Page 28 of Fatal Temptation

Akio crossed his arms and said, “What was it you said about your ego?”

He stared at Akio until he sighed, arms falling to his sides.

“Fine. Yeah. I had a crush on you from the start, but I knew that wasn’t what it was for you. I was a kid to you.”

“You were.” He met Akio’s unwavering gaze. “Until you weren’t.”

He watched as Akio swallowed, his Adam’s Apple moving up and down. He stared at that elegant throat of his, so pale in comparison to his flushed cheeks.

“When?” Akio asked, eyes widening as if he hadn’t meant to ask.

He raised his glass to his lips and threw back the whiskey, cringing as it burned on the way down. His voice was rough as he spoke, and he could almost convince himself it was from the whiskey.

“Last year. Your birthday.”

Akio blinked at him, then snapped his brows together. “Why?”

Lucas shook his head slowly, trying to find the right words.

“I could no longer pretend you were a kid, and when you saw me… the way you smiled, the way you looked at me, I just?” He ran a hand down his face. “I was a fucking goner right then and there. Then you made me dance with you and I was more focused on you than teasing Diesel. I couldn’t look away from you. I could barely get myself to let go of you again. I sure as fuck didn’twantto let go.”

“Teasing Diesel? What do you mean?”

Fuck.

Lucas pressed his lips together. He’d said too much.

Akio narrowed his eyes.

“What. Do you. Mean?”

“Your um… crush? It was kinda evident from the start,” Lucas said with a grimace.

Akio’s mouth dropped open, and he shook his head.

“My brother knew the whole time?”

“Yeah. We all did, and I would?” he cut himself off, not wanting to admit it, but Akio looked at him with such an amused smile on his lips that he told him anyway. “I would engage you because Diesel hates it.”

Laughter burst from Akio, and he found himself looking at the man with confusion and just a pinch of hope for his own dignity.

“I can’t?I can’t believe I never saw it,” Akio said between bursts of laughter.

Lucas arched a brow at him and said, “To be fair, you were kinda occupied by your crush on me.”

Akio’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Oh, I was.Veryoccupied.”

Lucas knew just how much. He knew what Akio had been doing while thinking of him and it set his whole body aflame with desire.

He pushed his chair back, rising with deliberately slow movements. He rounded the table just as Akio got up as well, dark eyes trailing Lucas.

He stopped in front of Akio, hands going to his face, soft smooth skin against his palms. Akio looked up at him and his heart squeezed almost painfully.

“I know this thing between us is very new, but I’ve wanted you for a year.”

A bashful smile spread on Akio’s face. “I’ve wanted you for a lot longer.”

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