“Thank you for the best month of my life.”
A sad smile touched Winter’s lips at Ivan’s words. “That should have been my line.” Winter snagged the hem of Ivan’s sweater and tugged, luring him closer. “Am I still allowed to kiss you?”
Ivan felt his brow furrow in his irritation. “Of course.” All Ivan’s kisses would always belong to Winter, even after Winter moved on. Winter shuffled closer. Ivan didn’t close his eyes until Winter’s lips swept his. As much as Ivan wanted to keep their kiss sweet, he couldn’t live without one final kiss that Winter would remember. Ivan held Winter’s face and sucked Winter’s tongue before nipping at his bottom lip. He put his heart into their kiss, and when he walked away, Ivan didn’t look back. He wanted to remember Winter as his laughing boy. Ivan couldn’t think he might be leaving Winter worse for having known him. One day, Winter would thank Ivan for setting him free. It was the right thing to do. If Ivan loved Winter, and he did, then Ivan couldn’t tie Winter to such a possessive and likely unhealthy relationship as the one he would have with Ivan. Ivan would never be less intense. It was ingrained in his DNA to be over the top in everything he did. Winter deserved a softer touch with someone closer to his age. Ivan would always do what was best for Winter. The best thing for Winter wasn’t Ivan. It was time to let his obsession go.
Five
Winter trailed from the bedroom to the living room before heading to the kitchen to check his empty fridge for the hundredth time. His life was every bit as quiet without Ivan as Winter feared it would be. His first night sleeping alone had been a nightmare. He had tossed and turned before finally giving up. Winter had ended up surfing the web all night on his phone. He was exhausted, but then again, he wasn’t. It was like his brain itched.
Giving up, Winter headed for his bedroom and changed for work. In the back of his mind, Winter knew he skirted the real issues plaguing him. Ivan hadn’t called or texted. By five thirty tonight, he would know the truth. At five thirty, Winter would know if they were really over forever.
The walk to work felt hotter than usual. He had gotten so used to the cold that Malibu felt almost intolerable. One of the biggest reasons he had stayed at Silver Taproom beyond seeing Ivan every day was how close the place was to his apartment. Winter didn’t need a car. He had broken a sweat by the time he came through the door at Silver Taproom, making him consider maybe it was time to break down and buy some sort of vehicle. Winter looked around the place that had led to him meeting Ivan. The bar he had spent a majority of his time inside of the past two years didn’t feel like a second home anymore. Still, Winter tied on his apron and got to work.
As the clock crept closer to Ivan’s usual time of arrival, Winter’s nerves frayed a little more by the second. His gaze kept finding the clock and shooting toward the door every time it opened. By five twenty-nine, his heartbeat pounded in his ears. Each breath he took came harder than the last. Five thirty felt like the longest minute in his entire life, and then it was gone. The ache that had been building in his chest grew with each passing minute, making Winter wonder if he was having a heart attack. The pain of realizing he truly had been a fling made everything else harder to tolerate. Winter noticed everything he had ignored in the past. His coworkers didn’t really talk to him unless they were asking him to do something. They didn’t even seem to notice he had been gone for a month. At six ten, Winter broke. Without a backward glance or clocking out, Winter walked away. He couldn’t stay, knowing Ivan was right across the street and Winter would never see him again. Maybe he had been a fool for accepting Ivan’s offer. It was very possible he had never been more than a rich man’s toy. Winter definitely wasn’t the least bit sophisticated and couldn’t blow off Ivan as a winter-time affair. He put his heart into everything, and Ivan had stolen it. Then Ivan had broken it. Winter didn’t know how to live with that.
For hours, Ivan listened to Zander talk about numbers and expansion plans for his Vegas location. He wrote some notes to remind himself to check on permits and make some calls to get tax liens cleared on a few of the smaller properties they had acquired and planned to tear down. Zander was extraordinarily good at scooping up bankrupt businesses nearby to capitalize on the property. He made Ivan’s job easy and everyone around him richer than they ever dreamed. Still, Ivan’s mind was with Winter. Working was second nature. His job rarely required his full brain power anymore. Ivan wanted to be with Winter.
“Okay. Jesus fucking Christ. Tell me what’s wrong.”
Ivan blinked at Zander’s sudden outburst. “What?”
