Page 166 of Game Night: Truth or Dare

“Hm?”

“Why do you let me call you Teddy?”

My eyes that had fallen shut snap open, and even though I try to turn to look at him, Dash's arms hold me too tight for wiggle room.

“It's my name.”

He nips my ear again. “Err. Wrong. It's your nickname. A special one between you and your brother.”

No one in my life calls me Theodore. When I tell them, they usually shorten it to Theo, and I'm as far from a Theo as they get.

“Most people won't call me Teddy to my face,” I say, eyes fluttering closed again as his lips trail down my neck. “You, Holden, are the exception.”

“Am I, Kingsley?” He taps his chin on my shoulder and splays his hands over my stomach and chest. “I can stick to TK if it makes you more comfortable.”

I turn my head and capture his lips in a chaste kiss. “I like when you use it.”

It's the part of me that hides beneath the large hoodies. The soft underbelly that's in constant fear of being abandoned.

Every day that Dash shows up, that he makes me smile or laugh, drags me out for parties, or brings me lunch when I'm hauled up studying, it makes that part of me feel a little more whole. Like there's less of a distance between the TK on the surface and the Teddy lying beneath.

I can't say that out loud, so I kiss him again. We get hard. We don't get off. We climb to the top bunk while the sheets crust away in the corner until we can do laundry tomorrow, and we hold each other like lovers do.

My heart feels like it could burst.

“You're okay with me calling you my boyfriend? In my head at least, for now.” Dash whispers the question against my lips, and I let his tongue draw mine out for a battle before answering.

“I've never had a boyfriend.”

He smiles.

“Neither have I. Guess you get some of my firsts, too.”

And isn't that a magical thing? I can give Dash something he's never had. Something he wants.

And he wants it from me.

A little dash of hope bursts alive in my chest—pun entirely intended—and I'm not quite ready to quell it.

If he's willing to humor my feelings and explore his own, then I can dare to think this undeniable thing between us could be worth the fight.

If my heart breaks in the end?

So it goes.

THE END

About Rikki Leighton

Rikki Leighton is a trans/nonbinary author of queer romances with an extra special spot in their heart for the M/M community. They write primarily contemporary romances with an extra dose of hurt/comfort. They’re stories bring lots of heat and heartache but will always deliver a well-deserved HEA.

If you’d like to delve into more of their stories or stalk their socials, check out https://linktr.ee/rikkileighton

More Than A Secret

Nic Starr

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