Page 43 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
“Ready?”
“Yeah.” It came out breathless, but Fazil stepped out onto the deck anyway. The needles rose into his ass and up the small of his back. It waswindy. He eyed the edge—and relaxed. There wasn’t any fucking way he could fall off this thing. Sure, it was open to the elements, but entirely enclosed by Plexiglas, safety nets, and wire. “This is fine.”
Todd loosened his grip. “Good. The view’s fantastic.”
Just like in the restaurant, only now he could look down. It should have been terrifying, but it wasn’t. They walked around to get away from other tourists and to enjoy the panorama of the city. More walking let them stare out at the sound. Todd let go of Fazil as they gazed out over the water, but only to wrap an arm around Fazil’s waist. His warm palm settled against the junction between Fazil’s jeans and his t-shirt. Perfect.
Fazil leaned into Todd’s chest. They’d never done this in high school—beentogether in public. Todd brushed a kiss against Fazil’s temple. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” If only for another week, maybe more. Then he’d be back in Pittsburgh. He tamped down the rising panic at the thought of leaving Todd and wrapped himself in his warmth, the moment, and the beauty of the city, the water, and the mountains.
He couldn’t stay in Seattle. But Todd held him. Loved him. Missed him.
You’re not good enough for this man.“What’s next?”
“I was thinking one of the underground tours,” Todd murmured. “I’ve never done one, but I hear they’re fascinating.”
“Underground?”
“Part of the city was rebuilt a story or so higher after a fire to prevent flooding and for plumbing reasons. The original street level is still under there.”
Holy shit.“That sounds fantastic.”
Todd opened space between them. “Like a little history?”
“Oh yeah. Especially that kind of stuff. Bet that was ripe for a different type of underworld.” He adored the history of anything subversive. The Whiskey Rebellion. Bootlegging. Speakeasies. Smuggling. Plenty of other cities had underground locations that supported... well, an underground.
They headed back inside to the holding area for the elevator. “That’s what I’ve heard. Opium dens, brothels. All of that.” Todd’s gaze got distant. “You weren’t into history in high school.”
“That’s because they made it as boring as they could. This stuff is actuallyinteresting.”
Todd chuckled but didn’t say a word.
“What?” Something in the play of his lips made Fazil want to back Todd up against a wall and kiss him until they were both breathless.
“You. I love it when you’re passionate. Never saw it withhistorybefore, that’s all. You once told me that moldy old stories were the biggest turnoffever.”
Yeah, that did sound like something his younger self would have said. “I may have been wrong.”
“May have been?” Todd’s cupped the back of Fazil’s neck.
Didn’t that send a shower of desire cascading over every part of his skin? There were more than a few people watching them. A few weren’t—very poignantly. The hell with it. “I was wrong about a lot of things.” So many.
Todd grazed Fazil’s skin with his fingers. “Good that you changed your mind, isn’t it?”
Fazil couldn’t breathe. Todd drew close, and they weren’t alone. His body met Fazil’s, and their lips touched. A gentle kiss, longer than a peck. Not deep, but Fazil melted to his toes and swayed in Todd’s arms when they broke it.
Todd took his sweet time letting him go, which was fine. He was having issues getting his pulse under control. Todd had kissed him in public.
There was his quizzical look. “Later.” He’d explain later. Especially since the elevator arrived and people were exiting it.
Todd nodded, and Fazil was grateful that their shorthand—the way they read each other—had come back. Or reawakened.
When they got to the bottom and were away from the crowds near the Space Needle, he slowed their walk. “That’s the first time I’ve kissed a guy in public.”
Todd’s brow furrowed. “You kissed me in the bar last night and in the parking lot at lunch.”
“I kissed you in agaybarlast night.” He’d done that with other guys, too, in places he knew were safe. “And there was no one in that parking lot.” There’d been a ton of people by the elevator.