Zander leaned back in his chair and gathered his long blond hair between his hands before securing it in a rubber band, as if irritated by its length. He looked imposing as hell behind his gigantic oak desk and flanked by two bodyguards. Ivan had known him too long to be intimidated. Zander made an impatient gesture. “You’re always grouchy, but today, you’re choking the life from the room with your brooding. What in the hell is going on?”
Ivan shook his head at Zander’s outburst. “Nothing. Please continue.”
For a moment, Zander stared at him in silence. His icy blue eyes seemed to cut into Ivan’s soul. “What’s happened?”
Fuck. They were like family. Ivan couldn’t stop himself. Words simply spilled from his lips like a bursting dam. Ivan spared no details. The more he talked, the more he said. It was like he had been hit with a diarrhea of the mouth curse. He didn’t stop until he had given every detail and everyone in the room sat forward in their seats, riveted by the juicy details of his life. Silence followed his story, making Ivan fight the urge to squirm in his seat.
He couldn’t take it. “Well, say something.”
Zander blinked a few times before responding. “Sorry. I was running some names through my head, trying to find a new lawyer. I can’t possibly continue to employ such a complete dumbass.”
Ivan fought a growl. “Why did you ask if you only planned to be ridiculous about it?”
“I was joking. At least about the new lawyer part. I don’t have time to break in anyone new. But I was completely serious about the dumbass part. Really, Ivan. What’s wrong with you?”
At Zander’s question, Ivan seriously considered leaving. He couldn’t, so he treated the question like a genuine one. “I’m fifteen years older than him and I love him enough to recognize I’m too hard and controlling for him.”
Zander made a dismissive motion. “Age is nothing. This guy walked away from his entire life without a single complaint to be with you. I know twenty guys off the top of my head who would kill for that sort of commitment.” Both of Zander’s bodyguards nodded furiously, making Ivan’s temper grow. Unfortunately, Zander wasn’t finished. “As to being hard, it sounded to me as if he’s into that. So here’s what you’re going to do. Go downstairs to a few of the hotel’s high-end stores and pick him out a few gifts, on me, of course. Then get your ass in your car and go get your man back before I have you killed so I can find this poor guy someone who isn’t a pussy.”
Ivan blinked. He wasn’t entirely sure Zander was kidding. After all, on the down low, all casinos were mafia owned. There was a reason two bodyguards always flanked Zander.
Still, Zander’s demand sucked the bleakness from the room. Zander ordered Ivan to be with Winter before it was too late. He couldn’t disobey a direct command from his boss, right? Not if he wanted to live anyhow. A smile snapped to his lips. Honestly, Ivan didn’t need much of a push. He wanted to be with Winter. Ivan had to make that happen.
He shot to his feet. “Please excuse me, Mr. Kapra. I have something I need to do.”
Zander came to his feet and waved him away. “Please. Get lost. I have an MMA fight to attend.”
Ivan didn’t hear a word Zander said. His mind was already locked on a plan to own Winter for good. He had a few stops to make and he wouldn’t make it to Silver Taproom for his usual five thirty visit. As much as he hated that, Ivan had bigger plans in mind than a single drink in a dingy bar. If he got h
is way, Winter could hand him a drink from their living room every night for the rest of their lives without serving another soul. A nervous flutter got him moving. It was possible he was too late. He may have already ruined everything. There was no time to lose. He loved Winter. Ivan needed to do something about it.
Winter didn’t go straight home. He dipped inside the market down the street and grabbed a six pack. There was more than half a bottle of Jack in his freezer, but Winter planned to be three sheets to the wind by ten and he didn’t want to go back out tonight. Winter wanted to forget. He needed to get blackout drunk, cry, and break things. This was his mourning period. Winter intended to fully immerse himself in it.
His steps slowed as he reached his front door. It wasn’t shut all the way. He had always been told to back away and call the police if he suspected a break in. The thing was, he had been such a mess since Ivan walked away that he wasn’t a hundred percent certain he had pulled the door closed behind him on his way out earlier. Plus, he didn’t really value his life at the moment. If there was anyone inside his apartment, they had chosen the right person on the right day, because he was ready to throw down.
Winter pushed the door open way harder than necessary. He caught a quick glimpse of Ivan boxing up his things before the door bounced back and closed in his face from the force of his shove. Winter quickly turned the knob and rushed inside the apartment. His mind hadn’t been playing tricks on him. Half his living room was already in boxes and Ivan was on his knees.
