Page 56 of Second Song

We are even.

I like that so much that the lump in my throat shifts enough to let me say, “I’m free now. Come back to my rooms?”

“Yeah?”

We’re alone. Everyone else is gone, only the sound of laughter and distant chatting drifting between us, and I don’t even try to resist attraction that never lets up between us.

Perhaps that old horseshoe over my stable door is also magnetic. I know I touch it for luck after letting him in, but at least I’m not so far gone that I forget what the last person who lived here told me.

I follow Liam inside, close the door, and make sure to lock it.

22

ROWAN

Liam doesn’t waste time with small talk. He’s behind me before I even get the bolt home, kissing my neck like the first time we almost did this. And the second when we went further. Now one strong arm bands my chest in a place that’s started to feel dangerously like home.

His mouth spells similar danger. His lips are soft, his stubble rough, his teeth sharp and grazing, and I love the feeling. His low, deep rumbles vibrate everywhere we’re connected, and I love that too. It’s only worth losing some of that rumbling contact when I turn in his arms because I finally get to kiss him like I’ve wanted every time I’ve glimpsed him this week, even when we had fences between us or barriers built for safety.

Safety is the last thing on my mind now.

There’s a locked door between us and a school that might as well have stopped existing. I don’t have to waste time on worry this evening. There’s no need. The only truly dangerous aspect is me getting too used to how good he makes me feel. That sets off a ting ting ting like Hadi did on the high hat earlier. Now it isn’t quite an alarm bell or a siren, but I still stiffen, and Liam notices. He breaks off. “You okay?”

I nod and swallow.

He touches his own ear. “You heard something?”

“Only in my head.”

He chuffs out what isn’t quite a laugh, but he’s sympathetic. “Join the club.” He’s suddenly weary. “Been nonstop the last few days.” I don’t know how I ever saw steel. Not from someone who speaks this softly. “You sure you’re okay about us being here?”

I am sure about him, so I kiss him and there’s still a frisson when his mouth opens, a spark when our tongues touch, a zigzag of brightness even when we need to reposition.

I’m the one who pushes my glasses out of the way this time, and I don’t care that the world blurs. It doesn’t matter that all I see is light and shadow. I can still visualise Liam clearly with my eyes closed. He’s as solid as ever. As careful. I don’t mean he’s cautious in the same way Charles tells me I don’t need to be in his classroom. There’s nothing wary about his hold on me. His carefulness just means that my favourite frames make it onto a shelf instead of falling.

I tilt my head back, aware of dark oak against the white blur of the ceiling, aware too that my cock is already as hard as any of those old beams. Liam’s question comes out much more softly. “Will you be missed?”

Be missed?

That takes a long moment to process.

He’s checking if I’m on duty. I’m not, but he’s also left himself out of that question, as if I’m the only one of us whose absence might be noticed. That isn’t right. Dom and the rest of his crew are out there.

“Probably.” That comes out more breathlessly than I intended. I make my voice firmer, although it’s hard when his mouth reaches my ear, and my knees weaken. “Yes.” There’s no way Charles won’t look for me. Teo as well, maybe. That ting ting ting takes on new meaning.

It isn’t in my head.

It’s real, drifting across the stable courtyard.

He’s already hidden himself away.

“I should go—” Check on someone I’m pretty sure is lonely. But that could describe Liam, and fuck me, he’s been here all week but I’ve really missed him. “Not yet, though. We’ve got a while.”

Forget everything I said about Liam being careful.

He launches into movement, suddenly physical in a way that once might have spiked what Luke described in a garden. There’s no need for fight or flight here. All Liam putting me where he wants me spikes is pleasure. Excitement ramps up when he knees my legs apart, and I’m fully on board with him hefting me up to press me against the door to kiss me deeper.

Freeze, or fight, or flee from this?

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