Page 12 of Patience
“Why was that guy bothering me?” Eli swayed and put a hand on Haruka’s chest to steady himself. He looked like he was having a difficult time focusing on Haruka. “Helios can’t touch us here, right?”
Haruka barely paid attention as Kamakura dealt with the removal of the drunk from the premises. “Eli, just because there isn’t a god trying to fuck with you, doesn’t mean people don’t have eyes.”
Eli’s eyes crossed a little before meeting Haruka’s.
“You’re so silly,” Eli said and reached out to pat Haruka on the cheek. Before he made contact, his eyes closed, and he slumped against Haruka’s chest.
Haruka scooped his unconscious boyfriend into his arms and tried very, very hard not to pout. There was no point in doing it if Eli wasn’t awake to see.
Chapter6
Haruka
Haruka woke up early. There were things he needed to do.
It took about an hour to wrap up the plan he’d put into motion last night. After a series of texts between Chiharu, Ito, Kamakura, and, unfortunately, his aunt, he finally had everything in place.
A rustle from the bed caught Haruka’s attention, but he didn’t look up from his phone.
Instead, he opened a document from his aunt he’d already gone over and began to read it again. He propped his phone on the knee he’d slung over the arm of the bedside chair he’d done all his work from. Eli needed to be able to see him as soon as he woke up, so he’d know he was safe.
There was a faint clinking sound and then a sleepy, “. . . the fuck?”
Haruka continued to read, giving the document all of his attention. Well, some of his attention.
“Haruka?” Eli sounded a little more awake now. There was a touch of confusion in his voice.
Haruka held up a finger to signal that he’d be with Eli shortly.
At the edges of his mind, he felt a sharp flare of arousal from the direction of the bed. As the minutes ticked by, the flare morphed into a steady pulse.
When a shimmering glow began to wind its way through Eli’s mind, Haruka turned off his phone and set it on the nightstand. That was his cue.
Game on.
He stood and walked to the bed to sit at Eli’s side. “How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?”
“I’m fine,” Eli said in a small voice.
Haruka allowed his eyes to travel up Eli’s slender arms as the boy tried to subtly pull at the chains attaching his wrists to the headboard. His delicate hands were porcelain pale and had no hint of blue.
Excellent. Haruka hadn’t made the cuffs too tight. He had already checked the tightness of the cuffs, but there was no such thing as being too safe.
“You’ve been torturing me all week, Eli.”
“I’m sorry,” Eli whispered and squirmed on the bed. There was a clink at the foot of the bed. Eli’s pupils blew wide as he realized his feet were bound too.
“No, you’re not.” Haruka purred and traced the curve of Eli’s lower lip. His mouth was pink and plush, like it was begging Haruka to bite it.
Patience.
:Not even a little.:
Haruka received a flash of memory from Eli. He’d hadn’t orchestrated all the mishaps over the past few days, but he had been fully aware of what he’d been doing at the communal bath. And when he’d teased Haruka while they were shopping. And when he’d scheduled the doctor visit so early in the morning. Everything he’d done was all designed to push Haruka to this moment.
Far be it from him to deny Eli something he wanted.
“Bratty boy.” Haruka dipped his head and captured Eli’s lower lip between his teeth, biting down just hard enough for it to hurt.
