Page 70 of Last Chorus

He squints doubtfully at me. “I wasn’t very peaceful last night.”

I shrug, scooting back on the couch and drawing my knees to my chest. “I think what happened last night was a long time coming.” I tilt my head. “Speaking of coming… you never answered my question.”

He grins, smug as hell. “Look who’s the conductor of the Pun Train now.”

I roll my eyes but can’t resist a laugh. “Whatever. Are you going to tell me why you never let me give you a blowjob? No joke, your refusal gave me a complex.”

His eyes widen. “It did?”

Ignoring the prickling heat crawling up my neck, I mumble into my knees, “I’ve never given one because of you. I was too afraid I’d be bad at it.”

Wilder stares at me unblinking for an extended moment, then jerks halfway to his feet before collapsing back to the couch. He covers his face with his hands.

“I can’t believe this.”

My embarrassment spikes even higher. “What did you expect? You went down on me all the time, but every single time I tried to return the favor, you rejected me.”

His hands drop, revealing a stricken expression. “No, Fairy. No, no. My refusal… that was a combination of some weird mental shit and being on opiates.”

I frown. “Explain.”

“Once I started using again, it wasn’t easy for me to come. I didn’t want you to think you weren’t able to get me there with your mouth. The main reason, though, was that I constantly felt like a piece of shit for lying to you. The idea of you doing that for me, with howvulnerable and selfless the act is… I couldn’t stomach putting you in that position.”

My left eyelid twitches. I press a finger to it, then glare at him through my other eye.

“Let me get this straight. You thought you were beingnoble?”

He grimaces. “Yes?”

A laugh bubbles out of me. “What the hell, Wilder!”

The glint in his eyes ruins his attempt at a serious expression. “You’ve seriously never given a blowjob?”

“We can stop talking about this now. Thanks for answering my question, and also, screw you.”

He cracks, his rich laughter filling the room. “This is so twisted. I should feel bad—I know I should—but I can’t. It’s like I accidentally gave myself a gift.”

“You’re such an asshole.”

Sparkling eyes slant my way. “I volunteer as tribute. Anywhere, anytime you want to practice, whether I’m awake, asleep, driving, cooking, doing laundry…”

Fighting a smile, I kick his thigh. “What makes you think I want to give you a blowjob anymore? Maybe I’m perfectly happy with my virgin mouth.”

“Liar,” he murmurs huskily.

Ignoring the blush that gives me away, I fake a yawn that turns into a real yawn. “I need a nap and a bath.” He frowns and I quickly add, “We’re not discussing mysleep issues, but if you want to talk about boundaries, now’s the time.”

He bites his lip. “Have I ever told you how hot it is that you’re a boss in the streets but a total slut in the sheets?”

I kick him again. “Focus!”

“Fine, fine.” His grin fades as he sits up and drags fingers across his scalp. The action makesmesit straighter since it’s his nervous tell—that and the fact he’s not looking at me but staring out the windows lining the back of the house.

“Wilder?”

“I’m getting there. Just fighting with myself.” He glances at me. “I’m not sure how you’ll respond to this.”

I hug my knees tighter as my stomach flutters. “If you don’t want to do this…”

---