Unlovable (Hooked Book 7)

by Charity Parkerson

  Even Rylan didn’t predict how he would react to seeing Tim again now that they’d decided they were a couple. He’d been on edge all week thanks to the news of Eddie’s release. As he opened the door to let Tim inside his house, his nerves snapped, transforming into an overwhelming desire to attack. Tim was his. The man’s blond hair and broad shoulders belonged to Rylan. It had been forever since he could claim anyone belonged to him. Not since... Rylan shook his head. He couldn’t let himself go there. Instead, he lured Tim inside before trying to climb him against the closed front door.

  “I thought we were going to dinner,” Tim said between kisses.

  Rylan didn’t let up. He tore at Tim’s t-shirt until the man let him have it. “Later,” Rylan promised as he reclaimed Tim’s mouth and unbuckled the man’s belt. No one looked at Rylan the way Tim did. That was why Rylan always let him in. Now that Tim admitted they were more than fuck buddies, Rylan needed the man inside him. Food could wait. This couldn’t.

  Tim’s hands landed on his shoulders and slid higher until he gently cupped Rylan’s jaw, slowing their kiss. The man always knew how to make Rylan melt. Tim licked Rylan’s bottom lip before delving inside to stroke Rylan’s tongue. He forgot what he’d been doing beneath Tim’s touch. His hands stilled on the button of Tim’s jeans. Rylan lost himself in Tim’s kiss. How had he never noticed the affection in Tim’s touch? He did now. Rylan couldn’t focus on anything else. His back ran into a hard surface, making Rylan realize Tim had pushed him against the wall of the foyer. His bedroom felt miles away. Tim urged Rylan’s arms above his head, peeling his shirt off. Their mouths parted only long enough for the material to disappear before Tim consumed him once more.

  “Tell me what you want,” Rylan said, hearing the words as if they came from someone else. He couldn’t stop. “I’ll give you anything.”

  Rylan’s chest hit the wall as Tim spun him around and bit a path down the center of Rylan’s spine. “Give me you,” he growled against Rylan’s skin.

  After flattening his palms against the wall to steady himself, Rylan pressed his forehead against the cool wood and sucked air. “You’ve already got me.”

  Tim peeled Rylan’s jeans off while going down on his knees and skimming his teeth over each newly bared inch of skin. When he bit Rylan’s ass cheek, pre-cum rolled down Rylan’s aching cock. Being with Tim always hit Rylan fast and hard. Even during moments he shouldn’t be turned on at all, he found himself attacking the man. This was different. Tim was the one in control.

  Tim moved back to his feet. “I’m sorry,” he said, kissing Rylan’s neck. “I’d plan to go slow tonight—seduce you. Now I need you.” Tim swept Rylan into his arms and headed for the bedroom. Rylan couldn’t think or focus. All he could do was breathe. The air moving through his lungs was the only thing keeping him sane. Lust clawed at his skin and brain.

  “It’ll be rough this first time, but I’ll make it up to you later.”

  That was all the warning Rylan got before he found himself on his feet next to the bed with his face pressed into the mattress and cool lube coating his asshole. Rylan snagged the comforter and balled the material between his clenched fists to hang on. Tim’s dick pushed inside. Rylan bit down on the blanket to keep from crying out. With his eyes squeezed shut, he breathed through the pleasure, even as his feet left the floor with each thrust. Tim knew him. The man pounded at the perfect angle, making Rylan’s cock leak. With every passing second, Rylan wound tighter like a spring. There were no thoughts. Only insanity. Tim bit his back. As the man’s teeth sank into Rylan’s flesh, something snapped. An orgasm ripped through Rylan without a single stroke of his erection. Rylan’s cries were muffled by the mattress. His muscles contracted in time with each pulse of pleasure.

  Words and moans filled Rylan’s bedroom. He couldn’t force his brain to cling to any of it. His entire being focused on the twitch of his dick and the massaging of his prostate. Only one other person had ever made him come without touching his cock. He’d been hooked on that man too. All Rylan could do was hope things didn’t end the same. Then again, Rylan had nothing to lose anymore, so what did it matter?

