“So, you separate your food by purpose, not consistency?” Seven asked, staring at the bottle like it had teeth.
Enzo snorted, handing it over. “Drink this while I cook you something.”
Cook him something? Seven’s hand flew out, grabbing Enzo’s bicep as he made to walk back into the kitchen, retracting it with a gasp just as quickly.
When Enzo turned to look at him with a raised brow and a stern look, he muttered, “You—You don’t have to do that.” He cracked the protein shake and made a show of downing half of it in one go. “See? This is fine. This is great.”
Enzo studied him for a long moment before his shoulders sagged and he shook his head.
“You’re in law school, right?” Enzo asked. “Are you at Strawbridge?”
Seven nodded, trying to look anywhere but at Enzo, hoping he didn’t see his hands shaking. “Yeah.”
Seven had just secured the lid back on his chocolate protein bottle when Enzo backed him right up against the kitchen counter, well-muscled arms caging him in. He fumbled the plastic bottle in his hands, making a dismayed sound when it fell to the hardwood floor, bouncing twice before rolling away.
“Do I make you nervous, brat baby?” Seven flicked his gaze up, his mouth a hard line, but before he could answer, Enzo leaned in close. “Don’t even think of lying to me right now. I’ll know.”
Seven’s cock twitched in his jeans. He swallowed audibly, hyper-aware of Enzo’s body pressed to his. “Yeah, you would make anyone nervous,” he managed, voice shaking.
Enzo huffed out a laugh. “Not anyone. You should see the way my family treats me.” Seven jerked his head up in surprise, making eye contact. “That’s better,” Enzo praised. “Is it that hard to look at me?”
“Kinda, yeah,” Seven admitted.
“Is it because I’m so hot?” he said, his tone teasing.
Seven scoffed. “No, it’s because you’re huge.”
That wasn’t totally true. He was no more than five or six inches taller than Seven’s five-foot-eight, but he felt large, his frame much larger and broader than Seven’s.
“Does my size scare you?”
“No, it just gives me a kink in my neck trying to look at you,” he deadpanned.
Enzo chuckled. “You didn’t seem scared of me the other day. And I’m way scarier at work.”
Seven rolled his eyes. “At work, you’re not gonna shove me up against countertops and suck all the air from the room.”
Enzo traced Seven’s jaw with his thumb. “Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure of that. I’m not exactly a model employee, and you are far too tempting to ignore. But if you want me to move, just ask.”
He didn’t want him to move; heneededhim to move. He couldn’t think with him so close. He could feel the heat of his body and smell the spicy scent of his body wash. Seven fought the urge to bury his face in Enzo’s neck. He swallowed loudly as he pictured himself doing just that while Enzo fucked him into the mattress.
What was he doing there? This man was a hazard to Seven’s mental health. Why had he run to him when he was in a vulnerable state?
Because you know he’ll baby you. You know he’ll take care of you…even if it’s just one night.
If he lasted the night. He’d just gotten there, and he was already too worked up. Seven chewed on his lower lip, trying to muster the courage to say…something. Why did this man intimidate him so much?
“Can you please move back? Just a little?”
“Good job asking so politely,” Enzo whispered in his ear before taking two steps back. Seven immediately felt the loss, the air between them cold compared to Enzo’s warmth.
Seven really was fucked in the head right now.
“You’re useless. Of all my kids, you’re my biggest regret.”
Seven’s stomach churned. He hated his father, hated him more than he’d ever thought possible. So, why did his words still cut so deep? Seven was an adult. He was in law school. He paid taxes and…fuck, he killed people. But today, he felt emotionally stripped bare. So, why had he walked himself straight into the lion’s den?
“Better, brat baby?”
