Chapter 21

" Z hizn' ebet meya!"

Salem paused in adjusting the tie around his neck. That was one of the first times he'd heard Gregori use Russian. In this case, it didn't sound like a good thing.

"My Russian is a bit rusty." He resumed tying his necktie as he got ready to leave for the hospital. Gregori poked around the kitchen, slamming the refrigerator door closed and then hunting through the cabinets, but his head snapped around at Salem's words.

"You speak Russian?"

Salem rolled his eyes. "I was being sarcastic. Is something wrong?"

Gregori grunted and returned his attention to the kitchen. "I forgot to make a run to the grocery yesterday. We're out of…fuck…everything. I can't make you lunch today."

Gregori had still cooked regularly during the past week, which amazed Salem—he wasn't sure how the man found the spoons. Not only did he have obligations at the hospital with the kids and volunteering with the fire department, he now had a couple of universities demanding his time, wanting to learn more about the Valerii Clan, the Dragon War, and what had happened with the dragons over the past five hundred years. Honestly, Salem expected things to have blown up from stress by this point. They usually had at roughly this junction whenever someone tried to stay with him. But ever since their blowout argument, Salem and Gregori had steadied. Salem kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. For Gregori to lose patience. SOMETHING.

Only it just never materialized?

He put the question mark on it because surely even Gregori's patience would run out soon. Salem knew full well he wasn't easy to live with. Within the confines of his own head, he could admit he wasn't looking forward to their inevitable ending. He kind of liked cuddling Gregori's great big body each night and feeling those strong arms wrapped around him from behind. He maaaay have found Gregori's deep, steady breathing in his ear to be the best white noise. It wasn't like he was jealous , per se, of the kids who got to spend the afternoon listening to Gregori tell stories and do magic tricks. It was just a smidgeon of fear of missing out. Or something.

"Don't worry about it."

"But I want to make you something."

Salem grabbed his winter coat off the hook and pulled it on. "Hey, you're super busy. I understand and I'm not upset about you not cooking, okay? Don't worry, today there's going to be real food at the hospital. Nurse Cutler is taking a cooking class, and she's been bringing in enough food to share."

He hadn't even finished speaking when he could feel a six-foot-two dragon looming over him, breathing out little puffs of frosty air. "A nurse has started cooking for you?"

"I wouldn't say she's cooking for me. She told us she wanted to try out some recipes on us."

"And would you say she's a good cook?" Gregori's voice dipped lower, just a hair away from threatening. Not that Salem felt like he was in danger at all. No, just the opposite. Gregori's low, grumpy voice was sending all the blood to his dick.

Bad dick! He didn't have time for a quick fuck. He needed to get to work.

But that didn't stop the little devil on his shoulder from goading Gregori.

"A good cook? Yeah, I think she's doing a great job. Yesterday she made a green curry that was some of the best I've ever had." He spun on the balls of his feet, smiled up at Gregori, and gave his cheek a little pat. Why was it so fun to tease him? Salem really shouldn't, but the jealousy was warming. "Have a good day! I've got an early surgery to prep for."

He was out the door before Gregori could reply or even ask any more questions about the food he'd been eating recently.

Was he stirring up trouble for no reason?

Maybe.

Was he an evil little shit?

Definitely.

Salem forgot all about his conversation with Gregori as soon as he arrived at the hospital. He had one surgery to prep for and two new patients who'd been brought in during the early morning hours. He'd be taking over their cases from the doctor who'd been on call overnight. Things were brisk, but there wasn't anything too unexpected or that had him running from one end of the hospital to the other. There was even enough time for Alexis to get in a few shots about stealing away his hot dragon.

He walked toward the lounge to grab a refill on his coffee and to see if Nurse Cutler did have a new lunch to share. Otherwise, he needed to pull up the delivery app and place his order now.

"I was just looking for you." Gregori's cheerful voice echoed down the hall.

Salem turned toward him, and his mouth fell open far enough to nearly bang his chin on the floor. The man was carrying two very large bags of what he was willing to guess was food. What. The. Fuck.

"I thought you said you didn't have time to cook. Did you order all this?"

"I got to thinking that I could postpone my time with the kids to this afternoon, which gave me enough time to run to the grocery store, make you lunch, and throw a pot roast in the slow cooker for dinner tonight." Gregori paused long enough to press a kiss to his temple. "Do you think anyone else is hungry?"

Salem snorted. The amazing people he worked with were bottomless pits. If there was free food, they were hungry.

