Athena’s hand squeezed his as he looked up at her, noticing the diamond flecks of light in her stunning eyes. He’d never seen a color quite like hers and he had to admit looking at them stirred a fire in the pit of his stomach.
The hunger returned.
“I need to get to work on finalizing the exhibit, anyway,” his dad said with a chuckle.
“Call me if there’s any updates.” He coughed as he picked up the pace, pulling Athena like a life raft.
When they’d finally gotten to the elevators, he felt like he could breathe.
“You okay?” she asked, leaning down to capture his gaze.
His pulse was racing, his heart thudding away.
“I, just...” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve never like... brought anyone... home. To meet them, I mean. Which doesn’t mean I’m gay by any means...”
Athena seemed to understand as her lips formed an ‘o’.
“Oh, I didn’t know,” she said with a grin. “But, if it helps... I can tell them you’re certainly batting a thousand if it makes you feel better,” she teased. “Besides, I’ve been known to play on both teams before.”
Brian felt his entire face flush like a tomato. The thought of Athena with anyone else caused his blood to boil, which he knew was not a normal reaction. He’d never felt possessive over anything or anyone in all his life...
But he also couldn’t say the thought of Athena’s lips kissing another woman didn’t make his cock grow instantly. He cleared his throat, pushing the wild thoughts aside.
“It’s okay, I liked having you there, but... it’s just... I don’t know if I can answer the Spanish Inquisition right now.”
He brushed his thumb over her knuckles, the soft skin making his palm heat.
The elevator dinged, opening as a group of doctors exited.
When they entered the sleek, silver cabin, it was just the two of them.
“They just want to be supportive, you know. I think it’s nice. I wish... I wish my dad was like that,” she said quietly.
Brian did not let go of her hand. He rather liked how it felt, and when she intertwined her fingers with his, his pulse steadied.
“Tough parents?” he asked, feeling an innate need to comfort her. He could tell by the way she avoided his gaze it was a touchy subject.
But she kept talking.
“Tough parent. Just one. I never really knew my mom, she and my dad kind of split when I was pretty young. I don’t really know what happened to her, I just know she passed away a long time ago. It was just my brother, Mars, and me. And my dad.”
The realization the overbearing jock standing guard was herbrotherbore a sense of relief in him.
“I’m sorry, that must have been... difficult. Your brother seems a bit—”
“He’s a pain in my ass, but—” Athena looked as if she felt the weight of her words as they escaped her mouth. “He’s family. I’d do anything for him, you know?”
Brian watched as her eyes fluttered, as her lips pursed. Athena’s shoulders fell as a deep, shaky sigh filled the space between them, and Brian did not think twice about pulling her into his arms. She startled at the motion, but as soon as he’d wrapped her up in his embrace, she relaxed, burrowing her face into the front of his shirt.
“I do know. I know exactly what you mean,” he said, his own voice catching.
Athena wrapped her arms around his waist, her palm settled at his back and for a moment, time stood still. It was as if the elevator did not move, as if time itself had turned the other cheek, giving them both this perfect moment where nothing existed but the two of them.
This close, he could smell her sweet citrus scent, feel her warmth. And for a moment he could have sworn he heard the soft coo of a bird. An owl... which made no sense being as they wereindoors.
Perhaps I’m just tired, is all.
When the elevator dinged, they broke apart. Brian slid his hand in hers once more, leading them both back to his car as a new sort of purposeful possessiveness struck him in the chest. And as he looked at the woman beside him, her fingers intertwined with his, he knew he’d do anything for her as well, because for the first time, Brian felt as if he’d finally found the one person in the world who understood him down to his very soul, and he had no intention of letting her go.
