Page 13 of Announcing Love
Tip didn’t know if he would make it until tonight. This trip was more about having Artem alone and trapped over two thousand miles from home. Artem couldn’t run. Tip could have made this trip alone and been back before the end of the day. This was about them. It was time for Artem to know him for real and for Tip to stake his claim.
Artem expected to be a nervous wreck. He had spent several hours awake and worrying before Tip had shown. A small part of Artem wondered if he made a mistake. Tip had moments where he turned very intense, showing hints of something Artem didn’t quite understand. He wanted to see more, though.
Artem hadn’t flown many times in his life. While Sacha had traveled nonstop for work, Artem had been the one trapped at home caring for Baba. The two times he could recall flying, the plane had been loud and cramped, leaving him woefully unprepared to fly with Tip. Tip had paid for everything, which pricked his pride and forced Tip to beg him not to make him go to Arizona alone. Artem had finally relented, but he hadn’t expected first class luxury. He was uncomfortable as hell. Artem felt out of place. Tip, on the other hand, even in jeans and a t-shirt, looked like he was exactly where he belonged. Their spacious seating didn’t make for easy conversation, so Artem just kind of sat there feeling awkward. He was relieved as hell when the plane landed.
Tip grabbed his bag for him. “Why do you look so miserable?”
Artem tried to do better at faking it. Tip had obviously paid a lot for this trip. It was bad enough that Artem took advantage, but now Tip thought he was unhappy with his generosity. That didn’t stop his mouth from running ahead of his mind. “Sorry. I’m just feeling a little out of my depth.”
Tip’s open confusion made things worse. He couldn’t even see how much he did for Artem. “Why?”
“I’ve never flown first class.” Artem’s shoulders fell. He realized how terrible he sounded.
Tip’s expression cleared. “Oh. You’ll get used to it. Think about it. There’s no way I’m flying coach, so there’s no way you are. If you go somewhere with Sacha, do you really think he’ll choose coach now?”
Artem saw the way coach was stuffed like sardines. While it hadn’t been a horribly long flight, he bet it felt like it to them. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Tip set Artem’s bag on his seat. The cabin door still hadn’t opened, but Artem moved to grab it so Tip wouldn’t get stuck carrying both bags. Tip blocked him. He found his jaw held in Tip’s grip. Artem might have been pissed as hell, but Tip’s expression was so fucking hot, Artem forgot to breathe, much less be angry. “You’re mine now. Stop denying me the right to take care of you.” His voice was hard, but Artem was oddly aroused. Tip’s grip loosened, turning into a caress. He kissed Artem like they weren’t surrounded by people. Tip pulled away a hair and held Artem’s stare. “Okay?”
Artem had no clue what they were talking about. Not once in his life had he felt this way. This was it. He looked at that darker side of Tip and it was sexy as fuck. Artem felt the way he did when he was mid piece and all the passion flowed from him, coming to life on canvas. He stared at that secret something he had always had inside him that no one saw.
The door opened and Tip grabbed Artem’s bag like nothing had happened. Artem followed in his wake, feeling more confused than he ever had before. He didn’t feel the way he should. Artem should be furious over the manhandling. Tip could be a little scary sometimes. Artem’s gaze moved down Tip’s body, enjoying the view. He wanted to lick him. Tip had said Artem was his—like Tip owned him. Why wasn’t he at the ticket counter, searching for a flight home? Artem swallowed. It was because he wanted it.
Artem mused over it while waiting for Tip to get their rental car. He questioned his sanity a little. Then Tip was back with all smiles and charm—like the guy the world usually saw. The thing was, Artem knew both versions of Tip were real. He was multi-faceted. Artem had to face a hard truth about himself. He could have made time over the years for sex. It wasn’t like it mattered to most men if they ever saw him for any other reason. But everyone was just kind ofmehto him and he had never understood why. They weren’t Tip. He was unique. Tip had something Artem didn’t want to admit he craved.
“I’m hoping you’ll like this place. Right now, it’s a working ranch. I’d love to turn it into a sort of bed-and-breakfast slash cowboy excursion for tourists. They have a ton of riding trails and are set up for the venture with only renovations needed on the house to make it more hotel-like. But the place belonged to an elderly man who passed about a year ago and his estate has kept the place running. You know, paying staff to upkeep the animals and whatnot. Now that everything has cleared probate, his family wants to sell, but they prefer a buyer who’ll keep the current staff. That’s one of the biggest reasons I’m hoping the property looks as nice as the videos and pictures. I want theplace to run itself with little to no input from me. The last thing I want is to try to find a crew to run it.”
Artem nodded along. Tip sounded excited. He had a feeling this whole land ownership, investing thing was his second love behind soccer. “Does this mean I get to see horses today?”
A sexy smile flashed his way. “Absolutely. That’s one reason I wanted you with me.”
Artem fought the urge to hop in place. His excitement grew. “I know it’s probably ridiculous to you, but when I was a kid, my dad used to take me riding. We did it every summer. It was just this small place where you basically rode your horse in a circle. But I was sixteen when he was killed and that’s something that died with him.”
“Why would I find that ridiculous?”
Artem shrugged. “I never hear anyone sharing stories about spending time with their parents. Not in a good way, anyhow. Maybe it seems childish.”
“It’s never childish to love someone.”
Tip said the words so nonchalantly as he unlocked the SUV he rented. While he put the bags in the back, Artem stared at him. He wondered if Tip was his too. Maybe he was the only one expected to be faithful. Artem wanted Tip to belong to him. He needed to know this thing didn’t go one way.
“You said I’m yours. Are you mine?”
Tip closed the back of the SUV and turned. He didn’t look fazed by the question. Tip simply swiped his lips across Artem’s and then headed for the passenger side door. He held it open for Artem. “Of course. Get in.”
The ridiculous organ beating in his chest wasn’t satisfied. “Only mine?”
Something dark and hungry lit Tip’s eyes. His gaze swept down Artem’s body before meeting his stare again. “Yes.”
With a sharp nod, Artem got in the car. As long as they understood each other, Artem could relax a little. Artem wasn’t afraid of getting destroyed. He just didn’t want to be a fool while doing it.
Chapter Seven
Theplacewaseverybit as gorgeous as the pictures. It was twice as beautiful with Artem’s huge smile while petting the horses. Tip could barely stop staring at him to focus on anything else.
“You look happy here.”
Artem kept petting the horse as he looked Tip’s way. “I am. This is the life I always wanted. A beautiful ranch, someplace quiet where I could set up my art studio. I could paint all day and just enjoy life. Not here, of course. This is too far from Sacha, but you get what I mean. Obviously, it’ll never happen, but yeah. That was my dream before everyone died and I grew up. Reality hitand I still chose an art major like that would take me anywhere.” He shrugged as if getting uncomfortable with the topic.
