Page 84 of Primal Bonds 1

Shiro

The Red Velvet was a five-star hotel, and the private dining room was located on the fiftieth floor. As the elevator took us up, I wondered if it was all right for me to be here. Even though I had a cap on and was wearing a mask to cover the lower half of my face, I was still a beastkin. What if anyone were to figure me out?

Sure, I had been escorted to hotels like this one before under the institute, to meet with clients, but that was during the darkness of the night and through the back, with at least two officers on either side of me. I wasn’t allowed to walk freely like this in the front foyer and among other well-dressed people where all the glitz and glamor were.

The door dinged open and I followed Adam out. We walked through a series of fancy corridors lined with plush carpets and decorative art hung along the walls, until we came to a door where there were a bunch of men in black suits standing about, patrolling the area.They were the Sullivan men. Now that I thought about it, they were always there in the background. Even back at the penthouse, they were always in the foyer and about the building. I wondered if there was a group following Adam at a distance, not disturbing him going about his days but there nonetheless.

They bowed the moment they saw Adam, and one said, “Sir,” as he opened the door for us.

We walked in, and Lan came rushing over, grabbing my hand even before I could register what he was up to.

“You’re finally here,” he said. “Come on. Let’s eat. Although I already started eating.” He laughed merrily and pulled me toward the buffet table where there was a load of food fit for an army.

Holy shit! And this was meant for just the six of us? I was in heaven, and I was glad I had insisted to Adam that we come.

I took off my cap and mask and then retrieved a plate, filling it with all the seafood available—prawns, lobsters, mussels, and king crabs. Lan’s plate, too, was already filled with steak with a good amount of what looked like garlic butter. I followed him to the sitting area, which was a large low table encircled by three sofas facing the floor-to-ceiling glass window.

Oh, wow! I stood, mesmerized. The whole place had a great view of the city, showcasing glittering light among the backdrop of darkness now that it was night, like dots of stars in the sky.

I sat on the sofa diagonally opposite the one Adam sat on and placed the plate on the table. Lan was next to me and we started eating, and now and again, sipping softdrinks. Already, I was starting to feel better. As I had suspected, I just needed food and then some rest.

Adam and Nolan were chatting about work while sipping on champagne, and Lan and I chatted, too, mostly about the food and how awesome it was.

“You’ve got to try the steak,” Lan said. “It’s awesome. Nothing can beat meat.”

I chuckled. Lan loved his meat, huh?

We were just about finished cleaning up our plates when Chase and Aka finally turned up. It took them long enough. While Chase grabbed himself a glass of champagne provided by the waiter, Aka came over to us, asking, “You guys finished already?”

“Only the second round,” Lan said. “There’s still many more rounds to go.” He gave Lan a thumbs-up.

From the other side of the sofa, Nolan said, “Are you planning on emptying the buffet, Lan?”

“Yep,” he said, chuckling. “Food should not be wasted.”

Everyone burst out laughing, me included.

Lan went for his third round, me my second, and Aka his first. My plate was filled with sushi and sashimi this time. I’d go for the steak on my third round and then dessert after that.

The eating and drinking casually continued for the next three hours, and boy, was I having fun. So much so that I wished Kuro was here with us. When I mentioned this, Lan said, “This isn’t going to be a one-off. When Kuro is finally with us, we’ll do this again and it’ll be even more fun.”

Aka nodded his head furiously, his mouth filled withfood and his cheeks protruding out like a chipmunk with nuts in its mouth. I couldn’t help myself and burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Aka mumbled while chewing.

“Your cheeks,” I said, chuckling away merrily.

Lan saw and he, too, burst out laughing, rolling back on the sofa.

After the dessert, I was so stuffed I had to lie back, and I stared dazedly at the view. Apparently, Lan and Aka were still going. Lan was on his seventh round now. Goodness, but he could really eat. I wondered where all that food went, since he wasn’t even the slightest bit chubby. He was slender and lean, like me.

Adam came to sit beside me, and the moment he did, his scent caressed my nostril. I found myself going weak and hot suddenly and I moved in closer to him, wanting so badly to feel him against me. He stroked my hair and said, “You’re having fun, aren’t you?”

“Mm-hmm.” I nodded.

We were both quiet, and I took the opportunity to just soak in being close to him, feeling his warmth and the firmness of his body against me. On the other side, Nolan was teasing Lan. Those two could go forever just throwing words at each other. I didn’t think I could ever throw words after words like that at Adam, or anyone else for that matter. Then again, Lan had always been like that, quick in making a comeback.

Sitting near the window and staring out at the city were Chase and Aka. I knew the two were kind of in a relationship, of which sort I didn’t quite know. I just knew Chase liked Aka and doted on him, just like Adamdoted on me, but I had seen them kiss on occasion back at the clinic when they thought they were alone. This evening, too, when they had turned up late. Aka’s hair was wet, so that must mean he had a shower before they came. I wondered if something happened, if he and Chase did it in the locker room, possibly in the shower.