Page 120 of The Price of Ice

But he’d said he’d come back.

HE WOKE UP GROGGY ANDdisorientated. Levy was on the other side of his car window, smiling softly at him. Kallen fumbled for the door release, and Levy pulled it open, leaning in and planting a kiss on his cheek. “Hey, you. Nice nap?”

Kallen groaned, twisting his neck around. He reached out with a hand Levy took at once to help him out of the car. “Didn’t mean to fall asleep,” he explained, burrowing his face into Levy’s shoulder until they were hugging again.

Levy kissed his hair. “Want me to drive?”

He nodded. “Will fall asleep again.”

“You can,” Levy said easily.

Kallen pulled back, reluctant but determined. “How did it go?”

Levy paused, but his eyes had gone bright at once. “Good, I think. You know I have never had a job interview before? Like, don’t think it counts if someone watches tape of you and thenwants to chat to make sure you are not a maniac, right? Because then they already know you are qualified to do the job. The rest felt a bit like a formality.”

Kallen nodded. “So when will you know? I don’t really know how this works, either.”

It was a bit like they’d been living on another planet all this time, a planet where the basic rules of civility or decency didn’t apply and you didn’t need basic life skills.

“Oh, um, soon?” Levy looked caught.

“You didn’t ask, did you?” Kallen teased him, reaching out and tugging on one of his curls. Levy’s nose twitched, but he leaned closer until his face brushed Kallen’s hand. Kallen tucked the stray curl behind his ear.

His boyfriend shrugged. “I made a list of questions to ask, but I didn’t think of that.” He licked his lips, meeting Kallen’s eyes again. “The start date is right after New Year’s.”

That was in a little less than a month.

“Oh.” He swallowed.

“Too soon?” Levy asked at once.

“What? No!” Kallen argued. “I mean, you’d need time to pack and all that, right?”

Levy still looked unsure, which meant Kallen was making a hash of this.

“Can we go—?” Home, he’d been about to say, as if Levy’s presence had made him forget they weren’t in Jiro. “Do you have a hotel or...?”

“Yeah.” He was already going for his phone. “You want to grab food somewhere on the way? Show me the grub of your people?” he asked, but he didn’t let go of his hold on the belt hoops of Kallen’s jeans with his other hand and Kallen didn’t ask him to.

New Year’s was too soon, and it was also way too far away if it meant they’d be apart in the meantime.

Chapter 40

Kallen had never had much chance to eat out in his own hometown, except for very special occasions like his parents’ anniversary, they’d dined at home or at relatives’ and friends’ homes. But as much as he’d missed of the teenage experience, he’d still had two older brothers living it full on. It’d been Mikey who’d found the little hole-in-the-wall restaurant that served the best falafel pitta sandwiches he’d ever eaten.

It turned out to be an excellent choice to share with someone whose fingers you wanted to lick.

And lick he had, catching Levy’s wrist the moment hisboyfriendhad tried to do it himself and bringing it to his own mouth across the rickety hotel room table. Not looking away from Levy’s wide eyes as he sucked each of his fingers into his mouth, pressing with his tongue and humming his pleasure. The sauce was delicious, and the flush across his lover’s cheeks even more so.

Two months had felt like aeons, but they disappeared between them like water flowing through his fingers. He didn’t just have Levy back, but hehadhim for real.

Kallen let go of his pinky and twisted his hand to lick across his palm instead. He could feel Levy trembling, but he still didn’t move.

Levy’s throat moved as he swallowed, a perfect machine, strong and vulnerable at once. “You are shining,” he said, and for a moment Kallen couldn’t process. Then he got it and laughed.

“Yeah?” It made perfect sense, he felt bright and easy andconfident. He stood up, not letting go and not pulling, but Levy was already following him as he sidestepped the table and walked backwards towards the bed. He did let go to pull his t-shirt over his head, and came out to Levy’s hungry gaze on his body.

He tilted his head to the side, smiling his invitation, and started undoing his belt, and before he knew it, Levy had stepped up to him and pushed his hand away to take over.

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