Page 68 of Who Said Mobsters Were Scary?

I raise one eyebrow and hop up from the chair, holding my elbow and stretching my arm in a way that makes my muscles bulge. His eyes narrow, but the look on his face as my sleeve rides down my forearm is more appreciative than apprehensive.

“You bet. Kinda got bored sitting on my ass and just watching you be all bossy and sexy.”

He chuckles, following me out the door into the gray corridor with fluorescent lights. “You wouldn’t have been bored if I wasn’t bossy and sexy?”

I purse my lips, giving him a slow roll of my eyes. “Okay, I worded that badly. You being all hot and bossy and me not being able to do something about it was sucky.”

“Is that why you looked like you were sulking?”

“I did not.”

We take the stairs to the event floor just below. “I pay attention to you, Leo. Even if I make it look otherwise. You were bouncing your leg the entire time and frowning whenever I leaned over a techie to explain something.”

I pause, my fingers clasping the door handle as I turn around and show him just how good I have become at scowling. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Otherwise, why would he have pushed his ass out like that every single time as if daring me to go grope it or slap it or munch on it or something?

Chai makes a sound of agreement and steps in, hooking a finger under my chin. Tipping it up, he barely brushes his lips against mine in the most chaste of chastest kisses that ever kissed. “Perhaps. But only after I realized you were paying particular attention to how well my tailor-made slacks fit me.”

I do give his ass a grope then, groaning when I realize he’s wearing some of his sexy underwear again. If I knew he’d be such an impish fox today, I’d have made him wear that butt plug too. The one with the vibrator slot, so I can turn it on remotely.

“You are thinking about something naughty,” he remarks, straightening up and smoothing out his muted blue tie.

I swat his hands away and prevent him from making an even bigger mess of it. Despite his impeccable appearance and the high-and-mighty attitude he’s so good at exuding when he needs to, he sucks at doing his ties. The knots are passable most of the time, but we were in a bit of a rush this morning because I may or may not have turned our alarm off by mistake. We did make it to the control room on time in the end, so Chai didn’t hold it against me.

“Chai. I’malwaysthinking about something naughty.”

“Because of me?” he asks, his expression all serious and inquisitive.

I finish fixing his tie and shake my head. “No. The neighbor. What do you think, smartass?”

Drinking in his proud smile, I open the heavy door and let him go in front of me. I trail behind as we head down the corridor to the banquet hall at the end where lunch is being held, keeping as close as possible without invading his personal space.

“I think it’s only fair considering I want to rip my and your clothes off whenever you are around. You are incredibly attractive, Leo. I don’t think you realize that.”

I don’t think I’m anything special if I’m being honest. I mean, I don’t consider myself ugly, and I know I have a nice smile and objectively pretty eyes and agreeable facial structure, but the way he said it with so much reverence in his voice touches me. He’s talking about more than my looks, I can tell. Hell, I can feel it, every time we occupy the same space. I like being around him. I like his company, his voice, our chats. Even just sitting in the same room as him while I’m doing my own thing and he’s doing his.

My chest squeezes tight and the fluttery feeling in my stomach returns at full force. I like him. A lot. We already decided we were officially going out, but for some reason, it finally hits me now. I want to stay by his side even when I am not on duty. I want to hold his hand. To kiss him. I want to see how good he is at sparring. I want to take him on a date and tell everyone he is mine.

I went to Japan to escape my problems. I was going to lay low, see if I could figure out a way to stay, and if not, try to go somewhere else and make an attempt there. I never imagined I would meet my person there. Because that’s what Chai is. I haven’t known him for long, but I can just feel it, the way he fits with me like we are two puzzle parts meant to be together.

It’s fucking scary. I’ve never had someone like that. It’s always been just me, even when I had Cindy. We were together, but weweren’ttogether, not like this. This is different. All-encompassing, uplifting and horrifying and I have no idea what to do with how good it makes me feel or how terrified I am that I might lose it.

“Leo?”

Chai stops and I crash into his back.

“Shit, sorry. I was—”

In a quick, fluid motion, he turns around and presses me against the wall, just out of sight of the open door and all the people milling about on its other side. “What’s on your mind? Tell me.”

Damn, why is he so good at reading me?

“I just… It’s embarrassing.”

“I don’t think anything pertaining to you is that. Endearing, charming, adorable, sexy. Never embarrassing.” He nuzzles his nose along my cheek, his breath hot and a little shaky.

“Gee, you are such a smooth talker.”

“It’s never intentional. You just… make it easy to say and do things I normally wouldn’t. I don’t really have to pretend around you.”

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