Page 120 of Leave

I stared at him. He stared right back at me.

Sighing, Riley pulled me in closer. “I mean it.” He touched my face, carefully avoiding the tender spots. “I love you, Nolan. I’m in love with you. I…” He shook his head. “This thing we have—it isn’t something I’m going to run away from because some asshole hurt you.”

My throat tightened. I could barely process any of that, never mind come up with words that would do all these emotions justice. I’d spent my whole adult life protecting myself and not getting too close to anyone. I run away from any kind of attachment because I was too ashamed of my past and too sure people would leave if they knew, because that was what exactly they all did.

And here was Riley, who’d patiently waited while I dropped one defense after another until I’d let him in closer than anyone had ever wanted to get, and now… this.

Finally, I said the only thing that I possibly could in that moment: “I love you, too.”

He smiled like he was actually relieved that I’d said those words. Had he doubted I loved him? Hell, maybe. I’d beenterrible about showing it, and I had no idea what I was doing, and—

“Nolan.” He looked right in my eyes. “Whatever you’re thinking—don’t.”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve got that look like you’re overthinking everything.” Still smiling, he shook his head. “Don’t.”

And before I could respond—before I could think, over or otherwise—his lips met mine.

Oh, God. His kiss was…

I could describe it in a lot of ways. It had been mind-blowing from the first time we’d finally crossed this line, but tonight, it hit me in places I didn’t know existed. Like here was this man who’d had a front row seat to what an unmitigated disaster I was, and he still had his warm palm against my cheek while his soft lips moved with mine.

Riley’s kiss was always a million things. Tonight, it was…

Freeing.

Thatwas the word. That wasexactlythe word.

My entire world was on its ass, and none of that was over yet, but Riley’s soft kiss silently gave me permission to let go. I couldn’t fix anything tonight, and I didn’t have to. I could just be here. In his arms. With the man who knew all the things I’d tried so hard to keep hidden, but he wasn’t shying away. He wasn’t holding back.

I was raw and ripped apart, terrified my entire family was about to turn their backs on me and hate me, but someone was still holding on.

Someone still wanted me.

Someone…

Someonelovedme.

Broken parts and ugly secrets and all.

I drew back and met his eyes, and there wasn’t just warmth in them—there was heat. Need. Desire. It didn’t seem possible to feel this way after brushing up against my trauma like I had tonight, but it also made perfect sense. I needed Riley, and I needed to fall into the hunger and safety and love that I’d only ever found with him.

I licked my lips. “So if I said I wanted to get naked…”

Riley squirmed, and he pressed against me so I could feel the thick ridge beneath his pants. “Is that what you want?”

There was no vacillating or contradictions in me now—I wanted him. Full stop.

“Yeah.” I kissed him lightly. “Get those clothes off.”

We had every stitch of clothing off so fast, they might as well have evaporated. Then we came back together in the middle of the bed, and I had never found the heat of another man’s body so utterly intoxicating in my life. I couldn’t keep my hands off him, and I reveled in the closeness, our hard dicks pinned between us as we kissed like our lives depended on it. Maybe mine did depend on it; tonight, nothing would’ve surprised me.

I nudged him onto his back and straddled him, and when I started kissing his neck, Riley arched and swore. He dragged his nails across my shoulders as he thrust up against my cock.

“God, Nolan…” he murmured. “I want you so bad.”

I groaned against his throat. “Me too.”

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