Page 27 of Just Like You (Square Mile Rogues #2)

Julian

I will tell you all later, you impatient man. All good here. And I am now besties with Gina DeSanto. Deal with it.

I HATE YOUUUUUU! I thought I was your bestie!

Well, apparently not. Can I be Gina DeSanto’s bestie by proxy? I need to meet her. Don’t you dare not bring me along. We can do lunch! I’ll even dress up nicely. Please. Pretty please, Julian!

Walking around one of the largest cities in the world?

It wasn’t always for the faint-hearted, but luckily for both of us, I knew this area, like I knew most of the cities we flew to.

This was what made my job worthwhile, feeling at home wherever I laid my head.

I enjoyed the people here, the bustling city with its avenues and greenery, the cheesy balls that I picked up from the little bakery on the corner.

The fruit and nibbles I got from the supermarket.

And the coffee that was far too strong for my delicate taste buds.

Kieron liked it, though, downing his espresso in one, which I tried to do as well, only for the strength of it to make me choke.

“You said we had to act like locals!” he whispered, a little too loudly. “That we need to look like we live here.”

“Well, we don’t, but we can only try.” I laughed. At least I had convinced him to leave his watch in the hotel room safe, with the Patek, and to lose his wallet in favour of a few bills in his pocket, and his phone tucked inside his waistband.

I’d also made him wear just a T-shirt, which he hated, but I secretly loved. It made him look dangerously buff. Hot.

“When do you have time to go to the gym?” I asked, poking a finger in his chest. Firm. Hard. Mine.

“We have a gym at the office. I go in the mornings, or if I feel frustrated, I go lift some weights at lunchtime. Just to clear my head. We all tend to learn other people’s routines, so I can avoid working out next to people I don’t like.

Like this guy Bash. Don’t really like him because he did the dirty on Juliet. ”

“Who’s Juliet again?”

“My boss. Badass girl. Looks all pretty and innocent but can make grown men cry. I speak from experience. ”

I had to laugh at that. “You sure it wasn’t the other way around? You made her cry?”

“Nah. Juliet doesn’t cry. She gets bullshit angry. Fuming on the inside and puts this sweet smile on her face. That’s when you need to clear out because she’s about to pull some moves. I like her, a lot, and not in that way.”

We were walking down Avenida Paulista, just enjoying the busy sidewalks and bustling traffic.

Talking as we leisurely made the city our own.

Buildings. People. Eyes at the back of my neck.

Couldn’t help it. I’d been robbed in a taxi here once and knew how to blend in on my own.

Cap on my head, T-shirt and jeans, walking with my head down?

I could get away with anything. But I had this big dude next to me, and he was just looking at everything and getting excited about stupid shoe shops and wanting to find a place that made some gourmet Brazilian pastels he’d looked up online.

His enthusiasm was infectious because where I’d normally have stacked up on snacks and lounged around in my room, perhaps dipping down to the pool area to check in with my crew?

This trip had become a culinary delight, and yeah.

My arse had taken a pounding, at one point making me wonder if we needed to find me a wheelchair for the way back.

It wasn’t that bad. Not really, but he was just walking here like it was nothing.

Like he hadn’t just fucked me to splinters this morning and got away with it.

Was I complaining?

Nah. I was a bottom, through and through. Mostly.

It was just that he was sexy. Attractive, and perhaps way out of my league, but whatever he wanted? I’d give it to him. I wanted to .

“Would you ever let me fuck you?” I asked as he stopped outside a pharmacy, browsing the colourful display of tacky souvenirs.

“Wow,” came out of his mouth. “That’s one to throw at me walking down the street.”

“Not really. It’s a simple yes or no answer.”

He laughed, and I liked that he did.

“I’m your stereotypical bi guy. I like to fuck people. Never really…you know…wanted it the other way. No offense to anyone who does.”

“It’s my thing,” I said, straight to his face.

I liked that I could. We had no secrets, none whatsoever, and that was new.

A nice feeling to have sat in your chest. No lies.

No drama. Just say whatever came to mind, and it would be fine.

I could tell he felt it too, that smile on his face far too obvious.

“Luckily for you, I like getting fucked.”

“I like…arse. And toys. But I like using them on… Well. You. I love women, and I love their bodies, and all the fun things I can do with them. But…I love arse. I love anal, and I especially like yours. I dunno, it’s just something with you.

You’re fun and gorgeous, and you know your body and what you like.

