Love-Blocked – Charity Parkerson Page 0,10
with park benches. They didn’t sit. Instead, they talked while Jett stepped off and back on a foot-tall concrete slab and Kirill circled him like a hawk.
“What do you want most out of life?”
Jett chuckled at the question. “Going deep, huh?” Jett froze and stared at nothing in the distance as he considered Kirill’s question. He didn’t feel like he could answer honestly without sounding pathetic. Jett wanted to be loved. Overwhelmed with it. He craved drowning in unconditional and unwavering adoration, because he had never had that. Not once. Most people got that from their parents. Jett hadn’t.
He must’ve taken too long. Kirill made a humming noise—like he had Jett’s number. “I see you don’t wish to tell me.”
Against his will, Jett blushed. “I’m feeling exposed, I guess.”
Kirill had a way of looking completely understanding that Jett had never seen. Kirill nodded. “Would you prefer if I go first? I want acceptance.”
It was like falling forward into Kirill’s eyes. Jett couldn’t look away. He needed more confessions like he needed his next breath. “Does no one accept you as you are?”
“Not usually. Your turn.”
Jett’s heart beat a little faster. He swore he felt the sweat break out on his palms. “I want happiness.” It was only a partial truth, but Jett couldn’t force his lips to shape the rest.
Kirill looked thoughtful before he bent and plucked a flower from the grass. He held it out to Jett. “You’re worthy of that and more.”
Jett curled his nose to hide the way Kirill’s words punched him in the chest. “Is this a one-upping your rival flower?”
A sexy smile stretched Kirill’s lips. He brushed the flower along Jett’s cheek. “Derreck isn’t my rival, so I don’t have to best him. I don’t compete for anyone’s affection. I’m either wanted or not. Since you don’t want me, you should accept this for the innocent gift that it is.”
Jett took the flower from Kirill and brought it to his nose. “You shouldn’t take it personally. I don’t want anyone.”
“Oh, now I don’t believe that for a second,” Kirill said as he invaded Jett’s space. “When Derreck stepped into your space at that restaurant yesterday, you froze. You might have half-ass pretended to try to get around him, but you didn’t mean it. Since you don’t strike me as the type to tolerate unwanted company, I have to assume you very much hoped he would say something that would undo whatever shitty thing he did that broke you.”
A flash of irritation ran through Jett at the insinuation. “Maybe I was the one who broke us.”
Kirill cocked his head to one side, as if truly considering Jett’s words before waving them away. “No. He has guilt written all over him when he looks at you. You have something different in your eyes. I just haven’t quite figured out what it is yet.”
“It’s bitterness,” Jett said, refusing to let Kirill guess and psychoanalyze him.
For a moment, while standing entirely too close, Kirill stared into Jett’s eyes before responding. His voice came out soft, caressing Jett’s ears. “No. Maybe you are bitter, but that’s not what I’m looking at right now. May I kiss you?”
Without thought, Jett snorted. “You’ve spent the last five minutes determined to pick apart my last relationship while determining I don’t want you and now you want a kiss.”
“Is that a no?”
Jett shook his head. He had no clue what to make of Kirill. “You’re an odd man.”
“And you’re a fascinating one. Tell me what you see in Derreck.”
Jett rolled his eyes. Kirill still wasn’t backing away. Neither was Jett. “You’ve seen him.”
Kirill nodded. “I have. All I see is his anger.”
A small smile tugged at Jett’s lips. “Then you’re not looking. How can you miss that beard? Goddamn. It’s delicious to run your fingers through. Not to mention, he’s huge. Being with him was like... I had a brick wall protecting me.” Jett’s throat swelled on the confession. He swallowed past the pain.
Kirill’s expression shifted, as if finally enlightened. “There it is. The real you. It’s nice to meet you, Jett Weaver.”
Jett didn’t like feeling exposed. He had to make it stop. Jett did the only thing he could think to do. He kissed Kirill. At first, it was a stiff kiss—lips on lips with no heat. Then Kirill melted, and Jett did too. Damn. It was a good kiss. Skilled. Jett’s heart rate kicked up and his body stirred.
“You are a beautiful one,” Kirill said as he changed angles. By the time