LOVING HIM

CHAPTER 21

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Rian bit down his lip, suppressing a smile as he looked at the veiny hands tightly wrapped around his waist. After the unexpected turn of events that night, they're now on the couch getting cozy. It was the older man who pulled him close and suggested he sit on his lap and skip dinner, or probably eat later, or whatever. Irving was so happy his handsome face was glowing with glee. He couldn't contain it. Rian felt similarly the same and the nonstop fluttering of his stomach was more than enough proof of it.

They spent a good number of minutes just listening to each other's breathings and heartbeats, content and fairly at peace.

It was Rian who broke the silence first. He cleared his throat. "Aren't we eating?"

Irving grunted, his forehead gently caressing Rian's back as he held him closer. "Later."

"Not hungry yet?"

Irving shook his head. "Nothing makes me hungry when I'm happy."

Rian felt himself blushing at the statement. "Are you really?"

Irving pulled his head back and looked up at him. "You have to ask?"

Still blushing, Rian couldn't help smiling as he quickly averted his gaze, shying away from Irving's beautiful brown eyes that seemed to tickle his senses.

Irving grinned looking at Rian's reddened ears. Adorable.

"Care to tell me what suddenly made you this brave to confess?" Irving asked, his eyebrow raised teasingly. "And who is this she? Hmm?"

Rian froze. He couldn't answer. He didn't think Irving would catch up and remember his blabber earlier. He gulped and bit his lip nervously.

Where does he start explaining?

Will he tell Irving of his insecurity and petty jealousy?

Irving understood the silence. He sighed and gave a peck on Rian's arm. "Doesn't matter. Don't think about it. We're now together and I'm happy you finally agreed to be with me. Everything else doesn't matter," he said and hugged Rian even closer, petting the younger man's tummy and thinking he just might have found a new hobby.

Rian cleared his throat. "It's... It's Dannielle..." he confessed, his voice almost like a whisper. He was reluctant to admit but he figured if he wanted to start a relationship with Irving, he might as well be truthful to his feelings.

Irving stopped what he was doing and again looked up at Rian. "Dannielle?"

Rian nodded. He then told Irving of what happened back at the conference room that day, when Dannielle told everyone she and Irving were once in a relationship, and how everybody reacted excitedly with anticipating eyes and thrilled hearts crying out coincidences with hopes of them getting back together through the project they're currently working on.

Irving fell silent when Rian was done talking. And it made Rian nervous. Did he say too much? Was Irving having second thoughts somehow? Was Irving...

His thoughts were interrupted when Irving shifted from his seat, moving him along in the process. He's still on the man's lap but now they're facing each other. Rian was finally able to look at Irving's eyes and he immediately saw tenderness in them, staring back at his own with so much raw and undefined emotions.

There was silence for a few seconds before Irving spoke. "Dannielle was... she was once a big part of me. I loved her... I really did..." he started saying.