  The sensation of Rylan on his dick wouldn’t give Tim peace. He wanted to roll between the man’s thighs and take him again, even though his cock was completely dead already. After he’d fallen on Rylan, barely making it to the bed, Tim had caught his breath and made love to the man—slowly. Tim had dragged things out until Rylan begged for release. No doubt, Ry would make him pay for that one. It had been worth it. The image of Rylan biting his bottom lip, fighting the urge to cry out for Tim’s mercy, was one Tim would pull out time and time again. He already knew it. One day soon, Rylan would have to go out of town without him. It was inevitable. The man’s job never let him sit still for long. Those sexy images would have to keep Tim’s bed warm. For now, he couldn’t stop stroking every place he could reach on Rylan’s body.

  Darkness engulfed them, giving Tim the freedom to indulge. “When did you know you wanted to be the makeup artist for the stars?” Tim asked. He was overwhelmed with the need to know every little detail of Rylan’s life.

  He felt Rylan smile against his chest. “That’s the first question everyone asks me in an interview. I expected you to be more creative.”

  Tim pinched Rylan’s side but gave in. “Fine. Did you want to be famous?”

  Rylan’s lips brushed the spot where Tim’s heart beat for him. “No. When I was nineteen, I cut and colored my own hair into something new. I wasn’t trying to start a trend. It was more that I woke up that morning hating myself and needing to be someone else. So I changed my hair and dramatically altered my appearance with makeup.”

  “Why did you hate yourself?”

  “Do you want to hear this story or not?” Rylan asked, sounding irritated.

  Tim nodded, even though Rylan probably couldn’t see him. “Go on.”

  Rylan stroked Tim’s stomach, as if silently praising him. “Anyhow, at the time, I worked at a small but high-end jewelry store in Vegas. One of our regular clients was Sawyer Benedict.”

  “The singer?” Tim asked, interrupting again.

  Rylan hummed, confirming Tim’s thoughts. “He was always in there, buying gifts and whatnot. Sawyer came in that day and asked me to get me to help him. I laughed, thinking he was joking. When I realized he was serious, it took me a minute to prove to him it was really me. Once he realized I wasn’t playing a trick on him, he asked if I could make him into someone else for a day so he could enjoy some peace. I went to his house. We got to work. He told his friends, and I was famous before I knew what happened, but no. I didn’t want it. All I wanted was to not be me any longer.”

  “Wow. You were only nineteen. I imagine Sawyer had to be young too.”

  “He was seventeen. Too many people looking at you at too young of an age can really fuck up a person. Helping him escape gave me a sense of pride I didn’t think I’d ever have again after... I felt fulfilled,” Rylan finished, robbing Tim of hearing Rylan’s confession.

  Tim’s throat tightened. He thought there was a good possibility Rylan would never tell him the things he already knew. But Rylan confessed more than he realized. In one conversation, Tim felt as if he understood Rylan in a way he never had. In a way no one else did.

  Rather than digging for more and risking killing the mood, Tim offered a slice of himself. “You’ve accomplished so much. I feel like I’ve done nothing with my life.”

  “Done nothing,” Rylan repeated, sounding offended as he came up onto his elbow. Even in the darkened room, Tim could see Rylan’s eyes flashing with irritation. “Do you know how much Kano Aramante means to the world? If you ever repeat this to him, I’ll punch you in the balls, but you’re keeping an amazing man safe, and that’s huge. Do you have any idea how many people there are like me? Especially teenage boys who think they’re different, and if they’re surrounded by small-minded people, they think they’re alone. Kano’s magazine has always showcased model
s and ads that target those people who need to know how big the world is. They need to hear there are people like Adam and me out there, so they don’t have to be afraid. They don’t have to be alone.” There was so much passion in every word Rylan spoke, Tim couldn’t suppress the pride rising inside him. He did keep a great man safe. Rylan made him believe he was important.

  Tim’s hand rose. His fingers brushed through Rylan’s hair. “I’d argue what makes me special is that I won you. Not because of the unwanted fame. You’re amazing.” As Tim made the claim, he rolled, pinning Rylan beneath him. He needed to taste the passion on Rylan’s lips. As their lips met in a sweet kiss, Tim realized he still hadn’t fed his man. He needed to do a better job of showing Rylan he mattered. Not just in bed, but in every aspect of Tim’s life—Rylan was important.

