Love-Blocked – Charity Parkerson Page 0,27

He had perfect teeth and adorable dimples. “Yes. Kirill. I’m Zach, by the way,” Zach said, holding out his hand for Jett to shake.

Jett lightly shook before quickly releasing him. A horrible suspicion crept in now that Jett’s initial shock had passed. “Jett. Kirill isn’t home.”

Zach’s smile slipped away. “Oh. I ran into Pytor this morning and he said Kirill was in town.”

Jett nodded. “He is, but he just left for the gym.”

“Oh.” Zach’s expression shifted. He eyed Jett’s half-dressed state again. Jett saw the exact moment Zach realized Jett was more than a friend. The way his features hardened confirmed Jett’s thoughts. Zach considered himself more than a friend too.

Jett’s discomfort had him becoming the pretender. He wrapped himself in an over-the-top cheerful facade to hide his heart. “I don’t know how long he’ll be gone, but I can definitely let him know you stopped by.”

Zach matched Jett’s fake smile. “I’ll find him at the gym. We go to the same one. I’m surprised you didn’t go with him,” Zach tacked on while letting his gaze slide down Jett’s body again.

That clinched it. Zach had a pretty face, but it masked a bitch. Jett’s smile kicked up a notch. “I have a naturally thin physique. I don’t have to work at it. Good luck in your search.” Jett shut the door without saying goodbye or waiting for Zach to insult him again. After all, nothing Jett said topped the fact that Jett was the one freely staying in Kirill’s house. Not Zach. Despite that inner pep talk, Jett still had a kernel of doubt eating away at him. They had established it was the three of them and no one else. Jett fucking hated the idea of anyone touching Kirill. Jett took a breath, hoping to calm his nerves. There was no reason not to trust Kirill until Kirill gave him one. That didn’t stop Jett’s chest from hurting. He might have made a mistake coming here. Jett supposed he would learn soon enough.

Derreck didn’t need whoever he dated to also be his workout buddy. He would keep hitting the gym no matter what. After all, he had been going alone for years with no trouble. But he had to admit, it was nice having someone to spot him and tease him into doing more and more. His muscles screamed from the way Kirill challenged him to be better and try new things and from the full night of fucking everywhere they could. By the car ride home, Derreck’s cheeks hurt from smiling. His chest felt full. There was never a time in Derreck’s life that he could recall being this happy. Jett had come back to him. Kirill was making them better. A part of him didn’t want to trust this newfound joy, but he couldn’t stop getting sucked deeper.

Kirill glanced his way and smiled. “You look happy.”

“I am.” Derreck reached over and took Kirill’s hand. Kirill didn’t hesitate to link his fingers through Derreck’s. Derreck brought their joined hands to his mouth. His brushed his lips across Kirill’s hand. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

Derreck didn’t know where to start. “Everything. Bringing us here. Sharing yourself with us. Wanting me.”

Kirill’s gaze slid his way again. “You shouldn’t be thanking me for any of that. I’ve been watching you for a while, you know?”

He had not known that. “Seriously?”

With his attention locked on the road, Kirill nodded. “You’re incredibly sexy and you’ve always looked so sad. I’ve been fascinated. Meeting Jett felt like serendipity. Also, it felt like the curtain was pulled back and I finally saw the entire picture. You shouldn’t thank me for taking a chance.”

Derreck mulled over the confession before speaking his mind. “Yes, I should. Without you stepping in and taking control, I would’ve chosen to stay miserable forever. I fucked up with Jett. As you know, I kissed someone else behind his back after telling him that he was my whole world. No matter how nonsexual that kiss might’ve been, it undermined everything we were building. Without you, I would’ve chosen to continue taking my punishment for that mistake without trying again.”

Kirill snorted. “As Jett has tried telling you, a kiss wouldn’t break him. My impression is he was already broken when he met you. That kiss probably just broke whatever kept him from seeking help. Everything happens for a reason. If I hadn’t come along, you two would’ve found another way back to each other.”

Derreck couldn’t let that idea stand. “Maybe, but this is better.