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“Why did you ignore me for six days?” Bennett threw back.

A muscle jumped in Nico’s jaw, his expression darkening like a thunderstorm. “That is not how this works, bello. I ask the questions, you answer. Not the other way around.”

“Right. So you can ignore me, then sneak into my apartment whenever you want to get laid. You can demand everything from me and give nothing in return. Got it.”

Nico pushed off the chair and stalked around the bar, closing the distance between them. His muscled shoulders were thick and impossibly wide in his beige sweater, the fabric molded to his torso in a way that made Bennett’s mouth water. When it appeared the mob boss wasn’t going to stop, Bennett began backing up until his ass hit the marble counter. Then Nico crowded against him until their thighs were touching, their hips pressed together, and want ignited in Bennett’s body like an inferno. He sucked in a breath, which Nico definitely heard.

Nico’s hand wrapped around the side of Bennett’s neck. He leaned in and spoke softly. “I ignored you to protect you. I did not know if the TPS would be asking more questions or pressing you for information. I did not want to put you at risk, just in case.” He shook Bennett slightly. “Capisce?”

Oh. Oh.

That actually made sense. And now Bennett felt even more foolish. He relaxed like the air had been let out of his muscles, with all the tension melting away and leaving him staring stupidly at Nico.

“And this is where you apologize,” Nico said.

“I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“Good boy.” Nico slapped Bennett’s cheek lightly twice, and Bennett’s entire nervous system lit up like a stadium after the goal horn. “Now,” Nico continued, “tell me why you were worried about me.”

“I didn’t know if the police had you, or if you’d been injured while dealing with Alex. I didn’t know anything.”

“It is better this way, no? Then you are not an accessory, remember?”

“Yes, but.”

When he didn’t continue, Nico’s dark eyebrows went up. “But, what?”

“But anything could’ve happened. I just needed to know you were okay.”

“You think a scrawny hockey player could cause trouble for me?” The side of Nico’s mouth hitched. “You really have no idea who I am, do you?”

“That isn’t the point.”

“Then tell me what the point is.”

Bennett shoved his fingers through his hair, pulling on the strands to keep from blurting out the truth. The point is that I love you. I want us to be together. I don’t want you to keep me at a distance anymore.

He couldn’t say any of those things, but he was tired of the mixed messages. Tired of feeling like he had some of this man, but not all of him. And it wasn’t enough, not any longer. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to ask it. “What are we doing, Nico?”

“We are standing in your kitchen.”

“I’m serious. I spent six days terrified that you were in jail for assault or attempted murder!”

Whatever he heard in Bennett’s voice caused Nico to slowly release him and step back. More and more distance opened up between them until Nico was leaning against the far counter, his arms crossed over his chest. “We are fucking, Bennett. That is all we are doing.”

The words couldn’t be clearer—just sex, nothing more. It was the answer Bennett knew was coming but had dreaded all the same. A door slamming before it even fully opened. But hope was a terrible, terrible thing, and Bennett’s lungs struggled to draw in a single breath.

Still, he had to ask. “What if I wanted more?”

Nico, uncharacteristically quiet, just stared at his shoes. The seconds dragged and Bennett realized the mistake he’d made, the impossibility of them. It had been a ludicrous idea, a fever dream.

He doesn’t want this. He doesn’t want me.

Bennett shoved his hands into the pockets of his track pants. There was no recovery from this. He’d crossed a line, fallen in love, and the consequences were something he’d need to own. “Forget it.”

“Yes, agreed,” Nico said quickly, his demeanor shifting into familiar territory as his gaze turned hot and appreciative on Bennett’s bare chest. “I can think of better things we can be doing instead of talking.”

“No, I mean forget all of this.” Bennett pushed his shoulders back and tried to appear like his chest wasn’t being ripped open. “We can’t do this anymore.”