Seth's Cravings: An Endless Series: Book 2 (57 page)

     Nadia’s cheeks flushed as she wrapped her arms around
my neck. “My love.” She whispered, kissing me again.

     With one arm around her waist, I held her face with my
other hand and took control of the kiss. I never tired of hearing that word on
her lips.

     “
Blin
, are you two fused at the lips.” Luka complained
walking in the room.

     We pulled apart halfheartedly. Looking up I saw Luka
watching us with narrowed eyes. I had been sensing veiled antipathy from him
for some time and wasn’t sure were it was coming from.

     “Luka, watch your language, at least in this house near
your sister.” Nadia shot over her shoulder.

     “
Da, mat’
.” Luka shot directly back.

     Nadia’s face pale, and her eyes went stark as she
turned to confront her brother. “You know I’m not trying to take
materi
place.”

     The look on her face tugged at me heart and I set my
hands on her shoulder in support.

     Luka looked shamefaced. “
YA izvinyayus’
,
Nadezhda. It was just a thoughtless comment.”

     Luka’s comment had been something any child could have
said when reprimanded, or an adult jokingly, but to Nadia it seemed to have
brought back unsettling memories, or maybe comparisons. Nadia smiled, and I
could see her trying to shake off the feelings that had rose in her at hearing
her brother’s words.

     “
Vse
normal’no
.
Lyublyu tebya
.” Nadia
murmured.

     “Ditto.” Luka’s threw her an apologetic half smile.

     Issy came running into the room, breaking into the
heavy moment. She smiled at seeing me. “Happy birthday, Seth!”

     I smiled. For some reason I wasn’t getting all out of
sorts like I normally did when people tried to make a fuss over my birthday.
“Spasiebo, Issy.”

     Issy giggled, Luka smirked, and Nadia grinned shaking
her head.

     “You really are pretty horrible at speaking Russian.”

     “Hey, that’s like the fourth word I’ve spoken in
Russian. Give me some time.” I laughed.   

     Her lovely lips quirked and mouthed ‘all the time in
the world’.

     “Did you tell Seth what we’re doing yet?” Issy rushed
over to stand next to Nadia.

     Nadia grimace up at me. “Not yet.”

     “I take it you made plans for us today?” I asked
raising my brow. I wasn’t as perturbed with it like I normally would be.

     Nadia shrugged casually. “It’s Saturday, and I thought
we could all do something fun…if you want to. No big deal if you don’t.”

     I smiled letting her now I was fine. “I like fun.”

     With a determined expression Nadia clapped her hands
together, like everything was coming together. “Good, are you also fine with it
being a surprise?” She asked.

     “
Da
.” It was pretty impossible to get that word
wrong.

     Issy and Nadia smiled like I’d accomplished nuclear
fusion. Luka rolled his eye. I needed to have a talk with the kid to find out
what his sudden problem with me was.

     Nadia clapped her hands again with a look of
excitement. “
Ideal’no
, let us get going then.”

     I looked around at the three of them and noticed they
were wearing comfortable cloths, the girls in yoga pants and Luka in sweats. “I
feel a little overdressed for wherever we’re going.”

     Nadia’s eyes narrowed on my jeans. “
Da
, you’re
right. Luka, can you go grab an extra pair of your sweats; a larger pair.”

     Thankfully, Luka did as she asked with no comment or
facial tick. When he brought them back we all paraded out of the apartment and into
Nadia’s car…she insisted. Twenty-five minutes later she was pulling into a
parking lot that housed a large warehouse. There were only a few other vehicles
in front of the building and I didn’t miss that two of them had an uncanny
resemblance to Nic and Noah’s.

     “You roped everyone in on this.” I accused.   

     She gave me a look of innocence. “What? I thought they
would like to have some fun as well.”

     We all climbed out and I read the business’s name on
the face of the building.
Charlottesville
Base Camp.
“I’ve got
some wild thoughts of extreme military exercises going through my head.  You
sure this is going to be fun?”

     Nadia laughed grabbing my hand. She looked so damn
excited, and damn adorable. “Come on.”

