Page 77 of Burn It Down

“What the hell? He bought this one even before buying Carl and Betty’s.” I point to the date on the closing document and watch Jake’s eyes scan the line of text.

“This wasalmost eight months ago. And that’s my dad’s signature right next to Martin’s.”

I try to stifle a yawn, but it escapes anyway. This has been the craziest night of my life and my body and brain are both telling me that in order for any of this to make sense, I need to sleep.

“Jake,” I say, leaning over and planting kisses along his bare shoulder, unable to stop touching him. “This clusterfuck will still be here tomorrow. What did you tell me one time? It’s about balance. Come to bed. I’m exhausted and I want to fall asleep with you in my arms.”

I didn’t expect my request to work, but he puts the papers down — albeit reluctantly —follows me back down the hallway, and climbs in his bed with me.

I’m drowsy immediately, but he’s restless. I feel it in the air even if his body is motionless. Like his mind is reaching out to me, telling me he remains unsettled.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask in the dark, knowing more is on his mind than work.

“Whichitare you referring to?” he asks, absentmindedly trailing his fingers along my thigh where it’s draped across his hips under the covers, preventing him from escaping.

“Any of them. All of them.”

“I’m stressed about Cora. I want to protect her, but I don’t know how. This new land-acquisition project of the governor’s feels sleezy and I don’t know how to get out of helping him with it, and of course now I’m going to have to question him about the other properties which will probably get my dad involved.” He’s silent for a beat and then adds, “And I feel things for you that I probably shouldn’t after only a couple months.”

“How exactly do you feel about me?” I ask, perseverating on the only part of his internal turmoil I can muster the energy to care about right now.

He rolls onto his left side to face me, forcing me onto my back. His right hand moves to trace the contours of my chest, collarbone, and shoulders before dipping to my waist. Fuck, his touch feels so good.

“Like I want to be around you all the time. Like all I can think about when we’re apart is when I’ll see you again.” He drops his voice. “Like how I want to come home to you every day, and hold your hand in public, and raise a golden retriever together or something.”

Gripping his upper arm, I pull him on top of me, reveling in the feel of him, the weight of him.

“I’d like all of that and I don’t think it’s too soon to feel that way. We’ve been apart for twenty-seven years. There’s a lot of catching up to do.”

His laugh soothes the ache in my chest. “You’ve only beenalivefor twenty-seven years,” he points out.

“Exactly. We’ve finally found each other. It’s not too soon to want to make up for lost time.”

“This has the potential to get really ugly, Dylan. Are you sure you want to sign up for this? It’ll be difficult even on the best days for a while.”

“Jake, I’m a gay Mexican/American with dead-mommy issues and a business currently under attack. Luckily, I know how to dodifficult.It’seasyI’ll struggle with.”

Jake sighs and smiles as his lips come down on top of mine. The kiss heats up fast and within sixty seconds, we’re grinding against each other.

“Where have you been all my life?”

I know the question is rhetorical, but I answer it anyway as I roll my hips into him, causing him to make the sound I love so fucking much.

“Waiting for you.”

When I get back to my dad’s, I barely make it a foot inside the house before Cassie pounces.

“You have literallytwoseconds to put your shit down and start telling me everything.”

I try to feign annoyance, but I’m floating on cloud nine and I can’t hide my smile.

“I’ve gotta get ready for work,” I tell her, pretending like I don’t have time to give her the story she wants.

“The fuck you do. Dad’s visiting Terrell and Glynda this morning and your first drop off isn’t until ten-thirty, so you have some extra time,” she argues back, making me laugh as I walk down the hallway to my room with Cassie hot on my heels.

“I’m not giving you all the details you information slut. Some things are private.”

“Not from me! We shared a womb and drank from the same tits when we were babies.”

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