Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 163089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 815(@200wpm)___ 652(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 815(@200wpm)___ 652(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
A moan rips out of him, like a sound that was buried in a well and was finally set free. He plants both hands to the small of my back, his fingers curling in my T-shirt, clawing at the skin as he blinks.
His eyes widen when they clash with mine, that ethereal green color brightening as if a flash of life has been injected straight into his veins.
He looks disoriented, a bit bemused, like earlier when he woke up and seemed to have forgotten where he was.
But something happens—something that makes me tighten my grip around his waist, my fingers digging deep into his hip.
Preston closes his eyes and kisses me.
Just like at the top of that cliff, he deepens the kiss and I grab his jaw tighter, angling his head to get better access.
He grunts in my mouth as our tongues stroke one another, ripping at each other, but slowly, so slowly, my heartbeat skyrockets.
My entire body is attuned to him, his breaths, his touch, the way he trembles faintly in my arms as if he’s just been resurrected.
“You taste so good,” he grumbles against my mouth. “Why do you taste so good, Marcus?”
I nibble on his bottom lip, still clutching his jaw in my palm. “Do you not want me to taste good?”
He shakes his head once, even as he steals another kiss, dropping a light peck on the corner of my mouth. That’s one of the few times he’s done that—take something from me instead of being along for the ride.
His eyes hood, and his lips part, glistening with saliva and the steam surrounding us.
“No?” I ask, licking my lips, and his gaze zeroes in on it, his nostrils flaring.
“No. I don’t want you to taste good or feel good.” He lets out a shaky breath against my lips. “It messes with my head.”
“Good. You’re doing the same to me.”
“No, I’m not. You already like men, are attracted to men, but this…” His chin trembles, and his eyes fill with horror so deep, it slashes at my chest. “This is not me. I refuse to be drawn to a man.”
“But you are, Preston. Your cock is already performing a standing ovation for me beneath this towel after a mere kiss. You do want me, so much so, you’re struggling to fight it. If you didn’t want me, or you had the slightest distaste toward me, someone like you who’s so prideful and spiteful would never allow me to touch you like this.” I dig my fingers into his jaw. “Your internalized homophobia is starting to piss me off and annoy me to no end. I already accepted keeping this a secret for your sake, but I’m not going to deal with your bouts of denial every time we kiss and you enjoy it, got it?”
I think I imagine a flash of pain in his irises, but it quickly disappears. His lips purse, the dimples creasing his cheeks as he shoves me away, forcing me to let go of him.
“Don’t speak to me in that tone.”
I cock my head to the side. “What tone?”
“As if you’re patronizing me.”
“I’m not. I’m merely setting my boundaries like you did earlier.” I cross my arms, standing taller. “If you demand that I shove myself back in the closet for you, live on the fringes and in the shadows as if I’m doing something wrong, then I have every fucking right to demand you deal with your denial. I’m not asking you to label yourself or come out when you’re uncomfortable with that, but I won’t put up with your attitude just because I want to fuck you, Preston.”
He remains still for a while, chewing at the corner of his lip, then he releases it and lets out a puff of air. “We can’t be public, because Vencor would kill me.”
“Dad told me about all that nonsense.”
“Then you know gay members are punished by death. It’s not good for either of us if you plan to ever join.”
“Who says I do?”
“Jude said your dad gave you until the end of the year to go to his side, isn’t that right?”
I narrow my eyes. Why does Jude know that? But then again, it doesn’t really matter.
“My father can say whatever he wants. Doesn’t mean I’ll follow his orders.”
He frowns, his brows dipping, making another droplet of water slide down his cheek. “You’ll only get hurt.”
I suppress a smile. “Sounds like you’re worried about me.”
He scoffs and throws a hand in the air. “Bitch, please. I just don’t want to be assaulted with the view of your blood.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. Anyway, I definitely don’t want to be killed by my dad.” He shrugs. “That’s why we can’t be in public.”
“Fine, but that doesn’t explain the denial when it’s only the two of us.”