Just a Bit Wicked

Chapter 18

"Have you spoken to your friend on the phone?"

Luke's eyes shifted from the computer to Vlad.

The Russian guy is leaning back on the couch, staring at his phone.Luke eyed him with interest.Luke hadn't hated Vlad around so much since they'd untied the beam a week ago.But they weren't quite friends yet, and he still didn't know Vlad well enough.

"What friend?" Luke said. "I have a lot of friends."

"Sebastian." Vlad's tone was casual, maybe a little too casual.

Luke looked at him curiously.He's not blind, he noticed something between his stinky bodyguard and Sebastian.Luke couldn't say he approved of it - he felt it would end in Sebastian's tears - but then again, that's what everyone told him about Roman, and Luke was happier than ever.Yes, Roman wasn't easy to get along with, but Luke felt great with him.Beautiful, stable, intoxicated in love.

He forced himself to stop thinking about Roman and turn his attention back to Vlad.

"Yes," he pretended to be ignorant, and smiled at Vlad who clenched his teeth.Apparently the guy didn't like his short answer.

After seven seconds, Vlad spoke again.

"He didn't stop by." Vlad was still staring at the phone.

"Yeah." Luke affirmed what he said, and couldn't help smiling again. He turned his face away so as not to be seen by Vlad. "You think he'll come here often? We're not the kind of friends who see each other often. I guess he's been busy with Tristan's clothing line lately."

Vlad said nothing.

Luke studied his hard profile.Even though Vlad was no longer a threat to him, he couldn't help noticing the violence that haunted Vlad's body lines.Even in a seemingly relaxed and safe state, Vlad still has a lingering tension in his gestures, which makes Luke wonder what life experiences have left such marks on him.In this regard, Vlad and Roman are completely different. Roman is always confident and in control, while Vlad is always tense, exuding an aggressive aura, as if he would explode at any time.After witnessing Vlad's skill with his own eyes, Luke was a little wary of him, even though he knew that Vlad would not hurt him.

"You like Sebastian?" Luke knew he shouldn't ask, but he asked anyway.

Vlad's shoulders stiffened, and even his feigned relief was gone.Luke expected Vlad to say "I'm not gay", but he was taken aback because Vlad replied with only one word:

"Do not."

This whetted Luke's appetite. "Did you forget that I've seen you two together? Daboer?"

Again, he's waiting for an "I'm not a second chair" or some other homophobic remark.

Once again Vlad surprised him. "You little brat," his tone did not mean to look down on others. "You don't have to 'like' someone to kiss them."

Luke rolled his eyes.There are always people guessing his age or underestimating his experience. If he charged a penny every time, he would be the richest man in the world.

"You know, I didn't like Roman much the first time I slept with him," Luke said.Vlad turned his head, Luke amused. "You really think I'm so gullible? Roman hates my dad, I know he's using me," he tilted his head. "Actually, compared to us, I don't understand why you and Sebastian didn't see eye to eye from the beginning..."

"When I was your babysitter in Switzerland, he fucked my girlfriend," Vlad said flatly.

Luke blinked.This is the first time I heard of it.He didn't even know that Vlad had a girlfriend.

"That doesn't sound like something Sebastian would do," he frowned. "I mean, he does sleep around, but he's nice. He doesn't mess around with other couples." He paused. "So you knew him before you came to London?"

"Well. In Moscow I went to his hotel to teach him a lesson."

Luke glanced at Vlad's massive fist and flinched.Sebastian wasn't short, and he wasn't small, but he probably wouldn't stand a chance against a brutish, stocky type.After seeing Vlad punch those homophobic lunatics, Luke realized that Vlad didn't even use half of his strength when he hit him-if he had used all his strength, Luke would probably have died on the spot.

"Did you teach him?" Luke asked.

"No." Vlad answered gruffly. "He made me so angry..." He licked his lips and looked away. "He made me half-hearted."

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Apparently, Vlad had nothing to say on the subject.

"Seb is handsome," Luke said wistfully.He's always been a little envious of Sebastian's looks.Sebastian looked so beautiful and strong that no one would call him "cutie".He was only two or three years older than Luke, but everyone thought he was years older than Luke, and he was also much more mature.While Luke wasn't bothered much by his boyish looks, there were times when he wished people would take him more seriously, and that would surely make his job a lot easier.

Luke looked at Vlad. "Don't you think he's handsome?"

"He..." Vlad tightened his jaw. "He's very—" He swallowed back the second half of the sentence and pursed his lips.

"He's handsome," Luke said.

"Not that handsome," Vlad muttered. "He looks like Snow White."

Luke laughed. "You talk like it's a bad thing."

"He is so white that his eyes are too dark, and his lips are as red as rouge."

