“Thank you for asking about my well-being,” he murmured.
Well, now it was time for the hard part. We had to hash this bullshit out or we’d never move forward. I sipped my beer, then slid it out to the middle of the table. “I’m sorry that I ever considered hurting you when I didn’t know you. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
His hands tightened around his glass and he froze. “How many people have you told?”
“Told what? That we’re together?”
He nodded once.
“Milo. I don’t know. I told the guys at the house that I fucked up with the man I like, and I want to fix things. Milo gave me a kick in the ass I needed.” I shrugged. “So, my friends?”
“Really? You never told anyone to get back at Alex?” He studied my face, clearly searching for any hint of a lie.
My stomach disappeared and I wished I hadn’t drunk a beer already. “No. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. I promise.” I settled my hand on the curve of his waist, my favorite spot to grip him, and gave him a small squeeze. “I want to tell everyone who knows me because I want to be with you, not hide you. But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or upset.”
Micah slid his hand to mine, gave it a tiny squeeze, then lifted it to the table. He looked like he wanted me to kiss him and fuck him, and my dick twitched as his scent, something fresh and crisp I’d never pinned down, drifted into my nose.
“How do I earn your trust again? I wanted to talk to you about Alexander before all that shit just erupted, but I couldn’t think of a good way to do it. I never meant to be a fucker. I... care about you.”
He shivered all over like a dog stepping in from the rain, then shot me a glare out of the corner of his eye that made my blood heat. It was the kind of thing that was asking me to throw him down and make his body mine. “I’m not sure, but I want you to figure it out.”
Nodding, I pried his right hand off his glass, then kissed the heel of his palm while I watched his eyes for a reaction. His lips parted and his breath hitched. “I’ll work on that. Can you do me a favor?”
“Hm?” He blinked at me and it was cute. He wriggled around on his seat, and my dick surged until I was dealing with more than a semi. I knew that little impatient twist of his hips. I wanted to help him with the problem he had in his pants.
“Tell that asshole—” I turned to point and wasn’t surprised to find the guy watching us. “—that you have a boyfriend.”
Micah’s eyebrows climbed and he lifted his drink, sipping it. When he set the glass down, he swiped the rose petal that had gotten stuck to the rim. I sat very still as he ran the petal across my lips, and then I opened my mouth and chomped it. He laughed while I ate the petal, and while I was sure it must be edible, it wasn’t the best thing in the world.
“But I don’t right now,” he said, almost quietly enough to get lost under the music and conversations going on around us.
I turned his hand over and kissed across his knuckles. “Tell him to fuck off.”
“Hm. That’s rude,” he said, but the corner of his mouth kicked up in a smile.
Leaning forward, I took my life into my own hands. Micah didn’t back away, and I turned my head until my lips brushed his ear. “Tell him you’re mine.” I sat back.
He swallowed so hard his Adam’s apple bobbed. His tongue swiped across his bottom lip. With another shy smile, he picked up his drink and slid out of his chair. It drove me crazy as he nibbled on his bottom lip while heading back toward the bar.
Who knew what Micah actually said to the guy, but about a minute after he sat down again, the man moved to the other side of their friends and started talking to someone else. Micah kept peeking at me in between talking to the man who had met us at the police station. I made my way back to Milo and slid onto my stool.
“How did it go? Did the flowers work?” he asked me with a bright smile.
I laughed. “He’s talking to me. Sort of. Does that count? I think I need to date him. Actually get to know him. You know, be serious.” I tapped my mug on the bar and the loudtinkof glass on glass made me stop.
Milo grinned. “That’s what you wanted, right?”
Relief washed through me and I almost felt like crying as I nodded.
“Cheers!” Milo said, holding up his glass. Iclinkedmy beer with his as a hope I’d been too scared to acknowledge blossomed in my chest. Micah snuck another little look at me, and I blew him a kiss. He turned away quickly, but I could see his smile in the mirror behind the bar, and that was enough for now.
I never wanted him to feel bad because of me again, and I would work to find a way to make him trust me. He was worth it.
16
MICAH
Three days later,Yukio left another gift on my doorstep. On the outside of the wrapped present was a simple card.
