Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 84544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
12
ISIDORE PANOPOULOS
How was he supposed to act the next morning?
There were far too few “next days” in his life, but he’d always imagined them filled with cuddles under rumpled sheets washed in the sun’s early golden light. Or maybe secret smiles and little touches shared over coffee and breakfast before they both had to go their separate ways for work.
Instead, he woke to find he was sprawled across Kairo’s bed while the man in question was already missing. Isidore started to reach for his phone to check the time only to recall belatedly that he was still without a phone. After so many weeks, you would think he’d be accustomed to its absence, but no. He missed his phone.
However, this now raised the important and scary conundrum. It was the morning after. Other people were going to be awake. Had anyone heard them last night? Did anyone know that he hadn’t slept in his bed?
His original intention had been to sneak out of Kairo’s bed and back into the one he was sharing with Athena while she was still asleep. That way she’d never know. But after that amazing orgasm, he’d slept like the freaking dead.
Athena would probably know he’d slept somewhere else, unless she thought he’d just risen before her. He didn’t think she’d just announce her suspicions. Unless she was afraid that he was missing from the house entirely.
Shit.
No. She’d suspect. She’d at least check with Kairo first before screaming to all who could hear that her brother was missing.
Was he supposed to act like nothing happened? Kairo had stated that he wanted to try dating, but that didn’t mean Kairo wanted him to walk up and kiss him good morning in front of all of his friends. That was exactly what he wanted to do, though. He wanted the entire world to know that Kairo Jones belonged to him and him alone.
Shit again.
When Kairo said he was open to dating, did that mean that he also intended to date other people at the same time? He didn’t like the idea of potentially sharing Kairo with anyone else, but it wasn’t fair to make demands of monogamy when they were still getting to know each other.
They definitely had more they needed to talk about. Lots.
Hopefully, this part would be quick and easy so they could move on to more interesting things like Kairo’s favorite foods, the types of music he listened to, and his top ten favorite movies. Oh! And books! Did Kairo like to read?
Isidore jumped out of bed with a burst of energy. For now, he would follow Kairo’s lead. If he didn’t feel comfortable sharing their new dating status with his friends, he would give him the space to grow comfortable with it. They still had a lot of work ahead of them to get Isidore and Athena out of danger and back into their normal lives.
After freshening up in the bathroom, Isidore strolled down the stairs to find everyone in the kitchen or lounging about the dining room table. There were dirty plates and half-empty coffee mugs. Apparently they’d been up for a while and had already eaten breakfast. His cheeks heated as all the eyes turned toward him.
Of course, his own gaze zeroed in straight on Kairo, who was standing at the sink, loading dishes into the dishwasher while Westin helped to gather up all the remaining dishes and bring them to Kairo.
“I’m so sorry for sleeping late,” Isidore immediately apologized, fighting the urge to walk straight over to Kairo and wrap his arms around his waist from behind.
“Nothing to be sorry for,” Will quickly countered from his spot next to Charlie at the dining room table. The wide-open doorway that connected the two rooms allowed him to be able to see and hear everyone despite the separation. “You and Athena have been through a lot. It’s important that you take the time to relax, heal, and catch up on sleep.”
“I’ve only been up for a little bit,” Athena added, though he swore she narrowed her eyes in warning to him. Oh, he got the fucking message. She was dying to have more words with him, but she was kind enough not to air everything on her mind in front of the group.
“And you’ve eaten?” Isidore asked. That at least changed her expression from warning to irritated eye roll. That he could deal with. He did not give a shit that she was twenty-two, fiercely independent, and immensely capable. While she was within his reach, he was going to make sure that she was warm, safe, fed, and comfortable. After all they’d both lost, it was the least he could do.
“Charlie was in the mood to cook this morning,” Will filled in.
“Probably because he got laid,” Ed muttered, only to yelp a second later as if someone had kicked him under the table.