Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
It had been several decades since Gregori had last visited the United States, and he had no memory of being in Boston. While the most important thing was remaining near his mate, a small part of him was excited at the prospect of exploring a new city with such a long and interesting history.
The sun was only beginning to set when they came into view of the downtown area, skyscrapers poking at a sky that was steadily turning shades of orange and purple. The lights grew more brilliant against the growing darkness, and the pleasant crispness to the air reminded him January was a bitter winter month this far north. His dragon made happy little growly noises at the prospect of seeing snow falling from the sky again.
Brazil’s temperate winters, warm beaches, and crashing waves were wonderful, but sparkling snow and long icicles called to distant memories of his birthplace in Russia—a place he hadn’t called home in a very long time.
He looked over at Salem to ask how often Boston saw snowfall, but he bit back the words when he noticed Salem had closed his eyes and his breathing had evened out with sleep as his head rested against the window on his right.
Yes, once he got Salem to his home, he would see about procuring his mate a healthy meal and then tuck him into bed. He’d mentioned something about returning to work the next day, and he needed to catch up on his sleep. Gregori would have to step up his game after this, too, and pull some kind of plan together. His usual tactics in flirting might not work here. He’d have to try different ones.
After close to an hour of annoying traffic, the driver finally pulled over in front of a building that didn’t look very impressive. Gregori had seen plenty of pictures of the neat and refined brownstone townhomes in Boston and had expected something more like that for Salem, considering he was a talented surgeon. Maybe it was more impressive on the inside.
He nudged Salem awake. In a heartbeat, the doctor opened the door and stood—probably an occupational hazard of his medical training, to be ready to go even before his brain fully kicked in. While the driver jumped out to help with their bags, Gregori paused long enough to tap the top of the driver’s unopened soda sitting in the holder next to his seat, freezing the contents solid. That would teach him not to look at Gregori’s mate for too long.
A bitter wind smacked him in the face as he climbed out of the car and walked around the trunk on the slightly slushy road to grab his suitcase, even as Salem told him to leave it there.
“You’re not coming in!” Salem argued as Gregori stepped onto the curb.
Wisely, the driver got the fuck out of there. Since Salem had already confirmed he didn’t want to involve the cops, the man darted for the driver’s seat and sped away, leaving them to handle their disagreement on their own.
“You said you were only accompanying me back to my place to make sure I made it here safely.”
“Yes, but you’re not inside.” Gregori tried to take the hand currently pointing a finger at his chest, but Salem batted his hands away. “You’re standing outside where it is very cold, putting you in danger of catching a cold. We should get inside.”
Salem opened his mouth to argue further, but some god took pity on Gregori and sent a fierce winter wind winding through the tall buildings to blast them, stealing away Salem’s breath. Salem had just spent several days in the balmy, luxurious heat of Brazil. Just enough time for his body to forget what winter felt like.
He shivered and snarled under his breath as he grabbed his bag. It thunked against the stone steps as Salem climbed up to his door, Gregori patiently following behind him. After several attempts to get his key in the lock, Salem opened the front door to reveal a long hallway with many doors.
Was this an apartment building? Did he not live in the entire thing?
Salem hurried down the hall—his roller bag bouncing along the ugly brown carpet with its strange, uneven bumps—to another door. Salem darted inside the second he unlocked it, but Gregori caught it before Salem could close it in his face.
“No!” Salem snapped.
Gregori fluttered his eyelashes and worked up his best sad puppy look, complete with pouty bottom lip. “But…I have no place to stay.”
“I don’t care.”
“But…I’ve never been to Boston. How am I going to find a safe place to stay? You’re the only person I know, Salem.”
The mage growled and pushed on the door, but even Gregori could feel he did so half-heartedly.
“Please, don’t leave me alone,” he continued, fully willing to lay it on as thick as necessary. There was no way he was letting Salem out of his sight. Not when he’d just found his mate. Nope. Not happening. “I just got here. I don’t know where to go,” he whimpered.