Page 23 of Touch In Excess

Their fingers slotted together comfortably. Skye’s hands weren’t large enough to make Rami’s fingers feel overly stretched, and he kept a tight enough hold on him that it wasn’t uncomfortable but loose enough that he didn’t feel suffocated. And when Skye rubbed his thumb over Rami’s, it was a gentle motion that soothed instead of irritated.

Rami murmured to himself, “You were made for me.”

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that,” Skye said.

Rami looked up with wide eyes, cheeks heating. “I didn’t mean to say that aloud. I just…I, um. I said?—”

“It’s okay,” Skye told him quickly. “You don’t have to repeat yourself.”

Rami tugged him to a stop. “Ahmed hates when that happens.”

Skye frowned. “Can you say that again?”

‘AHMED,’ Rami spelled on his hand. “My brother. When people talk and he can’t follow, and then they tell him never mind. He doesn’t ever push the issue, but I know it hurts him when he’s left out.”

Skye shook his head and stepped in close. “If I was a hearing person, would you have meant for me to hear what you said?”

Rami swallowed thickly. “Uh. Well…no.”

“Then you’re treating me like you’d treat everyone else, and that’s what matters.”

“I really want to kiss you again, but it makes me uncomfortable to do it where people can see.” He felt like a giant hypocrite for saying that, considering all things, but he had a feeling even if Skye knew what he was doing to earn money, he would have respected that boundary.

“I’ll give you plenty later when we’re alone to make up for it,” Skye murmured. He squeezed Rami’s hand once more, then turned and tugged him toward the ticket taker so they could finally, without reservation, start their date.

It was somewhere around the giant aquarium that stretched from floor to ceiling that Rami felt something cracking in his chest. It was like a dam was holding back his feelings, and every exhibit—every moment he saw Skye’s eyes light up at the animals behind the glass—made the cracks deeper and wider.

“Skye!” He immediately flushed. He hadn’t meant to shout in such a quiet space. Skye turned away from where he was making faces at a three-flippered sea turtle and grinned.

“Yeah, honey?”

Rami took a step closer and reached for him. “Habibi.” He’d never called anyone except his baby cousins that before. It felt strange on his tongue.

Skye frowned. ‘Repeat?’ he asked in sign.

Rami signed precious. Then sweetheart. Then he spelled it. “Habibi,” he repeated aloud. “It’s?—”

“Oh, I know it. Avan’s mom calls me that. Isn’t it platonic?”

“Not always. It’s more…generic,” Rami said, shrugging. “But it’s also important.”

Skye’s body swayed into his. There was no one around, but he was still being careful, and Rami fell even harder for that alone. He closed his eyes, and while he didn’t kiss Skye, he pushed his face into the crook of his neck and breathed in his soft, subtle, gorgeous scent.

“Are you getting tired of being here?” Skye asked him.

Rami pulled back so Skye could see his mouth. “No, but I want to be more intimate with you, and I really don’t want to do that here.”

Skye bit his lip, then reached out and cupped Rami’s cheek. “We could go to my place.”

Rami felt hot all over. “I want to. Where do you live?”

“The Tower,” Skye said.

Rami stiffened. “Oh. I can’t…I’m sorry. I can’t go there. Not with other people in there. I don’t mind your job, I swear, but?—”

“Sweetheart,” Skye said, grabbing Rami’s hand and kissing his knuckles. “I don’t liveinthe Tower. We all have houses on the property. You won’t see a single other person if you don’t want to.”

Rami felt his heart begin to settle and slow. “Oh. Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t…I don’t want you to think I’m ashamed.”

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