Gods help me. Someone, somewhere, surely there’s a god up there who’ll step in and prevent me from melting into a useless, babbling puddle of myself. But no such luck; I’m a doe-eyed goner. A sappy, lovestruck—
Woah.
Big word.
Big, scary word.
I look down at Thio’s hand in mine.
I’m going to do this right.
On the challenge field, I’d decided that, too. Hell, pretty much from the start of this, when we were hooking up, I made myself adhere to doing things right. Thehealthyway. The way with boundaries and communication.
I promised I’d tell him what happened. And I know, if I want this to be something more, somethingsolid,that he needs to understand that part of me; and there’s no way he can do that if I don’t tell him.
I probe that decision now, have been all night. Is it still something I want? That’s the real test of this being different. If I can nudge that bruise, and want to push forward even with the pain.
I kiss him. Just lips and breath, gentle nips and unspoken secrets.
“Let’s get to this wining and dining, mister,” I tell him, and he happily obliges.
Chapter Fourteen
So. Thio’s loaded.
Which, I knew, but there’syou have a car and a driverknowing, then there’syou have a penthouse apartment with a private elevator that lets off IN YOUR LIVING ROOMknowing.
I stand in the middle of said living room, jaw unhinged and not trying to hide it. Floor-to-ceiling windows show the Philly skyline tucking itself up at night, city lights twinkling in lieu of stars we can’t see. The two-story walls are white, which should look stark and cold, but the furnishings are black leather and reflective chrome, so the overall effect is sleek and—yeah, still cold. Even with a fireplace going, flames crackling and warm.
It’s not the furnishings that make it sterile; it’s socleanhere. None of the messy chaos that plagues Thio’s workstation at the lab. So though I know he lives here, heard the doorman greet him by name, saw him put his key into the elevator, it doesn’tfeellike his home. It feels like a hotel.
The living area pours into a kitchen with a huge island dividing the space, the black marble swirled with veins of brown. Dishes sit on the edge, all covered, but they scent the air with garlic and sharp tomatoes. A dining table stretches behind the leather couch, and two places are set along with a bottle of wine and a vase of roses.
He bought me flowers.
For some reason, it’s the roses that render me speechless and I’m more than a little annoyed at the way my eyes sting.
Thio tosses his keys into a bowl by the elevator and rubs a hand through his hair. “So. Um. Want a tour?”
I realize I’ve been quiet for a solid minute, standing there motionless.
I feign adjusting my glasses to cover wiping my eyes. “Do I need a ticket?”
Thio’s lips quirk. “I’m sure the tour guide can fit you in.”
“I dunno. A place like this?”
I spin in a circle and spot a statue beside the fireplace. It’s metal and shaped like a… horse? No. A dragon? No clue. But it’s taller than I am and looks like it belongs in a contemporary art museum, not someone’s living room.
“Good gods, Thio. This is—”
“A lot.” He pulls at his hair again. “I know. It’s the family’s. I’m staying here while at school.”
“Ah.” Another slow circle. Oh, there’s a chandelier. Why not? It’s the size of my bed. I let out a whistle. “Damn. I get it now. Why you play along with them.”
I roll my eyes shut in a cringe.
“I’m sorry.” I turn to him, but his face is unreadable. “I didn’t mean—I know you’re not doing it for perks.”
