Chapter 34: The Fear in His Heart

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Fear in His Heart

Frank suddenly stiffened in his arms, his expression clouding over with a flicker of hesitation. He pulled back slightly, looking up into Raphael’s eyes. "Raphael... are you sure about all this? We can—"

"No, babe. I’m entirely sure," Raphael interrupted softly.

He gently slid out of Frank, the sudden emptiness making him shiver. Then Raphael slipped his hands under Frank’s knees and behind his back, scooping him up effortlessly into his arms. Frank immediately wrapped his arms tightly around Raphael’s neck and rested his head against his shoulder as Raphael carried him over to the plush velvet sofa nearby.

Raphael sat down, settling Frank right on top of his lap so they were straddling each other, their still-sensitive cocks pressing softly together between them.

He gently brushed a lock of sweaty hair back from Frank’s forehead with his fingers, his gaze intensely fond. "Didn’t you promise we were going to give this a real try?"

Frank bit his lower lip, looking down for a moment. "I know I promised, but..."

"There’s no but, Frank," Raphael said, his voice dropping an octave as he rested his forehead against Frank’s. "I don’t want this to just end because the sex is over. I love you, and I mean every word. I’ve felt this way about you since the very day I met you. Please... promise me you won’t break my heart."

Frank chuckled softly, the heavy tension breaking as he reached up to cup Raphael’s jaw. "I won’t break your heart."

"Is that a promise?" Raphael pressed, a quiet vulnerability in his eyes.

Frank nodded, smiling warmly. "Yes. I promise."

"Good," Raphael murmured. "Now, before you leave for your trip tomorrow... you’re going to give me your exact home address in Central City."

Frank blinked, tilting his head. "Why do you need my address?"

Raphael let out a quiet breath, resting his hands securely on Frank’s hips. "Because I’m terrified that the moment you return to Central City, you’ll ghost me and stop answering my calls. But if I have your address, I can just fly out and hunt you down myself. So you’re going to write it down for me."

Frank laughed, shaking his head at the prince’s possessiveness. "Alright. If having my address is the only thing standing between you and a panic attack, I’ll give it to you."

Raphael smirked, leaning down to press his lips against Frank’s chest, lightly grazing a sensitive nipple with his teeth. "You really drive me crazy, baby."

"Same here," Frank whispered, his fingers tangling in Raphael’s hair as he looked down at him. "You’re stuck in my head, morning and night."

"I love the sound of that," Raphael said, looking up with a wicked glint in his eye. "Because I want to be everywhere in your body and your mind."

Frank smiled, a soft, radiant expression that made Raphael’s chest tighten.

"You have a beautiful smile," Raphael murmured.

"You too, Your Highness," Frank teased back softly.

Raphael pulled him into a warm embrace, resting his chin on Frank’s shoulder. "Are you hungry?" he whispered against his skin.

Frank shook his head, sighing happily as he melted into the hug. "I’m completely full for now."

Raphael smiled against his shoulder, tightening his arms around him and holding him close as they drifted into a quiet, comfortable silence.

Meanwhile, back with Elisha and Henry, the rest of the day passed quickly. After Henry dropped Elisha off at his house that morning, Henry returned to his own home to change before heading to work. Elisha also changed before making his way to his corporate office. For the next several hours, both men kept themselves busy with their respective responsibilities.

By evening, Elisha finally wrapped up his work. He picked up his phone and called Henry, hoping they could have dinner together.

The call connected after a few rings.

"Hey, Eli," Henry answered.

"Hey, pretty boy," Elisha greeted, a smile immediately touching his lips. "I just finished up at the office, and I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight. I can come pick you up."

On the other end, Henry sighed softly, shifting in his seat. "Eli... I would have loved to, but my girlfriend is around now. She called me a few hours ago to let me know she had returned from her trip and asked me to go out with her tonight. I already promised her I would, and we’ve made plans to have dinner together. What about tomorrow instead?"

Elisha went completely silent.

The moment he heard the words girlfriend and dinner, a cold spike of dread pierced his chest. He didn’t even know how to respond.

"You said that if I made my move, you would consider me, Henry," Elisha finally said, his voice tight with hurt. "But you won’t even forgive me. You keep telling me to figure everything out on my own. Is it because you actually love her? Are you just afraid to tell me because you don’t want to hurt me?"

"What are you talking about, Elisha? It’s just a regular dinner date, I promise you. Tomorrow, I will—"

"It’s fine," Elisha cut him off, letting out a bitter laugh. "I know you’ll never truly love me after what I did. You just don’t have the heart to say it to my face."

"Eli, why would you even think that? Listen to me—"

"It’s fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow," Elisha choked out.

"Eli, wait! Eli—"

Elisha slammed his finger down, disconnecting the call.

His phone buzzed almost immediately with an incoming call from Henry. Elisha stared at the flashing screen, his chest heaving, before hitting the line to reject it. Henry tried calling right back. Elisha rejected it again, his hands shaking with a sudden, overwhelming wave of misery.

He dropped his phone onto the mahogany desk and ran a trembling hand through his hair.

Elisha had always been a notorious overthinker, and at that moment, his own mind was his worst enemy. He couldn’t stop thinking that Henry didn’t love him or feel the same way about him. Maybe Henry simply didn’t know how to tell him because he didn’t want to hurt him. Deep down, Elisha believed Henry would eventually choose the traditional life everyone expected of him rather than a man like him.

A hot tear spilled over his lashes, tracking down his cheek. Elisha gasped softly, instantly swiping it away with the back of his hand as pride flared up to mask the pain.

He reached over and slammed his intercom button, his voice sharp and controlled. "Sarah. Get in my office. Now."

A moment later, the office door clicked open and Sarah hurried inside, her eyes widening slightly at the grim expression on her boss’s face. Without needing to ask, she instinctively began gathering Elisha’s personal belongings, his laptop, his private files, and his coat.

Elisha stood abruptly and strode out of the office without another word. Sarah quickly gathered the remaining items and hurried after him, struggling to keep up with his long strides down the hallway.

By the time Elisha reached the underground executive parking garage, his driver was already waiting beside the car. As soon as he saw Elisha approaching, the driver stepped forward and opened the rear passenger door.

Elisha slid into the back seat without a word. Sarah handed his belongings through the open door before stepping back.

"Take me to the bar," Elisha instructed, his voice flat.

The driver nodded. He already knew which upscale lounge Elisha preferred whenever he needed to get away and clear his head.

He closed the door, walked around to the driver’s side, and got behind the wheel. Moments later, the car pulled away...