6. CHAPTER 6
6
TYLER
Rolling my head from side to side, I groan at the tension release, stretching my arms above my head to get rid of the strain in my shoulders after sitting at my design desk for the past few hours, working on the Kozlov plans. It’s been nearly a week since I visited their residence, and it left a huge impact on me that I’m still trying to come to terms with. The office is quiet, it's past seven at night, and I’m one of the last in the building like I have been the past few nights. Partly, it’s because the sooner I finish up with the Kozlov contract, the sooner I can wipe them from my mind. The other part is that I don't want to go home to the empty shell which is called my apartment. Don’t judge me, but I still haven't fully unpacked. The place is a mess, and I just can’t find the motivation to sort it out. Is it because, subconsciously, I don't envision myself sticking around here? Do I deep down dislike the apartment? Is it loneliness? I can't pinpoint what has me like this, but it's not me. My life has always been organized and structured, yet since moving here, I’ve changed into some college student with no fucks to give, living off takeout. All I do is work, sleep, workout, and repeat. I've still not made any firm friends. I've been out a couple of times to a bar with work colleagues for drinks, and it’s okay, but they’re not the kind of people I’d become close with. I’ve always been more drawn to free-spirited people, as they tend to drag me out of the overly planned life I’ve made for myself.
Deciding to call it a night, I pack up my stuff and the plans I’m nearly finished with, and head back home. Maybe I should have a couple of beers and start unpacking. That is probably why I don't feel settled yet, as I don't have all of my things around me. Christ, I’m a whiny fucker.
I make my way into my apartment building out of the horrendous cold. Just as I walk through my front door, my cell phone rings. Looking down at the screen, I see my brother's name, Chase, light up, enveloping me with warmth as effective as a hug.
“Hey,” I say into the phone as I drop all of my bags onto the hall table and try the balancing act of removing my winter coat while holding the phone to my ear, balanced on my shoulder.
“Hey. Is this a bad time?” Chase says.
“No. I just got in from work, so it's perfect timing.”
“Work? Isn't it late over there?”
“I got a big contract so I’m working later than usual. Where are you, anyway? I thought you were in New Zealand?”
“No. We’re in the UK. I’m in bed, we’re just about to go to sleep as it's the middle of the night. Jet lag sucks.”
“Nice. How is traveling going? You and Noah okay?”
“Yeah. We’re great. Actually, there is a reason I’m calling. I’m returning to the States in a couple of weeks as Noah has got to attend a meeting in New York, so I was kinda hoping we could meet up?”
“Really? That's amazing. Yeah, I’d love that. You wanna stay here with me? I have an extra room, or is Noah wanting to keep you all to himself at a hotel?”
Noah is the oddest person I’ve met. He makes my brother happy, and really that's all that matters to me. He takes care of him. But he is freakishly possessive, and not in terms of basic jealousy, he literally does not like socializing with anyone. Including me. I sense he tolerates me for Chase, but it's pretty fucking obvious he’d be happy locked up in the middle of nowhere in a house with only Chase.
“Yeah, he’s booked a hotel. We’ll only be in the city for a few days. I’ll text you over the dates, and we’ll have to go out for dinner our first night there. It’s been too long, Ty. I’ve missed you.”
“I've missed you too, little brother. Go catch up on some sleep, and we’ll talk more when you get here. Love you.”
“Love you too. Night.”
The line goes dead, but my heart is fluttering with happiness that Chase is coming to visit. This is what I needed. Placing my phone into my pocket with a deep sigh, I stand in the middle of my living room and assess all the boxes that need unpacking. Rubbing my hand roughly over my face, exhaustion hits deep at the idea of even looking through one box. I’m tired. This project has taken up so much of my time, and now I’m at the end of the design phase, my body is ready to slump into hibernation. I’m meeting with Dima and Ivan at the end of the week, which I’m both dreading and excited about, as it means we are getting closer to the end. Once construction starts, I won't need to be as heavily engaged with the Kozlovs as I am right now. I need to stop obsessing over this. A hot shower and some food followed by my bed will right my brain.
Placing a food order on my phone, I jump into the shower and turn the setting to as hot as I can take, allowing the heat to loosen my muscles, sore from being hunched over my desk. I place both my hands on the shower tile and bow my head forward, letting the hot water cascade down my head, washing away every negative thought. Apart from one. Ivan. That man has been stuck in my head since I met him and I’ve no idea why he has gotten to me. Maybe it was his blatant behavior in trying to make me uncomfortable while also flirting. I can appreciate his attractiveness.
I’ve never fit into a box when it comes to my sexuality. Not that I’ve ever spoken out loud about it. I don't feel the need to, especially since it's been years since a man got my attention. Not that I’m saying Ivan got my attention. It's just that the way he touched me felt different, like a threat and pure desire rolled into one. The guy is so damn intense. His eyes never left me, and that constant look of amusement put me on edge. Squirming. I have a feeling the smiles were fake. You can tell by the eyes. Most people would miss it, but not me. After years of listening to my brother Chase, a therapist, I picked up a few things. Not that I’m qualified enough to be correct, but Ivan has a vibe that's hard to place. That house screamed power and evil. The same could be said about Ivan, but I’d maybe use the word unhinged. I must admit, he has intrigued me, but it's not a path I’m willing to investigate. I don't want to have any dealings outside of professional ones with that family. The very idea of it has me wanting to bolt out of the door back to California.
My mind flashes like a camera with images of Ivan, those brown eyes, the thick mane of black hair tied up into a bun, his square jaw covered in thick stubble. That tongue piercing. Hold on…what the fuck? I look down and notice my cock is on its way to being fully interested. No. No, no, no, absolutely fucking not. I quickly turn the shower faucet on cold, to blast myself back to reality, quickly taking my cock back to its normal ‘not getting any action’ state. I hop out of the shower to hear my door buzzer with my food order, and use this opportunity to zone out of sexy bodyguard thoughts and onto filling my stomach and resting my deluded, fucked up brain.