Page 62 of Snow Storm

“The way I feel right now terrifies me.” Claude took a moment, then looked up at him. “A single word from you would rip my heart out and leave me for dead.”

“I know what you mean,” Harley told him.

Claude nodded. “That’s the only thing keeping me together right now.” He licked his lips, then took Harley by the waist and pulled him forward. “I want you on your knees.”

He fell like it was the only thing he could do—like his body was entirely under Claude’s command.

“Unbutton my shirt.”

Harley’s fingers struggled with the small buttons, but it didn’t take him long before Claude sat there with his exposed chest.

“Touch me.” It was an order, not a request, but it still came out like he was begging.

Harley sucked in a sharp breath, then reached out and pressed his hands over Claude’s pecs. They fit perfectly in the curve of his palms—and his hands were warm and so fucking soft. He groaned as pleasure sparked across his skin, arching forward, pressing into him hard—harder.

Harley’s touch went from hesitant and gentle to something stronger. Something with purpose. He clawed his fingers and raked them down, scraping over Claude’s nipples, making him want to come right there.

“Enough,” he said.

Harley’s hands dropped to the tops of his thighs.

“You’re so good. You know that, right?”

Harley’s lower lip trembled. “I?—”

“If you’re going to argue, don’t bother. I don’t want to hear it,” Claude told him, simply but firmly. “It would be a waste of your breath and a waste of the time it took for my ears to hear it.”

“Why me?”

Claude blinked in surprise at the question. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Harley lifted higher onto his knees and let his arms rest over Claude’s thighs. “I know I’m not bad-looking. I’ve never had trouble catching someone’s interest. I’ve had trouble keeping it. And after all these years of never finding anyone worthy of your time—you’ve chosen me, and I don’t understand why.”

Claude’s heart sank, and he shook his head. He pulled Harley close, bracketing him with his knees and breathing in the scent of him. It was snow and woodsmoke and spices—and it was home. “It’s because it’s you. I’m not going to pretend to understand it. I just know that when I look at you, I realize you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted. And I know I shouldn’t be saying all this on the cusp of your relationship falling apart and it being so soon after your father’s death?—”

“No,” Harley said, interrupting. He shook his head and then dropped his forehead against Claude’s sternum. “I’m a logical person. Too logical. Darren hated that about me. I was never any good at accepting things as they were. I always need to know why. And how. I think I drove him away.”

“I think you were never meant to be his. That he would never be enough for you,” Claude told him, urging him to look up. “I don’t mind that you want to know answers or that you have questions. I adore that about you. I just wish that right now I had a better reason for you than this one.”

Harley bit his lip, then said, “I should hate your answer, but I can’t.”

“Why?”

Harley smiled. “Because it’s the same as mine. I don’t pretend to get it, and part of me hates that I can’t work it out more than just ‘it is.’ But when I look at you, it doesn’t matter. I’m here. I want to be here. And I think you want me too.”

Claude laughed, unable to help himself. “Yes, chéri. There are no words for how much I want you.”

“Show me?” Harley asked.

Claude felt a tremor run through him at the promise of what that meant. He leaned back and pressed his arms to the mattress behind him. “Take off your pants, then hold your dick for me. I’m going to suck it, and you aren’t going to come until you’re so desperate, you’re begging me.”

Harley’s eyes closed as he backed away, then stood. His whole body seemed on edge—exactly the way Claude wanted him. Claude’s whole body felt on edge as he watched Harley get his dick out like it was taking more effort to do that than compose an entire novel.

But he managed it. He held his erection with tight, trembling fingers, poised in front of Claude like it was some kind of offering. Claude stared at him for a long moment, then slowly licked his lips. He was hungry for this man, but he wasn’t ready to touch him just yet.

Harley made an obvious effort to stop the groan that erupted from his throat, but he failed.

The sound reverberated around them, and Claude’s lips turned up at the corners. “Good.”

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