Page 25

“Of course you remembered her name,” Connor teased.

A laugh punched up my chest and I snorted before I slapped a hand over my mouth and leaned back against the pile of pillows behind me. I placed the laptop down and traced over his beautiful smile.

“To answer your question, no, I’ve never had someone come up to my hotel room while on location, hoping to sleep with me. I’m not saying I’m not a bit of a man slut?—”

“Con! No! Stop putting yourself down. Despite your family teasing you, you shouldn’t be ashamed for having a healthy sex life. And from what I know about you, and how Valentina and your father raised you, you ensured that all of those partners gave consent and were comfortable before anything happened, because that’s who you are. All your experiences combine to make you, you, and I like you, Connor Blake.”

His smile lit me up inside, and the following words made me lightheaded.

“I know what I’m about to say is not that much of a surprise, but everything has changed in my life since I laid eyes on you.”

Confusion, which stunned me into silence, made my face scrunch up in what was sure to be a goofy expression as I scanned Connor’s face.

“What?”

“Oh, okay, so it may not be apparent to you after all,” he said with a self-deprecating laugh. “How did you not know I wanted to pull you into my lap and kiss you breathless when the flight attendant brought you to first class?”

My brain stumbled to a halt before I blinked. And then blinked again.

“Um, maybe because this is real life and no one who is as put together and beautiful as you are would look twice at someone like me. I mean, there’s a little guilt because you walk around shirtless, not to mention stripping down to your underwear whenever we talk, and I trace every inch of your skin with my eyes because I can’t help myself. And I’m sure I’m not the only person to tell you this, but you’re, well, perfect.”

Connor laughed and shook his head. “I’m human and despite the image I allow the world to witness, which isn’t close to who I am, I have feelings and doubts.”

My brows drew down again. “Doubts about what?”

“You.”

His one word hurt my heart. “Oh.”

“You confuse me because, for once, I want something for myself that isn’t defined by a time limit or even common sense. Sex, while it feels good and who doesn’t want to have it as much as possible to get that high, doesn’t appeal to me if it’s not with you. But I also want so much more than time in bed.”

The frustrated expression on his face and the way his hand clenched into a fist as he spoke told me he wasn’t comfortable with these thoughts.

“Nothing has to change between us, Connor. I’ll always be your friend. Besides, you have experience with not letting your emotions get involved. Maybe you see me as someone to take under your wing, and since I get along with your family, it’s only natural you become comfortable with me.”

He exhaled loudly and relaxed while his next words took me by surprise. “This shoot is taking far too long.”

“You’re coming home Friday. And the triplets told me you love being on location, as they call it. Isn’t this project shorter compared to your other roles?”

“Yeah, but I’m tiring of being away from home all the time. Working with Spencer, Lee, and Kaid starting up this productioncompany has been more fulfilling than any action movie role, which is the only work offered to me in the last five years. I would have loved to work on several other projects, including a romantic comedy, but they shot me down.”

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting something more substantial.”

Connor swallowed and glanced away from the screen. “Yeah, it seems I want it in all different areas of my life.”

Our conversation grew to a standstill as I watched the emotions play out over his face. I studied his expressions, and I’m a little ashamed to say the rest of his body. The swell of his pecs, the ridges of his stomach, and the muscles of his thighs as he flexed and relaxed his legs.

“I like the way you look at me when you think I’m not watching you,” Connor growled.

A flush heated my skin, but when I glanced into his eyes, the desire banked in his gaze made me throb from head to toe. A whimper escaped me when his hand moved from where it lay near his neck, brushing his fingertips along his collarbone to his sternum.

“What…” I cleared my throat, “what are you doing?”

“Ever thought about having phone sex with me, Ollie?”

And with that question, my brain shut down, my body pulsed with pure need, and I moaned aloud.

“Fuck, Ollie. You can’t moan my name like that.”