Chapter Twenty-Two

 

 

I woke up later than I usually do in the morning, which was odd since I was in an unfamiliar setting. But Duncan’s bed was so comfortable it was like sleeping on a cloud. Stretching, I looked around. I was alone, and once again, a tray of food sat beside me. I scowled, getting déjà vu, and not the good kind. On the chair near the door, clothes had been set out for me. They were not clothes I owned, but my sneakers were under the chair, so I assumed they were for me.

Sliding my legs off the bed, I sat there and frowned at the tray of fruit and scones. A note rested against the coffee pot, and I snatched it up, bracing myself for another of Duncan’s infamous blow-offs.

‘I’m downstairs. Left you something to wear. Come down when you’re ready. XO.’

I smiled. That was more like it.

After drinking some coffee and having a little food, I walked over to the chair and examined the clothes. Shaking my head, I laughed. Bossy-pants indeed. He’d left me long swim trunks and a tee shirt, a zip-up hoodie on top. Apparently I was going to the lake today after all. Which would be weird with Corey and Angelo and the wedding planning thing. But if I was with Duncan, I could handle it. I was starting to feel like I could handle anything if I had him with me.

“Do you have any idea how terrifying you are to me?”

No, I didn’t have any idea. I couldn’t imagine what Duncan found terrifying about me. But I found him a little terrifying too, so maybe we were on the same page. I wanted to go deeper with him, but I didn’t want to get buried in a hole so deep I couldn’t dig my way out if it collapsed. But I had an open mind, and was eager to see how things went from here on.

I pulled on the colorful shorts and tee shirt, got my sneakers on, then made my way down the stairs. I heard music playing in the kitchen, but when I entered, Duncan wasn’t there. Through the window, I spotted him on the front lawn, and frowned when I saw Greg’s dyed yellow hair. He and Duncan seemed to be having an argument, or at least a heated discussion, Greg gesturing emphatically with his hands.

Christ, was this how things were going to be if I dated Duncan exclusively? Random suitors showing up all the time, vying for his attention? I supposed I’d have to give him time to cull the herd. He had promised to date only me for the time being, after all. Said he was willing to try things my way. Thinking on that now, it kind of made me feel like I was on a probationary period. But the passion when Duncan kissed me, the way it felt when he asked me to give him another chance, that felt genuine. I owed it to him to go into this with an open mind and a trusting heart.

Even though he was currently arguing with an ex-lover on his front lawn.

Duncan finally returned to the house, dressed in shorts, a tee shirt, and flip-flops, and found me seated at the kitchen island, drinking coffee. “Oh, you’re up!”

“I’m up.” I smiled. “Thanks for breakfast. And the clothes. Not sure how you keep finding stuff for me to wear on such short notice.”

“I’m resourceful,” he said, leaning in and kissing me. He took the stool beside me. “How are you feeling today?”

“Good. Last night was weird.”

“That’s one word for it. You okay today? Less shaky?”

“I’m a lot tougher than I look.”

“Oh, I know that, Zachary.” He smiled. “Have you decided if you’ll join us today, to check out the lake location with Corey and Angelo?”

“Since you left these swim shorts for me, I’m going to assume you still want me to go.”

He smirked. “We still have a little while before it’s time to leave. You can change your mind if you want to.”

“I’d like to go,” I said. “If you think they won’t mind. Corey was trying to calm me down last night, so he was saying anything to do so. He might regret inviting me now in the light of day.”

“Nonsense. I’ve already spoken to him. Both he and Angelo inquired about you, they were both very concerned and hoped you’d come along today.”

“All right. But I need to figure out what I’m going to do about Immunity.”

Duncan sighed, then nodded. “Do you feel up to having a talk about things now?”

“Sure. But first, I’m curious why Greg was here so early.”

He slid off his stool. “Let me grab a cup of coffee. Why don’t you meet me in the sunroom, and we can talk there. It’s more comfortable.”

“Okay. Where’s the sunroom? Your house is kind of huge.”

He laughed. “Head down the hall all the way to the end, it’s on the left before you reach the dining room.”

“Okay. Great.”

I got up and Duncan caught me in a hug. I sighed and melted into him. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “I am so glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

He let me go then swatted my ass with his hand. “Go on. I’ll be right there.”

