Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“Go ahead, it’s unlocked.” Arik’s words urged from somewhere behind him.
He pushed the front door open. Floor to ceiling windows framed the Dallas night. The familiar skyline immediately drawing his eyes to the life and lights beyond the glass. He’d lived in the area his whole life and had never truly taken the time to appreciate the view. He forced himself to remain close to the door as he took in the rest of Arik’s home. The place captured the essence of Arik’s resort, lavish bordering on edgy and a seemingly perfect fit for his personality. Strong and masculine decor with leather furniture in deep gray tones drew his eyes.
The shuffle of steps echoed on the hand-scraped hardwood floor, catching his attention. He watched as Arik walked through the room and tossed his keys on a granite countertop separating the living room from the kitchen before turning back to him.
“What can I get you to drink? I have a full bar. At least I think I do. I haven’t had time to really get settled into this place.” Arik walked to the built-in bar and slid the cabinet open to reveal at least a dozen different liquor bottles. Arik’s expression went from smiling to uncertain with one glance. “Are you okay?”
Kellus lifted his hands, trying to find the words to explain how completely out of place he felt. He didn’t belong in Arik’s world. That was painfully obvious. He wore H&M for guys; Arik probably wore Turnbull & Asser or some other expensive custom-made clothing. Kellus struggled to pay his mortgage and his electricity every month, and Arik’s car cost more than his house and van put together. He was so far out of his league that he felt physically sick. He’d only ever been with John, so the emotions racking his brain were foreign and exciting, but also very scary.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kellus caught a shimmer of color. He turned out of curiosity, only to be floored by the sight of his wall mount hanging in Arik’s private home. His heart surged in his chest, pride edged out the uncertainty surrounding him. The moment was almost too much to comprehend. The piece was the first he’d done for Gage; he remembered the nervous excitement he’d felt when Gage had approached him about the job. To see it here caught him off guard in a good way. It was almost like the piece had been commissioned specifically for that spot. The deep shades of blue running through the iridescent glass looked amazing in Arik’s house, displayed against the sliver-gray of the accent wall and complemented the plush furnishings of the room perfectly.
“What?” Arik asked, glancing around the room as he came toward Kellus.
The metal and glass wall mount had been sent to Australia. He’d still waited tables at that time in his life, working twenty-four seven to make ends meet while spending all his free time working on his art. He’d taken months to get the piece just right to the specs provided. He had just started working with circles for the unity they represented. That meaning couldn’t have been stronger than right this moment.
“Did that piece not work out for the hotel?” he asked, his voice a little gravelly from the sudden dryness in his throat.
“What?” Arik asked again as if he had no idea what Kellus was talking about. Arik’s eyes darted around the room, then drifted to the large glass and metal wall mount. That sexy grin slid back in place as he turned sheepishly toward Kellus.
“It was perfect and did hang in the hotel for about a week. I fell in love with it, and after the grand opening, I had it sent to my home in Chicago. When I moved to Dallas, I couldn’t leave it behind. I’ve redecorated around that piece twice now.”
“You moved it from Australia to the United States.” The words were more of a statement than a question.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“I… No.” His gaze slid to Arik’s lips, and the need to feel them pressed against his hit him with such an urgency he closed the distance separating them. The sexy smirk on Arik’s face, the hunger in his eyes, made Kellus feel desired, something he hadn’t experienced in a very long time. Everything Arik had done since the minute they met had led him to this very moment, and it was a complete turn on to feel wanted and appreciated by Arik Layne. “Do you have condoms? I don’t. I haven’t had sex since I was diagnosed.”
Arik’s arms wrapped around him, then slid down his back. The move brought their groins together. His dick jerked at the feel of Arik’s hard flesh meeting his, and the warm puff of air that blasted across his neck caused goose bumps to spring up along his skin.