     She pulled me toward the entrance. Luka followed
holding Issy’s hand, and they were looking excited as well. I was happy to see
that she wasn’t making them do something just for my sake. Stepping inside I
realized why we were here. The building was as huge on the inside as it had
looked on the outside. Half of the structure consisted of climbing walls, while
the other half had a three level rope course.

     “This is cool as shi..nono.” I exclaimed, correcting
myself toward the end.

     “Terrible catch there.” Nadia laughed.

     Walking further in I saw the gang around a large round
picnic table. It seemed we were the only people in the building besides the
staff.

     “Seth, finally.” Evan called out. “How is it we never
knew about this place?”

     “You got to go looking for something to find it.”
Landon said, sounding all Gandhi like and shit.

     “Sensei, you are so wise.” Blake declared with a small
bow.

     “I know, it’s a curse sometimes.” Landon said drolly.

     “That’s not all you’re cursed with…she said.” Nadia
announced, and then giggled when Landon glared at her. “I’m sorry, I have to
get one in every time I see you. It’s becoming compulsory. Like OCD or
something.”

     That had everyone laughing, and Landon’s lip twitching.
I was going to have to get over this jealousy I had whenever she paid him any
attention, it wasn’t conductive to keeping Landon as a friend if I suddenly
punched him the face just because Nadia teased him.

     “Hey Nadia, did you tell Seth that this is for his
birthday?” Nic asked with a grin.

     “This is like any other Saturday with friends.” She
proclaimed with a quick concerned glance my way.

     I didn’t want her thinking that I was in any way upset
about what she did for me today. It looked like she’d gone to a lot of trouble
to arrange this, as well as spending her hard earned money, and even though I
felt conflicted about her spending her money on me I was actually extremely
pleased she’d made this effort.

     While I haven’t wanted anyone to make a big deal of my
birthday for years I found I didn’t mind the idea of it this year.

     “Yeah, if the two intersect, that’s just coincidence.”
I wrapped her close and kissed her forehead. She beamed up at me.

     “Well, I have to say, you’ve got him to do more than we
have in the last three years on this day.” Nic stated.

     “Female persuasion is way more effective than that of
the male variety.” I said with a smirk.

     “Too true, too true.” Nic nodded enfolding Carrie
tighter as she sat between his spread legs. She grinned, shaking her head.

     Noah was nodding as well. “I can’t argue with that either.
Women have…particular attributes that men just don’t possess.” Noah must have
pinched Amanda’s ass because she jumped in her seat and shrieked, slapping at
him.  

     “So, everyone is here then.” Two staff members walked
up with smiles of welcome on their faces. “Are we ready to get started? We’ve
only got three hours.” While they proceeded to inform everyone on the rules I
leaned down and whispered in Nadia’s ear.

     “I love you.”

     She twisted in my arms, her face alight with happiness.
“
Ya lyublyu tebya
.”   

    We shared a tender kiss and then she snuggled back in my
embrace as the staff continued spouting the long list of safety regulations. In
no time we were getting fitted for waist belts so all of us could climb, even
Issy.

     It seemed Nadia, Luka, Issy, Carrie, and I were the
only ones who had never wall climbed before, everyone else had done it at least
once before. I thought getting to the top would be easy since my body was in
prime condition, but it wasn’t. More weight meant it took more exertion to get
there. The thing that saved me was my height and arm span, I was able to reach a
lot more grips and it allowed me to finally reach the top after three tries.  

     Nadia ended up being the fastest climber out of all of
even though she’d never done it before. It didn’t surprise me; the girl was in
shape and light of her feet. And hell…she did everything well.   

          When we moved to the high rope exercises I found
that I had a new respect for heights, as did a few others. Surprisingly, Issy
seemed to be the most comfortable up there. She executed each level like she
wasn’t hundreds of feet off the ground.

     When our session ended everyone handed in their belts
and I was finally able to corner Luka alone in the restroom as I changed back
into my jeans. He was washing his hands when I walked out of a stall.

