Page 29 of Sir Avery's Wish
Chapter Eight
How can one man be so hot?Eli sat in the hallway between the restaurant and the main club, the same way he had the night before. Only this time, it wasn’t Ryan he was waiting for.
He idly chewed on his thumbnail, then yanked it away from his mouth. That was when he noticed his leg was jiggling like it had a mind of its own. With a frustrated sigh, he folded his hands tightly on his lap. Nervous fidgeting wasn’t the way to impress his potential Dom.
The bouncer’s eyes shifted in his direction. They didn’t radiate interest, only curiosity. Eli imagined it was because he was grinning like a dork. How could he help it? Lying in Avery’s strong arms all night was better than any fantasy he’d ever had.
He chuckled to himself.Even though we kept all our clothes on.
He’d taken Avery’s advice and put all his troubles aside, doing his best to stay in the moment, to appreciate that there was hope that his situation would get better. The impulse to call Lenny and tell him everything would work out soon had been a temptation almost impossible to resist. But he’d promised Avery not to say anything until they met with Master Zane and his friend Rogan after work.
Where is he?Eli checked the time on his phone and let out a small groan. The bouncer glanced his way again, and Eli pretended he was watching something on his screen. Unfortunately, Avery wasn’t supposed to pick him up for another fifteen minutes.
He couldn’t have Avery catching him being impatient or fidgety. Not that he’d been given any specific demands, but Eli wanted to practice, just in case. The only way he stood a chance of having Avery as his Dom was to be on his best behavior. Averyhadn’t said he was interested in him as his sub, although Eli thought Avery was dropping hints.
Eli leaned against the wall, trying not to let his fantasies run wild the way they had all night, continuing even after Avery drove him to work. He smiled, his stomach fluttering. Cuddling all night, sharing a nice breakfast at the hotel cafe, Avery driving him to work, then kissing him goodbye.
It had felt so domestic, soright. As though they’d been together for years instead of barely knowing each other. The memory of Avery’s lips against his made heat pool in his stomach all over again.
Eli shifted against the wall, trying to find a more comfortable position. The kiss had been gentle, almost chaste, but it promised so much more. He could still taste the coffee on Avery’s lips, still feel the way those large hands had cupped his face with such careful reverence.
Stop it. He was going to work himself into a frenzy at this rate. Eli forced himself to focus on the sounds around him instead. The muffled bass from the club, conversations drifting from the restaurant, the light creak of the door whenever a patron passed through it. Anything to keep his mind from wandering back to how perfectly he’d fit against Avery’s chest.
“Have you been waiting long?”
Avery’s smooth, deep voice sounded from behind him, and Eli gasped, slapping a hand to his chest. Avery turned him in his arms.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Avery kissed his forehead. “I didn’t mean to startle you. And here I was, thinking I would get here before you were off work. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
“No, not at all.” He let out a small chuckle. “I finished my shift early.” He smiled at Avery, working past the wave of shyness that had washed over him. “But I’m glad you’re here now.”
Avery lowered his head, taking Eli’s mouth in a quick but heated kiss. He broke the connection, then brushed his thumb across Eli’s bottom lip.
“Mmm…” Avery’s eyes were hooded. “I’ve been looking forward to that all day.”
“Me too, Sir,” Eli blurted a tad louder than he’d intended. He pressed his palm to his mouth, cursing his lack of restraint.
Avery peeled Eli’s fingers away from his lips. “Don’t be embarrassed by your enthusiasm. I find it charming.”
Charming? Eli blinked several times. No one had ever referred to him likethatbefore.
Eli cleared his throat. “Umm, okay.” He slipped his hand beneath Avery’s suit jacket and slid his palm across the silk dress shirt, wrapping his fingers around Avery’s waist. He wanted to touch skin so bad it hurt. “I don’t want to come across too needy or something.”
Avery drew Eli into his arms. “Don’t be afraid to show me who you are. I need to understand where you’re coming from.” His voice dropped to that low, commanding tone that made Eli’s knees weak. “Your needs, your fears, your desires. All of it.”
Avery’s declaration made Eli want to melt into Avery’s touch, to surrender everything he’d been holding back. But the vulnerability of doing so terrified him.
“I’m still figuring all this out.” Eli kept his voice barely above a whisper, not wanting anyone strolling by to hear him. “I mean, I know I want this.” He gestured back and forth between them. “You. But I’ve never really explored any of it before.”
Avery traced his fingers along Eli’s jawline, and he leaned into the touch without thinking.
“That’s perfectly fine. We’ll discover it together.”
Avery’s eyes searched his face with an intensity that made Eli feel exposed, as if Avery could peer into his heart and soul. Heat crawled up Eli’s neck. Such intense scrutiny should’vemade him uncomfortable. But with Avery, it felt like being valued, like being seen for the first time.
“We should probably head out.” Avery’s hand drifted to the small of Eli’s back. “Zane and Rogan are expecting us soon.”
Reality crashed back in, and Eli’s stomach clenched. For a few blissful moments, he’d forgotten why they were meeting. Thoughts of murder and his uncertain future had faded away. He swallowed hard.
