Page 136 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
He did, and any doubts that this wasn’t real were shattered by Todd’s lips on his, Todd’s tongue coaxing his mouth open, and the sweet feeling when he surrendered his body against Todd’s. The moan was his, the thrumming pulse in his ears his—but the taste, the heat, all Todd.
Todd broke the kiss. “Better?”
Strangely enough, it was. “Kind of.”
“That won’t do.” Todd kissed him harder, molding his body against Fazil’s. Hot and tight, his shaft pressed against Fazil’s hardening dick. Much better.
This time, Fazil broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to Todd’s. “What changed?”
Todd stroked his face. “I was so upset you wouldn’t move. Utterly shattered because I thought you were running away again.”
“I was. I—”
Todd pressed a finger to his lips. “Please let me finish?”
He nodded. It was Todd’s story to tell.
“One night, I ended up at a bar near home and I got to talking with the guy behind the counter. I’d had such a shitty day, so I poured out my whole sob story. When I was done, he came down hard on you for not quitting your job and moving here. And... I started defending your choice.”
Oh.Fazil tightened his grip on Todd.
“You wenthome, Fazil. You went back to a job—a career—and a place you loved. You hadn’t come to Seattle for me in the first place, and I was a total dick for thinking you’d dump your entire life because our paths happened to cross again.”
“But if I loved you enough, I should have.” Fazil spoke against Todd’s lapel.
“That’s not love. I’m not sure what it is, but you destroying yourself for me? Giving up your life? Not love.”
“Kinda destroyed myself anyway. Or tried. Everyone here’s kept me going.”
Todd kissed his forehead. “You were always so hard on yourself. And everyone else.”
He owed the entire office for the last few weeks. “I left you again.”
“Except youdidn’t. After high school, you vanished, and I couldn’t find you. Maybe we both needed that break back then. This time, I knew where you were. We talked. Texted. Everything. You werethere.You didn’t shut down until I became the jerk who pressured you to quit your job and move to Seattle.”
Fazil pressed his face into Todd’s suit jacket. “I wasn’t even mad. You—broke my heart.”
“I know.” Todd caressed the back of Fazil’s head. “I had my head up my ass and I couldn’t see anything other than the plan I’d made. You were right all along.”
Finally.“Can I get that etched in stone?” Because he wanted to remember that. Todd being wrong for a change.
He kissed Fazil’s neck, and that warmth settled into Fazil’s soul. “I was the one with a shitty job. Even if you guys work your magic, they were pushing me out the door.”
Fazil flinched.
“Don’t worry about it.” Todd lifted Fazil’s chin and his eyes were blue and just a little too moist. “I wantyou, Fazil. If this is your home, then it can be my home, too.”
“But you love Seattle.” He wasn’t sure how fair it was to make Todd give that up.
“I did. I do. There are things I’ll miss. Some friends. Capitol Hill. It’s all still there, though. I can visit.Wecan visit.” He stole a quick kiss. “I love you more,muchmore than a single place.”
Oh God.He had Todd. There and then. Everything he wanted in one place. So much light and hope, like a bubble in his chest—only this one wasn’t full of pain. “Pittsburgh isn’t bad.” Every year it got better. There was so much of the city he wanted to explore, and now he could do that with Todd. “I think you’ll like it here.”
“I’m sure I will.” Todd smoothed away the hair from Fazil’s eyes. “You know, you can just say it. I see it. I know.”
Say the words that had been floating around in his head for more than fifteen years. Hedidlove Todd. But if hesaidit, he knew he’d fuck that up somehow. “I’m a dick?”
Todd chuckled. “You’re adorable.”
