He enjoys the lash of my irrational emotions toward Cyrus a bit too much.
“I don’t think that’s the case.” Gareth whistles as he stands up. “Want to join me for a ride back, Cyrus?”
Cyrus’s face pales a little, and it’s the first time I’ve seen him flustered, but it only lasts a minute before hegoes back to his magnificent poker face. “Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know, maybe because of a certain nerd you’ve been?—”
“Gareth,” he cuts him off as he strides toward him and pulls him by the arm. “I need a word.”
Gareth laughs maniacally as Cyrus drags him out of view.
Yulian smirks, and I just narrow my eyes. I think he knows whatever is going on with Cyrus, or maybe he’s suspecting it, but let’s say Gareth has also been highly entertained lately.
We have dinner together after Glyndon, Cecily, and Brandon join us. Gareth and Cyrus never make it back for some reason. Knowing Gareth, he’s definitely back at Kayden’s side by now. He has attachment issues.
Not that I’m any better.
I honestly don’t know how I spent the past four years without Yulian or even had the control to only see him on weekends for a few months.
Now? I can’t be separated from him for even a few hours. I even take classes at a similar time that he does so I can see him throughout the day. I was separated from him for so long, I now want to savor every moment I have with him.
Two weeks ago, he went to visit his sister after he met my parents—who love him, by the way, especially Mom. Dad is warming up to him, though he still doesn’t like that he put me in danger, but he has deep respect for him for taking a bullet for me.
So that weekend, I had to stay home and he went toAlina’s. Two days, it was only two days, but I couldn’t sleep properly and kept tossing and turning all night.
He also sounded miserable on the phone, even though he was glad to see his sister happy and witnessing that her husband treats her well.
Did I end up flying to him in the middle of the night? Maybe.
I also wanted to officially meet Alina and was not surprised to find out she shares Yulian’s sass. She hugged me tight when we were about to leave and asked me to take care of her brother because sometimes, he doesn’t know how to take care of himself.
She’s not wrong.
He still has that recklessness that drives me bonkers, but it’s part of him. I never want to tame him or extinguish his fire when it’s what I love about him in the first place.
I’m just making sure he doesn’t take it too far.
That he’s safe.
And here.
The second we make it home, Yulian turns off the engine of his bike, rips off his helmet, then mine, and rotates in his seat so he’s facing me.
“What’s wrong?—”
My voice dies in a moan when his lips crush mine, his tongue dragging wet across them before plunging deep. He slams me into the bike, forcing me back until I’m stretched out beneath him, kissing me with the hunger of our first time.
And it might have been—if our past were anything more than stolen, fractured kisses.
I’m panting when he rips his mouth from mine. “What was that for?”
“I’ve been wanting to do that all evening. Just wasn’t sure you’d be okay with me giving your friends a show.” He licks my bottom lip. “Thank you for introducing me to them.”
“I don’t mind you kissing me in public. I told you I’m done hiding.”
“Well, can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
