Northbound Overture

Later, in their suite, Bellamy pulled Andres close. Kissed him slow. Deep. “You were incredible.”

Andres smiled against his mouth. “You were.”

Bellamy kissed him again. “I mean it.”

Andres pulled back. Looked at him. “So do I.”

Bellamy’s heart clenched. “Andres—”

Andres kissed him quiet. “I know.”

Bellamy held him. Breathed him in. “This is madness.”

Andres smiled. “The best kind.”

Bellamy kissed his forehead. His nose. His mouth. “I’m falling for you.”

Andres stilled. Pulled back. Looked at him. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy kissed him. Poured everything into it. Fear. Hope. Need. “I am.”

Andres sighed into it. Relaxed. “Good.”

Bellamy frowned. “Good?”

Andres smiled. “Because I already fell.”

Bellamy’s breath stopped. “Andres—”

Andres kissed him. Soft. Sure. “I love you.”

Bellamy’s heart soared. Crashed. “Andres—”

Andres kissed him again. “I know.”

Bellamy held him. Tight. Close. “I love you too.”

Andres smiled. “I know.”

Bellamy laughed. Watery. “Cocky.”

Andres kissed him. “Your cocky fiancé.”

Bellamy’s breath hitched. “My fiancé.”

Andres smiled. “Yes.”

Bellamy kissed him. Poured everything into it. Love. Fear. Forever.

Andres yielded. Gave back everything. Just as much. Just as deep.

Later, tangled together, Bellamy watched him sleep. Peaceful. Perfect.

He brushed a curl from Andres’s forehead. “I love you,” he whispered. “I’ll always love you.”

Andres smiled in his sleep. “Love you too,” he mumbled.

Bellamy held him. Breathed him in. This. This was everything.

The real world would intrude soon. The merger. The press. The lies.

But here, now, in the quiet dark, it was just them. Just love. Just truth.

Bellamy closed his eyes. Listened to Andres breathe. Let the world fade away.

This. This was what mattered. This was what he’d fight for.

No matter what.

The next morning, the retreat proper began. Skiing. Snowball fights. Andres, flushed and bright-eyed, laughed as he tumbled into a drift.

Bellamy watched him. Heart full. Perfect.

A man skied over. One of the investors. Older. Wealthy. Traditional. He looked Andres up and down. “Your fiancé’s enjoying himself.”

Bellamy tensed. “He is.”

The man smirked. “Good for him. Must be nice. Living off your money.”

Bellamy froze. “I beg your pardon?”

The man shrugged. “Just saying. He’s what, twenty-five? Driving your car? Wearing your ring? Cute.”

Bellamy stepped forward. Andres caught his arm.

Andres smiled. Bright. Sharp. “I’m twenty-six, actually. And I drive Mr. Moretti because I choose to. And the ring?” He held up his hand. The diamond glittered cold in the sun. “I chose that too.”

The man blinked. “You—”

Andres leaned in. Lowered his voice. “I have a business degree. A startup. And a prenup that ensures I never touch a cent of Bellamy’s money.” He straightened. Smiled. “But thank you for your concern.”

The man gaped. Muttered something. Skied away.

Bellamy stared at Andres. Pride hot in his chest. “You—”

Andres kissed him. Quick. Public. “I’m not some gold digger.”

Bellamy pulled him close. “I never thought you were.”

Andres smiled. “I know.”

Bellamy kissed his temple. “You were amazing.”

Andres leaned into him. “I learned from the best.”

Bellamy held him. Breathed him in. Safe. His.

The day passed. More skiing. More snow. More sidelong glances at Andres.

Bellamy watched. Fumed. These people—small-minded, judgmental—how dared they?

Andres took it in stride. Smiled. Charmed. Deflected.

Bellamy’s jaw ached from clenching it.

That night, at dinner, a woman cornered Andres. “So,” she said, smile razor-sharp. “How did you two meet?”

Andres opened his mouth.

Bellamy cut in. “I saw him across a crowded room. Knew I had to have him.” He took Andres’s hand. Kissed his knuckles. “Took me a year to convince him.”

Andres smiled. Played along. “He’s very convincing.”

The woman looked between them. Frowned. “How…sweet.”

Bellamy smiled. All teeth. “Isn’t it?”

She excused herself.

Andres squeezed Bellamy’s hand. “You didn’t have to do that.”

Bellamy kissed his temple. “Yes. I did.”

Andres looked at him. Soft. “Careful, Moretti. Someone might think you care.”

Bellamy met his eyes. “I do.”

Andres’s breath caught. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy kissed him. Right there. In front of everyone. Claimed him. Mine.

Andres sighed into it. Yielded. Public. Perfect.

The room buzzed. Bellamy didn’t care. Let them talk. Let them see.

This man was his. Heart. Soul. Everything.

Back in their suite, Andres paced. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Bellamy raised an eyebrow. “Done what?”

Andres gestured at the door. “That! The kiss! The story!”

Bellamy shrugged. “It’s what they wanted to hear.”

Andres stopped. Stared. “It’s a lie!”

Bellamy stilled. “Is it?”

Andres looked away. “You know what I mean.”

