Page 13 of The Lost Art of Woodworking and Taking Risks
Chamis’s head snapped up, and he stared at the other man in shock, unable to believe his ears.
“Can you what?” he choked out.
Bennan’s eyes were bright, burning in their intensity, and it was all directed at Chamis.
“Can I—mayI—kiss you?”
Well, he’d repeated the question, and Chamis had still heard the same thing. He’d never had anyone look at him this way before. There was so much hunger, that bright and burning want in his eyes, but he’d asked the question—twice—and was waiting for Chamis to answer. He wasn’t just taking what he wanted, but he wasn’t giving up, either. He was giving Chamis space to make a choice.
Chamis swallowed, feeling the lump in his throat that was almost too big to get past. Perian had told him he could get what he wantedif only he were willing to take a chance. Chamis was certain he couldn’t trust his voice, so after a long, agonizing moment, where all he could hear was the blood pounding in his ears and feel the heat of his face, he managed to nod.
Bennan set the carving back down on the bookshelf and walked the four steps that brought him right in front of Chamis. Bennan was a few inches shorter than Chamis—almost everyone was—but without hesitation, he reached up and cupped Chamis’s face, making him suck in a breath, and then he leaned up and pressed their lips together.
Chamis froze, mind having trouble processing. Yes, this was what Bennan had just asked if he could do, but now he was actually doing it.Bennan was kissing him. The thought was bouncing around in his head like it had a mind of its own.
He could feel Bennan’s lips pressed against Chamis’s own, could feel their warmth, the soft firmness, and the way Bennan’s body leaned into his, the way his hands slipped down so they were on Chamis’s waist, resting there. Their chests were touching, and Chamis’s eyes were closed, though he didn’t actually remember closing them. He should probably open them again because he wanted to see, wanted to capture every moment of this, but it was all he could do to catalog the impressions of those lips against his, the perfect sweetness of it, the swooping of his stomach, the heat of Bennan’s skin. He didn’t think he could handle anything more.
He couldsmellthe other man, and it was warmth and leather and the sweetness of the dessert they’d shared—all right, share was maybe a stretch—and something that was a little bit spicy.
And then Bennan’s lower body brushed against Chamis’s, and he startled like a scared cat, jumping back and spoiling the kiss. He felt his faceheat—again, he hated his life—only Bennan was there once more, was cupping his face, was careful not to touch him anywhere else.
“Hey,” Bennan said, smiling softly. “That was amazing. Thank you.”
He scoffed, looking anywhere but at the other man.
“Chamis,” Bennan said, “don’t you know how long I’ve wanted this?”
Unable to resist the lure of thewanthe could hear in that voice, Chamis glanced at him, and their gazes caught and held.
“I mean it,” Bennan said intently. “You just fulfilled a fantasy today.”
Chamis shivered, the words caressing him, but he couldn’t help but scoff again. “Shying away like a scared cat?”
“A little less that,” Bennan said, lips tipping up, inviting him to share the joke, “and more the smoking hot kiss.”
Chamis couldn’t help but smile a little, but he could feel his eyes stinging. Fire and water, he was not going to—
Bennan reached up and brushed the skin beneath his eyes with a featherlight touch.
“Am I making you sad?” he whispered.
Chamis shook his head a little.
“You just need some time to process all this?”
Cautiously, he nodded.
“Is this touching all right?”
Another nod.
Bennan brushed another tear away, the drag of his thumb along Chamis’s skin perfectly wonderful.
“Good,” Bennan said happily. Then his lips twisted again, and this seemed to be more… self-deprecating. “Look, I know I kind of give the impression that I want to do everything at top speed.”
Chamis snorted.
Bennan’s smile became more genuine, but his gaze was still carefully intent. “I’m not going to lie. If you wanted to fall into bed right now, I’d be happy to do that.”
