Page 94 of Burning for Alexander
“I do,” I said cautiously, bracing myself for a lecture or to be hassled by a protective father, but it didn’t come.
“I appreciate that. Tristan and I both do. Our children are the most important people in our lives, obviously, and anyone who wants to keep them safe is okay in our book.”
I ground my back teeth together, glanced around for a sign of Alex, and focused back on his Papa when I didn’t find it. “I would do anything to keep your son safe.”
The man’s eyes widened in surprise and then immediately, maybe out of habit, sought out his husband’s. Tristan noticed Blue’s expression like he was as attuned to Blue as I was to their son, and he quickly made his way over to us.
“What exactly is your relationship with Alex?” Blue asked.
I gave him a half smile. “Let’s just say I never knew a love-hate relationship was a real thing until I met Alexander Marian.”
The two of them exchanged a look before Tristan said, “Maybe you should go check on him and find out where he went. He probably snuck off to avoid being social. He’s been in a strange mood today.”
After directing me to a bedroom, they left me to converge around Kaidee, obviously making sure she was taken care of while I went searching for their wayward son.
I found him exactly where they directed me, only he wasn’t just hiding; he was punching something.
A heavy bag hung from a two-by-four mounted on the ceiling in an alcove in one corner of a small collection of rooms that looked like it was half guest suite and half home gym.
“Hi,” I said carefully.
He shook out his hand from the punch but didn’t turn to look at me. “Why are you here?”
“Here in this room? Your dads sent me up here to stand in for the heavy bag, I think.”
His nostrils flared in annoyance.
“Hazel and Avery invited me,” I admitted. “I thought I was attending a simple affair at their house.”
Alex’s shoulders dropped as he exhaled. “Well, there’s that picture-perfect family you talked about, Kincaid. Making sure everyone feels fucking welcome all the fucking time.”
Guilt stabbed at me. “Do you want me to go?” I asked in as steady a voice as I could.
He finally turned around and looked at me, and his expression was full of emotion. Anger, resentment, guilt, exhaustion. “You know what Ireallywant? I really want you to get on your knees and suck my dick, Chief. I want you to give me what I need without any of this… this… emotional fuckingbullshitthat I can’t fucking get out from under!”
That “emotional fucking bullshit” was exactly what I wanted from him. But I knew he didn’t want that from me right now. So, okay. I’d give him what hedidwant.
What we both wanted.
I kept my eyes on him as I took a step toward him. Then another. And another.
And I sank to my knees at his feet.
Alex sucked in a breath, and I could tell he was trying to decide whether to retract his words or not.
But he didn’t.
I reached for the button on his jeans and flicked it open. The sound of his zipper lowering filled the room.
“What about Kaidee?” he asked in a low voice.
I shook my head slowly. I was pretty sure he knew the answer to that. At least I hoped he did. But I answered anyway. “Still just a friend.”
“This doesn’t mean anything,” he snapped as I pulled his pants and underwear down to mid-thigh, releasing his already hard cock and the scent of my favorite human.
I leaned forward and inhaled at the spot where his leg met his body. That warm crease of skin. Then I tasted it.
It means something to me, Alex. And it always will.
