*Adrik*
I admittedly stayed a few steps away from Sephie on purpose because I was enjoying the irritation I felt from Ivan when Dr. Williams approached Sephie again. I felt his bubble go up around her. I was sure there was no reason for it other than he didn’t like it when the good doctor showed too much interest in her.
“I know you said you’ve been healing well, but you were very beat up. Still no issues with your lung?” Dr. Williams asked Sephie.
She looked surprised when she felt Ivan’s bubble, but at least he allowed her to hear Dr. Williams through him. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he cut her hearing off completely just to be a shit. I was going to be her ears if he did, just because I was enjoying this a little too much. She answered Dr. Williams, saying, “only if I exert myself a little too much do I have problems catching my breath, but it happens very rarely. My arm and shoulder are mostly back to normal and my ribs only hurt if I do way too much. I have very good trainers who insist that I properly stretch just so that doesn’t happen though.” She threw a glance at Andrei who was listening in on the conversation and winked at him.
“How often do you struggle to catch your breath? Is it frequent?” he asked.
Andrei walked over, catching on to what was happening as well. He wasn’t as irritated as Ivan, but he wasn’t thrilled about this conversation either. “It’s only happened twice in the last month. Both times she was doing more than she should’ve been doing,” Andrei said, smirking at her.
Dr. Williams looked from Andrei to Sephie, silently asking for confirmation. “It’s true. Sometimes I forget and try to be normal,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “But they all take very good care of me, so nothing to worry about, doc.”
Dr. Williams ran a hand through his hair, looking between her, Ivan, and Andrei. “Well, if it continues to happen, don’t hesitate to come in for a check-up,” he said.
“No offense, doc, but I would rather avoid that. That being said, they will drag me to the hospital kicking and screaming if they have to should they think something is wrong with me.”
He laughed, studying her for long enough that both Ivan and Andrei stepped slightly in front of her. It was enough of a move to break him from whatever thoughts he was having. I was still enjoying watching when I noticed Andrei’s demon was angry. Andrei still looked completely calm, but his demon was raging.
It was completely different from everyone else. He was actually much more frightening. I would much rather deal with someone who was visibly angry than to deal with Andrei. He was completely cool, outwardly, but I could tell he was thinking of at least 47 different ways to kill the doctor in that moment.
As Dr. Williams pulled out of the parking lot, I walked to the three of them. Sephie knew Andrei was mad; they were having a silent conversation between the three of them. When she felt my arm around her waist, I could feel the worry as she looked up at me.
“Tell me what he was thinking,” I said. She chuckled softly, amused that I already knew what was going on.
“I felt Ivan’s irritation through Sephie, so I paid attention. The doctor has some weird fascination with Sephie since he saw her shaking in the hospital when she was away from you. It’s turned into somewhat of an obsession, but he can’t bring himself to ask her about it.” Andrei said.
“That’s what has you ready to follow him and rip his head off?” I asked.
Sephie looked up at me, grinning. “You can feel him too?” she asked.
I shook my head no. “Andrei? No. Andrei’s demon? Absolutely. He’s going complete apeshit in there right now.” Sephie giggled.
“No, it was him replaying checking her over in the hospital in his mind that did it. When he lifted her hospital gown to check for internal injuries.” Andrei told me.
I felt Sephie grab both of my arms and wrap them around her waist as she held onto them. Her grip tightened as she felt my anger making an appearance, which only served to make Andrei and Ivan even more angry.
“Boys,” Sephie said, sternly. “You all intimidate the absolute fuck out of that man. It will never be an issue unless I’m left alone in a room with him.” She paused, then added, “under heavy sedation, since he clearly knows how to paralyze me.” Her body shuddered at the thought.
I looked at Ivan. “Your bubble was just because he irritates you? Or did you actually see something on him?”
Ivan laughed. “No, he’s clean. I’m just irritated with him. I didn’t know what he was thinking about, but I knew he’s been strangely fascinated with her. That’s not a good combination in my world.”
“You were right to do so. I knew he was fascinated by her. I did not think it was to that extent or I would’ve come over,” I said, still smoldering.
Sephie was somewhat indignant with us. “You three act like I can’t handle myself.” She held her thumb and forefinger up, with barely any space between them. “I’m this close to being able to kill him with just my thumbs,” she said, giggling.
“It’s not a matter of whether you can handle yourself, love. It’s more a matter of his disrespect. It’s not something I tolerate. I know he wouldn’t stand a chance against you,” I said, turning her to face me. I pushed a few curls out of her face, enjoying that they immediately returned.
“He also suspects something is different about her eyes. I didn’t think he ever caught it, but he did a few times when she was in the hospital and when she went back for check-ups,” Andrei said. “He only ever caught glimpses, but his curiosity is getting the better of him.”
“We should only ever be in situations where we’re wearing our contacts around him. Or, and hear me out here, we just all show up one day and switch them to black and enjoy watching him shit himself,” Ivan said.
I laughed, along with Sephie. “See? I told you that idea would work for someone at some point,” I said, pressing my lips to hers.
Once we were back at the penthouse and alone, I brought the subject up again with Sephie. “I don’t want you to think that I think you can’t take care of yourself,” I started. Her sweet laugh cut me off. She immediately pressed her lips to mine, wrapping my arms around her waist and pressing her hands on my chest.
“I don’t think that. I was teasing. I absolutely adore how protective you all are of me. It’s a massive confidence boost for me. Honestly, you’re all lucky that I’m not more of a shit than I am. I could just be a major bitch to everyone knowing that you guys would clean up my mess,” she said, grinning at me. “I know that no matter who’s with me, I’m always safe. From anything and anyone. Hell, I even know that about Vitaliy’s men, too.”
I smiled at her, some of the irritation from earlier managing to come back. She searched my eyes for a moment, then asked, “you’re just irritated with him? Not anything else?”
“Having my mind go back to your time in the hospital was unexpected,” I said.
“I see,” she said, chewing on her bottom lip. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and innocent. “I think we need to take your mind off that.” She raised her hand to my face, her finger running lightly over my facial hair. “How should we do that?” she asked, one side of her lips curling up into a smirk, her bottom lip still between her teeth. In one instant, I completely forgot everything but my need for her.
*Fuck. I love her.*