Electric Blue and Catnip - 2. Chapter 2

Two

Adrian met them at the airport. Alexi drank in the sight of him like a starved animal. Adrian stood out in the small waiting crowd. He was handsome as always in black boots, long legs encased in sexy fit dark denim, and those broad shoulders looked inviting in a fitting black blazer. Adrian’s full smile showed off perfect teeth.

Alexi met his deep green eyes and a fraction of the world righted itself.

“It looks like he’s taken up art,” Lily noted beside him.

Her comment brought attention to the sign Adrian was holding up. Someone had drawn brown eyes on the white paper. Below the eyes, was Adrian’s familiar chicken scratch, he’d written, ‘Looking for Brown Eyes’.

Alexi laughed.

“You don’t like it?” Adrian asked when he and Lily reached him. His expression was very serious, as though he would be upset if the answer was no. Grinning, Alexi took the sign and gave it a short study.

“I love it,” he declared earning himself a huge hug. Strong arms wrapped around him tightly. It felt like coming home.

“I’ve missed you, Alexi.”

Alexi closed his eyes, taking in the words, letting them soak in, he pulled back slightly and reached up to touch Adrian’s very short hair. “You cut your hair. Have you joined the army in my absence?”

Adrian smiled. “It’s for a new photo shoot campaign. I was bald; my hair is just starting to grow.”

Adrian turned to Lily and flashed a wide smile. “Hi dominatrix, did you bring your whip?”

“I have it in my purse. I’ll bring it out if you don’t behave.” Lily looked at her buzzing cell phone and sighed. “Come on, my little slaves, I have things to do.”

Adrian lifted his hand up in mock salute before he took the handle of Alexi’s carryon bag from him. Lily led the way out, her heels clicking on the tiled floor. She had changed into a royal blue business suit just before they landed. Alexi couldn’t help but envy her energy. Lily had managed to sleep through the entire flight, waking up an hour before they landed. She looked refreshed.

He, on the other hand, felt like a trailer truck had hit him without mercy. His eyes were gritty, and the world felt like a war zone. The sight of Adrian was the only thing keeping him sane.

As if sensing his mood, Adrian slung an arm over his shoulder, guiding him toward the exit. A small thrill raced down his spine when Adrian leaned over and whispered into his left ear. “New York has been very lonely without you.”

His besotted heart soaked in those words, but his muddled brain berated him. The wind was icy when they stepped out of the warm airport. Pulling up his jacket collar, he shivered. Adrian wrapped a very warm scarf around his neck and he murmured his thanks.

Lily was talking into her phone at the curb where a black limousine stood waiting. She waved him into the car as Adrian went to help the driver with their luggage. Eager to escape the cold weather, he slid into the back. Once settled, he touched the black scarf Adrian had tied around his neck and buried his nose into the warm wool. Breathing in deep, he closed his eyes as Adrian’s scent filled him.

“Alexi.” Lily leaned in to look at him. His head jerked up guiltily as he met her gaze. “I need to get to the studio’s offices. They have sent a car. Adrian will get you home. Try and get some sleep.”

“Okay.” He smiled at her and she frowned. “What,” he asked.

“No hanky-panky. I need you whole, Brown Eyes.”

“What kind of warning is that?”

“A strict warning, Alexi, don’t think I didn’t see that little sniff into that scarf.” Lily glared at him before she disappeared. Thinking her a witch who could see things through solid rock, he sat back determined to ignore the little tingles going through his brain.

Adrian slid in a moment later closing the passenger door the same time the driver got in. Alexi gave him a wan smile and confessed. “I’m ready for a bed.”

Adrian closed the distance between them. Sliding a hand around his shoulders, Adrian pulled him into a half hug so that Alexi’s head rested on his left shoulder. Adrian took his right hand and squeezed his fingers. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too,” Alexi said with a yawn.

Adrian nodded, resting his chin on top of Alexi’s head. He brought Alexi’s hand up to his mouth and pressed a warm kiss on his palm. Alexi closed his eyes in wonder when warm delicious sensations crisscrossed through him from the simple caress. It was his curse; he thought dimly, this insane addiction to Adrian. His blood sang in excitement, his body wishing for more of those vibrations. Lily was right to be worried, he decided.

He barely had any recollection of the drive to the Upper East Side. When they arrived, Adrian woke him gently and he stood on the curb while the doorman, the driver and Adrian handled the luggage. The penthouse condominium Lily had gotten for the duration of their stay was on the top floor. A full-floor spacious affair that boasted four bedrooms, three and a half baths, living room, kitchen and terraces, on a normal day he’d be running around exploring his new space, but not today.

