Love-Blocked – Charity Parkerson Page 0,23

bags.

Kirill glanced around as if seeing the place for the first time. “Yeah. I haven’t convinced myself to sell the place yet. When Zander offered me the general manager position in Vegas last year, we discussed it being a temporary move. He left it up to me. If I love the job, it’s mine and I’ll stay in Vegas. If I want to come home, I can. So I haven’t sold yet.”

“Zander, as in Zander Kapra? The guy who owns Luna? Wait. Your last name is Kapra too?”

At Jett’s questions, Kirill nodded. “We’re cousins.”

“Wow.” Jett looked impressed.

Derreck heard something else beneath Kirill’s voice. He missed this place. “So you still haven’t decided to stay in Vegas.”

At Derreck’s observation, Jett’s expression turned sad—like he too realized Kirill didn’t see them as permanent, but a smile exploded across Kirill’s face. “I’m glad I never sold. Otherwise, I would’ve missed this moment. I like seeing both of you this surprised,” he said as they dragged the bags through the door and the lights inside flared to life. “What do you two want to do first?”

Jett dropped his bags and bounced from place to place, looking in rooms and out windows. He practically danced in place in his excitement. “I want to swim.”

Derreck groaned. “Why is everyone always trying to drag me out into the sun? Black people burn too, you know?”

Jett flashed him a sweet smile that held a hint of naughtiness. “First off, it’s currently nighttime. But even if it wasn’t, that’s what sunscreen is for, Bear, and I’m right here, ready to rub you down with any product you need.”

Damn. Derreck couldn’t argue with that, but he still found a way. “I didn’t pack swim trunks, since I didn’t know where we were going.”

A soft and wicked-sounding chuckle fell from Kirill’s lips. “You won’t need those here. No one can see you but us.”

A growl rose in Derreck’s throat. He swallowed the sound. It didn’t look like he would get out of this. He took a breath. “Fine.” He motioned toward the French doors where the lit pool glimmered on the other side. “Let’s go.”

Jett squealed.

Derreck shook his head. He didn’t really like swimming pools or any body of water for that matter, but Jett’s excitement was too much to ignore.

Jett headed for the door and peeked his head outside. “Ooooh, there’s a hot tub too.”

Okay. He kind of liked that. Derreck crossed the room. As he passed Kirill, his hand automatically went to Kirill’s stomach. He stroked. Their gazes met and held for a moment. Derreck’s breath caught at the heat in Kirill’s eyes, but he didn’t budge. Instead, Kirill let Derreck pass.

Derreck glanced behind him as he realized Kirill wasn’t joining them. “Aren’t you coming?”

Kirill shook his head. “I’ll take everyone’s bags to my bedroom and grab some towels. You two go ahead.”

Jett was already outside stripping. That had Derreck giving Kirill his space and stepping outside. While Derreck watched, Jett wasted no time. He stripped and jumped into the pool. Jett came up gasping.

“Holy shit. It’s cold. I wasn’t expecting that.”

With a laugh, Derreck scooped up Jett’s clothes and carried them to the closest lounge chair. He kicked off his shoes and peeled off his shirt. Jett swam to the edge of the pool and openly watched. Derreck held his stare and finished undressing. He loved the way Jett looked at him—like he hung the moon. No one else had ever looked at Derreck like Jett did.

Once he was nude, Derreck headed for the smaller steaming pool. “I’ll be over here,” he said as he sank into the hot tub. While he adjusted the jets and got the water churning, Jett climbed from the pool. Derreck chuckled at the sight of Jett running from the pool to the hot tub.

“Goddamn. I’m really cold now.”

Derreck opened his arms as Jett climbed in beside him. “Come to Papa. I’ll keep you warm.”

“Mhmm. I do like the sound of that,” Jett said as he settled in with Derreck’s arm draped over his shoulders. His palm slid up Derreck’s bare thigh. The back door opened, and Kirill stepped out with towels in hand. His gaze swept the backyard before landing on them. He headed their way and dropped the towels on the lounge chair with the clothes before coming to stand over them.

“You two look cozy.”

Jett flashed a bright smile. “The pool was cold.”

“Shit.” Kirill glanced around. “I didn’t think about that. I should turn the heat up.”

Jett waved off his words.