Ivan sat back on his heels as Winter stepped inside. “Hey, gorgeous. You’re home early.”
He had many, many questions. “I quit my job.” Even Winter couldn’t believe how calm he sounded.
Ivan smiled. He looked so goddamn sexy with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows and just fucking being there. “Good. I’ll stand by whatever you want to do, of course. But I honestly prefer it for my husband to stay at home and relax.”
“You have a husband?” Winter heard himself. He sounded broken as hell, but shit. He had spent a month in Aspen with Ivan.
Ivan snorted. “You’re very determined to not see your worth, aren’t you? I was referring to you, sexy.”
Winter blinked. He was feeling pretty fucking thick at the moment. Nothing made sense. Half his things were in boxes and Ivan talked about husbands, yet he had obviously dumped Winter already. Winter stared at Ivan in silence, trying desperately to puzzle everything out.
Ivan stood and swiped at the knees of his pants before closing the distance between them. Winter couldn’t tear his gaze away. He didn’t as much as blink. Not even when Ivan kissed his cheek. “I love you, angel. Please stop looking so heartbroken.”
Winter’s fingers lightly stroked Ivan’s stomach as Ivan’s words slowly sank in. “I love you too.” Winter didn’t need to think about it. The words simply burst from his lips at Ivan’s confession.
He felt Ivan’s lips shape into a smile against his cheek. “Do I need to put together another treasure hunt or will you take this ring and agree to marry me just because I’m asking?”
At Ivan’s question, Winter dropped his gaze. Ivan held a ring between his fingers. It was a simple gold band with a small series of diamonds set inside. “Holy shit.” Winter dropped the bag he held. His hands shook as he reached for the ring. “You’re really serious.”
Ivan cocked his head to one side and eyed Winter. “I’m always serious.”
Winter had known that, but still. The shock was immense. He slipped the ring on. His gaze never wavered from his hand. “I thought you were done with me. Now you want to get married.”
“Winter.”
At the sound of his name on Ivan’s lips, Winter tore his gaze away from the ring to focus on Ivan’s face. Ivan looked sad. That yanked Winter from his shock. “Tell me how to fix it,” Winter said without thought. If Ivan needed him, Winter would give him anything. Ivan felt like Winter’s only family. That month together had shaped them into something that Winter couldn’t explain. Whatever bond they had formed, it felt unbreakable.
“Marry me.”
“Of course.” Even Winter heard how flippant he sounded, but really. Ivan should have realized Winter would never tell him no.
A smile exploded across Ivan’s face a half second before Winter found himself in Ivan’s arms. As always, his kiss blew Winter away. In fact, everything about Ivan blew Winter’s mind. He had been so sure they were over for good. Now he wanted to climb Ivan like a tree and cling to him forever. His eyes burned. He couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I’m sorry,” Ivan said between kisses. “I love you. I should have said that yesterday instead of leaving.” Ivan ran his fingers through Winter’s hair and hung on as he pressed his forehead to Winter’s. “Please forgive me.”
Tears filled Winter’s eyes. He had never been a crier but losing Ivan had broken him. Winter couldn’t go back to being alone. Ivan had filled him with love and sound. The silence was deafening now. He wouldn’t survive it. “I love you. Please don’t leave me again.”
Ivan nodded and pressed his lips to Winter’s forehead. “I told you. You’re mine. I will always take care of you.”
Winter believed him. Air filled his lungs. He knew he was safe. Ivan was his shelter. His home. As long as they lived, they would be together. Neither of them would ever be alone again. This was forever. It had been their destiny since Winter served Ivan that first drink. They had been fated to meet. Now, nothing would break them.
If you’re interested in reading the entire Sugar Daddy series, you can find it here.
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About the Author
Charity Parkerson is an award-winning and multi-published author with several companies. Born with no filter from her brain to her mouth, she decided to take this odd quirk and insert it in her characters.
*Eight-time Readers' Favorite Award Winner
*2015 Passionate Plume Award Finalist
*2013 Reviewers' Choice Award Winner
*2012 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Paranormal Romance
*Five-time winner of The Mistress of the Darkpath
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A Sugar Daddy for Winter (Sugar Daddies) Page 4
