It’s something that has been haunting me. I know he isn’t ready for forever, and I’m sure he’s mine. What if we are the right people at the wrong time?
“No point in worrying about the future, kid. Just enjoy the present. He’s here, isn’t he? Enjoy that. Besides, if he tries to leave, just tie him to your bed or something and talk some sense into him.” He winks at me as I gape incredulously. “What, like you haven’t thought about it?” he teases. “We all saw the way you were looking at him, Nikko, so don’t be so shocked. Now, go have fun. Don’t worry about tomorrow,just enjoy the evening. It will come whether you like it or not, so make the most of it.”
Standing, I offer him my hand. “Then come with me. You’re family too.”
He follows me reluctantly, and so does the rest of the gym until we all dance and sing at the top of our lungs. Everyone is having an incredible night, and through the mass of singing boxers, I find my Zia.
He’s smiling widely, his arms slung around the others as he joins in.
Charlie is right, he was meant to be here with us . . . with me, and I’ll do anything to prove that to him.
I’m not letting him go.
TWENTY-FOUR
“But it’s my day off,” I whine to Nikko. I know I’m being a brat, but he woke me up at the ass crack of dawn. He fed me and gave me orgasms, but I’m still annoyed. I planned to spend all day in bed with him, not ride for hours on the back of his bike.
Okay, it was a nice drive, but still.
“Where are we?” I ask as he helps me remove my helmet and fixes my hair. When I slip off his bike, he stops me, drops to his knees, and ties my shoelace before looking up at me. “Somewhere fun. We are going to spend an entire day doing what we want and having a good time. Today, you aren’t a Xander and I’m not a boxer. We are just Zia and Nikko. Okay?”
“That sounds awfully close to a date, which fuck buddies don’t do,” I mutter, narrowing my eyes.
He stands, wearing a guilty grin on his face. “Does it? How weird. Come on, handsome, get moving.”
Grumbling under my breath, I catch up to him and walk at his side. His hand brushes mine once, twice. I feel him looking at me, then he suddenly catches my hand and interlaces our fingers together. I don’t pull away, but I should. I should yell at him and force him to stop, but Idon’t, and I can almost hear his silent triumph, and when I glance over, he’s grinning.
Idiot.
We walk down a hill, and he holds me tightly so I don’t slip. At the bottom, the trees break open, showcasing a massive lake and what I can only describe as inflatable balls, tracks and swings across it.
“What the hell is that?” I snarl.
“An assault course.” He grins at me.
“You think I’ll be going in that dirty water on those things that a million unwashed bodies have probably touched?” I hiss.
“Yes.” He winks at me. “I do.”
He whistles as he drags me over and checks us in. There’s an outside changing area with wooden cubicles, and he opens a bag at his side, pulls out some shorts and a shirt, and hands them over to me. “Go on, get changed.”
“Not a fucking chance,” I snap. “Take me home?—”
“Not a fucking chance,” he mocks, ignoring the others watching us. “Stop being a brat. Get changed, unless you’re scared.”
This motherfucker. I know he’s doing it on purpose, and it works. Grabbing the clothes, I head inside and get changed, carefully folding my clothes before stomping out. Nikko puts them in his bag and then in a locker and slides the key onto his wrist. I can’t help but stare. He’s pretty much wearing the same outfit, but the way the shirt clings to his muscles makes me drool. He’s totally oblivious as he approaches with a life jacket and slips it on me while I continue to gawk.
Swallowing, I delicately wipe my drool away and force my annoyance back into the forefront of my mind. I mean, it does look kind of fun. I can’t remember the last time I got to do anything like this. It isn’t good for an heir to be caught goofing off, since there’s no time for fun or just being stupid, but this is important to him. Nikko wants to make me happy. I can’t let him think he’s won too quickly though.
“Tell you what,” he offers as he finishes fastening my life jacket. “Whoever wins gets to pick what we’ll do next.”
“Deal.” I tilt my chin up. “Prepare to lose.”
“I’m a natural athlete, baby. You’re the one who will lose.”
“I never lose, and I fight dirty, remember?” I warn.
“I can’t wait.” He steals a kiss and then leads me over to the ramp down to the lake. I stare at it for a moment.
