Page 71 of Not Catching Love

“Those things are more of a distraction?”

“Maybe? Sherwin talked about it once, and it was so boring I almost fell asleep.”

The flippant tone catches my attention. “You weren’t bored at all, were you?”

He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. He was wrong.”

I remind myself that’s something for Sherwin to deal with. “It sounds like you want people to be in awe of you but not attracted to you?”

“I … yeah. I think so? Kinda conceited, am I right?”

With what Xander’s been through? After a whole lifetime of neglect, it’s reasonable to think he’d crave attention but not want people to get too close.

Every day I spend with him reminds me of how lucky I am that he trusts me. That Xander chose to let me in.

“The most brightly colored bugs are usually the most dangerous.”

Xander tilts his head, blue bangs drifting over his forehead. “What do you mean?”

“Well, in nature, it’s either camouflage and not be eaten orbe so brightly colored that it’s a warning to any creature who might try to eat you that it’s a bad idea.”

His gaze drifts down, and when it snaps back up, I can already tell he’s going to test me. “Are you saying you want to eat me, Derek?”

I set myself up for that. “That question is off the table.”

“Why?”

Before I can stop myself, I pull him in, cradling him in my arms as my lips dip to his ear. “Because I already know it’s a bad idea. I know how dangerous you are, little bug, and I’m still trying to pretend I’m a good person.”

He shivers in my arms, making my heart pound harder. “Am I your little bug?”

I refuse to answer that. You don’t name a pet unless you want to get attached, and I figure you don’t pet name a person unless you want to fuck yourself over.

“It works, you know,” he says, not letting it drop. “Because you like bugs, and I’m scared of catching them. Not bugs like insects—bugs like flesh-eating viruses that corrode your lungs and make your brain bleed out of your ears, but same thing.”

That’s not the same thing at all. “And now you’ve ruined it.”

“Nuh-uh.” He pulls back so he can see me. “It’s mine now. And I’ll always remember the sexy way you whispered it in my ear.”

“Fuck.” I release him and step back, dick thickening against my will. “And that’s enough overstepping for one day.”

“You’re such a flirt.”

“Barely. I’m just a guy who likes bugs and apparently lacks self-control.”

“You have too much self-control for my liking.”

Mine too, bug. Mine too. “You agreed to be good.”

“You should know not to trust me.” He gets his evil smile. “The second you ask to have sex again, I won’t even pretend to think about it.”

“Then Ireallyneed to work on that self-control.”

“Maybe. Then again, there’s no one else here either. Just you … me?—”

I cover his mouth and fix him with the sternest look I’m capable of, while an “I’m fucked” warning tugs at my mind. “It’s only been a few weeks. I think my willpower can last longer than that.”

“A few weeks, huh?” Xander’s gaze travels over me. “I can wait.”

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