11. Chapter 11

Chapter eleven

Cormac

A week had passed since Felix and I had sex on his balcony.

We still talked every fucking day, and I was pretty sure he’d amped up his flirting with me, but I had no idea how to push forward. We’d been fake boyfriends that night, so had that just been an experiment to sate some curiosity? Finally getting to kiss him, getting my hands on him had been heaven and hell in the same breath. Heaven because he was hot as fuck and felt like a dream, but hell because I didn’t know if I’d ever get another taste.

And goddamn did I want one.

Except the next morning we’d made pancakes together, and he’d kissed me good-bye, but I hadn’t seen him all week, so what did that mean?

Today would change this limbo. We had sword fighting classes again, and the temptation to text him and ask if I could stay at his place after reared in a big way. However, I’d already promised my family I’d visit for dinner, and given my dad’s injured arm, I wanted to help in any way possible.

I pulled into the nearest spot I could find to Clark Park, my nerves sizzling from the five thousand scenarios I’d run through on the drive. Most of them ended with me disappointed and secretly devastated. Because Felix wasn’t just another hot guy.

No, he was the first person in a long, long while who made me feel seen. Too often, I got overlooked in a lineup, and being a middle child in a big family compounded that. And dating Luke hadn’t been the solution. He hadn’t wanted me, just…well, anyone.

I thunked my head against my steering wheel, letting out a groan. I needed to nut up and get out. Chances were, Felix would be there looking as fucking hot as ever, a constant temptation. Which was what spurred me to move.

The brisk breezes coasted across my bare arms, reminding me far too much of the interlude on Felix’s balcony. Fuck. That memory had cycled through my head the entire week, and I would sell my soul for another chance with him. Fake, real, whatever—I just wanted Felix.

Only a few steps onto the grass at Clark Park and I caught sight of the class. Already, Ezra handed out practice swords. A few folks loitered around him, but my gaze was a seeking-missile honed on Felix.

He was talking to Regina, his back turned to me. His gray sweats should’ve been outlawed because they highlighted a perfect fucking ass I’d barely gotten to grope the other night. I willed him to look back. How would this go down after all the walls we’d smashed through the last time we’d been together?

My heart thundered, and cohesive sentences fast evacuated my brain. Regina lifted her hand in a wave. That attracted Felix’s attention, and he spun around.

The second his eyes landed on me, the breath left my chest. Goddamn, he was so fucking stunning. His black hair was tousled, his smile crooked, and then he winked. Butterflies exploded in my chest, but the casualness of his reaction soothed some of my worries about where we stood.

“About time you showed up, Brannon,” Felix said.

The urge to sweep up to him and bend him over into a kiss scorched through me in a real way, but we weren’t fake dating anymore.

“Want to break up the partnership and spar with me today?” Regina asked me. My gut twisted. The answer that leaped to my lips was no, but if Felix needed some space, it might be for the best.

“Back off, Reggie,” Felix said. “He’s mine.”

Those two words were all I’d wanted to hear for so long.

Except for real—not in a fake date or a tease.

However, today, I’d take getting to be close to him.

Regina lifted her hands. “I’m not about to get in the middle of that.”

“Good to see you guys today.” Ezra gave us our practice swords. “Practice will start soon, so partner up and find your spots to run drills.”

“What ones today?” I gave the sword a light swing. Even though they weren’t real swords, I still loved the way they maneuvered, part of what hand drawn me to this class over and over.

“Cut Guard and Thrust combos.” Ezra clapped a hand on my shoulder before departing to his normal observation spot. “Get to work.”

I licked my lips, my body in hyperaware mode with Felix so close to me.

“You ready to go?” He waggled his brows. “Gotta practice our thrusting.”

“Why do you make everything sound filthy,” Regina groaned and walked away from us.

“It’s a gift,” he called, but then his gaze returned to me.

“Yeah, let’s head over.” If only the blood would stay in my brain rather than travel down to my cock.

Before I could take a step forward, Felix slapped my ass and sped past me. “Last one there’s going first.” Mischief sparkled in his gaze, and my heart careened all over the place. I’d expected him to pull the traditional “straight guy” move and deny everything that had happened or get cold feet.

But no. Not only was Felix as fine as ever, but that edge of flirtation that had appeared ever since we’d discussed fake dating was still there. The dip in his voice with an innuendo, the way his gaze fixated on me…and how he’d just slapped my ass.

I gripped my sword a little harder and set off after him.

Time to get some thrusting practice in.

Practice flew by as fast as it always did, and by the end, I was sweating buckets. Felix put me through the paces—not only physically—and holy hell, he’d amped up his flirtation game a thousandfold. The heat broiling through me wasn’t just from exertion. Between the on-purpose brushes against me, flirty comments, and winks he lobbed my way, I hit overload. And I was still supposed to go home and visit my family after this.

This was a recipe for blue balls.

I yanked off my shirt, needing to get the sodden fabric off my skin.

“Finished so soon, Brannon?” Felix teased.

I arched an eyebrow as I plopped my ass on the ground and chugged some of my water. I tipped the bottle back and drank gulp after gulp, trying to make up for everything I’d sweated out.

He dropped beside me and placed his sword next to him. “Damn, no one warned me I was getting a free show.”

I was in the middle of wiping my mouth with my forearm when I realized the scorching way he scanned over me. Fuuuuck.

“You can’t do this to me,” I hissed, keeping my voice quiet.

“Do what?” he asked innocently.

“I’ve got a family dinner to go to after this.” I speared my fingers through my sweaty strands. “And I can’t show up like…that.” I didn’t gesture toward my cock, but Felix’s gaze trailed there anyway. And the traitorous fucker plumped up for him too, like a Pavlovian response.

“And you didn’t invite me?” Felix placed a hand over his chest in feigned shock.

My heart stumbled over itself. The words leaped to my lips before I could reel them back. “If you wanted to join…”

He glanced up, all the teasing and flirting melting away. Just pure softness shining in those gorgeous brown eyes. “Yeah, sign me up.”

“Assholes, what are you doing lying around?” Regina broke the moment. “Everyone else already put away their equipment.”

I heaved a sigh, not wanting to move from the grass and this spot by Felix’s side. I glanced at him. “Do you want me to drive you to dinner?”

“You’re just trying to leave me without a mode of escape if your family’s too crazy.” He hopped up, dusted his knees, and grabbed his practice sword from the grass.

“Guilty,” I said, my heart thudding a little harder. “But also because I don’t mind the drive. I can take you back tonight.”

“Only if that means you’re staying over.”

My pulse pounded so hard I didn’t register anything else except his words. Felix was flipping every expectation I’d ever entertained, and I wasn’t sad about it in the slightest. Even if I waited for the rug to get pulled out from under me. “As long as you’re willing to share your bed again.” My voice came out lower than intended, husky with the desire I barely pinned back.

Felix licked his lips, his eyes flaring with lust. “You’ll be lucky if we make it out of the bed.”

Oh, fuck.