Even though I had resolved to give Armand a fair shake, part of me couldn’t wrap my mind around the concept of him loving me. Instead of getting into that, I voiced the fear I hadn’t spoken to anyone about. “The only thing Mom and Dad have never been disappointed in me about is me being straight. If I have a boyfriend, they’ll…”
“They won’t disown you over it,” he reassured me. “If my experiences with them have taught me anything, all that will happen is they’ll never talk about it. And honestly? I prefer it that way. The less involved they are in my love life, the better off I am.”
“It’s stupid to worry about them disapproving of me for it when my entire existence is a disappointment to them. But the part of me that craves their approval is afraid to give up the only thing about myself they’ve ever liked. I shouldn’t care about what they think of me, but I do.”
“Don’t stop yourself from being happy when they’re impossible to satisfy.” Luca hesitated before he showed a little tough love. “They’re going to disapprove of any woman or man you bring home just as much as they are with you being single. Is it worth sacrificing your happiness for two people who will never approve of anyone you love?”
I sighed. “You’re right. I can’t keep living my life hoping maybe they’ll wake up and be different.”
“If it makes you feel better, I approve of Armand. He’s gorgeous, and as long as he treats you well, then I’m happy for you, Zio. You deserve to have a partner you can have fun with, regardless of their gender or how long you’re together.”
I held his words close to my heart. “It means everything that you’re on my side, no matter what.”
“And I always will be. You’re my brother, and I love you.”
I got choked up at the show of affection. “I love you, too. Thank you for talking to me about this. It’s not as scary when you and Rigby approve of Armand.”
“Whether it’s only during your trip or turns into something more long-term, it sounds like it’s a chance worth taking. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask.”
“Thanks, Luca. You’re the best brother I could have asked for.”
“I feel the same.” He checked the time on his watch. “You should get lunch, though. Knowing you, you forgot to eat because you were too busy preparing for your presentation.”
He really knew me better than anyone else. “Thank you for the reminder, because I haven’t eaten yet. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Sounds good. We’ll talk soon.”
After exchanging a few more words, I ended the call with an optimistic outlook. I was even more excited to meet Armand later and see where the night would lead us.
* * *
Once I finished lunch,I dove back into practicing my presentation until I was sick of hearing myself talk. I was so hyperfocused on my work, I didn’t immediately register the sound of knocking. Getting up to answer it, I checked in the peephole and saw it was Armand on the other side. I opened the door. “Hey! What are you doing up here?”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He was the picture of dark desires, dressed all in black. His button-down shirt had squares of various sizes with alternating solid and opaque mesh. It showed off a generous amount of his chest. The sight of so much skin on display flustered me. “Confirming my suspicion that you were working too hard.”
“What are you talking—wait! What time is it?” My heart dropped out at the thought that I was late for our dinner. I glanced out the window and belatedly realized it was dark out, which meant I hadreallylost track of things.
“Time for a break, eh?” His charming grin made the tension in the pit of my stomach unclench.
Realizing I hadn’t let him enter yet, I moved and gestured for him to come inside. “I’m so sorry, Armand. I got caught up in rehearsing and—”
He stopped my protest with a gentle kiss on the forehead and one on the lips that liquified me into a puddle. “I’m not upset; I understand. Trust me, I understand how easy it is to disappear into your work. Half my job used to be pulling Arsène away from work long enough to feed him.”
“Why used to be?”
“His Felix has much more effective techniques of tempting him.” Armand chuckled when I blushed at the implications. He led me by the small of my back into the living room to sit on the comfy white sofa. “Instead of going out, why don’t we stay in and order room service?”
It was impossible not to rejoice. “You’d be okay with that?”
“Absolument. I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t.”
“I’d appreciate that, thanks.” While I was relieved he wasn’t mad, I nevertheless felt bad. “I’m really sorry for being so late you had to come find me. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful of your time, or—”
He shushed my fears. “Think nothing of it. I came up here because I wanted to see you, not to make you apologize for something that’s not a big deal. I go with the flow of things, so a last-minute change of plans doesn’t bother me at all. No more apologizing, okay?”
“Thank you.” I hesitated before I leaned in to give him a tentative kiss as a peace offering. But as it always did, it made me burn for more. I kissed him with more passion as it ignited a fire within me as his tongue teased me. Without being aware of it, I ended up straddled over his lap as we kept kissing like our lives depended on it. The only thing that stopped me was when I gasped as he reached under my T-shirt to touch me.
He moved his hands to rest on my black-and-pink plaid pajama pants that I was too turned on to be embarrassed about. “Pardon, I—”