He followed Gregori into the lounge and hovered at his shoulder as he unloaded both hot and cold food from his two bags. Caprese salad, beef stroganoff, short ribs, mini fried chicken drumsticks, and more. It was an eclectic hodgepodge of foods, but every one was a favorite of Salem's.

His mouth watered while his brain frantically pulled up his schedule. Thank freaking god he didn't have any procedures scheduled for the afternoon. If he dared to gorge himself on all of this, he was going to be lucky to waddle through his rounds. Fuck. He was going to need a nap.

"How did you have time to make all of this?"

Gregori flashed him a wide grin. "You should never doubt my skills. And did it escape your attention it's Valentine's?"

Salem blinked up at him. "Uhhhh…it is?"

"Is this a plausible deniability thing?"

"Uhhh, no, I genuinely had no clue."

Gregori's smile didn't waver, but any response was stopped by the appearance of Alexis, Nurse Cutler, and several others.

"How?" Salem demanded, holding his hands up at Alexis.

"Jeremy texted me. He spotted Gregori heading for the elevators carrying some heavy bags that smelled good. And oh god, he was right!" Alexis batted her long eyelashes at Gregori. "This is amazing. Did you happen to bring enough to share with this poor, withered soul who doesn't have a dragon to love her?"

"Of course. Let me fix a plate for Salem, and then you can dig in."

Nancy Cutler whistled and fanned herself as she came to stand next to Alexis. "Is this the infamous dragon I've heard about who has won over the kids and is making you such amazing food?"

Salem rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to shut this down fast, but Alexis beat him to it.

"You have no idea! Last week, Gregori made this cheese bagatelle pasta in a cream sauce. Doctor Stingy over there let me have a tiny bite, and I swear I haven't recovered from it yet."

"So not only does he cook, but you've got all this hotness to come home to?" Nancy inquired. She clicked her tongue and shook her head at him. "How have you not put a ring on his finger yet?"

Gregori shoved an obscenely heavy plate into his hands, but his eyes were locked on Nancy. His charming half grin had come out to play. "And why haven't we met yet?" He extended his hand toward the young blond nurse. "Gregori Valerii."

"Nancy Cutler. A pleasure to finally meet you. I've watched you playing with the kids. I swear all of your visits have done wonders to improve their morale."

"Thank you. I'm just glad I can brighten their day a little bit." He released her hand and sidled closer, allowing Alexis to dive into the various dishes, piling up her own plate. Wait a minute ! Where the hell did she even get a plate ? Salem hadn't even noticed her stepping away from the counter where the food was spread out.

"This smells delightful," Nurse Cutler mentioned even as she lifted a spoonful to her nose to sniff. "How did you get such a crisp edge on this fish?"

"Oh, it's the…" Gregori paused, face contorting. "Dammit, what word…it's the pan lubricant."

Salem busted up laughing. "You mean oil?"

"That was it!" Gregori made a face at him. " You try speaking multiple languages and see how often you lose a word."

He couldn't help but keep laughing. "Still, of all the words to choose, lubricant? Really?"

Gregori rolled his eyes at him and went back to discussing the finer points of cooking with Nurse Cutler. Salem dug in, the delightful taste of yummy food he didn't have to cook filtering through his taste buds. He ate and watched Gregori talk, and he might have basked in the moment. Seriously, what was this feeling of…pride? Surely not. He'd staunchly kept Gregori at arm's length, emotionally speaking.

Other nurses filtered in, hearing of food and wanting a share. Salem didn't mind.

Or at least he didn't until Lisa started batting her eyelashes at Gregori. Lisa was pretty, knew it, and flaunted her oh-so-perfect breasts as she lavished praise on Gregori. Salem didn't like her at all, as she'd already been through three husbands, every relationship ending because she'd cheated. She was a good nurse but not a good person.

Gregori finally got a word in edgewise and pointed to Salem. "I actually brought him lunch," he explained. "I just thought I'd make enough for everyone to have a break."

That wouldn't deter Lisa. Her last two affair partners had been married men. She didn't so much as blink. "Oh, you're so sweet."

That tore it. Salem drawled in a warning tone, "His breakfasts are especially good. So this will be the only time I'm willing to share."

Lisa looked at him uncertainly, took in his Try me, bitch face, and wisely decided to stop flirting.

The look Gregori gave him, one of delight, was worth it even if Alexis was making cooing noises next to him. Look, on certain things, Salem had no tolerance. Gregori happened to be one of those things.