Page 75 of Flake It Til You Make It

Rocco looked floored. “You mean, the cookie exchange that I’ve been trying to get invited to for weeks now? For a freakingmonth?”

“Yep, that one,” Taylor said.

“Really? You got me in?” Rocco waited a second until Taylor nodded, and then he threw his arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

But it wasn’t tight enough for Taylor, who pulled him in even closer, until their bodies were pressed together.

“God, you’re amazing,” Rocco murmured into his neck.

Which really was ironic, because the amazing one was Rocco.

“I just asked—well, begged, really—Griff. And he owed me one, ’cause I handled that issue with the light tour.”And I think he took pity on me because he sees just how crazy about you I am.

“Well, he’s amazing. Andyou’reamazing. Even more amazing. For thinking of me.”

It would be so easy to just say,I think about you all the time.With Rocco gazing at him like this, his dark eyes full of affection and gratitude, it should be easy. After all, it probably wouldn’t be news.

But he’d been afraid for years, and even though he didn’twantto do what Griff said and let his past ruin his future, it was hard to get past that lump in his throat.

Then it didn’t matter, because Rocco was kissing him fiercely, and if their kiss a minute ago had been passionate, this one topped it easily.

Taylor groaned into Rocco’s mouth and they stumbled backwards, Taylor’s hip hitting one of the stools in front of the big bay window.

Rocco’s tongue stroked his, insistently, and a second later, he pulled back. “Do you have time to . . .”

Taylor’s cock was pleading thatyes, he had time, and he really kind of did, and it wasn’t like they didn’t want each other. They had barely been able to keep their hands off each other all week.

But he also wondered if this sex was about more than just wanting each other.

It killed Taylor, but he took a breath and then another. “Not right now,” he said.

Rocco pouted. “But I wanted to give you a—”

That had been exactly what Taylor was afraid of. “Yeah, and believe me, I’m not ever going to turn you down, but that’s not what this is. A . . .favor for a favor.”

“It’s not?” Rocco frowned.

Taylor’s heart started beating a little faster. “No,” he said firmly. He was still afraid, but he cared about Rocco enough that he couldn’t let him believe that was true. They weren’t just doing a favor for a favor. They were having sex, they were goddamntogether, because they liked each other.

Because you love him. And you hope he might love you back, someday.

“Okay,” Roco said, smiling, and his eyes were full of that same feeling Taylor was full of, pressing against his breastbone. “I like the sound of that.”

It wasn’t everything Taylor should say, he knew that much, but it would be enough.

For now.

Chapter 12

Rocco was nervous.

Okay, if he was being honest, he was completely freaking terrified.

There was a lot riding on this afternoon.

His cookies were all packed—dozens of the almond cookies from Taylor’s mom’s recipe, and even a few dozen more gingerbread biscotti, which was something his own mom made every year, for the holidays at the restaurant.

In five minutes, Taylor would be here to pick him up for the cookie exchange, and before they left, Rocco was going to hand him a second box. Smaller, packed with just a dozen of the almond cookies, and wrapped up in festive paper, topped with a bow.

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