Page 69 of Strange Lad

“You’re not too needy or clingy.” I reach for the hand on his chest and pull it into mine. “I’m sorry I didn’t just tell you. That was wrong of me.”

“It was,” he sniffles, “but I understand.”

“And, since we’re being honest, I was embarrassed still about last night. I haven’t had…thathappen to me in a very long time.”

“I wouldn’t judge you for that, beautiful,” he whispers, cheeks flushing more the longer we talk.

“I’m trying to get that through my head.”

“Did you get the glass noodles?” he asks, flicking his eyes from mine to my mouth.

“And rangoons.”

A watery smile rips across his face, and he shifts on his feet. “You need to be more careful with money.”

I roll my eyes, letting go of his hand to pick up the bag, but he launches at me. I just barely manage to catch him before we falldown the shallow steps. I hear him sigh happily as he smooshes my face into his chest. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, kitten.”

Jorge

Road To Paradise

Well. It’s settled, then. Oli and I are dating.

I don’t know what came over me or why I blurted that out, but it feels right now that it’s out in the open. I mean, this goes beyondjust friendsat this point. The fact he didn’t argue or disagree makes me extremely happy despite being upset and pissed at him for half the day. I’m such a damn sucker for him, and it shows. I’m eating my glass noodles while he mows down Pad Thai across from me at my table, happy he’s back and didn’t leave me forever.

I feel ready to tackle whatever thisrelationshipthrows my way.

“You’re doing it again,” I say, eyeballing him while he tongue-fucks his fork. It’s just pornographic the way he eats.

Instead of freezing up, he laughs. “I amnot.”

“Dude, you are.” And I mimic him just to keep him laughing. I even roll my eyes and moan.

“That’s…excessive,” he mumbles, twirling his fork too long.

“Debatable. I enjoy it thoroughly.”

His cheeks darken fast. “That so?”

“It is.”

Clearing his throat loudly, he takes a bite slowly and seductively before shyly meeting my stare. “If I’m enjoying something, it shows.”

That should not have a double meaning, but it does. Is he flirting with me right now? Feels like flirting. My dick is tingling like it’s flirting. Wetting my lips, I nod at his plate. “Just with food?”

“Other things, too.”

“What other things?”

“Hobbies,” he says carefully before growing braver and more confident, “music,people.”

“People? Or just one person?” I rasp, clenching my fork in a death grip.

“It’s been a long time,” he whispers. “But just one.”

I will launch into the atmosphere with how much fuel he’s pumping into my veins right now overnothing.We’re just talking. Flirting. I groan and force myself to eat. “Tease,” I grumble.

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