Page 63 of Leo, My Partner

A shiver runs down my spine, and I slap his chest so he’ll chill. I might be a grown man, but I don’t wanna do any over-the-top PDA with my dad so close by. “And a good baker. You might be a double threat.”

Another shiver racks my body as he leans to my ear. “A triple threat if you count how I make you come.”

“Behave,” I hiss, begging my cock to go down. Turning to him, I kiss him softly. “Thank you for coming with me. I love you.”

“I love you too, kotenok. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

CHAPTER 21

LEO

The weeks roll by, and Ty and I have gotten into a rhythm. We take contracts for people that are guilty of a crime but the courts found them innocent, or they’re obviously guilty of a crime, but their victims haven’t or can’t come forward. As I told Ty, we’re partners, so I give him half the money I’m paid to get rid of them. He’s pleased every time he checks his account. Though he doesn’t know that money is for him, not his bakery.

I’ve talked it over with June, and he’s on board with my plan. I’ve been waiting on plans to clear with my contractors, and they called today to let me know it’s a go. Excitement flows through me—a feeling I’m becoming more familiar with when it comes to Ty—as I think about the news I’m going to give him.

I’m also nervous. Ty is the type that likes to work hard for what he has, getting the sense of accomplishment when he reaches his goals.

But we’re partners. I keep telling him that, and I mean it in all things, not just us murdering together. He’s mine, and I’ll give him anything he wants. Including Tessa’s.

Ty steps inside our condo, dropping his bag by the door. “Today was my last day. No more work at the law office.” It’s perfect that today was his last day. The news I want to share can be a career upgrade present of sorts.

He comes over to the couch where I’m lounging, draping himself over me. My hands automatically drop to his ample ass, squeezing gently. “Happy?”

“Very. I trained my replacement, and she’s all ready to go. Now I can focus on getting Tessa’s up and running. I’ll need to work a bunch more jobs to get what I want, but it’ll happen. I was looking through some buildings I like, but nothing really spoke to me. Now that I think about it, the building I found you in doesn’t speak to me anymore either. You think it’s because I found you there or because I found you there?” he asks earnestly. I raise an eyebrow, not getting his meaning. “You know, found out who you were because I went there. Not physically showing up. Though that could have something to do with it.”

“Could be,” I say with a shrug. “Or it’s not the place you’re supposed to have Tessa’s.”

“No?”

“No. You belong to me and with me. So Tessa’s belongs at Ray’s.”

Ty sighs, lying on my chest. “I can’t keep baking here and bringing things to Ray’s. I need a place where I can bake everything fresh and not run out. I’m sure your customers don’t like when they show up and there aren’t any more muffins or Danishes. They go perfectly with a nice cup of Ray’s coffee. I know because I’ve had a Danish and muffin with your coffee there, and holy fuck it’s phenomenal. Can you get me some of those coffee beans for days I don’t go into Ray’s? It would be nice to make some at home.”

Smiling, I nod, lifting his chin so I can kiss his nose. “Yes, kotenok. But that’s not what I mean,” I say, bringing the conversation back to what we were talking about. “I meant you belong at Ray’s. I talked to June, and he okayed it.”

“Okayed what?”

My heart thumps, and my hands start to sweat. I’ve never felt nerves like this in my life, and I’m not quite sure how to handle it. I know he can feel the rapid beat of my heart under his palms because Ty gives me a questioning look.

Clearing my throat, I sit up so Ty is straddling me. He raises his eyebrow, his curious expression adorable.

“Okayed buying the empty building beside Ray’s, knocking the wall down, and renaming the coffee shop Tessa and Ray’s Bakery and Beanery.”

Ty’s eyes grow wide, and his mouth drops open. He stares at me for a solid thirty seconds. Squirming, I jostle him slightly. “Say something.”

Shaking his head, Ty drops his head in his hands, and his shoulders heave. Fuck, what did I do? He looked stunned but not like he was hurt. Is he upset I didn’t ask him first? Fuck, June told me it might backfire, but he also said it could be fine. Maybe I overestimated fine.

Dropping his hands, Ty wipes at his tear-streaked face. “Leo. You’d do that? For me? Change the name of your coffee shop, the neighborhood staple for me?”

My heart stops thudding against the walls of my chest, and a soft sigh leaves my lips. “Yes, kotenok. I’d do anything for you.”

Ty laughs prettily, then brings me in for a kiss. “I’d like that, Leo. Ray’s is where I got my start. I’d love to join you and June there.”

I lean in to kiss Ty again, but my phone vibrates in my pocket before I can touch my lips to his. With an aggravated growl, I pull it out, ready to tell whoever it is to fuck off, but I stay my hand. The caller ID is blank, which means it can only be one person: Ivan.

He only calls once a month to check in, to make sure I haven’t been caught and sent to prison. We’ve already had our monthly check-in, so I wonder what he could possibly want.

Gripping Ty by the waist, I move him from my lap and hold up a finger, saying, “It’s Ivan. He never calls outside of our regular check-ins, so it must be important.”

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