I wandered down the hall with my mug, finding the sunroom at the end. Sloped glass took up one wall, looking out onto the side yard and a line of flowered shrubs. Colorful patterned furniture and a wood floor with throw rugs made the room cozy, and I sat down on one of the sofas, enjoying the view of birds flitting around on the shrubs outside.

Duncan came in a few minutes later with a mug. He set it down on the coffee table then shifted to face me.

“This is a nice room,” I said.

“Glad you like it.” He smiled. “So, Greg.”

“Yeah, Greg,” I said. “Exactly how many people am I going to have to fight off to keep you to myself?” I chuckled. “Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands?”

He rolled his eyes. “You let me handle that. As for Greg, well, he found out through Shaylin that I wouldn’t be entertaining any dates other than you now.”

“You told Shaylin already?”

“She called early to see if I wanted to go to the beach. I told her I had plans, then I told her about you. Shay’s become more of a friend now anyway, so she was fine with it. But since spending the night with Greg a few months ago, he’s been…pursuing me somewhat aggressively. I’ve politely rebuked him several times. I haven’t had anything close to a romantic outing with him in ages. But apparently he was still hoping something would happen between us. He was upset. Wanted to hear it from me directly. That’s why he was here.”

“Damn. You are a heartbreaker.”

“I’m not! I’m always honest with people.”

“Duncan.” I shook my head. “Telling someone they can’t have you won’t always stop them from wanting you. Trust me. I know.”

“Well, how about this honesty?” He narrowed his eyes and smiled. “You can have me. You’re the only one who can have me.”

My heart fluttered and my cock stirred. “Can I have you right the fuck now?”

He smirked. “It’s killing me to keep my hands off you right now. But we still have some things to discuss. Can we talk about your job situation?”

I nodded, my gut tightening. “I’ve managed to save up some money lately. I’ll be okay for a bit.”

“So you will quit.”

“Yeah. I’ll call today. You guys were right, I have to. After last night I just…can’t go back there. It’s one thing when I can walk out of there and leave the shit behind. But when that shit starts following me home it leaves a stain. I don’t want that energy infecting me anymore.”

Duncan’s lips tightened, and I knew what was coming. “So are you considering coming back to work for me?”

“I am. Just give me a couple days to get my head straight, okay?”

He smiled. “Of course.”

“Hey speaking of Elfy Choices, I’m confused by something.”

“What?”

“When we were…messing around before. Before all this. You still kept trying to get me to come back to Elfy Choices. And you were still dating other people. Didn’t it occur to you then that was maybe a bad idea?”

“Of course it did.” He slid closer to me and gently rubbed my knee. “I told you last night I’ve been conflicted since we met.”

“In what way?”

He gave me a shy smile. “Remember that night at Mythic, early on when we had a martini together and talked?”

I nodded.

“It started that night.”

I chuckled, then frowned. “What started that night?”

Duncan patted his chest. “This voice inside that kept telling me…keep him around. Even before I ever considered pursuing you romantically. It was this almost desperate feeling, that I had to keep you close. Not let you get away. Even if I couldn’t ever touch you. I just…wanted you around. When we became intimate, I expected that voice would go away. It didn’t. It got stronger. I knew it was stupid to keep you working for me when all I wanted was to get you in my bed again. But I didn’t listen to logic. That little voice inside me was so much louder. Saying, keep a connection with him. Don’t let him leave. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve been so confused. My own behavior with you has surprised me. It created inner conflict, and that rarely happens to me anymore.”

My face heated. His words warmed me and excited me. “Is that why you changed your mind? Why you came after me last night? That conflicting voice in your head again? Wanting to keep me around?”

He stared at me. “Why does this feel like a trick question?”

I chuckled. “I just want to make sure you’re all in. That there’s no part of you that feels like you’re compromising your own wishes with me.”

Duncan leaned in close, his lips brushing mine. “Agreeing to date you exclusively is not a concession for me. It fills me up and excites me.”

I shivered. “It does?”

“I’ve been trying to talk myself out of you for so long. Shackling myself. But now the shackles are off. I’m all in, Zach.”

I swallowed hard. “I like the sound of that.”

He smiled.

“But why were you trying so hard to talk yourself out of me?”

“Because I felt like a fool for wanting someone like you so much.”

“Hmm. And what exactly do you mean by someone like me? This isn’t the age thing again, is it?”

“That was part of it, but not the whole. It was about how perfect you are. Too perfect.”

