Page 53 of Hearts Colliding
“Don't be ridiculous, of course I’m not jealous." He’d never heard himself utter such a craven lie.
“Good. Then we’re clear on that point. But maybe I’ve got reason to be?” Ryan smiled, but his eyes were watchful.
“What do you—?” Ah, the photo, the one on the shelf.
“Who is he?” Ryan asked, his voice quiet. “Must be somebody important, if he’s got a place amongst all the photos of your mum.” Ryan rolled onto his back and crossed his arms behind his head. The pose was relaxed, but the firm, straight line of Ryan’s lips and the small crease on his brow was the real story. Alex sat up and hugged his knees into his chest.
“Luca was — is — important. As a friend. Like Joss is to you.”
“But I don’t have framed photos of Joss hanging around. Was he…?”
“More than a friend? Yes, for a while, but it was a few years ago now, well and truly consigned to the past.”
The photo, taken at an engagement party.When are you two…?The question they’d been asked again and again, as drink had loosened inhibitions, the question they’d always dodged answering.
“You’ve never mentioned him.”
Alex lay down. “Ry, turn round and look at me. Please.”
Face to face, and just a hair’s breadth apart, there was no room for anything other than stripped back, naked honesty.
“We were together for almost three years, and when we reached a point where we had to come to a decision… We made choices that didn’t include the other.”
“Three years, it’s a long time.” Ryan trailed his fingers through Alex’s hair. Like his voice, Ryan’s touch was warm, soft, and gentle.
“Three years on paper. In truth, we were apart for much of the time. I was busy building up Veranne, just as he was busy carving out his career. I was tied to London most of the time, but he worked internationally.”
“What did he do?”
Alex didn’t want to answer, didn’t want to talk about Luca, not when Ryan was so close he could feel the heat of his body, not when his fingers were drifting through his hair.
“Alex?”
“Hmm? Oh, hotel management. The types of places that were so exclusive you almost had to have an invite to stay. He’s got a stellar reputation in the industry, and has been headhunted several times.” Alex shifted closer, and rested his palm against Ryan’s cheek, feeling the prickle of stubble. “Like me, he was single minded about his work, and neither of us wanted to hold the other back. Our parting was mutual and amicable.
“Do you remember when I told you a friend advised me to seek counselling, about my father? That was Luca. Although I haven’t seen him in a long time, we’ve stayed friends. But that's all. As for the photo, it's a reminder of good memories, but perhaps it’s time to put it aside.”
“So nothing and nobody to be jealous of…” Ryan eased Alex down onto his back.
Friends and lovers, all of them forgotten, as Alex closed his eyes and melted into nothing as Ryan kissed him again, showing him with his body that no, there was nothing and nobody to be jealous of at all.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
Ryan edged in closer to Alex, and wrapped his arm around him. They’d fallen in and out of sleep, their wakeful interludes crammed with kisses and more, thin and wispy remnants of jealousies ground to dust. He snuggled in further, slotting himself against Alex, his lips lifting into a smile when Alex muttered incoherently as he pressed his warm, naked backside against his stiffening cock. His smile morphed into a grin. When was the last time he’d had so much action? He couldn’t remember, and didn’t want to because it didn’t matter, not when he had Alex curled up in his arms.
Was it possible to overwork a cock? No, or not if porn films were to be believed. Which they weren't. He'd have to look it up on Wikipedia: Can A Cock Break Due To Overuse? He pressed his lips together to stop his laughter from leaking out.
Alex groaned and shifted, and he turned in Ryan's arms. When he opened his eyes, the normally crystal clear light blue was sleep fogged. Creases from the pillow lined one side of his face, and his hair stuck up in little tufty clumps. The first prickles of stubble pushed through his skin, a dark shadow against the paleness. Alex smiled, as soft as his sleep filled eyes.
Adorable...The word wound itself around Ryan's heart. Alex, all sleepy and fuzzy around the edges, his lips lifting in a smile that was easy, relaxed — and happy.
Love is.... The ropes around Ryan's heart tightened.
Alex stretched. "What time is it?”
Ryan squinted at the clock. "Nearly 8:30.”
"God, I can’t remember when I last slept in so late. Must have been worn out from all the exercise I had last night." Alex laughed, but there was a shy self consciousness about it. His gaze, beginning to clear, slipped from Ryan's as a light flush coloured his cheeks.
