Page 70 of Running With Lions

What really sucks is, now he’s ruining what happened between them this morning. The sky was still bright pink when he crawled through the window and let Emir drag him to bed for morning kisses. Sebastian’s fumbling hands highlighted his lack of sexual experience with boys, but Emir didn’t seem to mind. And now he’s wrecking it all.

“I’m fine.”

Emir presses against Sebastian’s back and circles him with his arms. His unblinking eyes stare at Sebastian’s in the mirror. “Bastian.”

“Let’s just drop—”

“Sebastian William Hughes,” says Emir in a voice eerily like Lily’s.

Sebastian winces. He lets Emir move Sebastian’s cold, shaky hands away and replace them with his own. Emir’s hands are warm and affectionate, smoothing Sebastian’s unnerved center.

Sebastian chokes, “I’m not—”

Struggling with thisdoesn’t make it out of his mouth. He doesn’t let people see him like this. “I’m okay.”

“This isn’t okay.”

“Yeah, well.”

Sebastian’s hands are clenched into fists. It’s not the end of the world. So why are tears clinging to his eyelashes?

Emir’s hand cups his jaw. His thumb nudges Sebastian’s chin until their eyes meet. Emir smiles. Sebastian pouts, but he presses into the touch.

“You’re beautiful.”

Sebastian rolls his eyes. “Guys aren’t—”

“Hey,” Emir cuts in. “Guysarebeautiful. And girls are handsome. Words aren’t gender-specific. Don’t be some jock asshole about this.”

Sebastian is caught up in Emir’s warm breaths grazing the side of his neck.

Emir says, “Your body is amazing,” while his hands rub over Sebastian’s ribs.

A protest fizzes at the back of Sebastian’s throat.

Emir’s lack of height means he has to stand on his toes to rest his chin on Sebastian’s shoulder. It also means his arousal nudges the small of Sebastian’s back. He’s on edge in a very different way.

Emir’s whispered, “And you’re amazing,” and the way he stares at Sebastian as if he’s unbreakable vibrates through his whole body.

“We all do it, mate. We all have things about our body we hate.”

Sebastian bites back,Yeah, but you’re ridiculously flawless.

Emir says, “I can’t get any definition in my arms, and my ass is flat.” He’s barely holding back a laugh.

Sebastian’s helpless about how fast his mouth curves into a grin.

“It’s okay,” says Emir, hands smoothing over Sebastian’s stomach until he can tolerate the sensation. “We’re all imperfect.”

Sebastian licks his lips and salty tears hit his taste buds. “Speak for yourself.”

“I am, asshole,” Emir says, biting Sebastian’s shoulder. “And you too. The whole damn team is a mess, but that’s the point, right?”

“Yep.”

And he’s okay. Emir’s hands continue mapping his body, and he’s okay. He’s learning.

“Now,” Emir says, “can we go grab some lunch? Riley’s being a diva because you’re not around.”

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