Page 63 of Out of the Shadows
COSMO
Wallace snuggles into my lap. I stroke the funny little creature and his rumbly purr vibrates through my palm, as I sit at the long, pale wood kitchen table.
With its sleek lined minimalism, this is without a doubt a real fuck off kitchen. The soft duck egg blue stops it from being hard and cold, as does the under cabinet lighting. At the end of the kitchen, and down another step, is a comfy looking seating area which looks out over the night time garden. When I followed Daniel in here, I ignored the invitation to take a seat on the squashy pale leather sofa and took my place here, instead, where I can watch him from beneath my lashes.
His back’s to me as he makes coffee. There’s a hint of stiffness in his shoulders and in the staccato rhythm of his movements. He’s probably wondering what the hell he’s doing, or what I might do to him.
I press my lips together to stop the smile that’s itching to break free. Daniel Russo, always so sure of himself. Or at least in the workplace. But now, and with me? He’s altogether another man, one who’s lost his footing and his place in his once-sure world. Yet how can I blame him, when his world has not only been turned upside down, but given a long, hard shake?
Daniel comes over with the coffees, catching my eye as he does so. With a nervous smile he sets them down and for a moment we don’t say anything. I could fill the silence with endless chitchat but it’s not what we need, is not whatheneeds, as I wait for him to make his move.
He doesn’t, so I’ve got no choice but to do it for him.
“I’m not going to eat you. Unless of course that’s what you want?” I smile, and raise a brow. Very exaggerated, to show him I’m joking. Or kind of.
He gives me a sheepish smile. “It all feels a little bit odd, and disorientating.”
“What does? Dating? I told you, the whole date thing is new to me, too. But that’s not what you’re talking about, is it? Is it because we’re both men? Because I work for you? The age difference? Or is it odd and disorientating because you don’t want what you thought you did?”
I keep my eyes on him as I slowly and rhythmically stroke Wallace in an attempt to keep my heart rate steady. I’m not sure if it’s working. If Daniel’s having second thoughts, if he wants to step back because it’s all too much, too soon, then I want to know now. I’m not going to let myself get drawn in deeper if he’s already starting to have cold feet.
He shakes his head. “No, none of that. I’ve crossed a line, and willingly, and it’s not one I want to retreat behind again.”
His hand finds the back of his neck and a light flush colours his face as he sucks in his lower lip. It gives him an air of vulnerability I suspect few people see. It flips my heart and part of me wants to wrap him up in my arms and tell him it’ll be all right. But he’s brought it up, this oddness and awkwardness, and he needs to say what he thinks. I don’t have to wait long.
“If you were a woman, I’d know what to do next.”
Right…Smooches on the sofa, a stumble to the bedroom the expected next step whether he really wanted to or not.
“Then it’s a good job I’m not, and an even better job that Idoknow.”
His lips twitch in a small smile, yet he’s a bag of nerves. All his confidence has fallen away to nothing. There’re years between us, of life and experience, but it’s me who’s going to be his guide. I put Wallace on the floor, get up and make my way around to Daniel on the other side of the table, where I stand over him.
He looks up at me with huge eyes. I’ve startled him, but he can’t disguise their spark of anticipation.
“Your head’s a mess at the moment, and I get that—”
“I—”
“Just listen.” I press my fingers to his warm lips, waiting until he nods before I let my hand fall.
“You set us off on this journey. You. You kissed me, not once but twice. The reason we’re here, Daniel, is because ofyou.But I’m going to give you a get out of jail free card. If this is overwhelming you have to tell me now, in which case I’ll finish my coffee, shrug on my coat and leave. Because I won’t be mucked around with. I need your answer, and I need it now.”
Because I won’t let you be another Leon Chambers
I think I do a good job of sounding tough and resolute, all no compromise and no debate, but to be honest my heart’s thumping really hard and I feel a trickle of sweat make its way down my back. And I’m afraid. I’m afraid, as he stands at the crossroads of the decision he has to make, he’ll shake his head and say no. And god’s honest truth, I don’t want him to.
I gasp as he clamps his hands to my hips and drags me down onto his lap. Straddling him, and looking into eyes that have become more black than blue, my heart’s pumping harder than ever.
“Is this your answer?” His voice is rough and raspy with need.
It’s his answer all right, just like his bulging cock is his answer, pressing hard against mine. He kneads his hands over my hips, almost begging me to roll into him and drag our cocks together.
“Yes.” My voice is nothing more than a shaky groan, as every forward roll of my hips is met with one of his own.
I cup my palms either side of his face and crush my lips to his. The wet heat of his mouth sends a fire through my belly.
His kiss is strong and confident as he takes control of my mouth. Our tongues slip and slide, engaging in a duel as we fight for dominance, a fight I know I’m losing. The juicy smack of lips. Sighs and moans. Heavy, panting breaths. Our need rips through the silent kitchen, and all the time our hips rock and roll, backwards and forwards with mounting urgency in an insistent heavy rhythm as we push and grind, and grind again.
