“Oh!” That’s all I can say, an exclamation of surprise at how wrong I was about why he was jealous and his confession. I peek over at the bathroom door, making sure Ollie is still behind it. Wetting my lips, I pray I’m not about to stick my foot in my mouth and push Milo away. “You’re in love with him.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I know they’re true. It makes so much sense. Neither of them everactuallydenied that there was something between them, but they never confirmed it either.
Milo’s shoulders rise and his eyes dart to mine, but he looks away immediately. “It’s different with Ollie.”His words are softly spoken. “We’ve known each other forever, and he knows everything about me.”
“Milo, you don’t have to hide that from me.” I swallow, my mind playing through all the times I’ve seen them sharing a laugh or eating from each other’s plates. I examine how I felt in those moments. Think about how I feel when Ollie drops his arm over Milo’s shoulder and walks, just like he does to me. I can’t find an ounce of resentment or envy. The only time I ever remember feeling jealous was in the beginning when I didn’t know they would include mein what they had together.
I shake my head, dispelling the thoughts, and gaze up into Milo’s face. His dark blue eyes are a little wide, frightened looking. “I know you love him, I’ve always known.”
“It doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.” Milo flips over his hand and returns the hold I have on his arm. His eyes search mine before he brushes a strand of hair from the side of my face, pushing it behind my ear.
It’s a sweet gesture, and I turn my cheek into his touch as his fingers stroke over my face. What he doesn’t know is that I’d take whatever Milois willing to give, Ollie too. If this is all I’ll ever have with him, I can live with it, because it’s so much more than I ever thought I’d ever have with anyone.
“Milo, you don’t have to make any promises, Iwant you to be happy.” Moving faster than I can blink, Milo closes the distance between us. He melds his body to mine, the hard lines of his chest veryapparent as his hands comes around my back, fusing us together.
Leaning his head down, he whispers, “Then kiss me.” Not waiting for my response to his request, Milo brushes his lips across mine in a subtle caress. He dips his mouth to mine slowly, his kisses light and teasing. Leaning up so I can reach him, Ifind myself chasing his soft, full lips.
I sigh when Milo’s tongue skims over my bottom lip. Our mouths never merge, but our tongues slide against one another. My breathstarts tocome out in quick pants, as my heart rate picks up to match.
Milo tightens his hold on my lower back, and I arch against him, willingly. Bringing my hands up, my fingers travel over his muscular forearms to his hard biceps, and farther still until I feel the width of his shoulders. Milo makes a noise in the back of his throat, something between a moan and a grunt of frustration. His hand fists over the small of my back, gathering the material of my shirt in his hand so tightly I hear a seam pop, but I ignore it.
Dragging my fingernails over his chest, Milo continues his teasing kisses, buthis body is frozen almost, immobile as he holds me. I open my heavily lidded eyes and pull away slightly. Milo’s eyesare squeezed tightly shut and he his brows are furrowed, creating creases on his forehead.His breathing is measured and deep. I palm his cheek and place a gentle peck on his mouth. “What’s wrong?” I’m so confused. I know he’s affected by our kisses, I can feel the evidence against my lower stomach.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” His eyes open, they’re clear, but the lines still mare his forehead. Realization dawns, he’s holding himself back. Worried that his gift of strength might be more than I can handle.
“Milo,” I murmur. “You’re not going to hurt me.” I know I’m telling him the truth.
“I could. That’s why I’ve never… I’ve never really gotten close to anyone before. What if I lose control and forget? I could crush you. Without even realizing it.”
“I mean, I guess it might happen, but Ollie’s fire doesn’t burn me, I feel the heat, but it doesn’t hurt me.” I widen my eyes, hoping he’s following along with my thoughts.
Milo’s eyes dart to the left as he thinks about what I said. But he shakes his head back and forth in denial, his lips thinning. “No, I can’t risk that.” Milo steps away from me, like I might force him into trying to crush me.
I follow his retreat, slowly, with no intention of making him do anything. But Idowant him to think about it, because I’m sureI’m correct. I don’t think his abilities will hurt me. “I’m not saying we should try anything now, but maybe in the future…” He’s shaking his head before I can even finish.
“Absolutely not.” Milo crosses his arms over his chest, causing the sleeves of his shirt to tighten over the bulk. He’s trying to frighten me. I almost roll my eyes, but I stop myself. I don’t want him to think I’m ignoring the threat.
I pat his arm, showing him I get what he’s doing, but lean up and give him a gentle kiss on his lips anyway. This is something we can work through. “We have plenty of time,” I tell him when my heels land back on the ground.
Milo stares at me with his chin still raised, but I see the slight glimmer of hope within his eyes.
Chapter 8
“Come on Milo,” Ollie grumbles for the third time, and this time it’s accompanied with a wave of his hand. The movie he picked starts in less than a half an hour and he’s not letting any of us forget it.
“Go, go,” Rosa urges Milo. When we madeplans to go to the movies this morning, wehad no idea Rosa had figured out a way to keep us busy in Ares and Dante’s absence.
“Leave these here, I’ll put them up when we get back.” Milo pats the top of a dresser. Rosa wanted a few of the rooms changed around and Milo, with all of his brute strength, is just the man for the job.
“I will, go.” She shoos us out of the bedroom, a small grin playing on her lips.
“Thanks Rosa,” Ollie calls, already halfway out the door.
“Jesus Ollie,” Milo grates out through his teeth, clomping down the stairs. “It would have only been a few more minutes. It’s not a lot to ask, I mean, we’ve been practically living here one way or another for over a year.”
Ollie groans out a long sigh. “Don’t worry Milo, you’ll feel guilty enough for both of us.” I pause when Iget to the bottom of the stairs, waiting for Milo to reach me. I snag his hand and he pauses, looking down at me.
The tension from this morning is there, an underlying current that can’tbe seen, but felt every time they’ve interacted today. Maggie even noticed something was off when we were working earlier.
“Would you rather finish now, and we can catch a later show?” I offer.
