Page 104 of King of Hollywood
As if…by simply commanding it, Felix had turned him off entirely. As easily as pressing a button.
You’d think I’d pay more attention to the man who had so obviously been “altered.” But I did not. Because I had, and always would have eyes for one man and one man only. And Felix had finally, finally noticed me.
He made a surprised little sound, his lips parting—his…very red, very stained lips. A little smile spread across them as soon as our eyes connected, the flicker of his peculiar, slightly crooked teeth sending butterflies erupting in my stomach where the pit had sat only moments prior.
This was not the look of a man who didn’t care for me.
His eyes said, you’re here.
They said, I missed you.
They said, I’m lonely, lonely, lonely.
And then guilt scoured his expression, dashing away the light as quickly as it had come. Something wavered then, trembling in the air between us. The weight that had filled the room only growing heavier as we stared at each other, at an impasse.
Felix was about to give me his secrets. I could see it on his face.
They trembled, brittle and ready to topple.
All it would take was a single push.
Chapter twenty
“You’re here early,” he said, surprised. Normally, I’d be at the office for another hour at least. I hadn’t realized that I had forgotten to tell him that I would be arriving to take him to the party as soon as the sun went down. I supposed it didn’t matter now.
“Felix,” I said, voice dangerously low. One step, two steps, three steps closer. The man didn’t move. Felix didn’t either. He looked…caught, like he didn’t know what to do.
His eyes swam with emotion.
“I realize—because I have been informed by Winnifred, the sister that you met, with the freckles—” I added, because I wasn’t certain he’d remember her. “That I have never formally asked you for exclusivity.”
Felix balked, eyes widening significantly. “Exclusivity?” he blinked, obviously confused. “Marshall, what—”
“I want the guests to stop.” My hands were shaking. God, I hated telling people my boundaries. “I don’t want to share you anymore.”
Felix’s expression softened, the odd bloody-looking mess on his lips distracting me. “You’re not sharing me.”
“I want to be your boyfriend,” I said, my heart racing.
Still, the stranger didn’t move. It was like he wasn’t there at all. Merely a mannequin. Distantly, I recognized that this was odd. That all of this was odd. That it hadn’t looked like Felix was engaged with him in anything intimate at all, and therefore I had no idea why he was over in the first place.
Still, I felt that sense of helplessness I had when I’d seen the car in the driveway and thought I hadn’t satisfied him.
“I understand that you have certain needs.”
“Do you?” Felix’s voice wavered. His lips were red, red, red. “Marshall, I don’t think you do.”
“I will fuck you eighty times a day if it means I will satisfy you.”
“You already satisfy me.”
“Then why is there a man in your house?” I didn’t mean to yell. I didn’t. But it just kind of…happened anyway? “Why, Felix? Why is there an endless parade of suitors banging down your door even though I am right here.” My eyes were burning, and I couldn’t seem to make them stop. Tears spilled down my cheeks and I hurt. I hurt so much.
“If I need to tell you to be my boyfriend, I will. If I need to tie you up and hide you away, I will. But I’m tired of sharing. You are the only person I’ve ever wanted and it’s not fair that you don’t want me the same way.”
“But I do,” Felix’s voice wobbled. I could see his hands shaking. Could see the way he shrank in on himself. “I want you more than anything. I want you more than I…” he sucked in a breath, and a trembly, broken gasp rang out.
Felix put his thoughts together, and I let him. Because I was too busy being a crybaby to do anything but stare and shake and try to piece together the truth.
