Not that you’d know it to look at him now.
“What’s the bet, then?” Another puff of air against my neck. Another shiver. Dammit.
“E-everyone thinks Gabe is secretly hooking up with someone.” Get it together, Rowan. “Apparently he acts skittish when people ask him anything about his personal life.” I manage a shrug even though the proximity of Milo’s lips to my skin is making me crazy. “My bet is actually that he isn’t, though. I think it’s the way he was raised, is all.” I turn, practically meeting Milo’s lips with mine. “Uh, anyway. I think this group is just nosy as hell. Even escorts are romantics, I guess.”
There’s a pang in my stomach at that thought though. For Gabe, and also for myself. Living in isolation…it’s no good for anyone.
And romance? Tucker and I had nothing resembling a traditional relationship, but he was affectionate with me when he visited, and I miss that. Milo’s had his hand on my upper thigh since we got here, and I’m afraid to think it’s anything more than Milo being Milo. He’s touching me more than I expected, but I know better than to read into it.
“Hey. What’s the story with you two, then?” The question comes from PJ, who’s somehow related to one of the guys Milo and I are staying with. PJ and his older boyfriend seem to have kind of a Dom/sub relationship, and I guess PJ’s the one in charge?
Guess I can’t really blame PJ for being curious about me and Milo, since I’m curious about him as well. Especially when I’ve never brought someone to brunch before.
Still, I’m not sure how to answer, so I ask, “What do you mean?”
As soon as I’ve asked I kind of want to slap myself in the face. What a dumb answer.
PJ doesn’t seem deterred. “Like, are you guys dating or something?”
“Uh…”
We’re not dating. He’s keeping me alive. Because someone wants me dead. Also, I’m paying him with sex.
“Absolutely,” Milo says with a grin. He slaps his hand on my leg again, this time squeezing my upper thigh and rubbing up and down in a way that’s both proprietary and arousing. “Hasn’t been long, but when you know, you know, right?”
My muscles tense under his hand.
We’re what now?
He’s kidding. He’s got to be kidding.
Because what the—Mr. Don’t Slow Me Down is suddenly acting like we’reboyfriends?
I’m too stunned to speak, but PJ only grins. “Hell yeah. I practically fell in love with this one on our first date.” He hooks an arm around his boyfriend and tugs him close.
“You did not,” his boyfriend says affectionately.
PJ nudges him with his shoulder. “Did too.”
While they’re going back and forth about who loved who first, I pick at my fruit and granola parfait. When we got here, I wasn’t as hungry as I thought I’d be. Apparently mimosas aren’t the distraction from someone trying to kill me I’d hoped.
But now the savory smells of onion and potato coming from Milo’s giant breakfast burrito have me wishing I’d ordered something more substantial.
As if he can read my thoughts, Milo slides a plate my way with half a breakfast burrito on it. he grins and winks again when I raise an eyebrow to question him, and that wink melts me in a way it shouldn’t.
A few years of getting nothing but crumbs from Tucker and I’m practically willing to hand over my heart to the first guy who’s even the littlest bit kind? A guy who was hired to kill me, no less.
Jesus, I’m fucked up.
“You okay?” Milo asks quietly.
“Fine.” But the lie makes my throat tight. “It’s just been a lot.”
“You’re not wrong.” This time when his hand squeezes my leg, even though I shouldn’t, I put mine on top of his.
“Thanks for the burrito.”
“You’re welcome.” He nudges me. “Big guy like you needs more than a fruit cup, for fuck’s sake.”
