Page 38 of All I Want Is Love
“No.” I pause. “Yes. Maybe.”
“I am going to fetch us some drinks,” Soren says. “Robin, I could do with some help.”
“Got you,” Robin beams.
I wait for them to have left us alone before I turn to Aspen. “I didn’t truly believe you would judge me, but… my mind goes to the worst-case scenario all the time.”
“I am part of the queer community here,” Aspen says softly. “You have nothing to be scared of. I will always accept you.”
Silence lingers around us. I wish I knew what I could say now. I want to explain to him how my mind works, and how it isn’t his fault, but there are no words that can truly describe how I feel and how sometimes I just spiral.
“Leo.” Aspen squeezes my shoulder. “Our parents fucked up. It’s their fault. We are not at fault for living our lives.” When I stay silent, Aspen adds. “I will keep telling you that you are not at fault until you believe it. Even if it takes me years.”
“Maybe you are right,” I say quietly. “I am happier here,” I finally admit.
We are interrupted by Robin, pushing through the crowd. “Grab your drinks before they spill.”
A bulky dude pushes against me while dancing, but Soren catches me with one arm without spilling our drinks. “How did you do that?” I ask, amazed.
“For real, did you practice?” Robin calls out. “How to be cool to show off in front of my young and impressionable boyfriend.”
“Who are you calling impressionable?” I complain.
“Did you just hint I’m not cool?” Soren adds, before he smirks at me. “Practice, huh? You know the difference between practice and—“
“No!” I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Do you know what’s better than telling jokes?”
“Oh, I know a couple of things,” he says, nibbing at my bottom lip.
“And for the record, I find you cool.”
“Oh fuck,” Aspen groans. “This is too much.”
“Come, big man,” Robin giggles. “Let’s dance so that these two can flirt as much as they want.”
Aspen lets himself get dragged away from us and to the middle of the dance floor, giving Soren and me some privacy. Sorencurls his finger through one of the loops of my pants and tugs me closer. “I remember there was a comment about nibbling at you?” He whispers into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “When we came to the club.”
“I guess there was.”
He slips his thumb into the waistband, brushing over my skin. “Do you want me tonibbleat you?”
Fuck, I have been battling an erection ever since he kept touching my leg under the table, but this is just unfair. But two can play this game. I sneak a free hand under his shirt, feeling the back of his skin. “So, what have you been thinking of?”
Soren moves his hand to the back pocket of my pants, pushing inside it and squeezing my ass.
Okay, he is better at this game.
“Do you really want me to show you what I’ve had in mind?”
His tone is teasing and sultry, but there is a hint of seriousness in it. My heart makes a silly leap of joy when I realize he is asking for my consent and checking in with me. “Yes.”
fourteen
*LEO*
“And you are sure no one is going to find us in here?”
Soren closes the door of the storage room behind us. From outside, I can still hear the sound of the music and muffled voices, sending a shiver of thrill through my body.
