Page 58 of Psync
Haruka’s eyebrows raised a notch, and he got up from the bed. “I’ll carry you.”
Eli’s back hit the wall as Haruka advanced toward him. “No way. You are not carrying me bridal style down the hallway where everyone can see.”
Again, Eli got a hint of amusement from Haruka. It was fainter now that they were no longer touching, but it was definitely not coming from Eli.
“And if no one could see?”
“Not then either!”
“If you’re hurting, I want to help.”
Oh my god, was Haruka pouting? Eli looked away before he caved.
“Eli . . .”
Eli kept his face turned away. Everything was extremely weird right now, and Eli was so far outside his comfort zone he couldn’t even see it.
Haruka sighed. “There’s a small bathroom in my room. No shower, but it has a sink and a toilet. Just let me help you get there.” Haruka pointed to what Eli had previously thought was a closet.
“I’m not letting you carry me four feet across the room either.”
“Then lean on my arm.” Haruka held out his hand.
Eli looked at it, then at the door to the bathroom and tried to assess exactly how dizzy he was. If he made it, then his pride got a gold star. But if he didn’t make it, Haruka was going to scoop him up. Then Eli would have a companion in the bathroom with him, and that wasnotgoing to happen.
He stretched out his hand and lightly placed it in Haruka’s. So conditioned to suffering from physical contact, Eli braced himself, but was unprepared at the ecstasy that raced up his arm. He groaned in pleasure and almost fell into Haruka’s waiting arms.
But he stopped himself. Instead, he glared at Haruka’s hand and tugged on it until he followed Eli to the bathroom.
Eli opened the door and pulled his hand free. The pain slammed back down on him like a cat with its prey, and he had to take several deep breaths before his vision cleared enough to go inside.
“Don’t even think about waiting outside.”
“I’m not that weird.” Haruka was smiling, but there was something about the way he hovered by the door that made Eli think he was asking himself if Eli should be alone right now.
“I seriously doubt that,” Eli said and slammed the door in Haruka’s face.
He was in and out as fast as humanly possible, partly because he was half afraid if he took too long, Haruka would barge in to make sure he was okay, and partly because there was something inside Eli that was begging him to go back to Haruka.
When he opened the door, Haruka was a few feet away in his tiny kitchen—not technically standing next to the door, but it was close.
Haruka came to him holding a muffin. A bran muffin. “I have blueberry too, but . . .” He trailed off with an enigmatic smile.
Eli didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’m not hungry right now, but—” He held out a hand when Haruka stepped closer. “But I’ll take it, so I won’t have to find out if you’d actually cram it inside me if I said no.”
Haruka smirked and handed Eli the muffin. Then he took him by the hand and led him to a low Japanese-style table. Eli’s eyes nearly slid shut on contact and followed docilly.
“You don’t have to be so pushy, you know,” Eli said when he sat down.
“And you don’t have to be so stubborn.” Haruka eyed the muffin sitting in front of Eli.
“Do you have coffee?”
“I have milk.”
“Milk is coffee’s evil cousin. And not an acceptable substitute.” Eli tore off a bit of muffin and popped it in his mouth. His knee was just brushing Haruka’s.
“I could get you coffee, but I’m not leaving you alone.”