“Come on, you know I’m not perfect.”

“You were to me.”

My lips parted. “I…really? That’s how you saw me?”

“I saw this…beautiful, angry, sensitive, charismatic young man, who I couldn’t stop thinking about from the moment I met him. I’ve always been able to control my attraction for someone. Especially someone so completely off the menu for me. My employee. My nephew’s ex-boyfriend. So many reasons to control myself. And yet, I couldn’t. For the very first time, I had no control.”

I stroked the stubble along his jawline. “And how do you feel now? Now that you know I want you just as bad?”

“Frightened,” he said. “Because if I couldn’t control myself when I was holding back, I don’t know what’s going to happen now that I’m letting go.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and sighed. “I’m scared too, you know,” I whispered. “It’s been a long time since I gambled with my heart.”

“I know.” His eyes met mine, then his lips curved into a smirk. “And since I’m the one who lured you out of celibacy, I don’t want to be a disappointment.”

“You haven’t been so far, that’s for sure. How about we take it one day at a time, but no shutting down. Open communication, all the time.”

“That sounds perfect.” He eased me down onto my back. “Can I kiss you now?”

“Yeah.” I smiled and wrapped my legs around him. “Show me Duncan unshackled.”

“You sure you want to meet him?” he breathed against my lips. “Because he wants to do such things to you right now.”

My breath caught. “Hell yeah I wanna meet him.”

“What if he wants to fuck you right here. See you completely naked, spread out before me with the sun shining on your body. Get on my knees and hold your ass so I can watch while my cock disappears inside you.”

My own cock swelled to full size and I rubbed it. “You want to see how I feel about that?”

Letting out a breath, Duncan leaned back.

I reached down and undid my fly, pulling my cock out, gently stroking as I held his gaze. “This is how I feel about that.”

Duncan wrapped his hand around mine, working my cock with me, his eyes never leaving mine. “Do I really get to be inside you any time I want now?”

I nodded. “Wherever. Whenever.”

“Kiss you and fuck you and spank you and hold you any time I want?”

“All of that. Any time you want. Start now.”

Duncan dove on me and started kissing me frantically. I was so turned on I couldn’t see straight, and he seemed to feel the same, because we tore at each other’s clothes in between kisses, grunting when something wouldn’t give fast enough, two desperate animals in a frenzy to get our naked flesh pressed together.

He shoved the coffee table out of the way and dragged me onto the floor. My hands and mouth were all over him, tasting his skin, stroking and biting and licking. I glided down and sucked his cock, relishing the feel of it thrusting as he propped his arms behind him and lifted his hips to fuck my mouth.

Aside from hard exhales and soft groans, we’d not used words, communicating with only our bodies, but that changed when Duncan’s cock hit the back of my throat as his hips jerked higher. “God, Zach. Love feeling my cock in your mouth.” He hissed and thrust again. “Warm and wet and tight all around me. Watching your lips stretch like that. Your gorgeous lips.”

I groaned, my own cock flexing at his words.

“Wish I could shove it inside you right now,” he huffed. “Just like this, with nothing between us.”

I let his cock slide out of my mouth and lifted my head. “You saying you want to skip the condom?”

Duncan rested on his elbows, his naked body stretched out and making my cock ache. I’d never seen him look quite so aroused, his cheeks flushed pink, heavy lids and heavy breaths. “I never have,” he said. “But if I did, I’d want it to be now. With you. Nothing’s ever felt so good as being inside you. I fit so perfect and it just feels so good, I can’t imagine what it would feel like bare.”

I rose to my knees. “Never? You’ve never…”

He shook his head. “Never. With anyone.”

“Can’t believe you’ve never gone bareback. You’re old.” I smirked.

“Old and cautious.” He chuckled. “When I was in high school a lot of people were getting accidentally pregnant. Let’s just say it scared me, and caution became habit.” He reached up and pulled me on top of him. “I assume you are too? Cautious?”

“Always. But the idea of this has got me so hot I want to be careless with you.”

“God, I want you.”

“Go get some lube,” I said. “Quickly.”

“I will. Go get on the sofa. Quickly.” He smiled and climbed off me, then left the room.

I got up and stretched out on the sofa, slowly stroking my cock, not that I was too afraid I’d lose my boner. Just thinking about doing this with Duncan was putting me through the roof.

