Page 94 of Billion Dollar Love: Manlove Edition

“I could’ve stopped you if I’d had any desire to do so. It was complicated, and you really shocked me, but reporting you or whatever would be a shitty thing for me to do.”

Adam touched his hand. “But those are the kinds of men I’ve been dealing with for a long time now. Men who would use that moment as leverage. Yes, I’m lonely. Terribly lonely. But just the sight of you has my body reacting. And even when we’re bickering, at least it feels real.”

“Were you this intense before you became a billionaire?” Ben asked, at a loss for anything else to say.

Adam gave him a faint smile. “Yes. I was still closeted. Didn’t come out completely until my uncle got sick. Losing him made me realize how every day is a gift. I was always so worried what my parents would think.” He paused, looking across the room a moment. “Intense has always been a good word for me. I’m always trying to prove myself one way or another. Seeking validation and approval. I worked so hard for my uncle because he believed in me and wanted to mentor me in ways my dad never did.” He shrugged, casting his gaze down.

“But your parents are proud of you, I’m sure.”

Adam’s eyes grew sad as he looked back up. “They don’t talk to me anymore. Not since I came out to them.”

Ben felt tears prick the backs of his eyes. “I’m sorry to hear that. The pictures upstairs … looks like you had a happy childhood.”

“I did. My parents were warm and loving until I failed to fit in with their ideal. They’ll take my money, but they refuse to see me. Given time, my mom might’ve come around, but my dad was furious. And she’ll probably never have the courage to disagree with him. My brother is the only real family connection I have.”

Anger replaced the sorrow he’d felt a moment earlier. “That’s bullshit. If she loved you, she could disagree with anyone who stood in her way. You shouldn’t give them anything if they act like that.”

Adam shook his head. “They’re my parents. I won’t stop loving them because their love is conditional.”

They sat in silence a moment before Adam stood up and took his plate to the sink, the food hardly touched. “I’m sorry. I’m not helping ease the intensity at all.”

Ben rose and went over to him, taking his plate and putting it back on the island. “It’s fine. It’s, well, real. Like you were saying. You don’t have to keep eating, but please sit with me.”

Adam stared at him for a moment before returning to the island, where he picked at his food. Ben ate quietly, his gaze moving around the kitchen. Eventually, he wiped his mouth and turned back to Adam. “How about we start over? You had no reason to recognize me last week. I was too sensitive about it. I purposely try to shed the corporate shell when I go out. I overreacted because I was disappointed.”

“You’re being too kind. I tell myself I care about my employees, but if I’d ever really looked at you, I’d have recognized those eyes.” He reached over and pushed Ben’s glasses up his nose. “They’re beautiful. Such a bright green.” He paused. “Stunning, like I said.”

“You’re pretty damn good to your employees. On paper at least. But yeah, you are kind of detached.” He turned to face Adam more. “But you can work on that. You’re, what, forty?”

“Thirty-nine.”

“Plenty of time to create your own legacy.” Ben leaned in, smiling. “I’m thirty-two, by the way, you dirty old man.”

“Seven years? That’s nothing.”

“Hmmm, sounds like rich boy wants a nurse for his declining years.”

Adam laughed. “If this is what starting over will be like, then yes, please let us do that.”

Ben rose and poured himself more coffee. “We can do anything I want today?”

“Yes. Anything.”

Ben smiled and sat back down, loving the way Adam sat there patiently while he finished his breakfast.

****

Adam reached down to ease Latte’s claws out of his flesh yet again. He sat on the couch in Ben’s apartment watching a movie while Ben’s fluffy little cat lay on his stomach purring. And occasionally sinking her claws into his chest. His shirt already had three snags in it, so he’d given up stopping her. At least, so far, she hadn’t drawn any blood. After gently detaching two little claws from his flesh, he ran his hand down her, watching a few bits of fur fly up. He’d expected the cat to either ignore him or be hostile. He definitely had not expected her to cuddle on his chest the moment he sat down on the couch.

Ben reached over to pet her every few minutes, and her purring would get a little louder each time. She would sometimes stretch a paw out toward Ben before pulling it back and tucking it against Adam.

“See, you need a pet,” Ben said, inching closer as the credits began.

Adam looked down at the sleeping cat and then over at her owner. “She seems to like me. I’ve heard you should trust animals when it comes to these things.”

Ben laughed softly. “It is a good sign.” He glanced at his phone. “Leftover pizza okay for dinner, or you wanna get something else?”

“Whatever you want. I did promise you were in charge of our day,” Adam said. After breakfast, they’d taken Ben’s car to Nocca Falls, where they’d done one of the shorter walking trails. They’d then picked up a couple of pizzas and headed back to Ben’s apartment for lunch and then movies.

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