Chapter 15 #2
Emotion spread through my heart. “I missed you, too.” He was correct.
It had been a long time. I followed him across a teakwood floor and into a sprawling main room with a wall of windows overlooking a long balcony and the valley—the Native American reservation with Talking Stick casino rising from the desert, and beyond, Red Mountain and the Superstitions.
As the sun set on the other side of the building, it enhanced the shadows in the mountains.
“Wow, you have an amazing view.” As I stepped along, I ran my finger across a modern, grey leather sectional centering the room and then turned, noting the greyish hue of his cabinets.
It paired well with the white marble counters and high-end appliances in a darker stainless steel than what I’d seen elsewhere.
My gaze caught a large fireplace tucked into the wall with a marble surround, matching the counters.
“Your place is very, uh, sleek, but still looks comfortable. That’s hard to pull off. ”
“Are you a fan of interior design?” Stepping toward me, he laced his fingers in mine and smiled.
“A little. I mean, when you have money to spend on shit like this, you’re interested in it.” I’d hired a designer because I hadn’t had the time to mess with it. “Did you hire someone?” I pulled him to a colorful abstract painting on the wall and ran my gaze across its messy lines.
“No, I did it myself. I’m sort of particular and didn’t trust anyone to understand what I’d want.” He touched the canvas on the wall. “I love visiting the art shops in Old Town. I purchased all my art there.”
“You did, huh?” I scanned the room. There were several paintings, all colorful and all abstract. It lent color to the otherwise bland interior he’d created. “I like it, Julian. You did a good job.” Facing him, I hooked my arms around his waist and pulled him close.
“Yeah? I’m glad.” He leaned in, pressing his mouth against mine, parting my lips with his tongue.
Heat ignited inside me. When had we last been together? Before my injury. Slanting my mouth over his, I moaned and deepened the kiss, grinding my swelling cock against his.
He broke away from me. “Hey, before we continue, I need to tell you something.” His brows creased.
This looked serious. “Okay. What?” I studied him. Hopefully, it wouldn’t take long. We had food to order and messing around to do.
“I, uh, Ian told me he wanted to get back together with me.” He pressed his lips into a grim line.
I blinked. “He what?” Where the hell had that come from? “What about his boyfriend?” Heat swarmed my chest. The fucker, why would he assume he could waltz back into Juliaan’s life?
“It didn’t work out with his boyfriend.” He bit the side of his lip. “I don’t want him, though, Alex. I want you.”
“Good. Did you tell—” Fuck. He couldn’t tell him that. Our relationship was still a secret. “What did you tell him?” I dropped my arms to my sides.
He paced across the floor, tugging at his bangs. “Understand how he is. When he wants something, he doesn’t enjoy being denied.” He stopped and faced me, his brows wrinkling.
“So, what did you tell him?” I stomped toward him with my hands out. This didn’t look good. “Julian?”
“I, I told him I had to think about it.” He flinched. “He wants me to have dinner with him again tomorrow. I’ll reject his offer then.”
“Absolutely fucking not.” With fire radiating all the way to my fingers and toes, I strode toward him, grabbed his arm with my good hand and said, “You’ll text him right now and tell him to fuck all the way off.
You’re mine, Julian. You hear me?” I growled.
“All mine.” I’d resolve our issues somehow.
“Y-yeah?” His gaze darted between my eyes. “You want me that much?”
“Yes, hell, I’m falling for you, Julian. It’s more than like. It’s…” Oh my God, I’d almost confessed my love for him. But I loved him, didn’t I? If only I could come out and treat him properly.
“It is?” His eyes grew glassy, and his lower lip trembled. “I’m falling for you, too, Alex. For the first time since I broke up with Ian, I felt nothing for him. Maybe just pity when he asked to have me back, but that’s it.”
Throwing my arms around him, I hauled him against me and kissed his hair, my emotion almost swallowing me whole.
God, I loved this man, this spoiled, broken-hearted rich boy.
He had me, all of me. Kissing the side of his head and tightening my hold on him, I said, “You can’t go out with him tomorrow night. You’re coming to my house.”
“I am?” Sniffling, he rested his cheek against my shoulder, his arms winding around my hips.
“You are. Margot is going out with the team’s PR specialist she met at the charity, and she told me she’ll be out all night at the bars in Old Town.
Have dinner with me at my home. Watch a movie.
Cuddle with me on my damn couch.” Have sex in my bedroom?
Absolutely. How different it would be to have him there instead of Margot.
Shit, Margot. I had to confess what happened last night.
“Okay. I’ll take care of it.” With a ragged exhale, he released me and stepped back. “I’m sorry I didn’t have the balls to reject him last night. It seems I still have a few fucked up, automatic responses to him.”
I nodded. They had a history, and he’d need time to adjust. “Apology accepted.” I grasped his hand and kissed the back of it. “I, uh, have a confession to make.”
One of his brows snapped up. “You do?” He eyed me. “Let me guess. Margot wants you back too.”
“Uh, yeah.” I scratched the back of my head. “She came on to me last night after we watched a movie together.” I let a smirk tease my lips. “Except I flat out told her no.” Should I mention the kiss?
“Uh-huh.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Did you mention anything to her about us?”
“No, but I didn’t have to. She backed off afterward.” I clenched my teeth. I had to tell him. I’d promised not to omit anything. “She did, um, kiss me though.”
His gaze hardened. “She did? What the fuck, Alex?” He threw my hand down and stomped across the floor. “How the hell did you let her kiss you?” With a scowl, he twisted around at the kitchen island.
“It was only for a second. I didn’t kiss her back. I pushed her away.” Striding toward him, I snatched his hand.
He shook our hands, attempting to break free. “Stop it. I don’t know how to feel about this. She’s living in your damn house.”
“Not for long, and we’ll be back on the road soon.
” I yanked him to me, holding him in a tight hug, my chest squeezing.
Hurting him was so much worse than hurting Margot.
I never wanted to hurt him again. “She’ll leave soon.
I promise. Even if I have to kick her out.
” I brushed my hand across the back of his head, smoothing his curls.
“Come on, my feelings for you are clear now.”
He melted against me and sighed. “Yeah, I know. God, the last week has been a rollercoaster, hasn’t it? First, you suffered an injury, then the roster bullshit, and now this.”