Page 136 of In Plain Sight

“But now I do. And I’m tired of hiding it. I’m gay. I’ve always been gay, and I’ll always be gay. The thought of losing my mother is terrifying. So is losing everyone from my past, but I can’t keep living for them. I need to put my happiness first, and if they can’t accept me for who I am, then so be it.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to regret this. Or regret me. It’s not like with my family?—”

“I could never regret you,” he said firmly. “Jesse said something the other day that really stuck with me.”

“What was it?”

“He said that your real family are the people who choose to be there for you. Who chose to love you, and DNA doesn’t mean shit if the people you share it with don’t show up for you. If my mother and her community can’t love the real me, then I’ll find people who do.”

I bit my tongue to stop myself from telling him I loved him. Now wasn’t the right time.

“You have people who love you, you know,” I said instead. “Ivy and Mark.”

He nodded. “True.”

“And the guys at work. Nate and Dev definitely, but you know Jesse, Asa, and Isaac would throw down for you in an instant if you needed them. And me too. I…really care about you.”

It wasn’t what I wanted to say, but I needed him to know that I cared. That I would always be there for him.

His eyes went misty. “I really care about you too.” A pause. “And thank you. I sometimes need to be reminded that I do have people. I’ve just been alone for so long that I forget sometimes.”

“That’s okay, because you have me to remind you.” I pulled him close and bumped our cocks together. “You were saying something about fucking me on this pool table before we got sidelined?”

He laughed and slid his hand down my back so he could pinch my ass.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to.” I shrugged casually. “I can just take care of things while you watch.”

He tucked his knuckle under my chin and tipped it up so he could drop a kiss against my lips. “Brat.”

“Maybe.”

“As fun as last night was, I’m going to enjoy spreading you out on this table and teasing you until you’re begging me to let you come.”

My entire body tightened. “Yeah? Then what are you going to do?”

“Depends on how good you are.” He ran his thumb over my bottom lip, then pushed it inside my mouth.

I sucked on it, letting my tongue curl around it.

“If you’re a good boy for me, I’ll fuck you.”

“And if I’m not?” I asked when he pulled his thumb free.

“Then I’ll make you watch while I get off.”

A pulse of desire shot through me. That didn’t sound awful.

“Butonlywatch,” he added. “No touching yourself, and no coming.”

That sounded less appealing. “I’ll be good.” A pause. “Maybe.”

He smiled affectionately. “Such a brat.”

“You bring it out in me.” Holding his hips, I tugged him against me again. “Now how about you make good on your promises.”

He covered my mouth with his, his kiss sweet and soft and achingly perfect. “You’re sleeping over tonight,” he said, his lips hovering over mine.

“I am?” I couldn’t keep the giddiness out of my voice.

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