it.”
Dinner was being served to the tables and Devin picked up his salad fork, eyeing Mikhail’s neck. He wanted to plunge it into the bastard and twist it. More than once, Devin caught Mikhail’s hand resting on Andrei’s thigh and a murderous rage rose inside him. The asshole
was pawing Andrei every chance he got. It was infuriating. Not to mention ballsy.
Devin grinned as bread rolls and little butter squares were placed on either side of the table.
“Mikhail, would you like a bread roll?” Devin handed the basket to Mikhail.
“NO!” Andrei and Chris cried in unison. Andrei knocked the basket out of Mikhail’s hand, sending it flying to the floor.
Ivan raised a brow. “Something wrong with the rolls?”
“Not at all.” Andrei snatched Mikhail’s butter knife.
Devin chuckled.
By the time dessert arrived, Devin had convinced himself that Mikhail needed to be put down like a rabid dog. He’d come up with some reason later to satisfy James. The sound of a microphone screech brought Devin out of his homicidal thoughts. A man appeared onstage asking for everyone’s attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special treat for you all tonight. A bachelor auction! All the proceeds will go to further AIDS research! So open your wallets and checkbooks!”
Clapping and cheers went up through the ballroom.
“Let us bring up our first bachelor!”
Andrei sat back and sipped his champagne as man after man was paraded on the stage. None of them interested him. The only man he wanted was sitting right next to him and that man wanted him dead.
“The next bachelor up for bid is Devin Lyons.”
Devin spun around in his chair and glared at Andrei.
“It was not me!” Andrei balked.
“Devin Lyons is an agent with the FBI, he loves to work out, is bisexual,” the announcer crooned at the crowd. “That is good for both the ladies and gentlemen, no?”
A chorus of laughter filled the room.
“He loves to cook Western omelets, watch romantic movies and take long walks on the beach.”
Devin shot Christophe Voronova a murderous glare.
“I think the Western omelet was a nice touch. Don’t you?” Chris grinned.
“I’m going to kill you,” Devin growled under his breath.
“Not today, sweetie,” Chris winked. “Now get your sexy ass up there!”
“I think Mr. Lyons is shy, why don’t we give him a round of applause?” The announcer smiled, waving Devin up.
Into the Lyons Den Page 11