20. Oakley
TWENTY
OAKLEY
We spend the next hour sitting in the bar listening to a rundown of events for the next few days, culminating in the awards event on Friday. There are lots of eyes on us, and I don’t know if Lowen is aware, but I am. Fortunately, it’s not exactly a hardship to kiss his hand or rub his thigh or nuzzle his cheek. I love touching him and he seems to enjoy my attention.
When the meeting finally breaks up, I pull him close. “What do you want to do now? Grab some dinner?”
“You must’ve heard my stomach growling for the past twenty minutes.”
“Not over mine.”
“There’s a restaurant here, but it’s small plates. I could use something hearty.”
“Let’s go out. There’s a really good Italian place about a block from here. I used to eat there a lot before I found myself hanging out at a certain bar in Willow Bay.”
Lowen laughs softly. “Sounds good to me. I’ll have a food baby in my sheer blouse by the time we get back.”
“I’ll help you work off the calories.”
He drags his hand down my beard. “Promise?”
“You bet.”
We turn to go back to our room to grab our coats, but none other than Alain appears directly in front of us, blocking our path. The steely glare from Lowen would turn my blood cold if it was aimed at me.
“Lowen,” Alain says. The sound of his voice takes me aback for a second. It’s heavily accented and extremely high.
“Alain,” Lowen replies, his tone flat and cool.
Neither says anything for a moment, and I notice how the attention in the room slowly shifts to the standoff between the two men. I subtly tug Lowen a little closer.
Lowen, barely budging, doesn’t shift his gaze even a bit. “Do you have something to say? Otherwise, you’re delaying my dinner.”
“I have many things to say.”
“Tell them to your mirror. I’m not interested, and frankly, I find your audacity to even approach me appalling.”
“Oh now, you’re not still mad, are you, Low?”
“Lowen, and no, I’m not mad. I’m inconvenienced by a fanboy trying desperately to claim my attention.”
Damn. I knew my kitten was spicy, but holy shit.
Alain scoffs. “Please. You would be absolutely no one without me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I seem to be doing just fine.”
“It’s a pity award. Meaningless. Like our time together.”
I rear my head back, ready to get in his face, but I don’t even have time. Lowen steps extremely close to Alain.
“If it was so meaningless, why have you dated nothing but poor man’s versions of me ever since? If I mean nothing to you, why are you even speaking to me? Don’t forget, Alain, I’ve seen behind the curtain and I know what you really are. You’re lucky I took the high road, but you never know when your luck may run out.” He steps back, smoothing his blouse. “Now if you’ll excuse us.”
Lowen takes my hand, brushing past Alain as if he’s a mannequin. As we walk to the elevator, I can’t take my eyes off him. My cock reacted to every moment of that.
Once we’re alone again, I pull him close, kissing his neck. Lowen giggles, dragging his hand over my head.
“What’s this about?”
“You are savage.”
“That turned you on?”
“Fuck yeah. You can hold your own, that’s for damn sure. Why are you so concerned about him when you put him in his place like that?”
“It’s what he says publicly, not privately that worries me. He doesn’t like to be embarrassed, so if he has a chance to demean me, and he will, he’ll run with it.”
We step onto the elevator and as the doors slide closed, I press Lowen against the wall, kissing and nibbling his neck. He throws his head back, arching his body so his cock bumps into mine.
“So he’s a coward,” I whisper. “And you’re a viper, ready to strike.”
“I may have triggered his ego though. He might say something terrible about me just so they’ll run after me for a response.”
His breathy words and soft moans let me know he’s enjoying my kisses.
“Fuck him.”
“No thank you.”
I laugh, pressing my forehead to Lowen’s. “God, I love you.”
Lowen’s smile fades and I wish I could eat those words.
“Love…your personality. Your feisty spirit.”
He nods as he searches my face. “Thank you.”
The doors open on our floor and we walk to our room in silence. I hope I didn’t ruin anything. Lowen isn’t ready for that and the last thing I want to do is add more to his plate this week.
As he wraps his coat around himself, his eyes flicker across my face. He doesn’t say anything, but he does smile, which calms my nerves a little. He’s not running away. I can work with that.
I take his hand and walk back with him to the elevator. Several people join us, so we don’t speak, but once we’re outside on the sidewalk a few paces from the hotel, Lowen stops and faces me.
“I like you, Oakley.”
My heart sinks. Here’s the part where he tells me all of this is fake and temporary and I’m a damn fool for catching feelings.
“I know.”
He shakes his head. “No, you don’t. I mean that I… really like you. A lot.”
“Oh.” I exhale a relieved laugh. “Good. I like you a lot too.”
Lowen nods, but his expression is still tight. “I have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t remember how to…” He huffs in frustration.
“Kitten.” I step closer, wrapping my arms around him. “It’s okay. I do.”
Lowen cups my face. “I’m trying. I hope you see that.”
“I do. We’ll figure it out, and there’s no rush. We don’t have to talk about things or label them. We can just go with it.”
“Go with it,” he repeats, like he’s convincing himself. “Okay.”
“Okay.” I take his hands and kiss his palms. “Ready?”
“I think so.”
There’s a lot more meaning in those words than it sounds. I want to scream out loud that I’m the lucky ass who gets to woo Lowen, but I hold it in, choosing instead to grip his hand and walk proudly with him to the restaurant.
One thing about me is that when I want something I’m like a dog with a bone, and I want Lowen. Not for now. Forever.
I’m pretty sure we’re almost there.