I’d asked Corey several times to do this with me, to let me feel him with nothing between us. I’d wanted that intimacy with him. But he always refused. And now I was kind of glad he had. I hadn’t gone without a condom since I was a teenager. It made this feel special and sexy and intimate, and the idea that Duncan wanted it so much and had never done it before excited my body and my mind and my emotions all at once.

Duncan stepped into the room then stopped short when he saw me lying on the sofa naked, stroking my cock. “Good lord,” he whispered then slowly moved toward me. He had a palmful of lube and began coating his erection. “This is a sight I’ll never forget.”

I smiled and spread my thighs as he got on his knees between them. The glass wall had me feeling like an exhibitionist with the sun shining down on me. I was pretty sure our only audience was the birds, but at this point I wouldn’t have cared if the entire neighborhood was watching.

Duncan dragged his fingers over my chest and down my stomach, making me quiver. His eyes drank me in, and I reached up and touched his face. “I love the way you’re looking at me right now.”

He took my hand and placed it back on my cock. “Keep doing that, like before,” he said. “I want to watch you, see how you work yourself while I’m fucking you.”

I nodded and slowly stroked and squeezed my cock for him. I made sure I relaxed, allowing myself to really give him a show and make it authentic, no different from when I masturbated aside from being way more turned on because of the naked man watching me with glimmering, heated eyes. “How do I look?” I whispered.

Duncan let a breath out, pressing his hand down on his own swelling cock. “You look like temptation personified.”

I rested my feet on his chest as I played with my balls, lifting them so he could see everything. “And are you tempted?”

His hand slid down my thigh, then a slick finger circled my hole, over and over until I was hissing. “Oh yes. I’m tempted.”

“You want that, Duncan? Want to get in there?”

“Hell yes. I want to get in here.”

His finger continued to light up my nerves with that excruciatingly gentle circular motion. If it was someone else I might have been self-conscious, the way his eyes followed his finger, examining me and touching me while I was spread open like this. But I could see how turned on this was getting him, his cock full and flexing up to his navel, lips parted as his chest rose and fell with each breath.

“Keep touching yourself,” he said. My feet were still pressed to his chest, and he took hold of my ankles and rested my legs on his shoulders. His hands cupped my ass and shifted me closer. Then I felt the head of his cock press against me, no condom, just hot, thick flesh.

My breath caught when he glided into me, and I clenched around him, overcome with sensation. I could feel every ridge, and the look on Duncan’s face, damn.

“Jesus, Zach,” he huffed, his eyelids fluttering. “I knew you’d feel good but…holy fuck. So fucking good.”

His words made my dick harder, probably because he didn’t swear often aside from ‘Good lord’ and what have you. “Say it again,” I pleaded. “Tell me how it feels, don’t hold back.”

He held onto my legs and pushed in again. “Oh, fuck,” he whispered as he found a rhythm, lighting me up inside so quickly my back arched. “Fuck, Zach, you feel…fuck, so good. So good, so good, so fucking good.”

I whimpered, squirming, trying to urge him on, but he kept it slow, staring down at the place our bodies joined, watching himself plunge into me, the way he’d said he wanted to do.

“Does it feel good for you?” he whispered. One hand dropped down and two fingers traced my hole around his cock, adding pressure and sensation.

“So good I’m gonna come soon,” I rasped. “Do you like what you see?”

“See, feel, everything,” he said, rubbing his thumb around my ring, thrusting into me a little faster. His eyes drifted to my fisted cock, then up to meet my eyes. “Do you want me to come inside you, Zach? Fill you up with it?”

“Oh, fuck,” I groaned, my legs wrapping around his neck. “Are you close?”

He grabbed my ass and held it, brows pinching as he pumped into me. “Trying not to be, but you feel so damn good. I want to blow it inside you.”

“Tell me when,” I huffed. “I want to blow it at the same time.”

Duncan groaned when I clenched around him. He pushed through it, fucking me more aggressively, and with my legs up and ass lifted I felt every thrust nailing my prostate. If he didn’t come soon I was going to beat him to it involuntarily.

“Fuck, now, Zach, gonna fill you up,” he said and his hips jerked, slapping against me. “Oh, God!”

I let go and the wave crashed over me, my cock gushing, spurting onto my belly and chest as Duncan pumped into me, then warm heat as he filled me with his fluids. The noises he was making—deep, crooning groans—prolonged my orgasm, giving it a sharp edge, and my ass contracted as the last white drops leaked from my cock and dribbled over my fist.