It was eight o’clock in the morning, snowing cold and he needed sleep. The moment Adrian showed him into the master bedroom, he stripped down to his boxers and climbed between the soft sheets on the extra-large bed. Adrian turned to leave, but he reached out in time to catch his shirtsleeve.

“Stay with me ‘til I fall asleep.”

Adrian paused for a moment. Alexi tugged on the sleeve he was holding until Adrian gave in and slid in to the bed fully clothed. Alexi sighed in contentment as Adrian pulled him into his arms. Closing his eyes, he rested his head on Adrian’s chest and promptly fell asleep.

*****

Adrian watched Alexi sleep, a sigh escaping at the trusting way the younger man acted. He moved slightly, and the arms over his chest tightened slightly. Clearly, Alexi was still needy. It was always like this between them. Alexi clung to him and he allowed it because he wanted someone to need him. Reaching for an extra pillow, he fluffed it behind his back and settled in.

He brought his left hand up to brush Alexi’s dyed brown hair away from his face. It was stylishly cut, but longer than he remembered. Pulling the covers over Alexi’s bare shoulder, he bit his lip to stop the groan at the thought of Alexi’s bare body lying over him. The memory of Alexi's slender, sexy body writhing in ecstasy under him was never far from his thoughts. There were things they hadn’t tried, things he wanted to do to Alexi, but hadn’t gotten the chance. He’d made mistakes in the past with Alexi. He still had to atone for his past behavior.

Tracing a finger over Alexi’s nose, down to the kissable lips patted slightly in sleep, he wondered why they couldn’t seem to get their relationship right. They’d known each other for ten years. He was two years older than Alexi was, one would think he’d be ready to commit first, but instead, it was the other way round. A year ago, Alexi had offered to move permanently to New York so that they could live together. He didn’t even know what had brought about the decision. He hadn’t bothered to ask, too occupied with his issues to want to know. He’d refused the offer, urging Alexi to take on a world tour instead. To make sure that Alexi left, he’d hopped on a plane and gone to L.A. for a business meeting to start his model agency.

Lily had been furious with him. She’d shown up at his new offices a month later and spent the better part of an hour ripping him a new one.

Alexi moaned in his sleep and cuddled deeper into him. He sighed in frustration. Now that Alexi was back, what was he supposed to do? Their relationship was supposed to be platonic, but in the ten years they had known each other, they’d never managed to stay just friends. Always getting in each other’s way, he sighed again.

“What am I going to do with you, Alexi?” he asked his sleeping friend not expecting answer.

Adrian jerked awake an inordinate amount of time later to find Alexi had moved away from him in his sleep. Sitting up, he yawned and pulled the covers over Alexi, who was hugging a pillow tightly, before he got off the bed. Glancing at his watch, he sighed when he saw that it was already nine o’clock in the morning.

Making sure to close the drapes, he left the darkened master bedroom and went to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. He found Lily leaning on the Poggenpohl natural stone kitchen counter. She was sipping coffee from a red mug in her right hand, while typing rapidly into her Blackberry with her left.

“You’re back.” He greeted walking to the coffee pot. “You should have woken me up. I still have to get to the office.”

“Adrian.” Lily stopped typing to look at him with a critical eye. “I’ll tell you what I told Alexi. Make sure nothing happens here, I need him whole for this project.”

“Meaning you expect me to chew him into small pieces and spit him out. You and Peter are so alike.”

“We’re the ones who were there to see the mess you left behind last year.” Lily put her coffee mug on the kitchen counter and pointed a finger at him. “I wish there was someone else I could ask to do this. I really do, Adrian. I’d go to them and beg them on my knees.”

“You’re stuck with me.” He pointed out with a grateful smile. “Alexi is just exhausted; you have been working him to the bone.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, he’s a Kotaru. Overworking is in the DNA.”

“I have missed you, you wicked princess.” Adrian gave her a small bow of respect before he sank into a seat at the kitchen island table. “I’m sorry for what happened last year, Lily. I’ll do my best to make it up to him.”

“I’d be satisfied with a clear-headed Alexi for now.” Lily gave him a sharp glance before she picked up her coffee mug. “He might have forgiven you, Adrian, but the jury is still out with me. Don’t forget I saw you in L.A. You know what I found there. I’ll be watching you.”

