“Fuck you,” I wheeze, then heave in a big breath when he sits up. And this time he doesn’t lay back down on me, but I realize he’s right. That weird routine just fucking, like, reset my anxiety or something. Every breath feels easier, my muscles feel lighter.
“What the fuck…” I whisper, rolling over to look up at him. And I realize that he’s probably an evil genius–one that knows secret behavior hacks like some kind of mad scientist–and he’s bent on keeping me forever.
Oh my god.“You seriouslyarehypnotizing me at night, aren’t you?”
And he does something unexpected then. He laughs. Like actually laughs. Just once, a startled bark of it. But I feel like I just won the lottery.
“Holy shit, you laughed!”
And I don’t know how I know, it must be some kind of supernatural psychic premonition, but I fuckingknowhe’s about to tickle me until I safe word. So I fly out of bed and run.
He follows while I cackle like a witch, but as I hustle down the stairs, I stumble to a stop and nearly have a heart attack.
“Fuck!” I grab my chest and try to stop myself from going into cardiac arrest. “Yosef, what the fuck?! You scared the shit out of me!”
Yosef clears his throat and averts his eyes like I’m naked, even though I’m wearing pants. But the strong arms that close possessively around me make it clear why he’s not looking at me.
“What?” Young-gi demands. “This had better be fucking important.”
“There are two people at your downtown office refusing to leave. They’re looking for Tommy.”
I blink, because huh? “Me?”
No one’s ever looked for me.
“Who?” Young-gi asks at the same time, the word sharp.
“A crippled boy with crutches, Josh. And a man named Bruce.”
I don’t react because that can’t be what I heard. That makes no sense. That’s literally not possible. “Joshy doesn’t even know Bruce.”
Yosef shrugs. “They’re together. They showed up together, they’re loitering together.”
“We’ll meet with them.” Young-gi’s declaration surprises me.
“I can go handle it–” I start to offer, but his stern,I’m Daddying you right nowlook shuts me up.
“We’ll go see them. Don’t let them leave,” Young-gi growls, pulling me back toward the bedroom. Which is when I realize he’s out here stark naked. My head turns like an owl’s, eyes narrow, because is Yosef looking at my man? But he isn’t. His gaze is still averted.
Appeased, I allow Young-gi to manhandle me into the bedroom.
He doesn’t say anything as he strides to his closet. I follow him idly, trying to see if he’s upset, but he’s as blank-faced as ever.
“I wonder what they want,” I murmur as he tosses me jeans and a T-shirt.
“We’ll find out.”
I study him more carefully, and note the careful but quick way he chooses one of his nicer suits. “Are you like, excited to meet them or something?”
“Not excited. Impatient,” he corrects me. “I’m not sure why. Bruce in particular. I want to lay eyes on him, commit him tomemory. I want to file him as a non-threat and prove to you that I’m better than he is.”
Oh.He’s jealous. Possessive. He wants me. He loves me. I feel all bubbly-happy again, just like when I woke up in his arms this morning.
Hiding my delight at his jealousy is hard, but I think I manage. “You’ll probably have to spank me,” I say casually. “To prove it, I mean.”
“Oh, definitely,” he agrees darkly, and a shiver runs down my back.
Suddenly, I’m feeling pretty impatient, too.
