6. Chapter 6

Shit, I could see the fake smile on his lips and the disappointment in his eyes. Perhaps I should've just stayed, but now that my ploy was in progress, I had to finalize it and finally get Matthew and my grandfather off my back. I intended to fulfill my grandfather's wishes, but I wanted to find the right person in my own time. Granted, I wasn't getting any younger, but still, I wanted it to be my choice and not forced upon me.

Regardless, all this needed to end now, and Matthew needed to move on. I was tired of being chased by a man I had no interest in and tired of Grandfather meddling, god love him.

I followed him to a corner where there were fewer people. He leaned against the wall with his shoulder, facing me. His brows were slammed down over his eyes, and I could tell he was pissed even through all that makeup. He pointed in the general vicinity of where we left Greyson.

"This has got to be a joke. Is this some ploy?"

Now I was the one who was pissed. I folded my arms, and my body stood rigid. Fine, Greyson and I had been faking it and faking it well. Our banter ran so smoothly, as if we really were dating. I hadn't had so much fun in… well, since I could remember. But who was Matthew to say it was? There was no way he saw through our ruse because I almost believed it. "Why would you assume that? Greyson is a great guy."

"He's average. Sure, he's kind of cute, but does he even come from money?"

"Why the fuck does that matter?"

"Because it's what your grandfather wants."

"I get to choose who I want, and I want him. He's amazing, talented, kind, smart, and patient as hell." He had to be to deal with this fuckup of mine. Greyson deserved better than this, and I never should've put him in this situation. That thought hit me hard. He did deserve more. A lot more. Shit, what had I done? But there was no backing out of it now. Later, I'd come clean to my grandfather, but for now, I just needed Matthew off my back until I found the right person for me.

Greyson is the right person , the little voice in my head said, growing louder by the second.

"If you say so. Your grandfather won't be happy."

"He'll be happy no matter who I choose. He pushed you to me because we looked good on paper. That's it."

"And what's wrong with me?" For the first time since I'd known him, he showed some real vulnerability as he grabbed my hand. "I like you, Xander. A lot. More than just how we look on paper. I've been wanting to get to know you more."

He'd been pushy, but he was just one of those elite, wealthy people who felt they were entitled to anything they wanted. It made him arrogant, and he wasn't always pleasant, as I witnessed in how he treated Greyson. But I couldn't be an asshole to Matthew as much as I wanted to tell him he was an ass for what he'd said about Greyson.

I sighed and eased my hand out of his. "You're a handsome man, wealthy, but I don't think we're a good match. Our personalities will never mesh."

"Why does that matter? We look good together. Our businesses will thrive and make us even more wealthy than we already are. We can learn to love each other, if that's what you want."

"And that's the problem. That's not me. If you really knew me, you'd understand this. I came from poverty, Matthew. Sure, I was just a kid, but I remember how horrible it was. It shaped me into the man I am now. I want love. A real relationship where my partner loves me back. Where we laugh, get along, travel together, kiss in public, and sometimes we're silly or finish each other's sentences."

And that right there was what I wanted from Greyson. Deep down, I knew he could meet all my needs, and I could meet his. It no longer mattered that he was my PA. I wanted him. If he'd let me, I wanted to turn this fake dating fiasco into something real. I'd deal with work later.

"Who knew you were such a romantic? That's just too sweet for me."

"I know. That's why we won't ever work. You see this as simply a business deal. I see this as a missed opportunity to find real love. I want that with Greyson."

"And he does all that for you?" His brow was raised, questioning my opinion.

"Yes, he does."

"Fine. You go have your fun. When you get bored, you can come and find me. I'll show you pleasure he'd never be able to give."

That was presumptuous. "Noted," I said dryly. So much for that flicker of vulnerability.

He walked off finally, and I went in search of my date.

I found Greyson sitting and hunched over his drink at the bar. He looked kind of cute when he pouted, though I hated that I was the one who made him feel that way. And I was about to do something bold and risky because I had to have him in my life. When I reached him, he sensed me there next to him and looked up, smirking at me, though his dark, soulful eyes still held disappointment.

"Hey," he said.

I grabbed him by his shoulder, spun the barstool to make him face me, and cupped his face in my hands. "Hey," I said before I pressed my lips to his. His eyes went wide, and then they fluttered closed as he let loose a whimper in my mouth, which I swallowed. I licked the seam of his lips, and he opened for me, allowing my tongue to enter his mouth and explore his taste of rum and ginger beer. Greyson's hands finally reached for me, slipping under my jacket and fisting my shirt as he had done earlier. I loved how he melted under me as our kiss deepened. It showed he wanted this as much as I did.

We finally came up for air, but I didn't let go of his face. His eyes were so dark and wide, and he hadn't let go of my shirt yet. I had to admit he looked kind of sexy, all surprised and wearing that ridiculous mustache, which was half falling off after our kiss.

"Does this mean you like me? Like for real, real? Not pretend? We aren't practicing our kisses, right?"

I chuckled. "That was a real kiss."

"I thought you wanted Matthew."

"Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. He's hot. And you were so nice and patient with him. Why? He's kind of a jerk."

"He is, but it would get back to my grandfather if I were nasty, and it's bad for business. I don't want to burn bridges if I don't have to."

"But I'm a match."

My smile was broad. "That you are. You definitely lit a fire under my ass."

He smirked and rolled his eyes. "No, I mean, being your PA, I could burn your bridges, anyway."

"Let's come to that road when it happens. Does this mean you're interested in more kisses from your boss?"

"Yes, please."

I pulled him into a kiss again, loving the way he smelled fresh, like a forest, tasted of sugary rum, and how tightly he held on to me. His full lips were as soft as clouds, and his mouth was hungry for mine.

"Would you still like to dance?" I asked when I separated us.

"Yes."

I grabbed Greyson's hand as he stood and pulled him toward the dance floor, which was playing some slower, vaguely familiar pop song I couldn't name. We stood in the middle of the dance floor as I gathered him in my arms. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me back and resting his head on my shoulder as we swayed to the slower tempo.

Greyson felt right in my arms. I'd always found him attractive, but getting to know the younger man had been eye-opening. And that he was attracted to me, of all people, because I was a risk, had my heart beating a little faster. That he was willing to try whatever this was between us, which contained a weighty price, but we'd deal with that when the time came. For now, I just wanted to enjoy this young man in my arms.

"I like this," he said. "I can't believe it's my boss I'm holding, though."

"Does it bother you?"

He lifted his head, and dark brown eyes sparkled from the lights above us as he bit his bottom lip. I tugged it out of his mouth and waited for him to answer me. "No, but it probably should."

"You shouldn't because I don't."

Greyson's eyes dropped, and glanced at my lips. I leaned down and kissed him again. It was short and sweet but no less impactful. "I like this, too… a lot."

He squeezed me in response, putting his head back on my shoulder as I rested my head on top of his until the song finished.