Page 30 of Milo
“I’ve known him many years. He’s known me since I was young. He’s … he’s always been there for me.”
His eyes are dark and almost knowing. “Ah yes, that’s what I sensed.”
“You sensed something?” I sound alarmed.
“Yes, a familiarity in the way you moved around each other. Whatever it was, it denoted an ease that I haven’t seen in you yet.”
“I’m not a terribly confident person,” I say apologetically.
He smiles gently. “I think you are. You just haven’t realised it.” He sips his wine. “You don’t have to be a cock of the walk to be confident, Milo. Just know your own worth and value it accordingly.”
“I’m not sure it’s that high.”
He shakes his head. “That’s unfortunate, but it won’t always be like that. Luckily you have Niall, who appears to know your value to the penny.”
I shrug awkwardly and take a large slug of my wine. “Yes, and perfectly prepared to boss me around until I sell for a high price.”
He blinks and refills my glass. “I’m not sure where that came from. Unless Cornwall is a lot wilder than I’ve been led to believe.” I laugh. “Mr. Fawcett appears to be a very confident man.” My mouth quirks and he smiles. “I’m sure that covers a multitude of sins but his regard for you seems to be … honest.”
I look at him in query and he smiles sadly. “Honesty is fresh and real. Don’t mistake it for disinterest because it’s far from that.”
I drain my glass again and look at him assessingly. There is not one iota of the lovely heat that just being near Niall runs under my skin like a mine of lava.
“This evening is not going as I intended,” I mutter.
He laughs and, filling my glass again, he taps his glass against mine. “Me neither. How about we talk about me? That should make you feel relieved and me very happy.”
I laugh, liking him suddenly for that wry statement. Watching him as he signals for another bottle, I search for some shred of attraction but I can’t find it. I think we both know this isn’t going anywhere unless it’s to a friendship, which I can definitely do.
Fucking Niall is a cockblocker from twenty miles away. It’s like a bloody superpower.
Chapter
Six
I want you to call me that when we’re naked and you have your cock inside me.
Milo
I crash into the house probably louder than I intended but my fingers feel twenty times bigger than they should, as does my body which keeps banging into things. Stumbling into the kitchen, I switch the kettle on and slump over the counter to wait while it boils. I lay my head down on the surface which feels lovely against my hot face. I’m just contemplating staying here for the night when I hear footsteps and the door opens.
Twisting my head sideways on the counter, I see Niall standing there with his arms folded. He’s dressed in black pyjama bottoms and a thin black long-sleeved t-shirt that clings to the muscles of his chest. His white-blond hair is standing up around his face like he’s stuck his finger in a socket, and he looks rumpled but still very awake.
“Why aren’t you asleep?” I mutter, hearing the slur in my words. “You’ve got the mud run tomorrow.”
“I wanted to wait for you until you got in.”
“How chiv-chiv- how very nice of you,” I mutter. For some reason that makes him smile, and I shoot upwards off the counter. I stagger slightly but manage to right myself, waving off his helping hand impatiently. “I’m fine,” I say pettily. “I don’t need any help, thank you very much.”
He leans against the doorjamb. “How much have you had to drink?”
I raise my hands. “I don’t know,” I say indignantly. “I stopped counting after the second bottle.”
“Thesecondone?” A frown crosses his face. “And he just dumped you back here?” I open my mouth but he’s on a roll. “Did he take you back to his place?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” I say in a sing-song voice.
“I would, actually.”