Duncan pulled out and lowered my legs back down, then collapsed on top of me, kissing me open-mouthed while he held my face in his hands. I was just starting to lose myself in the taste of his tongue when the doorbell rang.

Breaking the kiss, Duncan stared down at me with wide eyes. “Damn,” he said. “What time is it?”

I snickered. “I don’t know, but I’m drenched in jizz so don’t ask me to get it.”

He climbed off me and grabbed his clothes off the floor. Shaking his head, he smiled at me as the doorbell rang again. “Use the bathroom across the hall, go now. I’ll clean up quick in the other one then get the door.”

“Okay.” I stood, literally dripping in semen, and did a mad dash for my clothes as Duncan left the room. I scooted across the hall with my bundle, flicked on the bathroom light, and closed the door.

There was a shower and towels on a rack, and thank God, because this wasn’t going to be a quick wipe and go. I set my clothes on the counter, then turned on the hot water and got in, grabbing the soap and cleaning myself up.

Damn, what time was it indeed? I wasn’t too bothered that we’d lost track, because that sex was worth it. Duncan had been more trusting, more open and vocal, and I’d felt it. We’d both let our shields down some more, allowing a new wave of trust to trickle in, the lowering of our inhibitions making room for it.

After drying off, I redressed in my shorts and tee shirt. There was no comb, so I toweled my hair then finger brushed it. It didn’t look all that bad, damp and a bit wild, but I had some style wiggle room now that it was longer on top. My cheeks were still stained with a pink blush from the orgasm, but I could easily blame that on the hot shower.

I left the bathroom and made my way down the hall, finding Corey and Angelo alone in the big sitting room. Corey was sprawled out sideways on a chair, his legs dangling over the arm. Angelo sat on the sofa, his posture slightly stiffer, but he looked up and smiled when I entered the room. “Morning, Zach.”

“Morning guys.”

“Nice to see you,” Angelo said. “You’re looking fresh.”

“Yeah.” Corey smirked up at me. “Freshly fucked.”

“Corey!” Angelo rolled his eyes. “I apologize for him, Zach.”

“I’m used to it, I assure you, but thanks, Angelo.”

“What?” Corey snickered. “What did I say that was so bad?”

“Remember when we talked about boundaries?” Angelo said. “This might be one of those scenarios we discussed, Corey.”

Angelo’s tone was admonishing, but he smiled at Corey like he hung the moon, and I doubted he’d actually want to change a thing about him. Part of Corey’s lure was that you could never prepare for what he might do or what would come out of his mouth. I could see the love in Angelo’s eyes as if he was holding a sign declaring it, and the obvious adoration made me happy, happy that Corey had someone who loved him like that, for who he was.

And that was the moment I knew without a doubt that I was one hundred percent over Corey Stengel in any romantic sense.

“See, I’m looking at it a different way,” Corey said, lounging there like a prince in his Hawaiian print shorts and a neon pink tank. “Because this situation with Zach and my uncle has the potential for awkwardness, the only way to avoid it is to call it out.” He shrugged and raised his brows at me. “So yes. I know exactly what Zachary looks like freshly-fucked.” He pointed. “And that’s it. Right there.”

Duncan stepped into the room. “Cookie, if you’re going to continue to sexually harass my boyfriend I’m going to have to drown you in the lake today.”

My thoughts screeched to a halt…boyfriend? Then they took a hard detour. Cookie?

Angelo and I exchanged a smirk, then he looked up at Duncan. “Cookie? Who is Cookie?”

Corey threw one of his flip-flops at Duncan. “I’m going to murder you, Duncan!”

“Oh, what’s the matter Cookie?” Duncan grinned and leaned over, poking Corey’s ribs while Corey slapped his hands away. “You see when Corey was real little, he couldn’t pronounce his own name.” Duncan stepped back when Corey threw another shoe at him. “So when you’d ask him what his name was, he’d say ‘I’m Cookie Stengel!’”

“You suck,” Corey said. “Sincerely, Duncan. You suck.”

Duncan laughed. “I think you mean I win. I love you Corey, but if you’re going to try to use awkwardness as a weapon, remember that I have far more ammunition than you.”

“Fine, you win.” Corey stood. He glanced at me and narrowed his eyes. “Wipe that smirk off your face, Zach.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Cookie.”

