"You're too tempting for me." // @rinkaroundtherozy
The voice emerged from right behind Shane, close enough that he swore he could feel Ilya's breath against his neck. The fine hairs there stood on end immediately, a shiver racing down his spine that had nothing to do with the chill of his ginger ale.
The room was filled with the sound of glasses clinking, people talking and laughing, people just everywhere. Shane drew in a swift breath, with his fingers tightening instinctively around the glass.
His first impulse was pure reflex, to jump, turn, and put distance between himself and the sudden presence at his back. But before he could move, he recognised it; that deep, accented voice cut straight through everything else, igniting a wholly different sensation that curled low in his stomach.
Then came the words... Tempting.
Ilya thought he found him tempting... which was just... ridiculous. They were just wearing ordinary clothes, fine, nice clothes for an event, but nothing remotely tempting. Shane certainly didn't feel tempting, not at all.
What unsettled him most, though, was the setting and the audacity of it all. No one was looking at them right now, but people's eyes wandered, they always did. Especially when people noticed the two men standing a little too close together. They were rivals, after all and people loved to watch rivals interact.
If they were alone, Shane wouldn't hesitate. He'd turn around, scowl, and make sure those stupid Russian lips were too busy to make any more comments.
But they weren't alone.
He hesitated, just a fraction of a second as his jaw tightened, and then he tilted his head back just enough to acknowledge the presence behind him, keeping his voice low, meant for Ilya alone.
"Christ. What the hell are you doing, Rozanov?"