Page 20 of Bull's Boy

But he needed to be sure, some driving need inside him wouldn’t let it go. Shifting, he pulled a leg up so he could more fully face Bull. His big body was stiff, his knuckles protruding from how hard he was gripping the wheel. The soft hum of the engine and faint music were the only noise in the truck’s cab.

“Bull…”

He shouldn’t say anything. The smart thing to do would be to thank Bull for such a wonderful night and then drive himself home to his tiny, lonely apartment. Because Bull was right—things could get weird at work if he didn’t let it go. If he pushed, he could lose a lot more than Bull’s friendship too.

He definitely shouldn’t say anything.

But… ithadbeen a wonderful night. Like, way better than any date he’d been on. And wasn’t that kind of sad? Or, at least, kind of telling. Especially since they hadn’t spent a lot of time together at the clubhouse. Itfeltlike a date though, and that was what was tripping him up. The way Bull’s attention had stayed on him even when he was talking to his friends, how he checked in with him every once in a while, the shiver that had cascaded down Malcolm’s spine when he’d caught Bull checking him out.

It wasn’t dinner and a movie—it was better. It was exactly what he’d needed, given to him by someone who’d had no responsibility to make him feel better.

So instead of doing the smart thing, he took a deep breath and blurted out, “Are you attracted to me?”

Bull’s head slowly turned toward him, jaw tight. He didn’t say anything for a long moment, but Malcolm didn’t let the silence stifle his desire to know and grab the words back. It was just how Bull’s mind worked. He thought through things before speaking, choosing his words carefully.

Something else Malcolm admired about him.

“You shouldn’t ask me that,” he finally said, hands sliding around the wheel and then regripping tightly. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

As far as Malcolm was concerned, that was answer enough. There was only one response Bull could be worried about givinghim, one response that would potentially change things between them. And it wasn’tno.

Mouth dry, he dug his teeth into his bottom lip.Knowingthe answer andhearingit were two different things though. And as reckless as it was, he wanted to hear the words. Needed to. Like an itch under his skin, but in a good way.

Bull was the epitome of manliness: big and handsome and somehow sweet while also a little bossy. And for some reason, the idea that he was attracted toMalcolmwas heating his blood… and his groin.

He wanted those damn words more than he wanted his next breath.

“I want to know,” Malcolm whispered, swallowing when Bull’s eyes dropped to his mouth.

The air crackled around them as Bull shifted, the leather of his seat creaking under his bulk. “Of course I am,” he said just as quietly as Malcolm had been. “You’re fucking gorgeous.”

Malcolm sucked in a breath.Gorgeous? Him? “Do you really mean that?’’

Bull narrowed his eyes. “Yes. And screw anyone who made you doubt it.”

Heart racing, Malcolm wet his lips and leaned a little closer. No one had ever said anything like that to him. If he was lucky, women called him adorable or cute—but never gorgeous. And none of them had ever looked at him with the fierce intensity that Bull was or made his hands sweat and the skin on the back of his neck tingle.

“Thank you.” The words felt inadequate.

Bull nodded once and cleared his throat. “It’s the truth. You don’t have to thank me.”

God… he was about to do something incredibly rash. A voice in his head warned him he might regret it come morning, but it didn’t stop him. Not after the way Bull had terrified his brother. Not after he’d driven him home without prying. And not after he’d found him upset and offered him the perfect antidote, then kept an eye on him all evening.

Bull made him feelgood.

He wanted to do the same for him.

Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.

Slowly, he extended one hand and lightly placed it on Bull’s chest between his two massive pecs. He could feel his thudding heart and the way Bull straightened his spine but didn’t push him away.

“Malcolm—”

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“Parts of me,” Bull grunted and shifted his hips the tiniest bit.

The implication made Malcolm flush and press his fingers a little harder into Bull’s chest. He was barely even touching him, and Bull was already reacting to him? The knowledge made his own cock begin to thicken.

---