  “What can I do to make you happy?” Tim asked between kisses. “Take you to dinner? Cook you a feast? Hunt and kill our dinner?” Tim punctuated each question with a kiss, making Rylan laugh. Goddamn, it was genuine laughter and Tim’s heart couldn’t take it. He pressed his forehead to Rylan’s and stared into the eyes of the man he couldn’t shake. “You know you’re the best part of my day, right?”

  Rylan ran his fingers through Tim’s hair, making his eyes fall closed at the sensation. “I’m thinking I should’ve lost my temper and smashed some furniture sooner.”

  Tim shook his head. “That’s not what did it for me. It was the flowers. I’ve been holding my breath and waiting for so damn long for you to give me any sign you feel something for me. You gave me hope with that one gesture.” Tim swallowed and went all in. “I feel more for you than I think you’ll accept.”

  Rylan fingertips skimmed Tim’s sides. “I’m still here.”

  “This is your house,” Tim shot back, needing more than that excuse from Rylan for why he’d sent those flowers.

  “Let’s go to your place, then,” Rylan said, not backing down. “I won’t leave.”

  Rylan’s claim was good enough. “But your bed is so warm right now,” Tim said, dragging out his whining voice.

  His joking tone didn’t soften Rylan’s intensity. “I’m being serious. Let’s go get something to eat and then stay at your place. When you wake up, I’ll be there, and you’ll know.”

  Tim’s lungs stopped functioning. His whole being focused on Rylan’s words. He didn’t want to ask. Tim needed clarity. “What will I know?”

  Rylan made the moment feel simple, as if he’d been waiting for Tim’s question, and the answer should’ve been obvious. “That I love you.”

  He didn’t know how long he stared down at Rylan—frozen. When Rylan tried shoving his way out from underneath Tim, Tim finally snapped back to reality. “Whoa. Hold on. Where are you going?” Tim asked as he held Rylan in place. “You... I... Wow.” Once he had Rylan pinned to bed where he couldn’t get away, Tim shook off the shock. He recognized immediately, by Rylan’s expression alone, his reaction had been wrong. Tim tried fixing things. “I love you too.” Rylan stopped fighting him at the confession. He could feel Rylan holding his breath as if waiting for more. Tim gave it to him. “Never in a million years did I think you’d say the words first, but I love you too. I’ve known it for a long time but didn’t want to admit it, even to myself, because I never expected you to keep me.” Tim sat back on his heels, keeping his weight balanced on his knees so he wouldn’t crush Rylan, while still ensuring the man couldn’t get away. “The thing is, I would’ve settled for anything between us, as long as there was an us. But, yeah, I love you.”

  Rylan’s hands landed on Tim’s thighs and slid higher. “You’re an idiot,” Rylan said, sounding serious and sad. “At least I can claim I fell for a good man.”

  Aggravation overtook Tim. “You’re a good man.”

  A sardonic smile touched Rylan’s lips. “No. I’m not. Don’t start telling yourself that, or being with me will break you.”

  Tim flattened his hands against the mattress on either side of Rylan’s head. His irritation refused to dampen. “Don’t you start thinking you can tell me how to think or feel, or being with me will be the most exasperating experience of your life.”

  A burst of laughter filled the air, making Tim smile at the sound. “That’s already true.” He turned serious once more. “I wasn’t trying to tell you how to think or feel. It was more like I was warning you people will ask what you could possibly see in me.”

  A smile that felt evil even to Tim pulled at his lips as he completely covered Rylan’s body with his once more. “That’s an easy one. People already ask me that. I’ll tell them what I always do—I love salty things.” Tim’s humor faded. He ran his fingertips down Rylan’s jaw before tracing Rylan’s bottom lip. “People are blind fools, Ry. I’m not.”

  Rylan wasn’t much on touching moments. That was one of the reasons Tim had been shocked when he told Tim he loved him first. It was also the reason Tim wasn’t surprised when Rylan’s demeanor changed from hot to humorous. “That remains to be seen. After all, you keep offering to feed me, yet here we are. It’s like you don’t fear my hanger at all.”

  “That’s not true,” Tim said as he rolled to his side and from the bed. “You’re terrifying when you need food.”

  “You’re the one who fell in love with a diva.”

  A smile that seemed on its way to becoming permanent pulled at Tim’s lips. He was the one who’d fallen in love with a diva, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

  6

  “Tim asked me to give this to you.”

