Page 62 of Killing Me Softly

For a while, Kenny said nothing, and Aaron feared he was losing him to the darkness. Then he gripped Aaron’s neck and those eyes that were filled with unrelenting lust before now held nothing but honest conviction. “None of this is your fault.”

“Neither is it yours.”

Kenny closed his eyes. “It feels like it is.”

“Well, you’re wrong. For once in your life, you’re fucking wrong.”

Kenny breathed out a defective laugh, then kissed him. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Pulling me out of myself.”

“You’re welcome.”

“But also fuck you about the billion years younger comment.”

Aaron chuckled. “Sorry, I rounded down.”

Kenny bit Aaron’s lip, and Aaron shoved him off. “Why don’t we do this together?”

“Do what?”

“What you do best. Think. Theorise. And I’ll sit there with you, naked and in awe.”

“That does sound like a much better plan than the one I had.”

“Keep telling you, I’m smart.”

“And sexy and beautiful.” Kenny kissed him again, softer and filled with conviction. “But how about we shower first, then…talk.”

“I only like clean talk, anyway.”

“Liar.”

Aaron laughed, then stood and held out his hand.

As Kenny took it and rose from the stairs, it felt monumental. As if Kenny was allowing Aaron to pull him free from himself. And Aaron could see the tension loosen around him, even if just a little. And it made him smile. Because that was trust, tentative and fragile. It was Kenny letting him in. Letting him help carry the burden threatening to crush them both.

Kenny led him to the bathroom and the hot spray of the shower enveloped them both inside the growing steam, shutting everything else out. Kenny’s hands were all over him. Massaging away the aches and pains, lathering soothing gel over his skin, firm yet tender. And when he moved to Aaron’s hair, working the shampoo through, Aaron’s breath caught. Because there it was. Kenny’s intense gaze. Piercing, unwavering, drinking him in. Kenny wasn’t just looking at him. He wasseeinghim in all his messy, complicated entirety. And his touch was more profound than any words could be.

God, he loved him.

And as Aaron returned the favour, smoothing his hands over every inch of Kenny’s body, those words sat heavy on Aaron’s tongue.I love you.They surged forward, almost tumbling out. But he hesitated, swallowing them back, unsure if they were toomuch or not enough right then. So, he stayed quiet, letting the moment stretch, letting their touch fill the silence.

Almost.

Healmostsaid it.

And maybe Kenny already knew. Maybe he saw it in the way Aaron clung to him. In the way he traced his fingers over Kenny’s skin. Maybe he already knew that Aaron couldn’t let go of this. Him. Because Kenny looked at him like he did. As if he alreadyknewAaron’s secret. That he was a needy, desperate, lovesick mess for him.

And he wasn’t running.

* * * *

A while later, Kenny ran a towel through his damp hair, glancing over his shoulder at Aaron sauntering out of his bedroom and downstairs in the borrowed joggers and T-shirt he’d handed him. Aaron wore more of Kenny’s clothes than his own when he was here. He should give him a damn drawer.

Fuck, I should just tell him to move in.

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