Bryce

 

Dylan is going to wake up the whole neighborhood, so I have no choice but to let him in. My foolish heart speeds up at the sight of his beautiful face, but I quickly school my expression. As much as I want to drown in the gooey feelings as usual, this obsession with Dylan cannot be healthy. It hurts too much. I don’t want to lose my connection to him, but he doesn’t want what I want, and it is time face this.

 

There is no way I want to do this sober, so I walk over to the bar and attempt to pour a drink for the second time tonight. Thankfully the liquid makes it into the glass this time. I take gulp and accidentally down the whole thing, but I’ll need liquid courage for what I am about to do. One drink won’t do the trick. I’m about to tell the love of my life that we shouldn’t be around each other anymore.

 

While he is on the phone with Oly, I gather all my courage to turn and look at him, but that is a mistake. He’s biting his bottom lip, drawing my eyes to his mouth and the intense urge I have to kiss him lets me know that this won’t be easy. In fact, the impact this will have on my life is staggering to think about. Dylan and I are best friends and out careers are intertwined. He is the first person I think of when I wake, and lately he is the last thing I see when I fall asleep, even if sometimes it's a video call. Removing him from my daily existence will probably remove parts of me as well.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

I’m not sure what he thinks I am upset about, but I doubt he’s guessed the real reason. I decide it is now or never.

 

“What are you apologizing for?”

 

Trying to be brave, my words come out harsher than I intended, and I can actually tell that he is using his breathing exercises to calm down. My heart lurches and I want to cave at that moment, but I know that I will end up hating him if we go on this way. Hating him is way sadder than missing him.

 

“For kissing you.”

 

Irrationally, I am hurt by this admission. The anger comes back full force, but this time I see it for what it really is: disappointment. I’m disappointed that I have no hope of him loving me back.

 

“For touching you…without your permission…in public. I didn’t mean to…”

 

And then my angel begins to tremble and tears stream down his pale cheeks. It takes everything in me to stop myself from scooping him into an embrace and never letting him go. I want to tell him that I had not consented with words, but I had kissed back. My hands had caressed and held him to me. Yes, I was embarrassed, and I spared a thought about how it would affect my career, but I would still risk it all if given a do-over. He truly may never understand his hold on my heart. He’ll never see the way he colors my world. I let out a sigh of defeat.

 

“That’s the problem Dylan. You never mean it.”

 

I try my best to explain that I know my place in his world, and I’ve been okay playing by his rules, but it has become considerably harder lately. He keeps raising my hopes up and I just want to be loved in return. If I can’t have it with him, I need to find it somewhere else, and I can’t do that with him by my side. He’ll always pull my focus.

 

Closing the distance between us, I place his hand on my chest, desperate to make him see me for once. I know he can feel how crazy my heart is beating. Hopefully he’ll understand that this is the scariest thing I’ve ever done.

 

“Even now, my heart is doing its best not to leave me for you. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be near you. It’s too painful.”

 

I try to escape him so he won’t see the tears threatening to spill from my eyes, but he holds on to my hand. I don’t fight him when he pulls me in. That was all the fight I had in me, and I can feel the cracks in my heart.  I feel physically weakened, so when his hand caresses the back of my neck I am pliant to his touch. My breath quickens as he gently places his forehead against mine, and I am close enough take in the lingering scent of his mango shampoo, the unique scent of his sweat. I feel his breath on my lips, and I suppress a full body shiver. This isn’t fair, I need this to stop.

 

 

“I want you, Bryce. I want every part of you.”

 

My eyebrows shoot up and my heartbeat is too loud in my ears. I almost miss some of what he says, I’m so shocked. Did he just say he wanted me?  I feel hot all over and frozen in place. Tears finally fall from eyes as I search for any sign that he’s joking with me. Dylan wipes my tears and smiles. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.

 

He continues to surprise me when he tells me that he wasn’t drunk when he’d kissed me. He also says that he was fully himself when he summoned me after the photoshoot. I find all this hard to absorb, especially when he places a kiss on my palm. A jolt of electricity shoots straight to my lower half as his soft lips brush my skin.

 

“I, Dylan Price, am so very, incurably, and undeniably in love with you Bryce Winchester. Forgive me for making you wait. If your heart leaves you for me, I’ll just give you mine.”

 

He loves me! Dylan said he loves me! I cannot stop myself. I gently press a kiss to his pretty rose-colored lips, then another, and then another. Everything about him melts as he kisses me back, adding a bit more pressure and leaning his body into mine. I trial my fingertips down his back until I place my hands on his round bottom and squeeze. He gasps and I take this moment to taste his sweet mouth with my tongue. Dylan's tongue chases mine and I am so elated that I just barely wonder if I taste like whiskey.

Dylan’s hands are all over me as well, and I can feel the effects everywhere. Placing firm hands on his hips, I guide him backwards until he is pressed against the wall, and I naturally slip between his legs, rubbing my thigh against his rock-hard erection. He moans and I shiver in response. Breathless, I pull away to look into his lust blown eyes. His cheeks, ears, and neck are turning pink, and his chest is rising and falling quickly.

 Damn, he’s sexy.

Looking directly in his eyes, I skim my hand along the top of his jeans, and he squirms against my touch. This would be a new boundary for us.

 

“Can I touch you here?”

 

Dylan nods his head frantically and I chuckle as I pop open the fly of his jeans. I dip my hand into his pants and cup his cock over his underwear, just enjoying the warmth and making sure he is okay to keep going. I feel him throb in my hand and my crotch tightens in response.

 

“You really do want me, don’t you baby?”

 

He shudders in my arms as he hums his response.

 

Knock. Knock. Knock.

 

The sound of someone knocking startles us both. It’s like 4 am. Who could that be?  I reluctantly pull away from my love and Dylan whimpers his protest. The warmth of his body lingers on me as I stumble a little on the way to the door and I try not to wish harm on our unwelcomed guest. Adjusting my clothing, I peek through the peephole, and when I see who it is, I quickly unlock the door and open it wide.

 

“Amelie?!”

 

My agent doesn’t respond to me. She looks past me at Dylan in his disheveled state. Dylan is apparently too dazed to do anything but pant with his back pressed again the wall, his hair and eyes wild. His underwear is still visible and he doesn't make a move to close up his pants. I’ve never seen him this messy, and the way the sight turns me on should be illegal. Stepping  in front of Amelie, I  shield Dylan from view, and she quirks an eyebrow. Her face shows that she’s seen all she needed to see.

 

“Uh huh, I thought so. Glad you’re both okay. My office 9 am.”

 

Amelie pulls a wrapped gift out of her ridiculously large black leather bag. The wrapping is baby blue and there is a shiny silver ribbon on it.

 

“Happy birthday, Dylan.”

 

Amelie smirks and leaves Dylan and I too stunned to speak.