Page 54 of Fallen Stars

I inch back. “Shit.” My brows tug together. “Sorry.”

He laughs harder while his thumbs stroke my cheeks. With a subtle shake of his head, he says, “Never apologize for kissing me.” He drops his forehead to mine. “Ever.”

I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and give an infinitesimal nod. “Yeah.” I open my eyes and reluctantly pull back. “Alright.”

The world around us comes back into focus, but I refuse to look anywhere except at Oliver.

We join Trip and Hailey at a table off to the side. Food and drinks get ordered as we shoot the shit and townies stop by the table to sing their praises. As the hours pass, the crowd thins to what is a typical night at Dalton’s.

The entire time, Oliver doesn’t take his hand off my thigh beneath the table.

When our plates empty and we drain the last of our drinks, Oliver leans into my side, his breath warm on my ear. “Want to get out of here?” He inches back until our gazes lock.

Silly fucking question. I’ve wanted to leave with him since I kissed him.

Not wanting to appear overeager, I give a subtle nod. “Yeah. Don’t you need to pack up?” I jerk my chin toward the stage.

“Owner said we could come back in the morning.” He shrugs. “I have a room booked at the inn.”

Those words are an instant shot of adrenaline and lust in my veins, but I try to not let it show. “With Trip and Hailey?”

Please say no.

Throaty laughter fills the air as Oliver covers his mouth with a loose fist. “Uh, no.” He shakes his head for emphasis. “It’s nothing personal. Just not in the mood to listen to and watch them fuck for hours.”

I choke on my own breath, and it only serves to make Oliver laugh harder.

“Jesus, Ollie.”

“What?” He rolls his eyes. “Just telling it like it is.”

He rises from his stool and I immediately miss the contact of his hand on my thigh.

“Be right back. Going to close out our tab.”

Before I’m able to hand over cash for my part, he’s halfway to the bar. For a moment, he chats with the bartender and I ogle the brilliant smile on his beautiful face.

The day started with stress and darkness. It almost ended in a similar fashion.

But I’m tired of hiding a part of myself. A very large part of my identity. It’s time to embrace who I am. It’s time to walk through the world as myself. My true self. Not all at once. I don’t think I’m mentally prepared for that. But tonight helped. Being around people who don’t know me, who don’t have set expectations of me… it’s a start.

So long as I have Oliver, I don’t fear what happens next.

“Ready?” he asks as he approaches the table.

More than ever.

I slip off my stool. “Ready.”

Oliver waves to Hailey and Trip. “Bartender said after ten tomorrow morning.”

“Cool.” Trip sips his beer. “Night.”

“Night.” Oliver waves.

Our stride is casual as we exit the tavern and walk down the street for my car. But there is no mistaking the exquisite tension building between us. Each step we take is a step closer to a fantasy I’ve jacked off to countless times over the years.

As the engine warms, Oliver indicates where the inn is. When I put the car in gear and drive down the street, he reachesacross the console, lays his hand on my upper thigh, and gently massages the muscles inches from my groin.

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