Page 16 of Fatal Temptation

“We met in college.” Lucas dropped his gaze to his hands, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees. “We were together for three years. I was convinced we’d last forever. We’d get into the FBI together and we’d work together. I thought he was my forever. That’s why I proposed.”

The lump in Akio’s throat was almost too painful to swallow against.

“You know why we broke up.”

He nodded even though Lucas wasn’t looking at him.

“Chris and I have different versions of what happened,” Lucas said and dropped his head into his hands with a sigh, fingers sliding into his hair. “Of course, his account isn’t wrong, but he never got to be on the other side of that experience, either.”

He was quiet for a while and Akio busied himself with his hot chocolate to keep from pushing Lucas to speak before he was ready. As much as his heart hated this conversation, he knew it was something he needed to hear. Something he wanted to know.

“From the second we got word that Chris would never even be considered for the Bureau, he changed. He had this anger like I’d never seen in him before. It tore us apart. I ended up at a point where I knew I had to choose: the career I’d always dreamt of or a relationship I wasn’t sure could be saved. If we’d stayed together, if I’d become an FBI agent while he couldn’t, he would’ve resented me and if I hadn’t become an agent, I would’ve resented him. It was the best decision for both of us. I had to let him go.”

A hand on top of his had him glancing up to find Lucas looking at him, something vulnerable flashing through his eyes.

“I’m glad I did,” Lucas said.

He didn’t know if Lucas was wrong, if he and Chris could’ve made it work, but he was glad they hadn’t tried. His brother wouldn’t have Chris, andhewouldn’t have had a family.

He felt his lips twitch and forced a smile as he said, “I’m sure Diesel is, too.”

An unreadable expression crossed Lucas’ face momentarily, but then he grinned at Akio and leaned back.

“You should drink that before it goes cold,” Lucas said with a nod toward Akio’s mug.

Akio tried to smile, unsure if Lucas bought it. He grabbed the mug, using it to cover his face as he took a sip of chocolate.

“Do you know what you’re going to do after college?”

He was relieved by the change of topic but winced at himself when he instantly blurted out, “Fuck, no.”

Lucas laughed, the hearty sound making his heart beat faster, warmth spreading through his body. Lucas had always made him feel at ease in a way no one else could. He’d always felt safe with him.

They kept talking until he could barely keep his eyes open, and he vaguely recalled feeling a warm body against his before he drifted off.

CHAPTER TEN

Lucas

HE WOKE slowly, the heat, the body pressing against his, keeping him from wanting to open his eyes. A soft groan had him blinking, though, and when Akio’s black hair came into sight, all he could do was smile. Akio was asleep, face buried in Lucas’ chest. He wasn’t sure when Akio had unwrapped himself from the blanket to cover them both, but it meant that Akio was firmly pressed against him. He could barely see the side of Akio’s face but what hecouldsee had his heart squeezing almost painfully.

He pulled his right hand out from under the blanket to run his fingers through Akio’s soft hair. He knew he had no right, but he couldn’t deny himself this innocent moment. He had to be careful when it came to Akio because the man was making his walls crumble left and right.

It hurt to know that Akio thought himself weak. He was anything but in Lucas’ eyes. He was the strongest person he knew. He’d been a kid, raised in the hell that was Yokota’s home. He should’ve been brainwashed into wanting to follow his father, but Akio had a sense of justice that Yokota had never been able to tear down. He’d fought back. He’d fought and his father had punished him even more for it.

Once Akio had gotten away from all that, he’d carefully and slowly started to thrive, living with Chris and Diesel. Despite having learned that even family could hurt you in the worst ways, Akio had opened his heart to his brother and Chris instantly. Akio had been braver at eighteen than he had his whole life.

Black lashes fluttered and then he was looking into warm brown eyes.

“We fell asleep?” Akio whispered.

He nodded. “It’s not the first time I’ve fallen asleep on this couch.”

Akio’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and he said, “I figured. It’s comfy.”

He wasn’t about to tell Akio, but he probably spent more nights on the couch than he did in his bed. It was so fucking empty in that room. So cold, and not because he kept the temperature low.

Akio froze, eyes widening, and before Lucas could ask anything, Akio was extracting himself from Lucas’ side.

---