Page 55 of Hunt You Down

Earlier that day, I’d almost made a rash decision.

While André napped, I’d dug my suitcase out from the back of the wardrobe. When I replaced it, it was full of everything I’d need to sneak away.

I couldn’t keep putting him through this. He hadn’t signed up for any of it. The night we’d met, he was expecting a hot hook-up. Instead, he got a boyfriend with trust issues and a lifetime of trauma. He didn’t deserve any of it. If he was going to fall in love, he deserved someone who wouldn’t bring him nothing but problems.

The door opened, letting in a rush of cold air and snapping me out of my thoughts. When the sun went down, it had taken the warmth with it. While the air was still sticky, any wind blowing through would chill you right to the bone.

But André stepped through the door, and warmth spread through my veins. He found my eyes, and the corner of his mouth quirked into that heart-stopping grin. Mitchell stood before André could reach the table. “Go home and enjoy the night with your man. Your man. He’s yours just as much as you are his.”

The two men embraced each other and exchanged a few quiet words. André kept his eyes glued to mine, stirring up those butterflies in my stomach. The dimming light in the coffee shop made the emerald sparkle.

When Mitchell left, I didn’t hesitate to place myself right into André’s open arms, wrapping mine tight around his waist. I nuzzled into his neck, pressing a kiss to the sensitive skin. I didn’t miss the way he shuddered in my grip. “Are you alright?” he asked with a soft, breathy chuckle.

“I’m just fine,” I whispered, taking my coat from his hand.

“You don’t want to finish your smoothie?”

“No. I want to go home.”

Not giving him another chance to argue, I tipped my head back so my lips met his. André hesitantly melted into the kiss, carefully keeping his hand on the small of my back.

“Take me home,” I reiterated. “Please.”

With his forehead pressed against mine, André nodded. “Okay.”

Once inside the warmth of the apartment, André sat on the couch and after grabbing a blanket, I settled in his arms. I had no idea how to bring up the events of the day before. When I finally opened my mouth, so did he.

“About yesterday…”

“I’m sorry.”

I let out a nervous laugh.

“You first.”

André patted my hip and I sat up, pulling the blanket across my lap. André blinked against glassy eyes, taking my hands in his. “I am so sorry, David,” he began. “I was way out of line yesterday. I’m not even going to try justifying my actions, and you have every reason not to believe me when I say it won’t happen again, but I mean it. You were hurt, you were scared, and I overreacted. I’m so sorry.”

His voice cracked, and heat built behind my own eyes. He’d addressed everything I wanted to say. I tugged on his hands, intending to kiss him but toppling into his lap instead. André fell backward, sending us both into a fit of laughter. I accepted defeat and laid my head on his chest, and that was that. Neither of us said anything else. We didn’t need to. The T.V. stayed off. Phones rang, but we ignored them.

I hadn’t realized I’d drifted off laying on top of André until I woke up with a dry mouth and an ache in my back. I desperately wanted to go back to sleep but seeing André resting so soundly and feeling his arm around me, made me think about that packed suitcase in the back of the closet. I’d destroy him if I left.

He'd chosen me, and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why. The man who’d never committed in his life had claimed me as his—along with all my baggage.

I’d be a fool to let that go.

Carefully extracting myself from André’s arms, I tiptoed to the guest room and unpacked. I returned to the living room in time to catch him stirring.

“Are you okay?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.

“I’m fine.” I extended my hand to him. “Come to bed.”

As I climbed into bed next to him, André fell asleep almost immediately. I hated to wake him up, but I needed him. Hesitantly, I tugged on his shoulder. He rolled onto his back and lifted his arm. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I responded, easing into my spot. “But from now on, you’re legally required to hold me whenever I want.”

His laugh kickstarted my heart, the vibrations against my cheek simmering through my veins. Gentle lips pressed against my forehead. “I won’t fight you on that one, darlin’.”

Chapter Twenty-Three