I walk back home, thinking about what Hella said. It was a dick move not replying to Constantine’s request to come over, but I needed to think.
As I approach my house, I see a figure huddled against my door.
“You really need to get a proper winter jacket,” I say.
Constantine practically runs down the steps in my direction and wraps his arms around me. “Why do I need one when my boyfriend is more than happy to keep me warm whenever I want?”
My heart stops.
“Boyfriend?”
He bites his lip. “Can we talk inside?”
“Yes, of course.” He keeps hold of my arm and laces his cold fingers with mine. “You also need to buy gloves. Your hands are freezing.”
“Not for long.”
He goes straight to the couch when we get inside. I turn the heat up and join him.
“I know you saw the message,” he says straight away.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, but you asked me to check. I shouldn’t have read it once I saw it wasn’t from Leo.”
He shakes his head. “It was unavoidable. I just want to make it very clear that I don’t intend to take that job or move anywhere.” He looks around. “Well, maybe here one day, when you have the place all fixed up and we’re ready to have some giant kids of our own.”
My heart is stuck in my throat. “Do you mean it?”
“Did you not hear me when I called you boyfriend earlier?”
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around that.”
He tells me about the conversation he had with Leo.
“I’m really happy he’s got a friend he can confide in. He’s a great kid, and it’ll be a privilege to see him grow up and become a funnier, better version of his amazing older brother.”
“Ass.”
“What’s that? You want to eat my ass?” I tease.
Constantine straddles me the same way he did that first time.
“I’m falling for you, Julius. I know you feel the same way.”
“I do. I fucking do, baby.” I pull his lips against mine and show him exactly how I feel about his decision to stay, be my boyfriend, and even have our own kids in the future.
I’m so fucking in love with this man.
“Hey,” he says, pulling his lips away from mine. “I’ve been given permission to stay with you for the rest of the day.Apparently,Leo has a test to study for and doesn’t want me pining for you from afar.”
“Pining, huh?”
“Don’t know where he got that idea from. Point is, I need to go home later. But I’m yours for the next”—he looks at the clock on my wall—“six hours.”
I pull his shirt up and pay attention to his nipples one at a time until he’s squirming and hard. “I can do a lot with six hours.”
“Then let’s get to it, boyfriend.”
I put my hands under his butt and take him with me as I stand and walk to my room.
