Page 27 of Sass

His shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath before he finally released the handle and turned to face me, his expression all kinds of wary. But he still said nothing.

Okay then. I sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I never meant to imply that I didn’t approve of your...”

Chris arched a brow.

“Social strategies,” I finished carefully.

He folded his arms over his chest. “You mean how many men I fuck and how often?”

I winced, then sighed. “Yes. That. I don’t give a shit how many men you fuck, Chr—Kip.” I ignored the twinge in my belly that felt an awful lot like I was lying.

His gaze narrowed. “That’s not how it sounded.”

I raised my palms. “I know. I know. And that’s totally down to me. You looked hot as hell that night, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to take you up on your offer.”

“I know.” Chris cocked his head and leaned back against the door. “You couldn’t take your eyes off me all night. And I was watching you too, in case you were wondering, along with most of the people in that room. You looked... delicious.” His gaze ran hot over my body and heat bloomed in my cheeks. “And yet you didn’t take me up on the offer.” His startling green eyes stayed steady on my face as the unspokenwhyhung like a sword between us.

“No, I didn’t. But not for the reasons you think.”Oh god, am I really going to do this?The answer was yes. I’d been a shithead that night, and everything between us since then had been my own damn fault. “My own bedroom had a revolving door on it for more years than I care to remember. I have no moral skin in this game, Kip. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with how you choose to live.”

Chris arched a brow, his sharp cheekbones and fine features illuminated by another flash that briefly washed those green eyes with silver. “Go on,” he said flatly.

“But I’d been trying to change that, starting right around the time of that party. To be honest,youwere my first big test,” I admitted. “One I came very fucking close to failing.”

His mouth curved up in a slow sexy smile. “I did look hot that night.” He smirked and I almost laughed. The guy was an arse.

“I should’ve just said no thanks and wished you well.” I wanted him to understand. “But instead, I deliberately pissed you off to keep you at a distance. I knew you wouldn’t let me near you after that. It was a shitty thing to do and I’m sorry. But I wasn’t judging you.”

Chris watched me intently, no doubt gauging my sincerity, and it was all I could do not to wipe my clammy palms down the front of my jeans as I waited out his silence. If he didn’t accept my apology, we’d be stuck circling the drain for the foreseeable future, and I’d just have to live with that.

Eventually, he spoke. “All right... in the spirit of full disclosure, I might possibly have over-reacted. My family and their church—” He circled a hand in the air. “—disapprove of practically everything about me, including the fact I’m gay. But my slutty behaviour absolutely scandalises them. Not that I give a fuck. We don’t talk. It took me a long time to get past that shit and it’s not a subject I like to be reminded of... which you did.”

Way to go, idiot. “I’m so sorry I did that.”

He shrugged. “There’s enough grief thrown our way without shitting on each other, right?”

Suitably chastised, I nodded. “I imagine it feels good to stick one to your family like that?”

Chris cocked his head. “Are you analysing me, Leon? I’m touched.”

“No.” Heat raced back into my cheeks. “I’m just curious.”

He grinned. “Then, hell no. Their outrage is just a happy bonus. I do it because I love sex and I love men, and the two together are what good times are made of. Why didyoudo it for all those years?”

I grinned and nodded. “Touché. I was twenty-two when I came out as bi, and I couldn’t wait to explore everything I’d been missing and then some. I like women, don’t get me wrong, and I’ve fucked my fair share. But I’ve always had a soft spot for men.” I grinned. “Or a hard spot, to be more accurate.”

Chris chuckled. “You know, it’s a shame we didn’t talk more at that partybeforeyou shat on me. I might’ve forgiven you.”

I wish we had too.“My fault. I was avoiding you. See aforementioned comments about how hot you were that night. I just want you to understand that I get it. The whole ‘as many men in as many ways as you can’ thing. Exciting times, right?”

Chris’s expression relaxed. “So, what changed? What decided you to turn... respectable?” His green eyes glinted in amusement.

I gave a half shrug. “Age. Experience. Boredom. Call it what you like. I’m thirty-five. My friends and family are mostly settled with partners and growing their own families. One day I woke up, took a look around, and shocked the hell out of myself by realising I wanted that too. And continuing to fuck my way through as many men and women as I could wasn’t going to get me there.”

Chris blinked, horrified. “Well, that sucks. Can you take a pill for that?”

I laughed.

“I can’t imagine ever settling down with one guy.” He shook his head. “I love my life. A different guy riding my dick whenever I want? It’s the best rush.”

---