Page 57 of Crossing the Line
His expression transforms into one of surprise. “No.”
I feel as though I might have revealed something to him that Lake or her fiancé didn’t want him to know. “Oh,” I say, frowning. “I’m not sure if I should’ve told you.”
“You definitely should’ve told me. Do you know why he passed out?”
I press my lips together, remembering how blasé Lake and Mason were being about the whole ordeal. “They think it’s stress.”
Hercules’s eyes brows crash into an intense frown. “He has been working hard. But—did he get checked out by a doctor?”
I’m so glad Hercules asked me that. That was exactly what I asked Lake. I wonder why Mason wouldn’t just go to the doctor. I would have if I’d passed out. Many people are stressed out, and they don’t pass out while walking to the bathroom.
“No,” I finally say. “He doesn’t think he has to go to the doctor.”
“The hell he doesn’t. I’ll call him tonight.” Hercules looks concerned.
I love that he cares about someone so much. I wish he weren’t the person I’ve always known him to be—the man who’s a gift from God.
“Is he working too hard, though?” I ask.
Hercules gazes off thoughtfully. “He is. We both are. If I weren’t with you, I’d be sleeping right now.”
“Oh.” I drop my head. I have thoughts, but I’m not sure if I should speak them. “Maybe I can help.” I quickly look up.
Curiosity is in his eyes.
“Maybe I can help you come up with a product that will expand in the marketplace. My grandfather used to say that a company doesn’t need many products—it only needs one good one.”
Hercules’s face twists and twitches, and he sniffs like a mad bull. I’m worried. I hope I haven’t insulted him.
“That’s not why I’m with you, PG,” he hisses.
I take a minute to figure out why he said that. “You’re not actually with me, though. You’re with Lauren. However, you and I are becoming better friends. And friends help friends, don’t they?”
Hercules’s expression is blank, but it’s more than just unreadable. It’s like he’s made his face unreadable on purpose. Maybe I hurt him with my words. I didn’t mean to. I only meant to be practical, walk down the only road that’s available to us, and not linger on the one that isn’t. That’s my dad’s philosophy, not my grandfather’s.
“No, thank you. I’ll figure it out myself.”
The silence between us feels different. It’s not laced with desire, lust, and want. I feel as though at any moment, he’s going to check his watch and say we should go. But in an instant, his face shows me a brand-new expression.
“I am attracted to you, PG,” he says. “There’s no doubt about it. I also want to be very honest with you.”
I swallow hard and nod. With one swift movement, Hercules moves right in front of me. He clutches the edge of the hot tub, arms extended past my shoulders.
“I like being your friend. I believe friendship is a solid foundation for any great love affair. But I’m not looking to sit in your friend zone forever. Got it?”
His lips are so close. And his erection has broken out of his swimming trunks. We both bend our necks to see it poking me in my lower abs.
“Oh, I’m getting it,” I say, noting the sheer size and width of his cock.
We laugh, staring intently into each other’s eyes.It would be so easy, wouldn’t it?All I’d have to do is pull the crotch of my swimsuit to one side and let him slide in. Then I’d be full of Hercules Lord. I’d embrace him tightly as his pleasure-bringing cock pumped in and out of me.
I force myself to say, “But really, Hercules, can you absolutely say that you will defy your family if need be and not marry Lauren?”
His Adam’s apple bobs as he whispers thickly, “It won’t come to that, PG.”
His cock has dropped lower, and now it’s pressing against my hood. Hercules is beyond hard. I want him to do it so much, but he didn’t actually say he would defy his family.
“Why won’t it come to that?” I ask.