How much you can take and how to run with whatever I throw at you. ”

“I will tell you if something is too much.”

“Good, because I want you to. And if you want to try other things? I mean. I’m not unreasonable. If you have needs… I’m here for all of that. ”

“Good.” The only word I felt was appropriate in that moment. Good. Things were. Good. So bloody good. He hugged me, right there in the street.

“Do you think I can go in here and ask to buy condoms and lube? I mean? You shouldn’t be providing it all.”

“You bought me dinner. And you paid the room service bills this morning. I think I can afford to keep you in sexual protection supplies.”

“Good to know.” He smiled.

“But if you want to experience buying lube in Portuguese? Be my guest.”

“What is condom in Portuguese?”

“No idea, let me google.”

“Shall I ask the lady or the twinkish guy behind the counter?”

“Or the Daddy at the tills. He looks like he knows his stuff.”

“Ugh. He looks scary. The kind of guy who frequents darkrooms and goes home to his wife afterwards.”

“Kieron,” I said, giving him a little punch. “So assumptive. I bet you he has a nice boyfriend at home and volunteers at animal shelters or something.”

“It says pharmacist on his nametag; I’m pretty sure that’s what farmacêutico means.”

“So it does.” I grinned. Oh God. Kill me now.

Because now Kieron was right up there, shaking the guy’s hand and holding up his phone that no doubt asked for despicable things.

I didn’t trust him… Yet I felt safe. Loved.

How nice was this? All the doubts were still somewhere deep in my stomach, yet I couldn’t stop smiling.

Was this what it was like when you just fell…

in love? Like the people who got married in Vegas after a one-night stand.

Some of them lived happily ever after; I was sure I’d read that somewhere.

Married at first sight? The odds weren’t good; even Sonny had agreed to that. I shouldn’t watch TV.

I suddenly wanted to ring him, just to get some kind of stable foothold back in reality. Hear his voice calling me names and berating me for my incredible stupidity here. Maybe I needed a reality check. A virtual slap across the face.

“This doesn’t feel real,” I said as Kieron returned, triumphantly shaking a paper bag.

“Oh, this is all very real. Nice guy, spoke decent English. Married with four children, but he was very knowledgeable in his recommendations.”

“Suspicious.” I laughed.

“Honest and real,” he said softly. “So is the bar he recommended, two blocks down. Pride flags outside, all staff are queer, and the cocktails are apparently ridiculous.”

“I have to work tonight.”

“Next time then. I like this place.”

“Not the safest in the world, but the people are nice. The food is fantastic, and the weather agrees with me. ”

“The smog can get bad. I read up on it when I sat at the airport waiting for you.”

“You will spend the rest of your life waiting for me.”

“I don’t mind. I’ll wait for you. Because you’re worth it.”

“Sounds like a make-up commercial.”

“It’s not, it’s just a little fact. And now I need to take you home and fuck you to sleep so you can have a little nap before we go home.”

“Okay.”

How I agreed to that? Far too fast. But I did. I loved how he let his arm sneak around my back. Just for a second so he could push his nose into my neck. Breathe me in, leaving me all dizzy. Too much. Too soon. Yet, so bloody perfect.

“Do you want to come to Vegas with me next month?” I grinned.

I had one rostered, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Like a mosquito buzzing in my brain. A sudden desire to be wild and irresponsible.

Well, who was I kidding here? I’d thrown all my sensibilities out the window.

Where was Sonny when I needed him to rein me in?

In LA, apparently playing with polycules. Go figure.

“Oh! Yes. Absolutely. Give me the dates, and I’ll see if I can reorganise my schedule. I’d love to. Never been there either.”

“It’s weird and wacky. Like Disneyworld for idiots.”

“Rude.”

“Also the place where bad decisions are made and lives are ruined forever. ”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Nah. I’m usually good. Sensible, but it’s the one place you can really lose your head if you’re not careful.

A bit like Bangkok, where I once had my drink spiked and thought I was somewhere in outer space.

A taxi driver took me back to the hotel because I had the keycard in my pocket.

Probably saved my life, because I don’t remember it at all. ”

“Scary.”

“Still love Bangkok. Hilarious place. So much culture and food, and the markets are great.”

“We’ll go. I’d love to go.”

“We will. We have time.”

“So Vegas next?”

“If you want to?”

“Do I have to book a chapel?”

I laughed, and he did too.

“I would, you know.”

“I know you would.”

“Let me muse it over.”