Page 38 of Fallen Stars

Saliva pools in my mouth as his fingers stroke the collar of my graphic tee. Swallowing, I nod. “Yes.”

His eyes flit to mine. “Why?”

What a loaded fucking question? Truly, there is no simple answer. Not when it comes to me and Levi.

Inhaling a methodical, ragged breath, I spill one of my biggest fears. “I don’t want to fuck this up.”

His fingers drift along my collarbone and down my arm. Drawing a few swirls near my elbow, he continues his exploration as he traces over the half-sleeve tattoo on this arm. Like the kiss, his fingers on my skin is the headiest mix of heaven and hell.

“Me either.” His hand returns to my cheek, the tips of his fingers curling firmly around the nape of my neck. “We’ll figure it out as we go.” Gaze on my lips, he eases forward and eats up the space between us.

“Why now?”

Lips inches from mine, his brow furrows. A beat passes before his expression smooths and turns to awareness. “This whole situation woke me up, I guess.” He inches back, but remains close. In light, measured strokes, his thumb caresses the angle of my jaw as he holds my stare. “Ollie, I’ve wanted this”—he pauses and swallows—“I’ve wanted more than friendship with you for a while.”

“You have?”

The corner of his mouth kicks up in a subtle half smile. “Yeah, I have. For years.”

“Oh.”

How the hell did I miss this? Maybe I was too busy in my own fantasyland to see the forest for the trees.

“With my father the way he is, I’ve been biding my time. Waiting for my trust to kick in so I can move out and on with my life however I want.”

I hate that his life is so wrapped up in the politics of Stone Bay. That he can’t live his life how he chooses without his dad interfering or trash-talking his choices.

His grip on my neck tightens. “Can we talk about it later?”

I nod.

He licks his lips. “Thank fuck.”

And then his lips are on mine, hungry and wet and warm as he kisses me senseless. A click echoes through the car, followed by another. My seat belt eases from my shoulder and I shrug it the rest of the way off.

My hands go to his cheeks, his stubble scratching my palms as my fingers slip into his brown locks. His tongue swirls mineonce, twice, before he deepens the kiss and sucks the length of my tongue. It’s a shot straight to the dick and I moan in appreciation.

All the sound does is spur him on further.

One hand in my hair guiding the kiss, his other travels down my neck, my pecs, my abdomen. He pauses inches from the aching erection beneath my zipper.

As much as I want him to wrap his fingers around my cock, I won’t pressure Levi into doing something he may not be ready for. It’s one thing to admit your feelings for someone. It’s something wholly different to confess your feelings, reveal that you’re gay or bisexual, and then consensually grope someone in a public parking lot during the day.

I want his hands and lips and mouth on every inch of me. But I also don’t want to rush this.

Whatever this is between us, it’s been a long time in the making. Going from zero to a hundred this fast… I don’t want hurried, spontaneous decisions to ruin us before there truly is an us.

Against every molecule in my makeup, I break the kiss. He instantly hauls me back to him and crushes my lips once more. A smile ghosts my lips as soft laughter spills from my mouth. At this, he pulls back and stares at me with confusion in his gaze.

“Did I do something wrong?”

My cheeks sting as I widen my smile. “Not at all.” I tug at the length of his hair. “More than perfect.”

“Then why stop?”

“Truth?”

He nods. “Always.”

---