It's Complicated: A Reservations Story

Julian bent over Beckett, his face coming directly in Beckett’s line of vision. Julian had his ever ready mocking stare in place. “It’s the H in my ADHD. My head keeps me going ninety to nothing all the time. It’s why I’m so good in the bedroom and why I kicked your ass today. Maybe you need some of my training.”

“Ha,” Beckett managed half-heartedly and caught a hint of challenge in Julian’s eyes. He’d show him a challenge. In a swift move that caught Julian completely off guard, Beckett knocked Julian’s feet out from underneath him. Beckett bolted forward, reaching for Julian’s body to cushion his fall. Julian gave a surprised yelp, his arms and legs flailing, grasping for the air to help protect his fall. Beckett got a slap to the face and a knee to his thigh as he took all of Julian’s weight onto his body.

“Ugh,” Julian said, releasing a breath. Their faces less than two inches apart. “What’s wrong with you? You should be praising me.”

“For kicking my ass?” Beckett teased.

Julian used Beckett’s body to launch himself to his feet. “Yeah, exactly. Star student award today.”

Chapter 19

As Beckett stood in Julian’s kitchen, finishing a glass of water, Beckett took inventory of his body’s pain level and what was going to hurt tomorrow. Julian hadn’t held back in today’s training session, and he’d encouraged him not to. His muscles ached and he suspected the spots on his legs and the few tender places along his ribcage were already turning blue. Julian was stronger than he gave himself credit for. Beckett glanced over at the bedroom door when he thought he heard Julian calling out to him.

No matter how Beckett tried, he couldn’t make sense of the rest of Julian’s words. Absently, he set the empty water glass on the countertop and moved closer to Julian’s bedroom door.

All Beckett could make out from Julian’s reply was the word suggestion.

“Are you talking to me?” Beckett called out, tilting his head closer to the door, concentrating on Julian’s words.

“Open the door!” Julian yelled. That command came through loud and clear. Beckett pushed open the door with his foot.

He wasn’t prepared for the open design of the bedroom and bathroom. The adjoining bathroom doors were wide open. Julian stood in the shower, his sculpted nude body glistening under the spray of the water. Julian didn’t look away, his bold gaze issuing a challenge.

Beckett’s heart sprinted in his chest. Desire raced over him in the most visceral of ways, sending his thoughts spiraling at the glimpse of the most beautiful man he had ever seen.

Heat inflamed his body. Beckett tried to control his reaction, but he’d lost that battle long ago when it came to Julian. His dick rammed against the tight constraints of his underwear, straining the material as he fought for breath and rational thought.

An instinctual sense of decorum had Beckett shifting his gaze to the floor as his manners propelled him backward, stepping completely out of the doorway.

Goddamn… Motherfucker… Shit.

If he and Julian were dating, nothing would have stopped him from joining Julian in that shower.

The sound of blood rushing to his head echoed loudly in his ears, drowning out everything else around him. All Beckett could see in his head was Julian’s long, chiseled, sexy as hell body. Of course, Julian was perfect with toned legs that would feel so good wrapped around him, a lean waist, and a muscular torso. Jeez, he wanted to map those with his palms.

He’d tried not to stare, but he couldn’t help himself. God, he hoped Julian hadn’t noticed.

Julian’s laughter rang loudly through the small condo.

Fuck. Julian’s laugh had Beckett’s cheeks burning. He’d noticed his indecision. What the hell was wrong with him? Beckett had to get control of his body’s reaction to Julian before he faced him again. It was just so damn hard.

The image of Julian’s naked physique played behind his eyes. He’d caught a glimpse of the scar running the length of Julian’s left thigh, from the bottom of his hip bone to his knee.

Why had he drunk so much last night? He should have been paying better attention when Levi had given him the rundown about Julian’s past. Even now, Beckett wasn’t entirely certain of what he saw because his attention had gone straight to the cock hanging enticingly between Julian’s thighs.

Beckett strained to remember everything. Other scars had also marred Julian’s perfect body. Some might have come from incisions. Others, like the cigarette burns, were more likely a result of his assault. Those made sense with the hints of the faint scars Beckett has seen on the edge of Julian’s cheek, right above his scruff.

Beckett’s heart broke as the abuse Julian had suffered took shape in his mind.

Julian was always in control of his surroundings. He had to have known what he was doing by calling Beckett to the door. Maybe Julian had wanted him to see the scars. Perhaps to scare him away? It made sense with the way he was posed. Julian’s thigh being so prominently positioned front and center.