Page 35 of Liam

"I have a special chair. Kind of like a dirt bike."

"Cool." A wave of possibilities stirred my mind. "We should go some time."

"I'd love that."

I nearly hummed as I tucked back into my food. Finding more things Jamal and I could do together enthused me. I sensed there was very little that would hold Jamal back.

Out of consideration for my hosts, I finished everything on my plate. I even had a piece of pumpkin pie. Minus the whipped cream. There was no need to go crazy.

I was charged with collecting the used glassware and bringing it to the kitchen. Then I was commandeered. Meera nudged me as I started washing pots. "So … you and my brother."

My heart skipped, feeling like it missed a beat. "Me and your brother what?"

"You're getting close." The implication was obvious. I wondered if Jamal had said something to Meera about me. The level of intense eye contact at Ethan's coffee shop had been new.

"He's a great guy," I replied.

So much more than great.

"Any man would be lucky to have him."

I worked to clear my throat as my mind scrambled for a reply. "He deserves the best." And that wasn't me. Jamal deserved a guy who would shower him with unparalleled love.

I rolled my shoulders, reminding myself I wasn't designed for that kind of devotion.

Meera didn't drop any more hints.

I joined Jamal in his room after I finished helping with the dishes. He was sitting in his wheelchair at the edge of his bed. He'd queued up a movie we'd agreed to watch together.

"Liam, do you mind?" He touched his bed. "My shoulders are aching."

I approached him. "How do I move you?"

"Hook your arms around my waist. Lift me and hug me to your body. Give the wheelchair a shove, then set me on the bed near the headboard. I can take it from there."

For a brief second, I was concerned about hurting him. Then I remembered how muscular and robust his body had felt in my arms. I crouched and wrapped my arms around his waist. His arms were immediately around my neck, clinging to me. His breath fluttered past my cheek.

The urge to turn my head and kiss his skin was strong.

"Lift me," Jamal whispered against my ear.

Right.

I hoisted him against my body, chest to chest. He felt incredible in my arms. Strong and capable. There was nothing deficient about this man. I turned him toward the bed, pushed the wheelchair back, took a couple of steps along the mattress, and set him gently on the bedding.

Neither of us moved to separate.

Jamal gripped the back of my neck, his fingers playing with the hair at my nape. A tingle of exhilaration ran up my spine which lit the fire. It would soon be consuming me.

We lingered, our cheeks touching, his other hand on my shoulder. My hands sank onto his hips as our breathing quickened. I stroked my thumbs on his hipbones and wondered if he could feel it. I wanted to run my hands all over his body. Discover every inch of his sensitive skin.

I felt a crackle of sparks.

Intense heat built between us as we stayed connected, unwilling to part. My cock throbbed when Jamal shifted his head up and down, causing his stubble to run rough over mine.

It was too soon.

"Jamal," I managed, barely above a whisper.

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