Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Dark eyebrows shot to his hairline. “Me? What do you mean? This isn’t about me.” Before I had the chance to feel the sting of dismissal, he grabbed my hand. “Wait, I didn’t say that right. It affects you, so it affects me because it affects us. I just meant I’m not the main character here. I don’t want you worrying about my feelings in there. Yours are the ones that matter tonight.”
This man.
“Well, thank you for telling me what to worry about and what not to worry about.”
He frowned, so I bumped his shoulder with mine to let him know I was kidding. “You matter as much here as I do. Tonight and every night. I can’t prevent my parents from saying something that’ll upset you, but I will call them out if, and probably when, they are ugly to you.”
“Ryder…”
“Alex…” I winked.
He stared at me with a solemn expression. “I should be used to it by now, but it still blows my mind.”
“What?”
“The way you always make me feel special and how you put me first. No one’s ever put me first, Ryder.”
“I know.” And it broke my heart all over again every time I was reminded of that fact. Whenever I performed even the slightest gesture of a show of support, he seemed surprised. “It’s one of the reasons I love being here for you.” One of the reasons I loved spoiling him.
“But tonight, I was supposed to be here for you, for once.”
I laughed out loud. “Babe, have you lost your mind? You are always here for me. God, you’ve done more for me and had my back more than anyone in my life. The past few months have been insane, and the only reason I’ve gotten through them is you.”
His cheeks turned pink, the way I’ve only seen once or twice before, each time while reminding him what a fantastic man he was. I made a mental note that my new goal was to see that flush on his face more often.
“How about we say tonight is about us, facing this challenge together and supporting each other? Okay?”
He nodded and squeezed my hand. “Yeah. I like that.” Then he took a deep breath and reached his free hand between us to fondle my soft cock. “Now, let’s get this shit over with so I can take you home and fuck you stupid again.”
My jaw dropped as my cock let it be known how much it liked that idea.
And then Alex released me and took a step back.
“That was the meanest thing you’ve ever done to me,” I grumbled as I shifted to accommodate the uncomfortable situation below my belt. “Seriously mean. Not only am I going to tell my family I’m done with their billion-dollar corporation, but I’ve gotta do it with a boner. Lovely.”
Alex burst into a loud, unrestrained laugh. The kind he rarely lets fly, and my mood soared to the clouds. Pulling that kind of reaction from him was second only to coming all over him.
“Sorry,” he said between loud guffaws.
“Bullshit.” I tried to give him a severe look, but since I didn’t have a fraction of the ability to scowl that he did, I was pretty sure my lips twitched and gave me away.
Once he’d gotten himself under control, we strode hand in hand up the stone walkway to my parents’ arched front door. Before I could lift a hand to the brass lion’s head knocker, the door opened, and a silver-haired gentleman greeted us with a surprised expression.
“Master Ryder, good evening. It’s lovely to see you back here.” D’Angelo had been my parents’ butler for the past fifteen years. He wore a tuxedo every day like he’d walked straight off a movie set and into my parents’ grand entryway.
“Hey, D’Angelo, have you met Alex yet?”
“I’ve not had the pleasure, sir.”
The two other times Alex had been here, I’d let us in through the family entrance in the garage. Tonight, I thought it better to take a more formal route. “Alex, this is D’Angelo. He’s worked here for too freaking long. D’Angelo, this is Alex, my boyfriend.”
“Welcome, Alex. It’s very nice to meet you, sir. I’ve been looking forward to it.” D’Angelo stuck his hand out, white glove and all.
Alex’s eyes widened to the size of semi-truck tires. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“Um, yeah. Yes. Nice to meet you, uh, as well.”
I snorted and earned myself an epic glare. “Sorry,” I mouthed, failing to hide my smirk. Alex, flustered by my family’s wealth, was too adorable. He was tough and could handle just about any situation like a pro, but put him in an extravagant setting, and he flopped around like a fish out of water.
“I do apologize for my surprise,” D’Angelo said as they shook hands. “I was not aware you were bringing a guest.”