Chapter 30

Blake trails his knuckles down my cheek. The soft and intimate touch is enough to heighten my senses in the dark bedroom of the hotel suite. He shifts in bed, getting closer to me - close enough that his warm breath fans across my face.

"Are you still awake?" he whispers into the silence.

I open my eyes, surprised at how much the city lights illuminate the room. Blake's chiseled jaw is shadowed behind a light stubble, and I have the urge to brush my fingertips against it. The synthetic lights are doing wonders to his pointed features, giving him the appearance of a dark angel.

He smirks and allows the knuckle of his index finger to continue its path down my jawline.

"I had fun with you on our date," he says, still whispering.

"Me too. Despite the start of it. Well, that and the shitty wine."

Blake's smile slips and his finger stills. "I'm sorry, Callum. It was an asinine move on my part."

"Choosing a restaurant that served shitty wine?"

His remains unflinching, keeping a serious expression in tow. "For writing that note."

Yea. It was. I want to tell him that a piece of me is still fuming over it. It wasn't so much all the shit that happened at the restaurant, but more so the time spent at the hotel - well, crying. That fuckin' sucks to admit.

It's the fact that he knew I was so upset and waited hours before relieving my worry.

"Callum," Blake whispers, leaning his head in until his forehead touches mine. "Jealousy isn't an emotion I'm used to feeling. Yet when it comes to you, it's like it's always tethered to an exceptionally short leash."

My stomach quivers hearing about his jealousy. Is it wrong to find it attractive? Hot even?

"But because I'm not used to experiencing it," Blake continues. "I don't really know how to handle it."

His voice is deep and has a slight rasp to it, and fuck does he sound sexy. His comment is riddled with vulnerability, but there is still a masculinity to him that is unshakable. He slides his index finger along my jaw, stopping at my chin to urge my gaze up to his.

"Forgive me?"

I roll my eyes. "I mean. Is it part of my job description?"

"No, but it could fall under your 'other duties as assigned,'" he answers with a wistful smile.

"Yea, yea. Whatever."

There's a beat of silence, and Blake's gaze slowly rakes down my face. It's as if his eyes are lapping up every detail of me for the first time. Then his gaze lands on my lips, and my prior stomach quiver is put to shame by a full-on body shudder.

"I have to be honest, Callum. I have been staring at these all night long without being able to kiss them."

His thumb grazes my bottom lip, and my dick twitches at the action. I try to slow my breathing and act as unaffected as possible.

"It's been far too long since I've had them against mine," Blake murmurs.

It's an invitation. I can almost feel his lips inching closer, ready to claim mine in another heated embrace. Out of sheer disobedience I jerk my head back and frown.

"Yea, well. Those lips will have to suffer through one more night of loneliness. And after that little stunt you pulled today, you're lucky it isn't longer."

My words come out in a biting tone, but with just enough of a playful edge to have their intended effect. Blake drops his hand away from my chin. The softness in his eyes ignites with a dark passion. His smirk returns.

"Is that how you want to play it?"

I scoff and shake my head. "You're an idiot. Go to bed."

Delving out a condescending pat on his shoulder, I roll over and make obnoxious snoring noises. Blake doesn't move from his spot. I expect him to make another comment, but he doesn't. Instead, a challenging hand curls around my wrist, tugging on my arm until I'm forced onto my back.

Blake uses his other hand to pin me down. He throws his leg over my hips and straddles me, the action quick and dominating. The warmth of his thighs radiate against mine, and my heart beats wildly in my chest. He's never been on top of me like this before. His erection is visible beneath his sport shorts, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to grind against him.

"Callum," he says, and his voice takes on the same tone he used this morning with me in the bathroom. "I am going to kiss you – because I want to, and I know you want to. Do you understand?"

His words turn my insides to jell-o. My erection throbs beneath my shorts. All I want him to do is touch me. Dare I say even fuck me? My asshole clenches just thinking about it. No, no I'm not ready for that yet. But a kiss...yea, a kiss and some touching I can handle.

"Yes," I respond weakly.

Blake dips his head down, and his fingers tighten against my wrist. He brushes his lips against mine with a whisper of the faintest kiss.

"Yes what?"

I swallow hard. "Yes....sir."

_______________________

The sound of water pelting against the window coerces me awake. I pry my eyes open, appreciating the smatter of rain hazing the view of the city. I roll onto my side, noting Blake's absence from the other side of the bed.