     “Hey Luka, can I talk with you for a second?”

     He looked up to stare at me through the mirror. “Sure.”
He answered guardedly.

     It bothered me that he was suddenly so distant around
me when I thought we’d been getting close. “Since that morning I fell asleep on
your couch you’ve been kind of cold toward me. Did I do something you find
offensive? I thought we’d been building a rapport, and that night everything
seemed fine between us, but then you woke up in a completely different frame of
mind.”

     Luka’s eyes shifted back down as he shut off the water
faucet, he then turned and leaned back against the sink, facing me. His look
wasn’t belligerent, which I was pleased to see, but he was frowning. “Seth, I
do like you. I guess I’m just worried about where your and Nadia’s relationship
is going. She’s never been interested in anyone before, and in some way its
weird watching it play out.”

     I think I understood what Luka was trying to convey.
Stepping up to the sink next to him I flicked on the water. “Luka, I love your
sister.” His eyebrows shot up in surprise, either at my bluntness or the words.
“I’ve never been in love before, but like any relationship only time will tell
where Nadia and I will end up. Hell, I’m hoping for something long and
passionate.” His brows arrowed down and he frowned. Was the passionate part too
much? “From the beginning Nadia told me that you two would come first in her
life and I absolutely agree with her. It was a part of her character that drew
me to her in the first place, her total dedication to you and Issy. She loves
you guys whole-heartedly. I care for both you and Issy as well, I hope you know
that. You’re both pretty damn awesome.”

     He switched his attention down to the floor, his
expression reflective, and maybe even confused. “I called her
mat’
earlier, and though I said it in a snarky attitude that’s what she’s been to
us.” He looked up at me and for the first time I saw the pain he was dealing
with at having lost his mother all those years ago. “She’s been everything to
us the last five years, and though it’s something I hate to confess, it worry’s
me that we won’t be her sole focus any longer.” The corner of his mouth lifted
in self-derision. “Maybe it’s just selfishness on my part”

     I smiled. Luka was mature for his age, but at this
moment he was all teenager…concerned with losing the focal point of his world.
I clamped my hand on his shoulder in camaraderie. “It’s not selfishness, but I
think we both agree she deserves something for herself. The girl’s life has
revolved around making certain you two are settled and have everything you
need. Well, I’m here to help her with that, but also to make sure she has something
outside responsibility.”

     Luka was nodding in agreement as I finished up my
speech. “I do want that for her, and I’ve never seen her happier and I know
it’s because of you.” I wanted to grin like crazy at hearing that, but
refrained for the moment. “I’ve just been dealing with a jumble of conflicting
feelings about it, and knowing what you two are most likely doing when Issy and
I go to bed hasn’t helped.” The look he threw me was censorious.

     Removing my hand from his shoulder I messaged the back
of my neck.
This was
sticky
. “I’m not going to go there with you.
Your sister is an adult and that…”Shit! I couldn’t seem to spit out the word
sex. “part of her life is not your concern.”

     Luka chuckled gleefully. “Man, you should see your face.”
He pointed to the mirror. “Seriously, take a look.”

     Giving him a baleful glare I turned for the
exit…without looking in the mirror. “Come on, I’m surprised no ones come in
here to see if we’re giving each other swirlie’s.”

     He continued to chuckle as he followed me out the door,
and that had my lip twitching in response. The only person that seemed to be
watching for our return was Nadia, and a smile of relief passed over her face
when I gave her a nod to let her know everything had been worked out. She gave
Luka a quick hug, which he returned, and they both whispered something in each
others ears that had them sharing affectionate smiles.

     I couldn’t help the smile that curved my mouth at
watching their love for each other, but also at observing Nadia’s massive
younger brother engulf her in a bone crushing embrace that had her squealing in
laughter.

     “You’re looking exceptionally sappy over here staring
at your girlfriend. I have some suspicions that the ‘L’ word is floating in the
air around you two.” Nic said walking up to stand next to me.

     “It’s more than floating. The seed has taken root and
is in the process of growing.” I wasn’t at all ashamed to admit it.