Chapter Four

Boone wished he could say his hunger was assuaged. It wasn’t. He watched Jupiter bustle around the kitchen, looking mused and content. Boone fought the urge to attack him again. He had kept the beast inside him leashed for too long. Boone had refused to allow anyone close to him for nearly a decade. Now that he had, Boone realized he had healed a long time ago. The anger was gone. He just wanted what was right in front of him.

Two glasses of white wine sat on the table, waiting for Jupiter to finish. Jupiter carried two plates to the table. After setting one in front of Boone, he tried setting the other across from him. Boone grabbed the edge and pulled it to his side of the table. He snagged Jupiter’s waist and towed him into his lap.

“You’ll eat here.”

Jupiter didn’t complain. He simply turned sideways, finding a comfortable way to sit, and then arranged their plates to make it easier for them to eat.

Boone eyed the dishes. It was some type of chicken with herbs and sauce. He had no idea what it was.

“I recognize the bird.”

Jupiter had just taken a bite. Boone’s words had him snorting and covering his mouth. Everything he did made Boone smile. “It’s called marry me chicken. Just try it.”

Boone picked up his fork and took a bite. It was delicious. He took another while Jupiter watched.

“See? You can trust me to feed you good food.”

Boone nodded and continued eating. He understood the name. It was a damn good dish. Jupiter should have a chef job somewhere, except he honestly didn’t want Jupiter to work.

“So, you keep lube with your weapon stash.”

This time, it was Boone who snorted. He took a sip of wine before he responded. “It has a lot of practical uses—like keeping old bow strings from dry rotting.”

Jupiter nodded. His eyes swam with laughter. “I see.”

Boone saw his opportunity to open the door on the no protection thing. “I’m being serious. It’s not like lube has been needed around here for anything else in nearly ten years.”

Jupiter set his fork aside and gave Boone his full attention. “Why would that be?”

Boone refused to be uncomfortable about shutting down his heart and bed. It had been necessary for his survival. “Because that’s how long it’s been since I fucked anyone else.” Boone held Jupiter a little tighter. He had an irrational fear Jupiter might run. “I should’ve asked earlier, before skipping the condom. Honestly, I got carried away, but you don’t have anything to worry about. I’ve been tested several times, and—like I said—I decided to live like a monk a good decade ago. You’re safe with me.”

Jupiter nodded. For the first time, he looked slightly uncomfortable with the topic. “It’s okay. You’re safe with me too. I honestly didn’t even think about any of that until you just said it.”

That wasn’t good enough. Boone had to know exactly how out of line he had been. “Were you a virgin before today?”

Jupiter blushed. His gaze slid away.

Boone fought the urge to explode. “Fuck, Jupiter. You should’ve said something.”

Jupiter shrugged. He blinked rapidly, as if getting upset. “Please don’t. You didn’t hurt me and it’s not like I haven’t played with toys.” He got redder by the second. “Can we stop? I’m—”

Boone kissed him. His chest hurt at the thought of Jupiter feeling humiliated. He didn’t pull away until he felt Jupiter’s breathing change. “I’ll make it up to you.”

Jupiter motioned toward his plate. “Eat. The sauce gets cold quick. Then it becomes divorce me chicken.”

A smile exploded across Boone’s face. Jupiter was the only person who made him feel this way. He felt alive—like he wanted to smile and live. That was because of Jupiter. He did something to Boone’s chest.

With Boone trailing behind him, Jupiter silently moved from room to room, exploring the house. The place was beyond beautiful. There were antiques mixed with the latest technology. A gym and an indoor pool. Countless unused bedrooms. He knew which room belonged to Boone without asking. Everything about it was dark and masculine, yet cozy. Plus, it smelled like his cologne.

Jupiter saved the backyard for last. The sound of the waterfall had Jupiter’s eyes falling closed. It was like being in heaven. The perfectly staged foliage turned the area around the pool into a secluded paradise. Strategic lights shining through various streams gave just enough light in the darkness to make the spot doubly romantic.

“Wow. Is it odd that I can’t picture you enjoying any of this?”

A sexy and soft chuckle rumbled behind him. “I guess you’d be right to think I don’t. When I had all this designed, I thought I would. I imagined myself sitting in peace and listening to the water flowing.”

Jupiter turned. He fought a sigh. Shirtless and wearing nothing but dress pants, Boone was a work of art. His hair was a mess, and he stared at Jupiter in a way that messed with his breathing. “What went wrong?”

“I forgot how to enjoy anything.” His expression managed to turn twice as serious. “You understand who I am, right?”

Did he? In theory, Jupiter recognized Boone was part of a major crime family. Realistically, he had no idea what that meant. Maybe he would wake up one day and find himself trapped in a nightmare. Except Boone always looked so miserable with his dad. Hell, he looked beyond sad every time Jupiter saw him, but not with him. Jupiter made him smile, and he didn’t want that to stop, so he went with the truth he understood. “I see you.”

Boone nodded. “I swear I’ll keep you safe and insulated from everything I do, but I need you to walk into this with open eyes. You’re mine. I want to tell you that and for you to feel it, but I have to give you this one chance to walk away. You have to want to be with me. The real me. The ugly me.”

Jupiter closed the distance between them. His hands slid up Boone’s solid chest because he couldn’t resist. “It was already too late the first time I called you Daddy. All I have in the world is my grandmother.” It hurt Jupiter’s throat, being so open and vulnerable. But he craved what Boone offered, and he needed Boone to understand that. “You have no idea how much I want you. The real you. The one I think sees me.”

Boone grabbed Jupiter’s hips and hauled him forward, leaving zero distance between them. “I’m jealous and possessive.”

“Good.”

“You’ll hate my family.”

“I like Banks.”

A tiny smile played on Boone’s lips. “Except Banks. Everyone likes Banks.” His smile slipped away. “But you need to understand he’s deadly too, and my parents are…” Boone visibly fought for a description. “Worse than what you’re probably imagining.”

“They didn’t abandon you when you were two so they could travel the world unburdened. So, they have a leg up on mine.”

Boone cocked his head and studied Jupiter’s face. “Soon enough we’ll see, I guess. They won’t let me go forever without meeting you. Afterward, you can tell me if abandoned beats being raised by wolves.”

“Fair enough.”

Boone smiled. “You’re very brave for a fish.”

Jupiter’s brow furrowed. “What?”

Before Jupiter saw it coming, he flew through the air and landed in the pool. He sank to the bottom before coming up sputtering. A tremendous splash hit him as Boone cannon-balled into the water next to him. A shriek tore from Jupiter before he found himself in Boone’s arms. With his hair slicked back and wearing a huge grin, Boone truly was the sexiest man Jupiter had ever seen.

“I guess it’s a good thing my wallet and keys are in my pajamas and not my shorts.”

Boone laughed. It was the most gorgeous sound. “I’m wearing thousand-dollar pants.”

Jupiter threw his head back and roared with laughter. He had never been happier. Jupiter struggled to get his giggles under control. “I didn’t know I was going for a swim, so that explains me, but why didn’t you take off your pants?”

“Oops.”

Jupiter laughed harder. He pressed his forehead against Boone’s shoulder and shook. No sound came out. He could barely breathe. Then Boone kissed the shell of his ear and the air shifted. In a flash, he found himself enmeshed in a battle of tongues. The heat between them was an inferno. Jupiter had no idea how he had gone his entire life without the feelings Boone brought out in him. He brought Jupiter to life. Jupiter prayed he never returned to the darkness of ignorance. He would die without this.