Bellamy stepped closer. “Do I?”

Andres met his eyes. Anger there. Fear. “This is supposed to be fake! Temporary!”

Bellamy flinched. “Is that what you want?”

Andres threw up his hands. “It’s what we agreed!”

Bellamy’s jaw set. “Things change.”

Andres laughed. Bitter. “Do they?”

Bellamy caught his arm. “Yes.”

Andres pulled away. “Don’t.”

Bellamy stepped closer. “Why not?”

Andres met his eyes. “Because I can’t—I can’t do this if you don’t mean it.”

Bellamy’s heart stopped. “Mean what?”

Andres looked at him. Eyes bright. “This! Us! Any of it!”

Bellamy’s breath caught. “I do mean it.”

Andres searched his face. “Do you?”

Bellamy cupped his jaw. “Yes.”

Andres closed his eyes. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy kissed him. Soft. Sure. “I’m in love with you.”

Andres shuddered. Opened his eyes. “Don’t say that.”

Bellamy kissed him again. “I love you.”

Andres fisted Bellamy’s shirt. “Please—”

Bellamy held him. Close. Safe. “I love you. I’m in love with you. I want you. Not for the merger. Not for show. For real.”

Andres buried his face in Bellamy’s neck. “You can’t.”

Bellamy kissed his hair. “I can. I do.”

Andres shook his head. “It’s too much.”

Bellamy tipped his chin up. Met his eyes. “It’s everything.”

Andres’s breath hitched. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy kissed him. Poured everything into it. Love. Fear. Forever.

Andres yielded. Gave back everything. Just as much. Just as deep.

Bellamy walked him back. Toward the bed. “Let me show you.”

Andres nodded. Breathless. “Yes.”

Bellamy undressed him. Slow. Reverent. Kissed every inch of skin he revealed.

Andres shivered. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy kissed his chest. His stomach. “I love you.”

Andres arched into him. “I love you too.”

Bellamy’s heart soared. Crashed. “Andres—”

Andres pulled him up. Kissed him deep. “Show me.”

Bellamy did. With hands. Mouth. Body. Showed him everything. Love. Need. Forever.

Andres yielded. Took. Gave. Perfect. His.

Later, tangled together, Bellamy held him. Breathed him in. “Stay.”

Andres stilled. “What?”

Bellamy kissed his shoulder. “After. When the contract ends. Stay.”

Andres rolled to face him. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy kissed him quiet. “Stay.”

Andres searched his face. “You’re sure?”

Bellamy held his gaze. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

Andres smiled. Soft. Real. “Okay.”

Bellamy’s breath caught. “Okay?”

Andres kissed him. “Yes.”

Bellamy held him. Heart too big for his ribs. This. This was everything.

The real world would intrude soon. The merger. The press. The lies.

But here, now, in the quiet dark, it was just them. Just love. Just truth.

Bellamy closed his eyes. Listened to Andres breathe. Let the world fade away.

This. This was what mattered. This was what he’d fight for.

No matter what.

Andres’s startup launched. Bellamy funded it. Secretly. Quietly.

Andres glowed. Worked late. Talked fast. Ideas sparked in his eyes like stars.

Bellamy watched him. Heart full. Proud.

The merger finalized. Papers signed. Hands shaken. Bellamy was richer. More powerful. More exposed.

The press circled. Vultures. “Who is Andres Rossi?” they asked. “What are his intentions?”

Andres laughed it off. “I’m nobody. Just lucky.”

Bellamy frowned. “You’re not nobody.”

Andres kissed him. “I know.”

But the questions kept coming. Sharper. Harder. “What about his startup?” “Who funded it?” “Is this a conflict of interest?”

Bellamy’s lawyers panicked. “It looks bad, Bellamy. Like you’re using him. Or he’s using you.”

Bellamy scowled. “It’s not like that.”

The lawyers exchanged glances. “It looks like that.”

Bellamy watched Andres sleep. Peaceful. Perfect.

He couldn’t do this to him. Couldn’t drag him into the mud. Couldn’t let the world tear him down.

He had to protect him. Even from himself.

The next morning, Bellamy was cold. Distant. “The contract ends next week.”

Andres paused. Coffee halfway to his lips. “I know.”

Bellamy didn’t look at him. “You should start packing.”

Andres stilled. “What?”

Bellamy scrolled through emails. “It’s time. The merger’s done. The press will move on.”

Andres put his cup down. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy looked at him. Cold. Flat. “It’s for the best.”

Andres stared. “What are you saying?”

Bellamy stood. “I’m saying it’s over. The engagement. Us. All of it.”

Andres flinched. “Bellamy—”

Bellamy walked past him. “Don’t.”

Andres caught his arm. “Look at me.”

Bellamy didn’t. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

Andres’s grip tightened. “You don’t mean this.”

Bellamy pulled away. “I do.”

Andres stared. Heart in his eyes. Breaking. “Why?”

Bellamy met his gaze. Cold. Hard. “Because I don’t need you anymore.”

Andres recoiled. “You’re lying.”

Bellamy smiled. Thin. “Am I?”

Andres shook his head. “You love me.”