His tongue flicks over his bottom lip. Despite his threats, he’s not going to last much longer. Not with how fast he’s stroking himself now. “I bet I can.”
I smile arrogantly. “We’ll never know, will we?”
Neo’s heavy-lidded hazel eyes meet mine as he throws the taunt from the night in the alley back in my face. “Wanna bet?”
I’m suddenly consumed by the need to cover his body with mine. To bite that smirk right off his fucking lips until all he can say is my name. I want to knock his hand away and replace it with my own. I want him moaning for me. Screaming for me.
Just like in my dreams.
I don’t allow myself to do any of those things. Instead, I take one step forward and place my hand on his ankle, saying one single word. “Come.”
Like he’s been waiting for just that, Neo’s back bows off the bed. I watch, fascinated, as his naked torso becomes covered in his cum.
You could lick that off.
That’s a primal urge I won’t be indulging. Heaven knows the kind of ideas it’d give Neo.
“So,” he pants, propping himself up on his elbows and eyeing the bulge in my pants. “Are you going to let me help you out?”
His question slams me back to reality. I don’t run, or even move my gaze away. I remain calm and collected. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll see you in the office as soon as you’ve showered. Do not dawdle.”
I don’t miss the disappointment flashing over Neo’s face. It mirrors what I’m feeling in my chest.
This is for the best though. Neo is distracting, and I can’t allow distractions. I need my life to be composed. Regimented. Organized.
Letting myself go there with Neo is the opposite of that.
I leave his room and go to my office. It’s only then that I allow myself to break a little. Dropping into my chair, I push the heels of my hands against my eyes until I see stars. “What the fuck are you doing?”
I thought I was straight, but judging by the erection I’m still rocking, I’m not. That doesn’t bother me.
The fact that I’m attracted to Neo?
That’s the thing throwing me off.
We’d be terrible together. Neo lives to drive me crazy. That kind of behavior can’t translate into a relationship. Besides, I don’t want one. Not a real one, anyway. Artificial, surface flings with women like Candace have been my standby for a reason. They know not to getemotionally invested, and I’m never in danger of them seeing the real me.
Neo, though…Neo’s not one of those women. He wants to wriggle in close. To peel back the layers and see what’s underneath. He’s already doing it.
I can’t let him get closer.
Resolved, I pick up my phone and tap out a text. It’ll annoy the fuck out of my siblings, but they’ll get over it.
It’s what I need to do to remind Neo of what we are.
To remind myself.
7
NEO
“So, what’s for dinner tonight, Jules? Hear you were stolen from Matthias to be here,” I say, drifting over to the oven so I can see the food he’s making. “Mm. Smells fucking delicious.”
“Oui. It is delicious,” he says as Harley appears from the other room, sipping on some wine. He’s wearing slacks and a button-up shirt that shows more of his chest than not.
They make eye contact, and Jules flushes before clearing his throat and addressing my question. “It’s duck breast with a light pan sauce paired with pommes puree and wilted spinach.”
It’s a dish I’ve never had before, but that’s most dishes, to be fair. My diet pre-moving in here mostly consisted of ramen. I’m excited to have my horizons expanded some more. “Sounds fancy.”