*****

Alexi woke up alone. Running a hand over the spot where Adrian had slept, he stared at the empty pillow, a hollow sensation settling in his stomach. He hadn’t meant to cling but seeing Adrian at the airport looking so vital-, he closed his eyes.

He was here to work, not to rekindle lost dreams. But, it still hurt, he acknowledged. It hurt deep inside where he couldn’t ever revisit again. If he even tried, he might never recover. Pushing off the covers, he got out of bed and stalked to the attached master bathroom with determination. A long soak in hot water would get his thoughts back on track. He and Adrian were just friends now. No hanky panky, Alexi, he reminded his stupid weak heart.

*****

Getting used to the cold New York weather was tough, he liked his morning runs and the cold restricted him to a treadmill in the penthouse gym. After that first day, Adrian seemed to be on a mission to avoid him. Adrian was perpetually busy with his modeling agency. He hardly ever saw Adrian unless it was late at night right before bed, or early in the morning before work.

His mother called him daily, hounding him to look after himself. Allegra could be pushy, but he tolerated her calls because if he were to ignore them, she’d probably show up at the penthouse.

The only good thing about his stay in New York so far was that he really liked working with the movie producers and director for the Night Guardians project. They knew what they wanted, and as he’d sat listening to their ideas and suggestions with the different scenes, his music creative juices were on overdrive. He was composing music again.

March went by in a blur of creative meetings, research, and snowstorms that left him dreaming of sunny skies and hot weather. When April rolled in and the first spring shower fell, he jumped up and down, happy for the warm weather. To celebrate the promise of less cold, he started going to the park for his morning run.

On the last week of April, Alexi woke up to a very bright Saturday to find Adrian busy in the kitchen making pancakes. Lily sat at the kitchen table chewing on a slice of toast while she worked on her laptop. He let out a lazy yawn as he leaned on the wall to pull on his socks.

“Going for a run?” Adrian asked flipping a pancake expertly. He looked adorable in the red apron. Admiring Adrian’s tight ass in tailored dark brown trousers for a moment, he pulled on his sneakers and nodded.

“I should be back in an hour. Will you be here?”

“No, I have a meeting. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow?”

Alexi stared at Adrian’s back. They hadn’t seen each other as much as he’d thought they would. Adrian was always in meetings or helping schedule his models, not to mention the business trips. Numerous business trips to L.A. that took Adrian away for days. Alexi was at a loss.

Was Adrian avoiding him on purpose?

Glancing at Lily, his frown deepened when she seemed to bury her head closer to her laptop screen, any closer and her nose was going to be reading her email notifications.

Alexi ignored Lily’s peculiar behavior and answered Adrian. “Let’s make it a date. I’ll see you for dinner. I will cook.”

“Stop the presses,” Lily muttered. “Adrian, are you sure you want to test your stomach?”

“He cooks.” Adrian defended him. Turning around he winked at Alexi, his green eyes sparkling. Alexi’s stupid heart flipped like the pancakes in Adrian’s pan. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

Alexi stuck his tongue out at Lily, the childish action making him strangely happy. He headed out of the penthouse in a lighter mood. It was only seven o’clock when he started his run at the park. Pounding the path to One Republic’s Feel Again, he blocked out everything. He was in the zone, his breath the only thing interrupting his blank mind, when a thundering force tackled him to the ground.

His attacker was unrelenting. Tight arms locked around him, as they fell hard on the edge of the tarmac path. It didn’t help that he wore shorts, the gravel cut into his left thigh like stinging nettle. His left arm burned hot, a sharp pain running up and down his upper arm. Shrieking in fright, he tried to roll away to save himself, but he was pushed down on his back.

“Stay still, you idiot.”

“Get off me,” he shouted punching the body holding him down. He couldn’t breathe for goodness sakes. When the weight kept pinning him down, hysteria struck. “What the hell are you doing? Oh my god, are you one of those perverts. I’ll have you know, I’m martial arts trained. I won’t stay down and let you hurt me. I might break your bones, so get off me before I hurt you really badly.”

His attacker got off him and he sat up, pulling off his earphones to see what was going on. He blinked when he suddenly realized that there was a large hunk of stone statue a few feet away from him, the size of which would squash a house. It stood gracefully on the paved path where he’d just been running a few minutes ago.

Too surprised to say anything, he turned to see who his attacker was, his gaze colliding with stunning electric blue eyes that had him gasping. The world seemed to fade after that, the only thing he could remember when he woke up fifteen minutes later, was the sight of electric blue.

****

Meet Adrian , he's a cutie. Tell me what you think. Waiting for your comments.