“That’s the balance you need to figure out, babe.” Chess took his hand. “I don’t want to put pressure on you to leave what you love to do and are damn good at. But I’m also a tiny bit selfish, and I want to have you with me more.”
“I don’t think of it as selfishness. I want the same thing. You were home in our bed, surrounded by the life we built together, while I lived out of anonymous rooms, running from meeting to meeting. Our growth doubled this past year, and I was lauded as having that golden touch. But you know that’s not what I’m after. It never was. How am I supposed to make this work? It hurts to think what my life would be without you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Chess laced their fingers together.
“Do you promise? I know I hurt you by kissing that man. I don’t want you to have doubts and wonder if I’m not faithful.”
“I can’t deny it hurt like hell. Even if you were drunk.”
His stomach tied in knots. “It will never happen again.” He rested his forehead on Chess’s. “I swear. It gave me the wake-up call I needed to take inventory of my life and reprioritize. And you always come out on top.”
“I do forgive you, and we need to think how we’re going to move forward. Together. Because together is what we’re always going to be. What bothers me more is the calculated effort to hurt us that someone went to by tagging me. I can’t think of anyone who’d want to destroy our relationship.”
A terrible thought hit him, and pressure built in his chest. “Actually, I might.”
Chess’s expression turned grim. “You think it’s Kyle?”
“He was there. Means, motive, and opportunity. What I need to figure out is why.” He reclined on the bed and propped his head on the fluffy pillows. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“That seems obvious to me. He wants you and was hoping the two of us would break up.”
“Which is a futile thought. I’m all yours and you’re mine. Kyle doesn’t take up any space in my head.” He pulled Chess close.
“He’d have to be pretty stupid to think I’d ever let you go.”
“So smart. And gorgeous. Did I ever tell you how hot you are, Professor?” He fisted Chess’s T-shirt and settled his mouth over his, warm and comforting and tasting like forever. “Brains and beauty. And all mine.”
“Mmm. All yours.”
Chapter Nine
“Dottie, this was delicious. Thank you.” Chess rubbed his stomach. “I can’t remember when I’ve had surf and turf this good. No restaurant could exceed your cooking.”
A blush stole up her fair cheeks, and her smile beamed bright as she served them their individual chocolate soufflés. “That’s because it’s made with love. I’m so happy for you and André. Freddie and I have been hoping for this for years.” She pretended to frown at André, but the curl of a smile kept peeking through. “Someone took his own sweet time.”
“I know. I was a fool. But lucky for me, he said yes.”
André’s fingers played through his hair, and Chess’s contentment grew with each passing minute. He settled his head on André’s shoulder.
“Well, I’m no fool. And I haven’t been able to say no to you from the first night we met. I’m pretty much a sure thing when it comes to you.”
André nuzzled his cheek. “I remember.”
“Tell me about yourself.” Candlelight flickered between them, but André’s intense gaze made it impossible for him to look away.
“What would you like to know?” It wouldn’t be easy to dole out bits and pieces of his life to a sharp, canny businessman like André Webster, who likely could see right through anyone’s bullshit, but Chess had been hiding his life before college for enough years. He deliberately postponed answering as he cut into his filet.
“Everything. Anything. I’m feeling like this is Christmas morning and I’m opening my present.” André sipped his wine. “And Santa brought me exactly what I wanted.”
Finished with his piece of butter-soft steak, Chess allowed himself a slight smile. “Ho, ho, ho. Well, I’m from New York, working on my PhD, and live in a rent-stabilized apartment in Chelsea.”
“Really? I could get that off your bio from the university.” André brushed his words off with a wave of his hand. “That only tells me the surface. Tell me aboutyou.” He leaned in closer, the flames drawing sparks from his rich blue eyes. “Who is Chester Braxton? What makes him tick?” His soft voice wove around Chess, drawing him in.
“I guess you’ll have to wind me up and see.”
“Is that a challenge? Beware, once I set my mind to something, I rarely lose.”
“People aren’t things to collect, like businesses. I’m not a prize to be won.” He stopped short, wondering where he’d gotten the nerve to talk like that to a man as powerful as André Webster.
