Page 34 of Crossed Sticks

I reached for Harper’s hand as we walked around. Thankfully, discreet markers identified the plants, because I barely knew a tulip from an aster. Harper loved the crimson Egyptian stars, and the astilbe charmed us both. The unexpected beauty was mesmerizing, and we eventually claimed a bench overlooking the lake, where moonlight shimmered on the water.

Harper interlaced our fingers, and my heart sped when our hips touched. I wanted him sexually, but a desire for more kicked my nerves into high gear. After too much heartbreak and too many hookups, I was used up. Harper was an insanely handsome hockey star, and it wouldn’t be long before someone with more to offer came along.

A car on the street below backfired, bringing me out of my reverie. Harper leaned his head against my shoulder, but when he said nothing, curiosity got the best of me. “You okay, babe?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s perfect out here.”

“You haven’t said much, so I wanted to check in.”

“I like being here with you, Luca. Sorry if I made you think I didn’t.”

“It’s not that. I’m having a fantastic time, but I got nervous because you’re so incredible, and I’m afraid…” I groaned. “Sorry. Can we pretend I didn’t say that?”

He raised his head and edged away far enough away to see me. His eyes glimmered in the moonlight, and he unlaced our fingers and squeezed my hand. “No, because honesty is important. We can’t monitor everything we say, and I want to be close to you. That won’t happen unless we tell each other the truth about things.” He swallowed hard. “Since I just made that proclamation, you’re not the only one who’s nervous. I can’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed going out with a guy this much, and I want to make a good impression. I’m afraid, too.”

“I’m trying to impressyou. You know how we jocks are—good at talking big—but I really want you to like me.”

“Stop worrying, then, because I already do.”

“You can stop thinking about it, too, because I like you, Harper.” A loud blare almost made me jump, and it took a moment to realize it was in my head—an air horn I’d installed years ago, warning me that Harper and I had crossed the line between hanging out and catching feelings. But it was a false alarm. I could handle this because all we’d agreed to do was hang out. I needed companionship for a while, and like I’d been thinking, someone else would snap Harper up soon.

We sat in silence, looking toward the lake. I couldn’t help noticing how smooth his hand was, so I asked, “Don’t you work out?” I felt like an idiot as soon as the words left my mouth. Desperate to remedy my mistake, I tried to explain. “I didn’t mean that. You’re a professional hockey player, so of course you work out, but your hand is amazingly smooth.”

He put on this crooked grin I’d noticed before. The playful expression reminded me of a kid making a face—so cute my chest lightened, and so funny I nearly laughed.

He rubbed a spot on my palm. “Not yours. You’ve got calluses.”

“BecauseIwork out, and since you evaded my question, I’m starting to think you don’t. Are you wearing the best bodysuit in the world to cover up how soft you are underneath?”

His sexy chuckle belied the faux-innocent look on his face. “Want to get a closer look and find out? I wasn’t so soft on FaceTime, was I?”

“Mm. You sure weren’t. And about that closer look, I’ll take you up on that.”

“Okay, but I get a good look at you, too.”

My cock sprang to life, thrilled about Harper’s suggestion. I was wearing fitted shorts, tight in the crotch, and I hissed when the unyielding fabric blocked my dick’s sudden ascent.

“What?” Harper rolled his eyes. “I know you’re the older one, but do your bones hurt already?” When I laughed, he tilted his head to the side. “What’s so funny?”

I tried to come up with an answer, hesitant to admit that the mere idea of him inspecting my body had given me a hard-on. Fuck that. “You asked about my bones, which was funny because I was getting a boner.”

He pulled his hand away, his eyes bulging in a ridiculously overdone imitation of looking shocked. “You were getting a boner while we talked? What’s wrong with you, Moretti?”

“I guess it must be you. I mean?—”

“It’s okay,” he said. “I got a boner when I offered you a closer look.”

“You did, eh?” I smirked. “Want to tell me your apartment number now?”

He raised his eyebrows. “No. You’ll have to follow me downstairs to find out.”

“Am I to consider that an invitation?”

“Consider it anything you like. You’ll find out soon.”

We were being silly, pretending that what was about to happen downstairs wasn’t already decided. Yet, in a way, maybeit wasn’t. As much as we liked each other, maybe the proof was in the doing. Perhaps, for both of us, we wanted this so badly we couldn’t trust it until it actually happened.

Our eyes locked, and the hush that fell over us was broken only by sounds from the street below. As Harper drew closer and wrapped his arm around me, the lingering scent of his cologne launched a powerful wave of emotions. I’d rarely felt such intense sexual desire, but my longing for Harper’s company went beyond the physical. The moment I considered that, memories of Caleb and the pain he caused came rushing in. With an amazing force of will, I pushed those thoughts aside, determined not to let the past interfere with my happiness tonight.

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