Page 27 of Quiet
“Should I put it on the table?”
Isa nodded, and Briar set it down.
“You’re supposed to text the director when you leave.” He took a step forward, and Isa took a step back.
“Okay,” Isa whispered. His eyes were luminous starlight.
Briar didn’t have experience liking someone, but then he didn’t have experience with a lot of things. The only way to learn was to try.
“Are you okay?”
The color on Isa’s cheeks was enchanting. Briar took another step closer. Isa bumped against the table behind him.
“Isa.” Briar closed the gap between them and took the boy’s face in one hand. He allowed himself to trace the blush as it spread across Isa’s face.
“Y-yes?”
Briar leaned down and whispered, “Where are you going?”
“Ah . . .” Isa fell backward and braced both hands against the table behind him.
Briar brushed his lips against one of Isa’s cheekbones. His skin was as warm as it looked. He took Isa by the hips and lifted him onto the table, pressing into the cradle of the boy’s thighs.
“I like your real hair better.” He brushed away the lock of hair that had fallen across Isa’s face when Briar moved him. Isa watched him unblinking through half-closed eyes, and he was panting softly.
Briar sank his fingers into the hair at the back of Isa’s head and pulled lightly like he had with the hair on the wig. It didn’t bounce or curl around his fingers, but it was soft like rabbit fur. Touching it was better than drawing it.
Isa let out a little cry at the tug, but something about the way he looked at Briar told him it hadn’t been a cry of pain.
Testing, Briar pulled again, harder this time, and Isa let his head fall back, allowing Briar to move him however he wanted. A shiver of electricity rolled through Briar.
Intoxicating.
Everything about Isa was drawing him in, from the hitch in his breath, to the soft little noises he made when Briar tilted the boy’s head, to the way the neck of his shirt seemed seconds from slipping over one shoulder . . .
Isa’s pink little tongue darted out and wet his lower lip. Briar couldn’t look away.
What did Isa taste like?
He dipped his head and allowed his lips to touch the same spot Isa’s tongue had. It was soft and sweet. So sweet.
He traced a path across Isa’s lower lip with his tongue, turning the boy’s head to get a better angle. The boy went boneless in Briar’s arms with a little sigh.
So soft.
He nipped at the full, pouting mouth he’d drawn a hundred times and laughed softly. This was what he’d been missing.
Chapter11
Isa & Briar
ISA
Isa’s brain had shut down a while ago. Briar had been talking, using that sinful voice of his, melting what little sense Isa had, saying god knew what. All Isa knew was that he needed to go. He needed to get away immediately before he made the biggest mistake of his life.
Right now, he didn’t have the faintest clue of what that mistake could possibly be.
He was drowning. Briar’s skin was pure, undiluted magic and it seemed to be everywhere. Against his mouth as Briar devoured him, against the base of his neck where strong fingers held him firmly in place, under Isa’s fingers where they curved against Briar’s back.
