Page 33 of Risk It All

“Incredible.Everyone who works there is so friendly and the artwork,” I sigh and Anthony grins.“The artwork is breathtaking.Truly beautiful.”

I tell him about each individual piece of art in great detail but Anthony doesn’t seem to mind.He’s just enjoying listening to me ramble on and I love that he’s supportive of me and what I love and am passionate about.

I’ve missed this, listening to him tell about his day, seeing his smiling face.We stay and sit on the bench long after we’ve both finished eating our food.

He tells me about Theo and him moving out here and I ask him how excited Alexander was to hear that he was moving out of his penthouse.

“He put on a brave face but I could tell that he was sad that I wouldn’t be sleeping at his place and eating all of his food.”

I giggle, enjoying his sense of humor and the way his eyes light up when I laugh.

“Eden asked me to go out for drinks with her for a girl’s night.”

“Yeah?Are you going to go?”he asks.

“Yeah, I think she and Layla will get along together, so we’re going out for some tacos and margaritas on Thursday.”

“So we’ll have to have our second date on Friday then.”

I smile at him and I know that things are going to be alright between us.

We get up and walk toward the exit of the park.We wind up back on the street close to my apartment and I bite my lip before I ask him if he wants to come up and see my new place.

I think we both know what I’m really asking.

“Sure,” he says but I can tell that he’s excited.

We cross the street and I let us into the building.He follows me up the stairs and into my tiny new place.

It’s small but actually pretty nice.There’s color everywhere, from the rug in the living room to the dirty plate and mug on the kitchen counter.

“It’s nice,” Anthony says as I close the door behind us.

“It’s tiny,” I correct him with a laugh.“But I kind of love it.”

I grab each of us a beer and we sit together on the couch that we brought with us from Los Angeles.I still have some apartment listings from a few weeks ago and when I spot one in the trash, I tell him about them and promise to email them to him and Theo to look over.There’s even another apartment in this building that’s still available and I know that he’ll be texting Theo about them getting it later tonight.

“I missed you,” Anthony whispers, scooting closer on the couch to me.

“I missed you too.”

“Don’t ever disappear on me again.Please,” he begs me and I can see the pain in his eyes.

“Don’t break my heart and I won’t.”

“I won’t,” he promises me as his lips meet mine.

As soon as Anthony’s lips land on mine, it’s like no time has passed at all.He still has me burning hotter than anything ever has before.He still has me out of my mind with lust with just one touch.

I know that Layla could be home any minute so I don’t let things get too hot and heavy.Instead, I pull away, grabbing his hand and dragging him to my bedroom.He kicks the door closed and reaches for me but I’m faster.I’ve got him backed up against the door and am sinking to my knees before he knows what’s happening.

“Emerson,” he groans as I undo his jeans and pull them down his thighs.

His fingers tangle in my hair as I open my mouth around the tip of him.

“Holy shit!Fuck!”Anthony shouts as I suck on him.

I look up and my eyes get trapped by his.The way he’s staring down at me… it’s almost like he’s in awe.

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