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)
Falling into step with him, Alexis said almost rhetorically, “What is it about us letting kids draw on themselves that makes them so happy? It’s like a magical charm.”
“Lure of the forbidden, I guess.”
“Maybe that’s it.” Alexis looked at him and acted like she was waving a magic wand in front of him. “Handsome ice dragon is forbidden. Is it working yet?”
Salem sighed, letting his eyes roll off down the corridor somewhere. “Memo to me, stop talking to you about my love life.”
“You don’t have a love life. That’s the point.”
And how to argue with that?
The video call had helped.
Not just for the insight into how to handle Salem, but also, seeing his family’s support and concern for him buoyed Gregori’s own flagging confidence. Reluctant mates were one thing. Salem was borderline hostile toward him and the very idea of being mates. It wasn’t like Gregori didn’t respect the hard work Salem had put into achieving his dream or the sense of duty he had toward healing all those sick kids. He just believed Salem could have his career plus the love and support of a mate.
For Salem, it was one or the other. Work or a relationship.
The hard part now was convincing Salem both were possible.
But first, Gregori needed to prove he was useful and self-sufficient.
A tiny pang of guilt pinched his heart as he opened Salem’s closet and peeked inside. This was not snooping. It was research. Critical fact gathering before an operation—the operation being the sneaky winning of Salem’s heart.
The closet wasn’t very helpful. Several suits of varying dark colors, collared shirts, jeans, and a handful of T-shirts. All of it was very functional and interchangeable, as if Salem wanted to be able to reach into his closet and randomly grab something without needing to give it much thought. On the floor were one set of dress shoes and three pairs of worn sneakers.
He snatched up Salem’s suitcase he’d used in Brazil and quickly sorted it. If he’d eaten the man’s ass, he could sort his undergarments without blinking. Some clothes were tossed in the wash, and he set aside the suit he’d worn to his brother’s wedding so it could be taken to the dry cleaner. The toiletries were dropped in the teeny-tiny bathroom, which held a shower stall that was not conducive to sexy shenanigans. Hell. Could he fit in there by himself?
He checked out the labels on Salem’s shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, and deodorant, memorizing them. For the cologne, he might have popped off the cap and sniffed the sharp, spicy fragrance. It was nice, but it smelled even better warmed on Salem’s soft skin right in the crook of his neck.
With a sigh, he pulled his stubborn brain away from thoughts of silky skin and the tenor of Salem’s moans and turned toward the kitchen.
No, kitchenette.
How did anyone cook in here? It had zero counter space, and the coffee maker took up what little existed. All the appliances were tidy and clean. The only thing in the sink was a spoon from when Salem had stirred his sugar and creamer into his travel mug full of coffee. Sam had mentioned his brother had horrible eating habits. It was likely Salem’s kitchen was clean because the man never used it.
The freezer held a stack of hamburger patties covered in frost and lost to freezer burn. The same for a small bag of chicken breasts. The bag of frozen green beans had probably suffered the same sad fate.
The fridge was terrifying.
Bags and containers of old takeout, most of it fast food. He didn’t recognize all the names, but it was a wide mix—American, Asian, Italian, and more. All of it old and forgotten. Part of him wanted to shake Salem. How could he call himself a doctor and eat this crap? There was no way he’d let his patients eat a diet solely of processed garbage.
With a huff, Gregori located a garbage bag and tossed all the takeout into it. Dr. Salem was getting a hot, healthy meal tonight whether he wanted it or not.
However, if these meals represented Salem’s dinners, then logic said his lunches and breakfasts weren’t any better. Yep, Gregori would need to start prepping his lunches as well. A healthy meal would carry him through the day and through those difficult surgeries.
Folding himself up at the itty-bitty dining room table, he scratched out some quick notes for what to get for dinner, as well as ideas for filling lunches. They would provide the boost Salem needed to get through the second half of his day.
Gathering up the list and Salem’s suit for the dry cleaner, he quickly made the rounds. He dropped off the suit at the closest dry cleaner and then grabbed a rideshare to a local market. It was tempting to load up on all the fresh fruit, veggies, and meat, but he didn’t want to overwhelm his skittish mate. Best to sneak in under his defenses.