Davien's P.O.V.
There remained the lingering question of how that address ended up on the painting and, more importantly, how my mate discovered it. Instead of futilely attempting to extract the information directly from Kian, I decided to investigate on my own.
The sooner I concluded my business with Kian, the sooner we could separate...
"I'm certain Ian has informed Ceaser about our visit to Valerie. Should we consider going home?" Kian asked, his gaze fixed on his phone.
No, one of his many phones.
"Considering he likely has men shadowing us, it would be reckless. Especially considering your lack of combat skills," I analyzed audibly, not looking to provoke him deliberately.
"I am well aware of my strengths and weaknesses, I don't need you to remind me," he retorted sharply. "But it is getting late, and I have a meeting at nine p.m. I need a place where I can work undisturbed." With that, he rose from the car bonnet.
As he pulled on the car door, he glanced towards me. "Do you have any place in mind?"
*Hotel.*
"Why am I not surprised that this is your go-to choice?" Kian's sarcastic voice sounded as I parked in the hotel's lot.
"Staying here for the night guarantees that Ceaser's men won't be able to bother us. Plus, it provides you with that suitable workspace you want so badly. I've dropped in this place before, and it has great security," I explained, retrieving my wallet from the glove compartment.
I expected him to protest, but Kian remained silent on the matter. Maybe he was just eager to make that phone call.
"Go ahead. I need to take this." I glanced over my shoulder as Kian briskly walked away, phone pressed to his left ear. He moved so swiftly that I couldn't discern what face he was making. Nevertheless, I proceeded with making the hotel room reservation for our stay.
"Good evening, I'm Clair. Is there anything I can assist you with, sir?" A high-pitched velvety voice inquired, drawing my attention to the receptionist.
A brunette with lustrous, chestnut-brown hair cascading down her shoulders, her monolid eyes shimmering with a warm caramel hue, possessed a smile that illuminated her cheerful countenance.
From where I stood, I couldn't help but notice the striking contrast in our physical statures. Her petite frame made her shoulders appear delicate and dainty, so much so that I knew I could easily engulf her in my embrace, as if she would vanish entirely beneath my towering presence.
"Davien."
Her lips lifted into a smile, "I know who you are, you're one of our regulars."
Oh, was I. I had never seen her before, although that was understandable, considering the guests I came here with never gave me a second to look away. Just like she was doing now.
"But I don't see you with anyone tonight, are you perhaps alone?" She asked, inputting something into the computer.
I rested both elbows on the counter, "Maybe, depends on what you say to that." My eyes followed her delicate fingers, imagining all the things I could make her do with them.
She took out a keycard and slid it across to me, "Your room key sir," Clair leaned in close and when no one was looking she took out an identical keycard and kissed it.
"My shift ends in an hour, but if you're patient there's a special service I'm willing to offer you." The scent of her arousal was off the charts, it was bold just like her.
And I liked assertive women best.
However, the temporary lust I was chasing after, vanished the second Kian's scent wafted into the air. I stepped back and swiped both keycards from her, she arched her brows but I couldn't give a damn.
"You're done?" I pointed out handing over the second keycard to Kian, he stared coldly at it then sent a sharp glare to me.
"You keep it." He said, then diverted his attention to the receptionist.
The woman flashed him a smile, despite the hostile scent exuding her. "Hi there, how may I help you?"
"Why don't you help yourself first? Perhaps start with that unethical work ethic you're sporting." He spat out, glaring daggers at Clair.
"E-Excuse me?" Her widened smile cracked.
"Do I say it in plainer words so your brain can comprehend it?" Kian's sultry tone broke the camel's back and forced Clair into curling her lips into an obvious frown.
I stepped in and held Kian by the arm, "That's enough Kian, let's go…" I hadn't finished speaking, when Clair scoffed.
"Are you trying to look down on me or something? Just because I'm a receptionist? And what the hell is your business with what I do?" Her angry words seemed to spark something within Kian.