Angelo snorted.

Corey smacked Duncan’s shoulder. “It’s a good thing I need you today.” He looked at me. “Duncan’s the only one with any taste in the family, so I’m counting on him to help with this wedding.”

“Hey,” Angelo said. “You have pretty good taste in fiancés, you jerk.”

“Hah, not what I meant! Duncan’s bossy and he has free time.”

“Where is this place we’re going?” I asked.

“It’s a beautiful, rustic location in Western Massachusetts,” Duncan said. “Corey wanted to get married at the town hall and then go to a pub, and I won’t have it. If you’re going to get married, it’s going to be someplace nice. I spoke to the owner, and she’s agreed to show us around.”

“I saw pictures online,” Angelo said. “It looks beautiful. But you’re not paying for it.”

“I can’t hear you,” Duncan said, covering his ears.

“Duncan.” Angelo stood. “I’m an adult and I make good money.”

“And I’m your family now,” Duncan said. “I’m at least going to help out. You’re my family, Angelo, and this is what I do. Get used to it.”

Angelo’s cheeks flushed. “Well, thank you,” he mumbled.

Corey went to Angelo and hugged him tight. Suddenly I felt like an intruder, that I was missing something bigger here. I recalled Doug telling me none of Angelo’s family showed for the engagement party, and wondered if they’d rejected him. Rejected him because of Corey. Because Corey was a man, not a woman.

It softened my heart toward Angelo, something I never thought would happen back when I saw him as a demon who’d swooped in and stolen my boyfriend the moment we broke up.

Corey released Angelo then clapped his hands. “Okay. Shall we hit the road?”

“Soon,” Duncan said. “Zach has a phone call to make first.”

 

 

****

 

Duncan had Earl show up with a car, so the four of us were able to relax on the drive. I kept having to stop and marvel at this scenario, because I felt at ease in this company, when it should have been the strangest thing in the world. Me going to look at a wedding venue with Corey and his fiancé? Me?

But Duncan squashed any notions that I was unwelcome, and I shivered every time his hand rested on my knee or his arm slid around me while we chatted with Corey and Angelo. And I could not stop thinking about that moment back at the house when he’d referred to me as his boyfriend. When he’d basically slapped Corey’s hand for teasing me. I wasn’t sure if Duncan realized just how well I knew Corey, and that to me his comments were like water off a duck’s back. But it warmed me that he seemed to step in front of me to protect me, even from his nephew’s taunts.

And speaking of Duncan protecting me, he’d insisted I make a call to Paulo at Immunity before we left the house. I was afraid Paulo would be furious with me. I’d only just started back there, after all. But when I explained the situation, that I was tired of being harassed at the bar, and what had happened with that customer assaulting me last night, he was sympathetic. He tried to woo me back with promises that things would be different, but my mind was made up. Duncan was right. I didn’t belong there.

The venue was a big, gorgeous brown wooden structure set deep in the forest, paths and bridges and trickling streams all around it. The back was a huge yard with trellises and cobblestone walkways shrouded with trees on both sides, with the view of a beautiful lake just beyond. After we examined the grounds, Duncan grabbed my hand and leaned in. “I’m going to take them inside to meet the owner now. You can come with us or you can head down to the lake and wait. Earl’s already brought chairs and towels down.”

“Yeah, I’ll wait on the beach,” I said. “You guys go ahead.”

He gave me a kiss, and I headed down one of the paths toward the lake, smiling. I was still getting used to the idea of Duncan holding my hand and kissing me in front of others. And I liked it.

On the small white beach, I discovered the chairs and towels Earl had left there, and I sat down and stared out at the glittery water, sighing. It was cooler out here in the western part of the state, so I felt no intense desire to jump in the water. I was so content that I fell asleep, only stirring later on when I heard a splash.

Looking up, I saw Angelo stepping out of the water like some ancient god, all wet and rippling with lean muscle. “Hey,” he said, picking up his towel. “You looked like you were out so I tried not to wake you.”

“Hey.” I glanced around. “Where are the Stengels?”

“They’ll be down soon.” He set his towel on the sand and sat, facing me, his arms resting on his knees. “We’re officially getting married here.”

“That’s great!”

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Duncan’s insisting on paying the deposit, and I tried arguing, so the two of them sent me away while they did official business.”

“They’re both pretty bossy.”