  Rylan looked up from his sad attempt to organize the workstations before his interns arrived. Priscilla, Tim’s assistant, held a manila envelope out. Tim was probably the only bodyguard on the planet with an assistant, but Kano needed the man’s full attention and did everything he could to ensure Tim wasn’t busy with menial things. Rylan accepted the envelope while fighting his smile. He wasted no time slipping it open. There were two boarding passes and a note inside. He barely spared the passes a glance.

  Ry,

  I’ve built up a lot of vacation time. Since I travel so much with Kano, it seemed ridiculous to take off work to go on vacation. Now I’m thinking we should hit the road. Our flight is tomorrow morning. I sent both boarding passes to you. If you don’t show, I won’t go. — Tim

  Rylan rolled his eyes. Tim acted like Rylan didn’t know he could simply print off new passes. Still, damn, he kind of loved the high-handedness of it all. He glanced around. Priscilla was still waiting for the elevator.

  “Hold up, Priscilla. Could you take this back to Tim for me?” he asked, scratching out a quick reply on Tim’s note before redoing the clasp on the envelope and handing it back.

  Priscilla didn’t immediately reach for it. Her normally perfect features were marred by a deep line between her eyebrows. “I didn’t know you knew my name.”

  Rylan shook the envelope at her. “I know everyone here.”

  “Tim told me to not let you give that back to me.”

  Rylan didn’t drop his arm. “Whose wrath do you fear more?”

  “Good point,” Priscilla said, accepting the envelope. “But if he has Mr. Aramante fire me, I expect you to give me a job with a raise.”

  She was shrewd. Rylan liked her. “I don’t need an assistant, but I won’t let him fire you.”

  She gave him a sharp nod. “I accept those terms.”

  Rylan bit back a smile and watched her go. Now all he had to do was wait. It only took only as long as it took Priscilla to ride to the twenty-sixth floor. His phone buzzed.

  Tim: Don’t move.

  Rylan immediately glanced around, looking for a place to hide at the order. In the end, he wanted to see Tim too badly to fuck with him. He kept catching himself holding his breath while staring at the elevator door. By the time the door slid open, revealing the sexy man who lived under Rylan’s skin, Rylan thought he’d faint from the anticipation. Tim held the envelope as he crossed the room. Rylan leaned against the edge of the counter to keep
from meeting him halfway.

  Tim stopped six feet away and paced while tapping the papers against his thigh as he went. “So, according to your note, I’m an idiot.”

  “Yes,” Rylan said, trying not to sound as breathless as he felt.

  Tim stopped pacing and held his stare. “Because I want to have you to myself for two weeks?”

  Rylan tried hard not to smile. “No.”

  As Rylan looked on, Tim’s chest expanded as he obviously fought to hang on to his patience. “Would you care to explain?”

  Rylan released a loud sigh and pushed away from the counter. He was having more fun than he’d had in a long time. “First,” he said, ticking off fingers, “it takes a lot to keep all this.” He motioned toward himself. “Looking like this for two weeks. Do you really expect me to carry all that to the airport by myself? Second, you didn’t ask. You demanded. Third, I have interns right now. Unless Adam is willing to take them for the next two weeks, I can’t leave.” Tim’s smile brought Rylan up short. It was his sweet smile with the gorgeous dimples. “What?” Rylan asked, wondering what he’d said.

  “Would you really be willing to pass your interns off to Adam to be with me?”

  Even though he didn’t understand why that mattered, Rylan nodded. “He’s the only one I’d trust.”

  Tim made a dismissive gesture. “I’m glad to hear it, but that’s not what I meant. Would you really walk away from your interns for me?”

  Rylan would—most likely—walk away from anything Tim asked him to, but he didn’t know if he should admit it. Naturally, his mouth didn’t care what Rylan thought or wanted.

  “If you asked me properly, I would.”

  Tim’s expression made the horrifying admission worthwhile. The man lit from the inside, looking triumphant and proud to be with Rylan. Everything bad inside Rylan disappeared beneath the man’s stare as Tim closed the distance between them. “I have two tickets to Bear, California, where they have these little bungalows on the lake. They’re quiet, secluded, and gorgeous. It would make my day if you’d agree to go with me. We could cuddle in a hammock and I could—”