Luke snorted noncommittally, reaching out to hide his smile.

"He's got a big ass," Vlad went on. "The legs are as thin as a chicken."

"That's right, he looks too tragic."

Vlad stared at him suspiciously for a while, Luke finally couldn't help laughing, Vlad's eyes widened in anger.

"Come on, if you like him, just admit it!"

"I don't like it." Vlad's voice was strained. "I don't like him the way you mean. He gets mad at me every now and then."

"Then what do you like about him?" Luke was determined to strike while the iron was hot, and it was rare for Vlad to be so talkative as usual.

Vlad glared at him. "I said I didn't like him."

"You said you didn't like him the 'kind' I meant," Luke said with a laugh. "That means you still have 'some' liking for him."

"That's not what I meant." Vlad gritted his teeth, his Russian accent suddenly becoming much heavier. "I don't speak English very well, you are mistaken."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "This is too perfunctory. You forgot that I am in a relationship with Roman. Roman also seizes the opportunity to use this as an excuse from time to time. Don't be silly, tell the truth."

Vlad sighed annoyed and turned away. "Pull it down. Don't compare us to you and Roman."

Luke grinned with eight teeth. "us?"

Vlad frightened him with his eyes, then closed them artificially.

He didn't speak for a while.

"The police feel that there are still a small group of cult members who have not been caught," he finally said. "That's why I asked about him. Nothing else."

Luke frowned. "Do you think Sebastian may still be in danger?"

"Maybe." Vlad said with his eyes closed. "Worst of all is a mad fanatic."

Luke studied him for a moment, but couldn't tell whether Vlad thought the danger was high or low.

"You might have to check on Sebastian," Luke said slowly.Vlad didn't answer, he decided to order directly. "I want you to check on Sebastian and make sure his house is safe."

Vlad opened his eyes.He glanced at the private elevator, then turned his gaze back, and shook his head. "I'll wait for you to sleep before going, it's safer that way."

"Go now." Luke knew that Vlad had put up some sophisticated security in the apartment to make sure nothing would happen if Vlad left him alone at night.Vlad hadn't used these devices before, because apart from that trip to Sebastian's hometown, he had been steadfast in Luke's presence, almost always, even though it wasn't in the contract.Roman didn't misjudge him, he was extremely dedicated to his work, even far exceeding the employer's requirements. "I'll just stay here," Luke said. "You go now."

"I'll go after you sleep." Vlad made a final decision.

Luke watched him for a moment, nodded, and stood up. "Then I'll go to sleep now."

Vlad looked at him suspiciously. "If I turn on the security system, you can only stay in your house honestly, and the alarm will be triggered as soon as you go out."

Luke shrugged and pretended to yawn. "I'm so tired," he said, and went back to the bedroom.

When Luke appeared in the bedroom suite, Vlad knocked on the door and said, "You can't leave the bedroom until I come back."

"Okay." Luke climbed into his big limp, empty bed.He sighed. "Vlad?"

"What's the matter?" He almost showed impatience.

"When was the last time you spoke to Roman?" He didn't look at Vlad. "He hasn't called me in two days." He wanted to ask Vlad about it all day today, but was held back by his pride.He didn't want to come across as a clingy little baby.He was counting on getting a call from Roman that night - he had promised to call back every day - and then he wouldn't have to ask Vlad.But Roman didn't call.His phone has never been disconnected before.

Vlad paused for a moment before answering, "Three days ago."

Luke closed his eyes and bit his lip hard.

"Roman's been out of touch for a few days before," Vlad said gruffly. "Don't worry about it."

Was he really comforting Luke?

"Thanks." Luke replied with a small smile.Roman was right, Vlad wasn't that bad.

Vlad snorted and closed the door.

Luke hugged his pillow, closed his eyes tightly, and told himself not to be stupid.Vlad was right, Roman was fine.He might just be worrying.I hope I'm just worrying.

At moments like these, Luke almost wonders if it's all worth it.But then he'd think of Roman's arms around him, his masculine, reassuring breath, his strong lips, his beard piercing his face—and he missed Roman so much, some kind of pain rolled deep inside him. place.

"Come back." He murmured, the voice almost stopped on his lips.

To divert his attention, he thought of Sebastian and Vlad again.To be honest, he wasn't quite sure if he was right or wrong in urging Vlad to see Sebastian.He could see that Vlad felt something about Sebastian—it was impossible to be in the same room with them without feeling the suffocating sexual tension between them—but Luke wasn't sure they were a good fit.Vlad looked at Sebastian uncomfortably, as if hating him and longing for him at the same time.And given Vlad's deep-seated homophobia, there probably won't be any happy endings.Luke can only hope, hope he hasn't made a huge mistake, hope things don't go sour in Sebastian's apartment.