Page 19 of Colin

“If you mostly go to Afterglow, are you like a Dom or something? Do you want to tie me up?”

“Uh, no and no. But I do like the atmosphere, and I know the owner.”

“You’d said that. But that was only one question, really. The other is what kind of movies do you watch?”

“Okay. I like everything. Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, but also the Fast and Furious franchise, and Ocean’s Eleven. Things like that. Older movies but newer ones too. What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What do you like about Afterglow and what movies?”

I laughed and splashed him. “I don’t go to Afterglow. That isreallyout of my league. But I did like seeing all the half-naked dudes in leather.” I waggled my eyebrows. “My movie tastes are about the same, but I’ll watch rom-coms or romance too. And anime.”

“Anime?”

I nodded. “I uh…do have some BL in that book collection.” That blush was back. And I didn’t know why I admitted that.

“Hm? What’s BL?”

“Oh, God. Are you serious? Anime, manga, boy love. It’s like gay romance but sweeter and has a distinct flavor. Usually, older-younger, and things like that…” As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I knew how they sounded, and the look on Rourke’s face shifted to something darker but incredibly sexy. “Uh…how old are you, exactly?”

He grabbed my foot and pulled me closer, then wrapped his legs around my waist. “You like older men, Colin?”

“Do you?”

“Not particularly. I’ve generally been attracted to people rather than age, but I admit I have had mostly younger men. Boys. But all over twenty-one.”

“Boys? So you’re not a Dom, but are you like…”

“Like what?”

This was hard, and I didn’t know why. Isn’t it what I wanted? A daddy to look after me? Yes, but I didn’t want to be tied up and spanked. “Like a daddy? Do you like, you know, dress up in leather?”

He laughed and let me go. “I don’t dress in leather, no. Is that a deal-breaker for you?”

Was it? I kind of liked the look but I didn’t necessarily want it. “No. I could go either way.”

“Oh, yeah?” He swam over again. Then he flipped me around so I was leaning my head on the noodle, and he grabbed mylegs, wrapping them around his waist. This felt intimate. And we hadn’t even kissed, but hadn’t I wanted that? “Not for me either.”

“Well, what is a deal breaker for you?”

“Probably the same as most people. Lying, cheating.”

“Same. I guess. I haven’t actually had a real relationship, though. I mean, I’m not a virgin. But I haven’t had a regular boyfriend.”

“That sounds like people took advantage of you.”

“No. Not at all. It was mutual. But. Nothing either side wanted to continue either.”

“What if I said I wanted to continue?”

I splashed him. “You haven’t even kissed me yet.” Then, I wiggled out of his grasp with another splash. When I realized he was coming after me, I swam harder.

It didn’t take much for him to catch me, though. Then I was in his arms. Noodles gone. Face-to-Face. “I guess we should rectify that right now.” He leaned closer, and I shut my eyes. The first press of his lips against mine was warm and wet. He licked at the water around my lips, and I smiled. “Let me in, Colin.”

“Okay.”

Then he kissed me again. Soft and sweet, but I parted my lips, and he invaded, dipping his tongue in deep. He licked around and twirled his tongue with mine. Nothing was rushed, just discovering something new. Not unlike our question-and-answer game, with every swipe of his tongue, I gave him one back. When he pulled back, he sighed my name.

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