Page 43 of Splintered Hearts

“With his best friend.”

“Seems like it’s Noah’s business, not his.”

Hunter sits up with a huff. “I think he feels responsible for him sometimes. Noah’s been through some shit with guys, and I know Mark means well, but—” Hunter spaces out, laying back on the couch with his hands across his chest.

“This isn’t a therapy session.”

Hunter ignores me. “I feel like I come second. I’ve always felt like that, and what happened to Noah... It’s not fair, I knowthat, but—”

“Not fair to you either?”

“I sound like a dick.”

Thinking a moment, I set my pencils down. “I offered him the room.”

That makes him sit up. “What?”

“When you left us to talk at the party, I offered him the room.”

“What did he say?”

“We uh... didn’t have time to finish talking about it.”

Hunter scratches his beard, shaking his head. “Because he sucked your dick.”

“Shut up.” I can’t stop thinking about those soft fucking lips. Those bright green eyes. The entire night plays on a loop inside my mind.

“Was it good? I want to know it was worth the fight Mark and I got into.”

“I’m not telling you—hey!” Hunter goes to snatch the strawberry plushie I’m holding in my lap. “Don’t fuck with this.” I’d brought it out when I interviewed people earlier.

“It’s a stuffed animal.”

“It’s a fruit.”

“You’re a fruit.”

“Real mature.”

“You’re mature.” Hunter sticks out his tongue. “Come on, give me something. The least you can do is tell me about it.”

Whatever. I really don’t have anyone else to talk about it with. “It’s never been that good before. It was... unreal.” Noah just consumed me. The devilish looks. The mischief in those stunning eyes. The quirk of his lips. The wet heat and suction of his mouth. “He moaned while he did it.” Holy shit, I can’t believe I just said that out loud. Mortified, I chance a look at Hunter. “Sorry.”

Instead, Hunter smiles, lolling his head at me. “He enjoyedhimself, then?”

“I’ve never had someone moan like that. Like... like it was giving him pleasure. Like he was enjoying it just as much.” I squeeze my thighs together.

“You want to see him again?”

“I just offered him the room if he wanted it. I’m not looking to date anyone. You know that.”

“What has he said about moving?” Something like hope flickers in Hunter’s dark eyes. Too bad I’ll have to squash that.

“I’ve brought it up a few times, but he’s been deflecting.” Noah’s just as miserable at their house as Hunter is, but he never gives me a straight answer when I bring it up.

Which brings me to my less favorable conclusion.

Noah doesn’t want to.

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