Page 35 of Holiday Scars
That gets his attention. He turns, brows pulling tight. “You only have one bedroom.”
“That’s the point.”
His breath hitches. And then I can’t take it anymore. I grab him, pull him in, and my mouth is on his before I can think about what a mistake this might be. Blade tastes like mint and spice. His hands fist the collar of my coat like he’s drowning, and I’m the only thing keeping his head above water.
Ironic, considering this all started with me nearly drowning that night on the pier, and now it’s Blade gasping for air.
When we finally break apart, the driver pretends not to notice.
Blade leans his forehead against mine, whispering, “I missed you, Jetty. I only want you.”
The sound of his nickname for me wrecks me.
“Change of plans,” I tell the driver and adjust the app. “Skip the first stop. Just the last one.”
He smiles, accepts the new route, and adjusts course. Blade and I kiss for the rest of the ride, sweet and tender. But there’s a storm in his touch. He will ruin me when we’re alone. And I’m here for it.
When we reach my building, we get out hand in hand. I use the key to get into my building, feeling happier than I have in weeks. Maybe ever. We jog up the stairs, my pulse pounding with excitement.
Outside my apartment door, Blade stops. He looks at me like he thought he’d lost me forever.
Me too, buddy.
And then he kisses me again. There is no hesitation this time.
I know we’re both still bleeding from what happened up on that mountain. From what we’ve done. What we said. The promises we broke. It doesn’t change who we are and what we want.
I groan against his mouth, and holding his face, I say, “Make love to me, Blade.”
He smiles and says, “I’ve been waiting for you to ask me that.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jett
Insecurity snakes up my spine as I unlock the door to my apartment. Not because of the mess I left behind this morning. Blade doesn’t care about that, but he’ll see how simply I’ve been living. In a barren space, barely furnished, with naked, bland walls.
That, despite the good money we get paid, I haven’t gotten out of my own way to spend it on myself. That, maybe I don’t deserve better because my entire childhood, I was told I didn’t deserve better.
Maybe Blade living here with me will be the push I need to make it nicer. I will make it nicer for him. But when he walks in, he barely looks at the place. His eyes are squarely on me.
“The longer you stare, the longer it will take for us to get naked,” I say.
Blade shucks off his coat. “That was the best and corniest invitation to sex I’ve ever heard, and you know what?” He grabs me so roughly that the wind is knocked out of my chest. “I love it. And back at the cabin, I was only trying to protect you. Because I... I love you, Jett.”
My heart stops, hearing that. I wasn’t sure if we were ready. “I’ve always loved you. In many ways. A friend. A partner. Someone I can trust in this fucked-up business we got ourselves into. Now...” I fight to keep my voice steady. “Now I love you in a way that makes me complete.”
Blade’s eyes go glassy. “I never said those words before, and I wasn’t sure if you’d say it back. No one ever did.” He pulls me close so our foreheads touch. “No one. Not one living soul.”
“Then I’m special,” I say and kiss him.
“Show me your bed, Jett.” His fingers trail down my back, and he squeezes my ass. “I need this. I need all of you.”
“Our bed,” I whisper. “You’re staying with me, right? From now on?”
“Right.” He grips my hand and walks down the short hallway. “This way?”
“Yes, sir.” I hear him growl from me calling him sir. Maybe I’ll try Daddy, even though he’s only one year older than me.
