Page 75 of Beck

Maxim opened the door and gestured for Hilary to go first, which she did with a flush and a smile. When the door closed, Kole could feel Beck’s gaze on him, but he couldn’t look at him. He would cry if he did; that’s how close to the edge he was.

When a hand cupped his cheek, he jumped. He hadn’t heard him move.

“What’s wrong, Kole?”

He breathed through his nose, trying to stem the emotional torrent overwhelming him. “I just…” He swallowed. “I wanted to…show you how amazing you are.” Glancing up at him was a mistake because tears escaped his eyes.

“Let me see,” Beck whispered, crouching in front of him.

He handed him the book with shaky hands, the pencil he’d used bookmarking the page, and then closed his eyes. The creak of the spine was loud, and he could hear the brush of Beck’s fingers over the paper. Then silence reigned until it was too much for him to take, and he opened his eyes.

Beck had his hand over his mouth, silent tears dripping over the back, as he stared at the page. Seeing those wet drips always made Kole want to join him, but he stayed quiet until Beck lifted his tear-stained face.

“You really see me like this?” Kole nodded. “It’s amazing. No, that’s too small a word. It’s breathtaking. I want it.”

Kole licked his lips and nodded. “Okay.” There were so many words in that one word he didn’t have the energy to say, so he capped it off with the phrase that meant so much to them both. “I love you.”

“I love you.” Beck surged up and caught Kole in a fierce kiss, and he took every lick, every bite, every nip until he had to pull away to breathe. “I love you so fucking much.”

Beck stared into his eyes, nothing but sincerity showing, and although they’d shared the words so many times, it settled something inside Kole to know how much Beck meant it.

“How’s your hand?”

Beck rolled his eyes. “Aching but good.”

“Shall we get some food?” Kole asked, trying to break the tension.

Beck shook his head forcefully. “I want this now.” He pointed at the design.

Kole spread his hands. “I don’t know how to tattoo.”

Standing, Beck grinned. “But I know lots of people who do and can teach you as you go along.”

“No. I don’t want the first thing I do to be this design. I’ll mess it up.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Yes, I would.” Kole stood firm. “I’m not doing it until I feel more confident.”

Beck visibly sulked. “But I wanted to be the first person you tattoo.”

Kole grinned. “You still can be, but it needs to be something small in a place where no one will see if I mess up.”

Beck laughed. “Really? A place no one will see? I’m sure that can be arranged.”

Feeling his cheeks heating, Kole backhanded him. “I’ll end up castrating you if I do it there, and I like it too much to damage it.”

“It? It!” Beck stood, hands on hips. “What about me?”

Kole jumped up, wrapping his arms around Beck’s neck. “And you.” He stole a kiss.

A knock sounded before the door opened. “Beck, your next—Oops, sorry!” Finn said, backing out of the room with his hands over his eyes.

Beck laughed again, and Kole decided he would make that happen as much as possible. It was a beautiful sound. “It’s all right, Finn. Come on in.”

Finn popped his head back in before stepping inside again. “Ani asked me to let you know that your next client is here.”

Beck frowned. “I don’t have another client, do I?”

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