Page 17 of Wanted
When they got up, Ezra retreated toward the heating oven, as if he couldn't endure their stench any longer. Wow.
Liv was aware gay people were everywhere, and knew of one gay guy in their trailer park, but this was the first time he’d met so many at once. They were all so very casual about it too. Even the weirdo with the spear, to whom others referred to as Jag, mentioned a“mate”and talked about that person using male pronouns.
So this was some kind of gay criminal enclave.
Frank sighed and rubbed his face. In the warm kitchen light he didn’t look as murderous anymore, but Liv wouldn’t dare underestimate anyone with fists the size of mallets.
“Be quick, we’ll put some pizza in the oven,” Frank said as if to soften the blow of taking away the food earlier.
So he did have a heart.
Liv’s mouth filled with saliva at the mere thought of fresh, hot pizza.
“Can it have pepperoni?” Knox asked, and Liv wanted to slap him, because even he had more tact than that.
Frank’s dark eyebrows lowered. “For questions like that, you’re getting pineapple on yours.”
This moment of tension needed to be dealt with, and quick, so Liv did the first thing that came to his mind and dove in for a quick peck on Knox’s lips.
A charge of electricity sparked when their skin touched, sending aftershocks down Liv’s body as he pulled away, curling his toes while Knox’s blue gaze sliced him like a newly sharpened knife.
“We’ll have… whatever you offer,” Liv said before tugging on Knox’s wrist and leading him into the bathroom.
They were greeted by the shine of white tiles, made a bit fancier by the green potted plants placed in a couple of strategicspots, but Liv didn’t get to have the first word once the door closed.
“What was that about?” Knox asked with a scowl, pushing on Liv’s face, but then followed with a whisper, “you think they have cameras here?” He looked around, bewildered.
Liv pulled him farther from the door, toward a large walk-in shower that would easily fit them both. “What? What are you on about? Why would they have cameras in their own bathroom?” he whispered before letting go of Knox.
“I don’t know. What if it’s a setup? For like… gay peeping Tom porn?” Knox went on, but he must had realized how implausible that was, because he did start undressing.
Liv exhaled and rubbed Knox’s shoulder as soon as it was exposed, before turning on the shower to mute their conversation. “You’re paranoid like that old lady convinced the government is spying on her. I’ll go ask if they have tinfoil, so I can make you a hat.”
Knox rolled his eyes and threw his jacket and T-shirt to the floor, revealing a nasty bruise on his side where Vlad had hit him. It was right next to the anatomical tattoo of a liver Knox got on Liv’s dare, to commemorate their friendship. It was Knox’s only ink, and Liv rather liked it that way.
“Ha. Ha. Very funny. You can’t be too careful. Our situation is already messed up enough.” He bit his lip. “But… if this place does turn out to be safe, maybe we could stay for a few days. It’s not like we have anywhere to go.”
“I mean… they do have a hot shower.” Liv grinned and tugged his own top off, finally ridding himself of the cold, damp fabric. He wasn’t ignorant of the fact that they both smelled, but when he raised his arm, the sourness of old sweat assaulted him like a fist to the face. “Jesus, I think even you smell better than me. They could use my clothes to produce stench for those weird museums that have stink emitters to gross people out.”
Knox leaned in to smell Liv’s pit, only to recoil seconds later. “You wouldn’t be getting any smelling like that. But my breath’s no better.” He shook his head and grabbed the toothbrush left on a neat pile of clothes. “Wash your teeth in case they want us to kiss with tongue or something.”
Liv snorted, opening his jeans and sliding them down his legs. “Who? You think Frank would want to kiss your ugly mug when he has a model boyfriend in there? I’m afraid it’s just you and me, but maybe I should get you a ring first?” he asked and swatted Knox’s newly uncovered ass.
Knox glared at him with his jeans and underwear pooled around his boots and a toothbrush in his mouth.
“How do you know I’d accept?” he asked with a bit of toothpaste foam sliding down his chin. “I don’t even know if you’re good in bed.”
Liv wiggled his brows and stepped close. He rested his chin on Knox’s shoulder and looked at his blond scruff up close. “Oh, I’m sure you’ve heard the many legends about how long I can go on for, and how I can make panties disappear?”
Knox shoved him back and spat into the sink. “Don’t get so touchy-feely. Keep the act for out there,” he pointed to the door, “because I don’t even know how long we can pull it off.”
Naked, Liv stepped under the hot rain, and when it dampened his greasy hair and trailed down his chest, it was a bliss he felt unworthy of.
“Oh goddamn, you need to come here,” he muttered, rubbing his face as the shower took away the fatigue of the past few days. “And don’t worry, we’ll just play along. It’s not that hard to act like a couple.”
Knox inched closer, clearly tempted to get under the water but keeping on the outskirts of the hot rain for some inexplicable reason. “Maybe for your gay ass, but I’m fucking struggling here. And what if they’re only nice and told us to shower because theywant to have an orgy or something? Like that swinger couple, the Daleys. You wouldn’t be able to tell that they’re freaky just from looking at them.”
Liv’s chest rumbled with laughter and he peeked toward the door. “You think big man there would let us leave our dirty fingerprints on that porcelain doll of a man?” he joked, but when Knox’s mouth remained pressed into a thin line, Liv sobered. “Oh, my God. You’re serious? What the hell, Knox?”