“Yeah, that’s for sure.” He laughed. Angelo looked at me as he scrubbed fingers through his short dark hair, shaking the water out. “How are you feeling after what happened last night?”

“Which part?”

“Being attacked.”

I looked into Angelo’s pale blue eyes, and saw concern. “Is this a psychiatry session? Because I’m unemployed at the moment, can’t pay you.”

He grinned. “I’m not trying to interfere or get too personal, Zach. It’s a compulsion when I see someone in pain, to try and help.”

“You think I’m in pain?”

“I heard what you said to Corey last night. How you felt like what happened was a reminder not to get above your station. That you felt like…nothing. Not a person.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I wondered if you heard that.”

“You can talk to me,” he said. “About anything.”

“I had some negative self-image stuff because of my past,” I said. “I’ve honestly worked through it for the most part. What happened last night rattled me, brought some of those old feelings up. But it was just that. I was rattled. I don’t let shame and fear control me anymore.”

“Okay, but you know I have to say this. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t about you. It was about that guy and his darkness. You know that, right?”

“I do. And thank you.”

Angelo shifted his towel and stretched onto his back beside me, sighing. “Are you in love, Zach?”

My stomach tumbled with nervous butterflies as I stared out at the lake. “Yes.”

“Yeah?”

“Completely.”

He turned his head and squinted at me. “Have you told him?”

“No.” I blew a breath out. “Last night he called me terrifying. I’ve got to watch my step and try not to pressure him.”

“Can I offer some unsolicited insight?”

I looked at Angelo. “Insight or advice?”

He grinned. “Advice based on insight.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

“I know Duncan pretty well now. He’s always dated a lot, but never anything serious, since I’ve known him.”

“Yeah. And now here’s me. Scaring the shit out of him.”

“I know where his terror comes from.”

I frowned. “You know?”

Angelo nodded. “Will this conversation stay between us?”

I shifted toward him, very interested now. “Yes. Of course. But isn’t this against the rules? Doctor…patient thing or whatever?”

Angelo laughed. “Duncan’s not my patient. He’s my friend. Which is why I’m talking to you about this. I care about him.”

“Talk to me then.” I glanced up behind us. “Before they come down here.”

“Okay. Duncan wants you more than he’s wanted anything in a long time. Maybe ever. I think he fears you’ll ultimately leave him, though. Maybe because you’re younger. Maybe because he sees you as too perfect.”

I huffed. “I assure you, Duncan knows full well I’m not perfect. We’ve shared many deep conversations about my flaws.” I paused. “But he did call me too perfect earlier. You really have talked to him about me, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

“But…there’s not an insecure bone in his body. Every time we turn a corner we run into someone he’s dated, and they’re usually unhappy he won’t give them more.”

“But that’s changed now. Right?”

“Sure, but…he wasn’t even considering taking me seriously until last night.”

Angelo snorted. “Actually, that’s not true at all.”

“What?”

Angelo sat up. He glanced behind him, then turned to me. “Like I said, I know Duncan. Pretty well. We talk.”

“And?”

“Duncan was talking to me about you long before now. About how to handle Corey’s reaction, and…other things.”

My eyes narrowed. “What other things. Now you have to tell me.”

“I’ll tell you if you’re serious about him. Truly serious. I mean it, if you’re not sure, let me know now. I don’t want him getting hurt.”

“I am serious. And I’m sure. He’s all I want, Angelo.”

“All right. Duncan called me one day and said ‘I think I’m in big trouble’. He was referring to you. And it was long before last night. Forget his prior hesitation, that did not represent his intentions. It wasn’t about him not feeling strongly enough for you. Just the opposite. Everyone has insecurities, Zach. Everyone gets scared. Even guys like Duncan.”

My eyes widened. “You really think so? You’re not fucking with me. This is what you really think?”

“What I think is he’s been in love with you for a long time. And I think if you’re in love with him, you should tell the guy, so he can relax. And that’s all I’m going to say. It’s up to you now.”

I bit my bottom lip. My stomach was still fluttering, but it was a new kind of butterflies now. “Thank you, Angelo.”

“Don’t mention it,” he said. “I’m not usually one to interfere. I just thought you ought to have the full picture. Duncan’s family to me now. I want the best for him. If that’s you? So be it.”

I closed my eyes, unable to stop grinning. Angelo had given me a lot to think about.