Page 84 of Sunrises & Salvation
I’m pacing in the safe space room, my mind drifting from the minimalist art prints on the wall that I ordered to make this acalming environment.It is not very calming at this point, while my mind races with all the things that could go wrong. I know that I’m overreacting, it’s obvious from the way the train derails from ‘what if we run out of refreshments’to ‘what if the ceiling caves in and I inadvertently kill people who were just trying to look at romance books?’See, not rational, and no matter how many positive thoughts I think, there’s no escaping it.
There’s a knock on the door and I stop pacing, glancing at it and waiting to see what the person on the other side needs. If it’s a customer trying to explore, I’ll have to go somewhere else to suffer with my internal ramblings.
“Collins?” Adam’s voice comes through the door slightly muffled. “Trent told me you were in here. Can I come in?”
“Yeah,” I say, my voice cracking, and I clear my throat so he can hear me. “Yeah, come on in.” I try to sound cheerful, but it falls flat to my own ears.
The door creaks open, and I’m rewarded with the sight of Adam looking delectable. He’s wearing shorts that cut off at mid-thigh, showing off his quads and his leg tattoo. I have to swallow the saliva pooling in my mouth, wanting to eat him whole, and have room for seconds. The shirt he has on is adorable, and mine matches it, as well as Trent’s and Kian’s, since they’re all helping me out here today. Adam customized the shirts with the bookstore logo and a pond in the background.They are perfect. And I refuse to admit that I got sappy when he handed it to me.
He comes into the room and shuts the door behind him.
“You okay?” he asks, concern lacing his tone. I nod my head, then immediately shake it as he comes closer to me. There’s no point in lying to him, not when he knows me better than anyone. “Come here.” He opens his arms, and I step into them, letting his warmth and steadfastness settle me when my mind doesn’t want to cooperate.
“It’s okay, you’re okay,” Adam says, tracing his fingers up and down the ridges of my spine. On each pass at the base of my neck, he takes a minute to press extra hard to massage that spot. We stand like that, him not forcing me to talk and tell him what’s going on. He just lets meexistwith no rush when it feels like my words won’t come out.
I nuzzle further into his neck, inhaling his cologne and pressing gentle kisses to whatever skin I can find.
Commotion starts up outside the door, Kian’s voice echoing while he greets someone walking in the front door. We should get out there, this ismystore; I should be the one welcoming people. But the thought of doing it now sends a bad shiver down my spine.
“Hey, let’s stay in here. Just for a little while longer, Kian can manage the front.” It’s amazing to see how far he and Kian have come since Kian came back to town. Adam hated him at first for what he did to Trent, but now they have a mutual understanding. As long as Trent’s happy, they’re both happy. And as long as I’m happy, Adam won’t become a raging asshole.
“You’re going to do great today.” Adam kisses the crown of my head, a few strands falling across my forehead with his exhalation. I’ve been growing it out, and it’s been a change since I’m used to the shorter length. But I love the feeling of Adam’s hands running through it when he kisses me. “Are you puttingthe special editions out that you made?” I nod my head, scraping my teeth lightly against his pulse point. Hearing his affirming words mixed with the anxiety subsiding has another feeling burning inside me.
“Everyone is going to love them, I guarantee you’ll sell out today.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I’ll buy them all,” he says matter-of-factly, and I pull away enough to slap at his chest.
“You will not!”
“You’re right, I won’t. Because customers are going to come in and see how much time and effort you put into the books, and they’ll be fighting to get their hands on a copy.” Appreciation floods my gut, and I reach up on my tiptoes to press a kiss to the stubble on his chin.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” Adam says, dropping his head to brush his lips against mine in a gentle kiss. He keeps it PG, keeping our lips pressed against each other, soaking in the moment between us.
“I’m so lucky you chose me,” I say, pressing kisses across his face and letting the sting from his stubble burn my lips until they’re swollen.
“I’m the lucky one, Hunter. I always have been.” He cups the back of my head, capturing my mouth with his, swallowing my gasp and forcing his tongue into my mouth. Our tongues tangle together and fight for dominance as my dick thickens in my shorts, pressing up against the hard zipper.
“Let’s get away next week,” he says, pulling back while I chase his mouth, craving it against mine. I haven’t had my fill of him yet, and I never will. I will never get enough of him. Even having him now, crowding my body against his so he won’t move away, it’s not enough.
“Where?”
“There’s a lake about two hours from here. It has hiking trails, canoes, and a quiet cabin in secluded woods with no neighbors.” It sounds nice, and like the perfect way to relax after the stress I’m experiencing.
“Is that supposed to be sexy? It sounds like you’re planning the perfect place to murder me.” His laugh is loud and boisterous, eyes creasing as he tilts his head back. His Adam’s apple bobs in my face, and I lean up to bite it. Gently, of course, and then I soothe the bite with my tongue. His eyes darken when he looks at me, his mismatched eyes glazing over.
“I guess I won’t take you then…” He trails off, and I narrow my eyes.
“Well, you aren’t taking anyone else,” I snap. He smiles and kisses me.
“Of course I’m not. You’re the only person I want to be with. The only person I want to spend my time with.” I shouldn’t preen under his attention, but I’m no better than a peacock.
“So is that a yes?” he says, and I smile widely and answer, with much more confidence than I feel.
“Yes.”