The bathroom door is cracked open though, and a billow of steam slowly spills out, creeping its way into the bedroom. I'm not sure what time it is, but from the looks of it, I'm waking up just in time to keep on schedule for whatever plans Blake has on the agenda today.

My shoulders sag with disappointment when my boss walks out of the bathroom a few minutes later, fully dressed and clean-shaven. His eyes seek me out and he grins. The smile doesn't reach his eyes, though.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

"How'd you sleep?" he asks, buttoning the sleeve of his dress shirt.

"Great, after receiving that awesome blow job."

Blake frowns. "I didn't give you a blow job last night."

I scoff and kick my way out of bed. "Yea. I know, asshole. What gives?"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "Be careful with your teasing, Callum."

A blush trickles up my neck and spills onto my cheeks. I can feel Blake's eyes on me, studying my every movement as I bend down to get some clean clothes from my suitcase.

Truth be told, I can't get enough of the guy. And if it wasn't for fuckin' Todd surprising us with a late night phone call – frantically informing us that one of Blake's many cars had been towed – I would have gotten more too.

Damnit Todd.

"So what's on the agenda today, boss?" I ask, shouldering past him to get to the bathroom.

"I have a meeting in about an hour."

I swipe up my toothbrush and slide the cap off my toothpaste. Blake leans against the bathroom doorway, casually stuffing his hands into his pockets. He doesn't hide the look of desire lurking beneath his dark eyes, their focus so intent that every inch of my skin feels like it's being devoured by his gaze.

"Cool. I'll be ready in ten," I say and jut my foot out to kick the bathroom door closed.

Blake catches it before it latches into place and gives me a small smile. The expression he wore last night settles across his features again. It's a look I now realize is a combination of both fear and guilt.

"What?" I ask, trying to ignore the sudden knot forming in my stomach. "Don't tell me you have another date planned with Phil?"

Blake grimaces and shakes his head. "Callum, you are more than welcome to join me today, but...I am also giving you the option to take the day off."

I raise a brow. "Why?"

He blanches and starts fiddling with his cufflinks. "Because. There's another gentleman that I know must be itching for your time and attention. And I won't lie and say I'm not thrilled about the fact that I'll be the man sharing a bed with you this evening, but I realize you still need time with him. To do...whatever it is you need to do."

I pull the toothbrush out of my mouth and spit in the sink. Cade's face pops into my head – his carefree smile and twinkling eyes. It makes my shoulders tighten with dread. I need to tell him that it's over, even if it really never started to begin with.

How will he take it?

On some level, I think he knows this is coming. He has to. Then again, I didn't exactly go out of my way to enlighten him on just how much deep my feelings went for Blake.

I scoop up a handful of water and splash it on my face. Each water droplet feels like a small, separate slap on the face. Well-deserved ones at that. I've had plenty of practice of dumping chicks before, but I've never had to turn down a dude.

"Alright," I agree, grabbing up a towel and scraping it down my face. "I'll text you later?"

Blake stiffens and nods. A flash of jealousy crosses his features, but he quickly conceals it, forcing a tight-lipped smile across his lips.

"I can pick you up whenever and wherever you need," he says, though his offer sounds more like a plea. "Just text me and I'll be there."

This time it's me chuckling and shaking my head. I take the few, needed steps to reach the door, leaning in to give him a playful punch on the arm.

"You're hot when you're jealous."

Blake catches my hand before I have a chance to drop it back to my side, tugging me into his chest and wrapping his arms around me. Then he hugs me. Hard. When he pulls away, he clears his throat and places a single, chaste kiss on the center of my forehead.

"I'll wait until I hear from you," he says.

Without looking back, he slips out of the master bedroom. I watch him grab for his suitcase in the living room and adjust his tie once in the mirror before walking out the door.

The silence following his exit is deafening. A myriad of emotions runs through me, so powerful that it makes my stomach hurt. Then I swallow hard and glance at my phone resting quietly on the nightstand. I move towards it with hesitant steps, hoping that by some small chance Cade already knows I want Blake instead of him.

But when I unlock it and see I have three new texts waiting for me – all from Cade – I know it is wishful thinking. My fingers hover over the keypad, and with stiff movements I type out my message.

Me: Hey man. Any chance we can meet today? We need to talk.