Chapter 141: Boyfriends
Nico
"I’m almost there, babe."
I flopped back onto my living room couch and let out a loud laugh, staring down at the glowing screen in my hands.
Seeing those words pop up from Alaric—scratch that, my boyfriend—sent a sudden, foolish grin straight across my face.
We were officially boyfriends. We had finally sealed the deal the night I drove out to visit him at the cabin, and ever since that moment, I hadn’t been able to get enough. The thought kept echoing in my head like a song I didn’t want to stop playing. I was Alaric’s boyfriend, and he was mine.
"I am so in love..." I began to sing out loud, completely off-key, as I pushed myself up from the couch and strutted into the kitchen.
I picked up a wooden spoon and started stirring the rich tomato sauce simmering on the stove.
Winning P1 at the Chinese Grand Prix had given me the ultimate reward: winning our bet, which meant I finally got to cook him dinner again.
I chuckled to myself, watching the steam rise as I checked on the pan of garlic butter steak bites and pasta I had been making from scratch. I couldn’t remember the last time cooking made me genuinely happy.
"Alexa, play ’Until I Found You’ by Stephen Sanchez! Yes!"
I clapped my hands happily as the smooth, romantic music began filling the apartment. I swayed my hips, doing an unbothered little victory dance around the kitchen counter while I waited for the timer to go off.
Once the food was done and kept warm, I rushed into the bathroom to take a quick shower. There was no way I was going to greet him smelling like hot grease and garlic.
I pulled on a cute, comfortable house outfit—a fitted black shirt that hugged my chest and dark sweatpants—before grabbing the fresh bouquet of white and blue flowers I had picked out earlier.
Holding the flowers in one arm, I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror. Just as I reached up to check my hair, my phone vibrated in my palm. My chest loosened, a grin breaking out the second I saw the caller ID.
Princess.
I swiped the screen and brought the phone to my ear.
"I am at your door," Alaric’s deep, smooth voice echoed into my ear.
"Right. I am heading to meet you now," I muttered softly into the receiver.
I stared at myself in the glass for one last second, brushing a dark strand of hair off my forehead, and chuckled at how fast my heart was racing.
I walked down the hall, stopping right in front of the door, and heaved a deep, steadying sigh before turning the handle.
My palms were actually sweating. It was ridiculous—this was far from the first time we were meeting up, but everything felt different now. We weren’t just secret sex partners meeting in the shadows anymore. We were lovers.
Standing there, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had done enough, because a man like Alaric deserved absolute perfection, and I was ready to give him every single bit of it.
If it weren’t for those stupid PR interviews I had to do recently—where I lied through my teeth to the media, pretending we were nothing more than bitter rivals—I would have taken him out to a proper, high-end restaurant tonight. But the paparazzi were like vultures right now, starving for any juicy headline about us.
Shutting them down with fake indifference was the only way to protect what we were building. So, meeting in total secret at one of my low-profile apartments that wasn’t even registered under my name was our only option until we were both ready to face the world together.
"Hello, princess," I muttered slowly as I pulled the door open.
The words died in my throat, and I completely lost my breath the second my eyes landed on him.
Alaric looked breathtaking. He was wearing a beige tailored blazer over a crisp dark shirt that accented his frame perfectly. His blonde hair was neatly styled, brushed back with just enough soft texture to make him look effortlessly handsome.
He looked down, a sweet, soft smile instantly curving his lips as his eyes met the fresh bouquet in my hand.
"Oh... you got me flowers," Alaric said softly, his hazel eyes snapping up to meet mine.
I could have sworn my entire chest exploded from the warmth hitting me all at once.
"Come in," I said, stepping back and gesturing inside.
He smiled, stepping past the threshold. The very second the door clicked shut behind him, I set the flowers on the entry console, grabbed him by the waist, and backed him directly against the wall.
Before he could even tease me, I captured his mouth in a deep, desperate kiss. I kissed him like I was starving, tilting his head back to fit our lips together perfectly while my hand tangled into the soft hair at the nape of his neck.
He let out a low, shaky gasp against my mouth, his arms sliding around my shoulders to pull me impossibly closer, kissing me back with the exact same hunger.
By the time we finally pulled apart, both of our chests were heaving, our foreheads resting together in the quiet hallway.
Without a word, I laced my fingers through his and gently pulled him toward the dining area.
I had set up a small table with a couple of flickering candles, casting a warm, golden glow over the plates.
"You must be hungry," I said, pulling out a chair for him like a true gentleman.
Alaric paused, looking from the chair up to my face with a deeply suspicious, amused expression. "Oh, now you are acting weird."
"Weird?" I asked, my brows furrowing in genuine confusion as I walked over to serve the food. "What do you mean?"
"It’s weird to see you acting all lovey-dovey when you have always been so toxic."
"Toxic?" I gasped dramatically, snapping my head toward him and slapping a hand over my chest in complete offense. "I am anything but toxic, Alaric! I am just..." I paused, my spoon hovering in the air as I tried to find the right word. "I am just me, I guess."
"A douchebag," Alaric said calmly, a smirk breaking across his face.
I faked another loud gasp, resting my hands on my hips and narrowing my eyes at him. "Excuse you! This douchebag happens to be your boyfriend, in case that slipped your mind."
Alaric rolled his eyes, but the soft, fond curve of his mouth completely gave him away. "Unfortunately for me."
"Hey, you’re the one who said yes," I teased, stepping behind his chair and leaning down.
I pressed a slow, lingering kiss against his cheekbone, right near his ear, whispering, "Besides, you look ridiculously handsome tonight. I literally can’t stop staring at you."
Alaric turned his head slightly, his hazel eyes catching the soft flicker of the candlelight as he looked up at me. "You don’t look too bad yourself, Nico."
"It’s nice to have you here, boyfriend," I murmured, leaning in to catch his lips in another sweet, soft kiss.
Alaric rolled his eyes once more, but he reached up, his fingers squeezing mine where I held his shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah..." he whispered against my lips, his voice softening into pure warmth. "Me too."