Page 45 of Primal Bonds 1

Half an hour later, Adam arrived at the apartment building and he was just heading into the foyer when he saw Shiro and Lan sitting on the sofa near the reception desk. Obviously, Shiro couldn’t get back into the penthouse because he didn’t have a key card nor did he know of the passcode.

Adam felt a lump form in his throat the moment his gaze came to rest on Shiro. Fuck, just how much had the boy gone through? Despite that he and Nolan had been through hell during their younger years, Shiro had been through thrice that, from the reports he had read.

Emotions played havoc inside him—rage, sadness, sympathy, pity, and an overwhelming urge to protect. He reached out and rested his hand on the boy’s head, which had a cap on to hide the fox ears.

“I thought I told you to stay put and rest?”

Shiro, blushing hot on the cheeks, said, “Sor—” He cleared his throat. “I had some things to do.” He pulled Lan by the arm to his side then and said, “This is my childhood friend, Lan.”

Lan waved at Adam. “Hi.” He chuckled.

Just like that little rascal to be so good at pretending they didn’t know each other.

“Hello, Lan,” Adam said. “You taking good care of Shiro?”

Lan nodded his head furiously. “Oh, yes, sir. I took very good care of my childhood friend. I took him to a burger joint, sir. Can you believe it? It was his first time at a burger joint and his first time eating a burger. He was so happy that he was in tears.”

Shiro frowned and snapped, “I was not in tears.”

Lan chuckled. “Yes, you were. I saw it. You were in tears.” To Adam, he said, “He goes all teary-eyed when he eats something very delicious.”

Adam nodded. “I noticed that.”

Shiro widened his eyes, his face flushing hot. “You noticed that?”

Adam chuckled. “You wear your emotions on your sleeves, Shiro.” Turning on his heel, he said. “You two hungry?”

“Absolutely, sir,” Lan said.

Shiro asked, “Is Lan allowed to come up, too?”

Adam nodded. “He’s your friend, so of course he can.”

Shiro smiled then. “Thanks, Adam.”

An hour later, the three of them sat down to Adam’s home-cooked meal of stir-fry honey and soy chicken and vegetables served with steamed rice.

“I get it,” Lan said. “Because I’m a Chinese wolfkin, you’re treating me to my homeland food.”

Adam laughed. “I thought you’d be pleased.”

“I am pleased, sir,” Lan said. “And thank you for cooking a Chinese meal for me. I haven’t had a home-cooked Chinese dinner for ages.” He tilted his head to one side. “For six months now, since my big boss nonchalantly walked out on his job.”

Adam narrowed his eyes and knew the brat was talking about him. He was used to cooking them meals when he had the chance back at the Sullivan Mansion. Because he couldn’t help himself, he leaned forward and ruffled Lan’s hair. “Maybe you should return hometo your boss. He must be missing you in your absence.”

Lan pursed his lips. “Nah. He’s only too pleased to be rid of me.”

Shiro said, “This is my first time eating Chinese, and it’s very tasty. The cooking doesn’t look that hard, so maybe you can teach me, Adam?”

Adam chuckled. “I’ll only be too glad to teach you, but it’ll cost you.”

Shiro smiled then, his eyes twinkling, which made Adam’s heart melt.

“You just name the price and I’ll pay up.” The boy chuckled.

What about a kiss,Adam thought,with tongues?

He cleared his throat and then took a sip of his red wine. When he put the glass down again, he said, “We need to get you back to the clinic, Shiro. Chase wants to check you again.”