be shut out of any part of his life, I’m not going to push him if he’d rather keep things compartmentalized. One way or another, we’ll find our footing with all of this.
For how good I’ve gotten at making plans, this seems to be one situation that can’t be planned for; we just have to feel our way through it.
“It was great,” he says, letting out a happy little sigh. “He booked this dolphin cruise, and we went out on the ocean in this boat and got to see the dolphins playing in the water. They came right up to the boat! It was amazing.” The joy in Bishop’s voice nestles itself into my chest and makes me smile again. Maybe the jealousy thing won’t be too much of an issue after all. I mean how could I be upset about anyone making Bishop this happy?
“That sounds awesome.” I stroke my fingers through his soft hair, and he arches up into my touch like a cat. “Do I get to take you on a date soon?”
“You really want to?” he asks, a hint of wonder in his voice.
“Did you miss the part where I told you I was totally into you and then kissed you senseless in the kitchen the other night?” I tease.
“Nope, I was definitely there for that,” he assures me, tilting his head and pressing his lips against my jaw. The small gesture makes my stomach flutter and my cock jerk against him. He hums a happy noise and does it again. “I just wasn’t sure if maybe you’d reconsidered after we had that talk. I thought maybe after you had time to process everything, you might decide I’m not worth the trouble.” The insecurity in his voice is inconceivable. Can’t he see how irresistible he is?
“No offense, B, but that’s probably the stupidest thing you’ve ever said.”
I turn and claim his lips fully, keeping the kiss slow and sweet, even as heat rolls through my veins and settles between my legs.
“I’d love to go on a date with you,” he murmurs against my lips, softly nipping at the bottom one and then playfully bumping his nose against mine.
“Good, but not today,” I decide. I want time to plan something awesome. After all, this is Bishop we’re talking about, and he deserves the world. “Today, let’s have a lazy Sunday. I’ll make breakfast, and we can lay around watching movies all day.”
“Mmm, that sounds like absolute heaven. I’m in.”
Chapter 11
Riot
“I figured out where I know you from.”
I turn around at the sound of Hudson’s voice, just in time to see him sliding onto the stool at the end of the bar.
“Oh yeah?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow at him.
“That’s right, James R. Tucker,” he says smugly.
A surprised laugh falls from my lips. “Damn, I wasn’t expecting that.” I know exactly nothing about this guy, aside from the fact that Bishop is in love with him, and he seems oblivious to that fact. But I wouldn’t have pegged him as a sci-fi fan. “The R stands for Riot—it’s my middle name.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you right off the bat. I’ve read The Creation of the Gods at least half a dozen times. That series is beyond brilliant.”
“Really?” I preen a little. Obviously, readers like the series; it’s made me a small fortune, but it never gets old hearing a fan gush.
“Well, except that whole thing with Luca. I mean, come on,” he says, and I cringe.
“I know, I know. Everyone hated that part,” I admit. “Back to the unrelenting praise, please.”
He chuckles, putting his elbows on the bar and leaning forward a fraction. It seems like an unconscious movement, but that combined with the way his eyes flicker over me with interest, he’s sending me all the signals I would usually need to start flirting.
I take a second to look at him, really look at him. True, his whole Corporate Ken Doll look isn’t really my jam, but he is hot. He grins at me, showing off a row of nice, straight teeth. Everything about him screams money, and typically I can’t stand that, but there’s something about his air of charming cluelessness that seems to help.
“What I don’t get is what some genius author is doing working in a bar,” he says after a few seconds.
I shrug. “I like it,” I explain. “After the first book took off, I quit my day job selling insurance and holed up in my apartment all day to write