Page 80 of King of Hollywood

I’d always known he was hiding something—hell, two somethings now.

But this was…well, this was different.

I had a feeling his murders and his reluctance to be seen had nothing to do with each other.

This was our…fifth date? Sixth? If I counted that time I’d brought him “lunch” at ten p.m. on my way to bed.

Which meant…maybe we’d been dating long enough I could ask?

Bolstering myself forward, I took a steadying breath. Felix was still staring at the stars, so tiny, but perfect as I curled around him. Snaking a hand around his back, I gently, slowly slid it lower—lower—lower.

It took strength to ask, when I’d told myself I wouldn’t.

But…things were different now, right? This wasn’t like the first time I’d been in his house. There was no body to burn. There was no blood to clean up. We were…something, weren’t we? And “somethings” were supposed to be able to talk to each other, right?

Felix had told me that his secrets were all that he had, and while I understood that, had I not earned at least a little trust?

I’d been patient.

I could keep being patient.

But I just…wasn’t sure when it would be time to cross that line. If I never asked, would Felix ever speak? He wasn’t the best at offering truths unprompted—or at all. Was I supposed to initiate this? I had a feeling I was. Just like I suspected I was supposed to initiate sex between us.

I was aching for it.

Which was odd to admit.

But damn.

I wanted him so fucking badly.

Perhaps speaking came first? Emotional intimacy. Maybe Felix was like me. Maybe he didn’t feel comfortable crossing the physical finish line before we’d reached a certain point emotionally. Which meant I needed to suck it up, buttercup, and ask him.

So I did.

“Why do you hide?” I asked, face pressing into his buttery soft hair as my fingers toyed with the hem of his sweater. I was only one solid drag from grabbing his ass for the first time, and it taunted me. Though, I quickly forgot about it as soon as the question slipped free and I waited, with bated breath, for Felix to reply.

I worried he’d brush me off like he had before. I thought he’d deflect, or lie, or pretend like I was making things up—like his hats and his glasses weren’t shields from the general population.

But he didn’t.

Instead…he gave me a brilliant, beautiful gift.

The most beautiful gift I’d ever received.

Better even, than the time my dad gave me my own hacksaw for Christmas.

Felix told me the truth.

“I used to be quite well known. I’m worried about being recognized,” Felix said honestly. “I used to be a lot more…concerned about it? But time has passed and people have started to forget.” I blinked, surprised. It was strange—because truthfully I had recognized him. The moment I’d seen him without his hat and glasses, there’d been something about him that struck a chord with me.

I still hadn’t figured out quite what it was.

However, it was now evident that I’d been correct to find him familiar.

“One day my exile will end,” he said softly, the perfect size where he settled into my arms. The longer I held him, the warmer he became. His eyes were full of stars as he stared up at me, the light show reflected within them. “I’ll walk the streets like you do—” He gestured at the other couples that had begun to move, their heads tipped up like his was. “Like they do. I’ll stay home, not because I have to, but because it is my sanctuary.” Felix’s voice was soft.

The air tasted like rose petals.