Page 45 of Phantom Faceoff
I don’t know how in the hell I could manage this level of attitude on a full time basis.
Every time we lock eyes, though—every secret little smile he sends my way—I’m hit with a twinge of satisfaction.
Why?
Hell if I know.
“Is this why Julian calls you Daddy? Because you get off on it?”
Zander is sitting on a stool near the desk, looking like a curious child, and when he speaks, he turns a few heads.
Deep breath, Malachi.
“No.” It’s not my place to out Julian, but I also don’t plan on entertaining whatever fucked up notion Zander might get in his head. “And I don’t get off on it.”
“You would have.”
When I glare, he folds his arms over the counter and lays his head on them. “You act like I wasn’t also turned on.”
“For fucks sake, Zander. I’m at work. Can we talk about anything else?”
Trust me, I’m not going to forget anytime soon just how badly I wanted him in that moment.
Or how badly I want him in this one.
“Okay,” he says, sitting back up and leaning on his elbows. “Why were you avoiding me?”
I hesitate. The truth of the matter is: I realized something that first time we kissed, and it terrifies me.
Heterrifies me.
It isn’t just the overwhelming protectiveness I’ve started to feel. It’s the little things—like his smile making my chest feel warm.
It’s my body aching for him from the slightest touch.
My body makes notoriously bad choices.
“Is it enough that maybe I don’t want to share a hook up with my best friend?”
He stares straight at me; I can feel it burning a hole in my skull, but I keep my eyes on the stock I’m arranging under the counter.
“You said it wasn’t Julian.”
“Maybe I lied.”
“Fine. I won’t sleep with him anymore. Problem solved.”
I whack my head on the counter when I abruptly stand. “What the hell?”
“What? Julian and I have a mutually beneficial agreement. Friends with benefits. Non-exclusive. If that’s an issue, we’re happy being friends.”
“You act like you’ve talked about this.”
“We have.”
I pause, and Zander notices he has my attention.
“I’ve told him there’s interest—from me. No worries; I didn’t tell him about the kiss or that the interest might be reciprocated.”
