Page 19 of Key Change

“I didn’t expect it to be.” Anthony wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting.

Cillian got out of the car. “And don’t mind Snap. He’s friendly, even though he’ll hiss at you.”

“Snap?”

“My cat. He came with the apartment.”

“How does a cat come with an apartment?”

“A friend of a friend owns it. They moved to London and couldn’t take Snap, so I got the place with the agreement that I’d also take care of their cat.”

Anthony wasn’t sure if that was a good deal or not as he followed Cillian inside and up the stairs to the third floor. As soon as Cillian put his key in the lock, a loud meow came from the apartment.

“He likes to sing.” Cillian opened the door a crack. “He also likes to escape.” Cillian crouched and pushed open the door, grabbing a large ginger cat before he bolted out the door.

He didn’t want to be jealous of the way Cillian kissed the top of the cat’s head and scratched his ear. Snap glared at him as though disapproving of the company Cillian kept.

Anthony wasn’t sure he agreed with Cillian’s remark about Snap’s friendliness. Would that be a deal breaker? Nope, Anthony decided he didn’t care as long as Snap didn’t watch them.

Cillian stepped into the apartment and flicked on a light. Anthony followed and shut the door. It was only then that Cillian put Snap down, who promptly jumped onto the white sofa and turned his back to both of them.

People with white sofas generally didn’t use them, which meant that they either only used the lounge room when people were over, or they were never home. He had fallen into the latter category. This apartment had a lived-in feel. There was a piano in one corner of the living room next to a small table covered with papers and a laptop. A wall mounted TV and a bookcase faced the sofa.

There was no dining table, though there were three stools at the breakfast bar.

“I’d give you the grand tour, but aside from the bathroom and bedroom, you’ve now seen it all.” Cillian swept his hand around indicating the living room.

“It’s cozy.” It was both smaller and bigger than what he was used to. More room than his prison cell, but much smaller than his previous apartments.

Cillian’s eyebrows quirked up. “Not as cozy as a studio, which I can’t have because I teach, and I don’t want to be doing that in my bedroom.”

“I can see why that would be a problem.”

“And bigger places in this area are not cheap.”

Not cheap to rent or buy. As much as he didn’t want to discuss real estate, he didn’t want to rush things either when Cillian wanted to talk to him. It felt normal and easy and he wanted more of this—whatever it was—but, at the same time, he craved more. He wanted Cillian pressed against him. “Have you considered buying something further out?”

“Often. But I keep artist hours, and it’s nice living nearby. And when I was younger, I loved the nightlife.” His lips curved, a brightness coming into his eyes, and he took a step toward Anthony.

Their paths had never crossed because, with their age difference, Cillian had still been at uni when he’d been going to trial. Even if their paths had crossed, Anthony wouldn’t have paid him much attention, thinking him too young and the wrong kind of person to be seen with.

The people he’d wanted to be seen with had been the same as him: everyone worried about how they looked and how much money they had in the bank.

Cillian ran a hand up Anthony’s chest, fingers catching on his collar. “Did you want a drink?”

There was only one thing Anthony wanted, and it wasn’t alcohol. He slid one hand over Cillian’s hip, then leaned in and kissed him, tugging him closer as he claimed his lips. Cillian’s lips parted and his hands wandered over Anthony’s chest, before working open the buttons on Anthony’s shirt.

Lust was a heady drug he hadn’t tasted in a decade, but he hadn’t forgotten the steps to this dance. It was only his courage that had been lacking. The moment Cillian’s hands smoothed over his bare skin, Anthony sucked in a breath and stepped back. It was too much… and not enough. His dick throbbed, aching for attention.

“Let’s go to the bedroom. I don’t want to scare Snap.” Anthony’s voice was rough with need. He needed a few seconds to find some control, though it wouldn’t last… He wouldn’t last.

Cillian took his hand and led him into the bedroom. “Snap likes to watch me in the shower. He also likes drinking shower water.”

Anthony groaned. Imagining Cillian naked and wet was a visual he didn’t need. He shut the bedroom door and pressed Cillian against it, kissing him once before dropping to his knees.

“This is what you want?” Cillian’s voice was low.

The room was illuminated only by the ambient light from outside, but it was enough for him to see Cillian watching him. “Yes.”

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