Seducing His Ex - Chapter 3

Zion Martin narrowed his gaze as he stood in front of John Christos. After more than a decade of radio silence since they’d finished undergrad, here the man stood, in all his sexy glory, at his brother’s PR firm. What were the chances?

Half an inch taller than Zion’s own six feet, John’s smooth olive complexion, dark hair and crystal blue eyes were still as tempting as they had been when they’d first met. He still had that sexy Uncle Jessie-from-Full-House vibe going on, and Zion was glad to see that the last fourteen years had been so good to him.

John grabbed his hand to shake it, and Zion nearly pulled it back when a sharp zap of electricity sizzled up his arm. It wasn’t the first time that happened. In fact, every time they’d touched all those years ago. Only he wasn’t prepared for it this go round.

He remained in a dazed stupor, locking in on John’s gaze, trying his best to see the truth behind his eyes. But when he heard the words It’s my pleasure to meet you, Zion coming out of John’s mouth, he frowned.

What the hell is he playing at?

“I have to admit, when Israel said he wanted me to host his kid brother, I was expecting someone much younger to walk through the door.”

Zion closed his eyes and shook his head, then turned his fixed gaze on his brother. Of course Israel talked about him like he was a child.

“I’m sorry for the confusion.” Zion tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice but wasn’t all that successful by the small wince he saw on John’s face. “My brother keeps forgetting that I’m thirty-five and not thirteen.”

Israel shoved a playful elbow into Zion’s side, making him drop John’s hand. As soon as his hand was free, he ached for the warmth John’s large hand provided.

“Stop acting like a brat, and maybe I wouldn’t forget.” Zion wanted to strangle Israel. The last thing any self-respecting grown man wanted was to have their big brother pull rank in front of a former lover. Especially one that was still as hot and tempting as John was, one that Zion had come home hoping to find and reconnect with.

“Forgive my brother, John. His inner-Neanderthal pops out every now and again.”

“Whatever, kid. I gotta go. You two boys stay out of trouble.” Israel picked up his belongings and tossed his jacket over his arm. “See you two when I return.” Israel walked to the door and then turned back. “Don’t disappoint me, John. There’s a lot riding on this.”

From the spark in Israel’s eyes and the uncomfortable “Yes, sir” that John offered in reply, Zion knew this wasn’t anything business-related. Oh no. His big brother only got that hard glint in his eye for one reason and one reason alone: Israel was being overprotective of Zion and threatening someone.

God, will it ever stop?

Before Zion could ask that question aloud, Israel stepped through the glass door and disappeared down the hall, leaving the modern office heavy with silence and unspoken thoughts.

Once they heard the ding of the elevator from down the hall, Zion looked up at John, hoping some of the inconvenient and unexpected chemistry they shared over a simple handshake had dissipated. When he looked into the depths of those blue eyes and another wave of attraction hit him, Zion realized he wasn’t that lucky and John’s presence, as always, had him in a choke hold.

“What the hell kind of game are you playing, Zion?”

Zion looked up, finding heat in those eyes. He fought his need to raise his hand and caress John’s cheek.

“Exactly what are you getting at?” Zion waited for John to elaborate. Because whatever it was that had his shoulders so tense and his sharp jaw clenched was obviously something serious.

“I’m saying, why would you agree to this knowing your brother planned to put you in my care? Considering our history, it wasn’t such a smart choice.”

“First of all, I didn’t orchestrate this. Just in case it wasn’t obvious, my brother doesn’t exactly clear his plans with me. He just acts in that stupid, overprotective way of his and springs inconvenient shit like this on me. I had no idea you worked for my brother, so I couldn’t possibly have guessed he’d choose you as my handler.”

“You’re thirty-five,” John scoffed. “Why do you even need a handler?”

It was a good question. Most men in their thirties didn’t need to be supervised. Only those who had fucked up so royally in their youth that their big brothers never let them out of their sights again.

“He’s just trying to take care of me. If you’ve been working with him, I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that Israel is intense about everything that matters to him.”

John’s blue eyes fastened onto his face, as if he were trying to see through Zion’s words and get to the real meaning behind them. Zion smiled, hoping it would distract John enough to move him away from the questions dancing in his eyes.

“Does he have a reason to be?”

Damn, that man was always too smart for his own good.

Ignoring John’s question, he spoke, hoping John would take the hint to move on. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here, John. I really didn’t know my brother had put you on babysitting detail. But now that I have, I don’t want to spend time fighting with you. You don’t know how many times I’ve thought about you since we last saw each other. It’s been fourteen years, and I for one want to know everything about what you’ve been doing in all that time. So, how’ve you been?”

John blinked at Zion, slightly tilting his head as he narrowed his gaze. Zion couldn’t blame him. He’d gone from talking about his father’s suicide to idle chitchat. It was enough to make anyone’s head spin. But Zion knew before he stepped on that plane to make it home he was coming to find this very man. And since fate had been kind enough to drop John right into his lap, he wasn’t about to waste a moment more than necessary focusing on the most difficult part of his life.

After a moment, John gave Zion a brief nod, closing this awkward chapter and moving onto the next.

“I’ve been good. I really can’t complain.”

John’s eyes lit up and his smiled broadened, and Zion’s heart tugged within his chest. That smile had gotten him into so much trouble back in the day, and he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t loved every little bit of it. That grin had been the precursor to so many hot and passionate nights, memories that still made goosebumps spread quickly all over his arms.

“Listen.” John stepped closer, and Zion could smell a sweet hint of the familiar Million cologne on him. It made Zion want to lean in and take a deep breath like he used to when they’d huddle up in either of their dorm rooms. “I’m sorry for biting your head off. I’m finally up for a named partnership and I’m on edge.”

“No worries. It’s already forgotten.”

They were both quiet for a second, and when the silence seemed to stretch out too long, John cleared his throat.

“We should probably get over to your brother’s place so you can rest. I’m sure you’re probably tired after traveling from California.”

Before Zion had walked into this office and laid eyes on the one man he’d never forgotten, he would probably have said yes. But after seeing John again, every part of his body hummed with excitement.

He’d come back home to hopefully put an end to the restlessness that had settled over him this last semester in California. He’d thought that constant hum was because he missed Brooklyn and real seasons, and slices from Napoli’s, and his mother and big brother most of all. But standing in front of the one who’d gotten away and now worked for his brother was both the best gift and the worst problem Zion could ever have.

Yet, regardless of how messy this could end up being, Zion couldn’t help but smile at the opportunity that had been placed in front of him.

As a young twenty-one-year-old who’d made the mistake of believing his education had to be his only focus, he’d let John and all the love he’d brought with him walk out of his life. Now that fate had brought them together again, Zion vowed he’d never let John go again.

He glanced at John’s stiff set shoulders and rigid smile and knew he had one obstacle that could stand in his way. John looked like a man determined to keep his distance.

Too bad for him Zion had other plans.