Page 37 of Cross the Line

Warning bells sound in Alec’s mind. Yup, he definitely said too much. “You, obviously,” Alec answers, unable to explain how it’s possible for him to be desperate for Theo’s attention and yet want to run away screaming from it when he dares to ask anything that feels like it might be exposing or personal. “If it turns out you don’t love having a cat, that's okay, too. This isn’t permanent.”

“Right, trial run. Fostering.”

“Exactly.”

“I can do that.”

“Good man, Theodore. I knew you could.” Alec moves across the room, carefully pulling Rio off the curtains. She flails a bit before she realizes that it’s Alec who got her and begins to paw at him instead. It makes his chest ache and he brings her up to his face, feeling her silky fur against his cheek. It’s kind of ridiculous how attached to her he already is, but Alec’s never been good at keeping his heart or mouth in check.

“You still want to do this?”

“And waste this sexy outfit staying here? Please.”

“We can’t have that.” Theo laughs. “You ready now then?”

“I’m always ready,” Alec answers, anything but.

CHAPTER 8

Theo

“That really isn’t safe,” Theo says.

“But I’m comfortable.”

“Comfortable doesn’t mean safe. You’re gonna get hurt if we get into an accident.”

“I didn’t know you cared so much about me.” Alec stretches his legs out, wiggling his socked toes against the windshield. “How about we make a deal? I’ll stay here nice and comfortable and you don’t get into an accident.”

“Statistically speaking, ninety-four percent of accidents are caused by driver error, so even if I don’t make any, the odds of someone else doing it are still high enough that I would feel better if you took your legs down.”

“What if I don’t want to?” Alec asks, stroking Rio’s back. He really does look comfortable, legs stretched out and all but melted into Theo’s seat, wearing Theo’s shirt. It’s a little disorienting, which is the only explanation for why Theo’s pulse feels like it’s racing. When he’d picked Alec up from the airport he’d thought it was dangerous, but he had pushed it aside because Alec was a grown-up who could make his own choices. Suddenly the consequences of those choices feel closer. Something has changed and the uncomfortable feeling in Theo’s chest that demands he make sure Alec is safe is louder than ever.

“Well, you need to do it anyway, because I said so.”

“Oh, that sounded bossy.” Alec cackles. “Theodore, are you trying to boss me around? Gonna tell me what to do, big guy?”

“I don’t think anyone in the world could tell you what to do.”

“Damn right.” He turns his head, watching Theo with unmasked mirth, and Theo’s heart lodges itself in his throat. Alec looks relaxed and comfortable and Theo’s hands tighten on the steering wheel as he takes their exit.

Alec sighs as Theo continues, “If we did get an accident?—”

“You’re too safe of a driver. That won’t happen.”

“I said if, smartass.”

“Oh, if. Talk dirty to me, Theodore.”

“I’m gonna get into an accident if you don’t stop that.”

“Stop what?” Alec asks in entirely too innocent a voice. “I’m not doing anything.”

Theo’s cheeks heat. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a handful?”

“In or out of the bedroom?” Alec asks.

If Theo didn’t already know Alec was a virgin he would’ve been absolutely certain that Alec was serious right now, his tone giving nothing away. It raises the question of how much of Alec’s brashness is real and how much is false bravado. Before he can reply, Alec is speaking again.

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