Page 22 of Heat Transfer
“Historical reenactors do,” Felix said. “Don’t ask me how I know.”
Because a lot of the SCA folks were heavily involved in the HEMA sword fighting classes. But I didn’t march that information up and down the street with my family.
Except Felix? He seemed to see every part of me and accepted all of them. The ease with which we coexisted together was rare, and the more time we spent faking this boyfriend thing, the more I didn’t want it to end.
However, in a few short days, we’d have the gala, and it’d all be over.
Chapter eight
Felix
Once I donned the suit, the nerves set in.
When my coworkers found out I’d gotten the invite from Carly to the Art Museum gala, they were jealous as fuck. Reynard, my supervisor, had sent an email wishing me a good time, along with a reminder I represented the company. Clearly, no nerves there.
A knock sounded on my door, and I straightened from my slouch on my couch.
Cor.
The meal with his siblings last week had been pure chaos, and I’d enjoyed every second. Even though I was just acting as Cor’s boyfriend, what surprised me was just how smooth the transition was. The constant PDA had already been there, the comfort between us, the wordless communication, except nowa new feeling simmered on the back burner every time my gaze landed on him.
Pure, unadulterated lust.
The man was five-alarm hot, and it mystified me as to how I hadn’t realized earlier. Fuck, how hadn’t I even figured I might be attracted to guys as well? And now he was at my house, and we’d pretend to be happily in love for the rest of the night.
I couldn’t fucking wait, though the sheer intensity of the excitement pumping through my veins terrified me a little.
My hand landed on the cool doorknob, and I turned it.
The moment my gaze landed on Cor, the breath got knocked from my chest.
At the tux shop, that suit had fit him well, but now that he wore it with a white button-down and tie, his thick brown hair and beard tamed, he was fucking gorgeous. All broad shoulders, muscular thighs, and a soft smile. Things I didn’t think I’d be into, but on him, they were a struck match to my attraction.
“You look damn good, boyfriend.” I trailed a finger down the center of his chest. He shivered, enough that I could feel it, and my mind reeled with the headiness of that. His pupils were blown with lust, almost drowning out the blue.
Despite him being a big guy, he always exuded a gentle vibe, which had translated into my fantasies—pushing him to his knees or bending him over to fuck him. Ngh.
“You’re…you,” Cor croaked, and the blush that lit his cheeks had me giddy.
How had I missed the signals when we’d become friends? I’d thought he just got red easily, that he humored my neediness and extra PDA. However, the second he’d confessed his type and I’d realized that yeah, I was definitely into him, the cues clarified in my brain.
Enough to want to slam my head into the wall a little.
The breakup with Aria wasn’t even on my mind anymore. Because I’d realized what she did—that I missed having someone there more than I missed her. We’d been a lukewarm cup of tea as a relationship at best.
“I am, in fact, me,” I teased, stepping back to welcome him. “I hope that’s a good thing?”
“The best,” Cor said, his blue eyes softening with a vulnerability that struck me right in the solar plexus. Butterflies unleashed in my stomach, and fuck, I was fixated on him.
That. That was the inferno I’d been searching for.
“Do you need a drink or anything before we head out?” I asked, humming with energy. Cor’s gaze swept everywhere through my apartment, as if he took it all in. “Ah, shit, you’ve never been here before, have you?”
“Nope, you’ve been a shit friend and never invited me over,” Cor said, but his eyes glinted with amusement.
“Clearly.” I teased my lower lip between my teeth and was rewarded by Cor’s gaze zeroing in on it. Heat flushed through me. How would I survive tonight without wanting to climb him? Ever since my changing room realization, the fantasies playing on repeat in my brain were making my right hand tired.
The Pandora’s box had been cracked open, and there was no shutting it.