Page 92 of Wanted
Knox held his gaze, making Liv’s heart skip a beat. Yeah, they’d been fucking for barely two weeks, but he could alreadyseethe kind of relationship they could build together in the long term. Because the attraction he now felt so clearly wasn’t just about the pretty blue eyes, easy smiles, or the enticing curve of Knox’s back. He had this eagerness to lean in, to let Liv lose himself in him, and was a warm and comfortable presence after years of friendship. Knox was perfect for him, and Liv had been so blind to it.
“I will. After the surgery.” Knox gave Liv a little kiss, as if he knew this topic was hard to swallow and he needed to soften the blow somehow. He turned back to Frank after having another gulp of cocoa. “And mine?”
Frank handed him the card. “Thought it’d be good to keep the initial, so we went with Colin.”
“There’s no K in—” Knox stared down at his new ID, his face turning into stone. “My name isKolin?! With a ‘K’? Is this a fucking joke?”
Ezra snorted, hiding behind his mug as he leaned against Frank. “Beggars shouldn’t be choosers.”
“Someone got the short end of the stick,” Liv said with a wide grin, and when Knox tried to get up, he held him in place. “Come on, this makes it realistic. Just tell people your mom wanted an unusual spelling, and they’ll swallow the K right up.”
Knox shook his head, looking cute even now, with that frown on his face. “If you ever call me ‘Kolin’ in bed, you’re fucking dead.”
Liv couldn’t help but stall, admiring the beauty of blue embers dancing in Knox’s eyes. He was gorgeous even when angry. “Kolin,” he said in the most seductive tone he could muster but made sure the first letter stood out, hard and spoken from the very back of his throat.
“Stop it!” Knox whined. “It’s not hot. It’s like I should wear glasses and read books for fun.”
“It issohot. From now on, whenever I go down on you, I want you to repeat that new name with a hard K,” Liver mused, kissing Knox’s ear as the pull to touch him became near impossible to resist. The loud sound of Ezra clearing his throat made him back away.
“It’s just a name. And booksarefun,” Ezra said.
Frank got up. “Let’s go, boys, I’ve got work to do, and I still need to show you something.”
Knox gulped down his drink. “I can help if it’s, like, driving. I can manage with one arm.”
“No, you can’t. The doctor said you need to rest,” Liv told him right away, shooting to his feet. Knox wouldn’t drop dead from driving a car, but then he’d want to do more, and they’d already agreed that Knox would take it easy and let Liv take care of him for the time being.
Liv wasnotbacking down from that.
Frank narrowed his eyes. “No. Just think of it as sick leave.”
“Thank you,” Liv said and entwined his fingers with Knox’s.
“I’m not some dainty flower,” Knox grumbled, but squeezed Liv’s hand back.
Ezra frowned and grabbed a canvas bag from the countertop. “No, you’re a man who cracked his collarbone taking a bullet, so take the time off and don’t complain. Most people would be glad for the time off, so be a good boy and don’t fuck up your recovery.”
Scolded, Knox lowered his gaze but stopped arguing, even though the twist of his lips told Liv how he felt about all this. Oh well, there were many ways to improve his mood, and Liv was certain he knew them all.
He’d have to juggle taking care of his new boyfriendandearning money for them both, but he’d manage. He always did.
Ezra passed Liv the bag. “Here’s a few meals you can just pop in the microwave. The stew is bone broth-based, so it will be good for healing. I also stocked your fridge with a few things.”
Knox looked up with his lips parted. “Oh, wow. Thanks. That’s… so nice.”
“Have I ever been anything but nice?” Ezra asked, and while the obvious answer wasyes, Liv held his mouth shut and rubbed Knox’s back as he accepted the food.
“You are the best… cook.”
Ezra’s gaze settled on him, heavy like a hammer to punish him for being a smartass, but he didn’t bother to say anything and just shushed them away.
Liv knew why Knox had found it hard to choose the right words. Both of them had spent most of their lives having to fend for themselves and even helping their parents with things no child should. And sure, girlfriends would occasionally treat them to a home-cooked meal, but they never got these kind of treats, packed lunches, or their fridge stocked for free.
Ezra would have killed Liv if he said it out loud, but it was a very mom-like thing to do. Almost as if Ezra was the kind of mother figure neither of them ever had. A part of Liv didn’t think they deserved being treated with such kindness, but he was smart enough not to let it show and acted as if they both needed a bit of fussing over.
“Make sure to do everything the doctor told you, or it will all be for nothing,” Frank said as he reached their trailer and rolled out of the seat with a suitcase in hand. By the time Liv and Knox both left the vehicle, Frank had rested the open suitcase in the truck bed. Liv’s blood went a bit colder when he spotted two guns and a selection of ammo, but Frank spoke before he could have voiced any of his apprehension.
“Ideally, you won’t need those, but I think at this point it’s quite obvious they may come in handy. We’ll do some training. Liv, starting tomorrow, Knox once his shoulder’s better.”