He slapped off my grip, then narrowed his eyes at me, warning me to back off with a fiesty gaze, telling me not to interfere. I withdrew my hand and buried my face in my palm, hoping the other guests in the lobby didn't recognize my face at the very least.
Kian straightened his clothes, "Making advances at a customer and taking a spare of their room key has to be downright be the most unethical thing for a staff member. If you did your job properly, then you wouldn't give people the chance to look down on you." He lectured in a surprisingly calm tone.
But that stoic expression was exactly what pissed people off about Kian.
"Unethical? The man standing behind you is Davien Moore, the city's most eligible playboy. He's been to this hotel with more women than I can count. I think he's very pleased with my unethical services." Clair was so pissed that she didn't pay heed to her raised voice.
People turned their heads in our direction, and some even took out their phones to record this.
I had to step in.
Seeing as Kian wouldn't budge, I lowered myself and picked him up from the ground, one handedly tossing him over my shoulder.
"Tell room service not to disturb us." I said to Clair on my way to the elevator. Thankfully, it was empty and no one dared to follow.
Kian remained perfectly still on my shoulder without so much as making a fuss. I didn't put him down until the elevator doors joined together and we started going up.
It was my fault.
I wanted to say that, but Kian turned his face away and peeked into his phone, steeling all possible ways to approach him. He didn't scold or berate him like he normally would, we stood in silence until we reached our room.
Come to think of it, why did I book just a room?
Kian shuffled into the room and opened it's wardrobes, sure enough there were bathroom robes inside. He kept his phones on the nightstand and took out the blue one, leaving the white.
He was about to disappear into the bathroom, when I held him back. He eyed my hand on his wrist, but I didn't care at that point, the only thing on my mind was getting him to talk to me.
"The entire reception scandal downstairs was my fault, considering our situation that was no time for flirting. And if I knew you would get upset over me being with other people, I wouldn't have done that."
An Alpha apologizing…I was starting to think that I really was screwed.
But if seeing me with others hurt him, I did have to take responsibility for it. The mate bond was delicate, and as long as we were still mates, my actions affected not just me, but Kian as well.
A sigh escaped his lips. "It's fine as long as you're able to point out your own mistakes." He said, slowly peeling my fingers off his wrist, I took the hint instead and let go of him.
My eyes caught sight of a red mark on his wrist, I stared at my hands, wondering when I had used so much strength.
"However, I believe there's a misconception you're having. Allow me to correct that delusional deduction of yours. And that is, the idea that seeing you with other people somehow affects me." He said in an icy tone.
Did it not?
"You were angry just now at Clair…at the receptionist." I pointed out, trying to get a read on his thoughts.
He brought his wrist to his eye level and gently massaged it with the tip of the his other fingers.
"You're sorely mistaken," he spoke in an as-a-matter-of-factly manner, "it's just as I said downstairs, I was annoyed with that woman's lack of professionalism. That was all. And you flirting while we have men after us is tiresome. If you want to stick it so badly into something, wait until Ceaser isn't on our asses."
In a quieter tone he muttered. "Though I doubt a horny alpha like you could show that much restraint."
My feet acted on their own, but my mind was in sync with the decision. Kian slightly raised his brow and parted his mouth to speak, however before he could I guided him against the wardrobe doors and pinched his chin.
"You're right, I am just a horny Alpha. No need to show restraint with my mate right in front of me. Is that what you want?" I grazed my thumb across his soft skin, memorizing his feel.
He said he wasn't upset? Impossible! How could he say that with a straight face when the scent of hostility was clearly coming off him.
Kian chuckled dryly, "What I want?" Before I knew it, he reached for the side of my face and touched my left cheek. I bit my lip when his skin met mine, no one had made me feel that way in such a long time.
Maintaining our gazes he spoke softly, "Seeing me with someone else riles you up, yet you chase after others and get angry when I ignore you. Correct me if I'm wrong, but could it be that you like me?"