Page 40 of Between the Lines

“Wow,” Luca said, releasing Theo’s hand from its death grip to down the rest of his champagne in one long gulp. “That was—They’re pretty good, huh?”

Theo had to swallow hard, wiping at his eyes and blowing out a breath. “Yeah...”

The band took to the stage again, playing something lyrical, but nothing that could compete with the emotional intensity of what had just happened. Theo felt wrecked as he watched Finn and Josh disappear into the crowd and into their happy, love filled future.

“Hey,” Luca said thickly, then cleared his throat. “Hey, you okay?”

He wasn’t really. The song, and his startling revelation, had left him feeling raw and unbalanced. Rash. Which was probably why he said, “I wish I could have that, you know? That kind of love.”

With you.

Luca sat with his forearms resting on the table, chewing his lip. “I’m sure you will, one day.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

He swallowed a mouthful of champagne but it didn’t wash away the foolish lump in his throat. “Because I’m not—” a half shrug “—you know.”

“No, I don’t. You’re not what?”

He sighed, fiddling with the stem of his glass. “A guy people fall in love with, I guess.”

Luca looked down so all Theo could see was the crown of his head, hair glinting like old gold in the candlelight. He’d said too much, Luca’s alarm bells must be clanging. Mushy stuff wasn’t part of their deal.

“It’s okay,” Theo carried on, forcing levity into his voice. “I don’t mind. I’m bypassing a lot of hassle and it’s—”

“Dance with me.”

Blindsided, Theo blinked. “What?”

“Dance with me,” Luca said, inclining his head toward the dance floor where a few couples were swaying to the music.

“Ah, no. I don’t dance.”

“Why not?”

“Two left feet, on a good day?” The thought turned him hot with panic, all those people watching him flail around. No thank you.

But Luca reached out and took his hand. “I won’t let you look stupid,” he said. And the truth was, Theo’s ridiculous heart wanted to dance, as if it thought that by dancing he could snatch a taste of what he yearned for. Luca must have sensed his indecision because he got up, still holding Theo’s hand. “Trust me?”

He couldn’t say no; he didn’t want to say no. Swallowing the last of his champagne, Theo stood up and it felt a little like a dream as he let Luca lead him onto the dance floor. His skin pricked as if all eyes were on them, even though he knew they weren’t. He and Luca were unremarkable here, but Theo’s body didn’t move to music, he couldn’t do what others found so easy, and that left him feeling exposed.

“Here,” Luca said, slipping his arms around Theo’s waist, “just follow me.”

So he did, the familiar feel of Luca in his arms reassuring, a warm wash of desire flushing out some of his anxiety. Slowly, Luca started to sway. That was all, nothing more. They swayed in time—he hoped—with the music. It wasn’t quite dancing, but Theo’s heart swelled all the same, just from the sensation of moving his body with Luca’s, the lights twinkling all around them and the magic of the evening sinking into his bones.

And Luca. He looked at him with such focus, his silver eyes bright, as if he was trying to dig inside him with that look. Theo drew him closer, and Luca moved willingly until their hips pressed together. And then Luca sighed, a deep exhalation that reverberated against Theo’s chest, and tugged him into a hard embrace, nuzzling his ear.

“Theo,” Luca breathed. And again,“Theo.”He cupped the back of Theo’s head, knotting his fingers into his hair. In a low throaty whisper, barely more than a breath, he said, “Let me take you to bed.”

It wasn’t everything Theo wanted, but it was everything he wanted right then. And that was enough. So he nodded and kissed Luca’s warm, sun-chapped lips. “Yes,” he said. “Yes please.”

Chapter Fifteen

Luca didn’t close the curtains, letting moonlight flood through the windows as he stripped Theo with as much care as he’d helped him to dress. He took his time, unveiling him slowly, shirt stud by shirt stud, heart pounding in time with the echo of the music.

Theo’s eyes were liquid and watchful, shadowed deeper by the uncertain moonlight, and his skin gleamed like ivory when Luca laid him down on the sheets. He was breathing fast, his chest rising and falling, lips blood-flushed and swollen. And when Luca brushed their mouths together, Theo arched up off the bed to meet him, a soft groan bleeding into their kiss. Luca’s arms went around him, holding him close, locking them together, limbs tangling. It wasn’t blood in Luca’s veins then, but something hot and powerful that filled him up entirely, spilling out in long, bruising kisses. Need and longing, terror and hope, and Theo, under him, over him. With him.

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