Page 47 of Beautifully Complicated

I squeeze my eyes shut so I don’t have to watch how amused my answer makes him. “Because I always complain about having to make sci-fi references to explain what I’m doing, and if he knew how much sci-fi influenced my decision to study computers, I’d never hear the end of it.”

Kier closes his eyes as his head falls against the wall behind us, letting out a full belly laugh. He sounds so carefree. So happy. And despite the fact we’ve been sitting next to each other the whole time, I’m pretty sure that’s why my body chooses this moment to register the proximity of his hand to mine.

I’d barely have to move to touch him.

My body goes rigid with a restless tension, desperate to close the distance between our fingers yet knowing the slightest movement could push him further away. Like me, he knows if we give in to the smallest temptation it could spiral, so it’s not worth the risk.

But we’re so close, and it’s been so long since we touched. Nearly a month, and even then, it was so brief. Just a little reassuring squeeze of my hand.

I want more.

The current flowing between us is so strong it feels like my hand is being pulled toward his, like the tractor beam pulling the Millenium Falcon to the Death Star, but without the ominous undertones. I’ve already gone Star Wars nerd on him once today, so I won’t do it again, but damn… I feel a compulsion to let my fingers go where they’re beckoned.

Either Kier doesn’t feel the same, or he’s just as unwilling as I am to ruin the moment by moving since his hand stays utterly still, but since the room is now eerily quiet, I’m guessing it’s the former.

My body vibrates with the need to touch him. Even though it’s wrong, even though it’s pushing the limits of our restraint, Ineedto feel his skin on mine. Just for a moment.

I let my pinky creep closer, testing to see what Kier does. He takes a measured breath but is otherwise still, so I do it again. And again, the current intensifies with each millimeter I eliminate.

Then I feel it. So slight I could almost be convinced I imagined it, but a subtle curling of my knuckle confirms that Kier’s pinky is kissing mine. Barely, but it’s there.

That faint touch brings me such relief, it’s like blood can flow freely through my body again, delivering much needed oxygen to my lungs. Tingles pulse from that tiny little point of contact, stretching into my chest and throughout my limbs, infusing me with such joy I feel weightless. But my breath gets caught once more when I feel Kier’s finger draw a delicate line along mine.

Glancing at him from the corner of my eye, I note that his eyes are squeezed shut, preventing me from reading the effect my touch has on him. But the way his chest steadily rises and falls, too steadily to be anything but forced, tells me he’s caught in the same spell I am.

Only our pinkies are touching, but that’s enough to have my entire body on fire, my cock swelling with anticipation. I should stop this before it inflates past the point of no return, but I’ve been craving Kier’s sensual touch for so long I can’t give it up now. Even if it will only pain me later.

“Leanbh,” he groans softly beside me.

“Just a little longer?” I plead.

He doesn’t answer, but he doesn’t move either. Not until the sky outside goes from light to dark, and the wine is gone.

Chapter fifteen

Kier

DECEMBER

My phone dings in my pocket, and even though I don’t want to check it, I do, knowing a non-response will only result in another text.

“Professor Kincaid again?” Aiden asks from his deck across the room.

“Yes.” I sigh as I type out my response.

“What’s he want this time?”

Over the past several months Daniel has been reaching out with increasing frequency, mostly about things that could be classified as work like sharing a news article or department gossip, but mixed in with that are sporadic inquiries about grabbing a meal or a drink after work. Since Aiden and I spend so much time in the lab together, he’s become familiar with how often Daniel reaches out.

“There’s a lecture about using AI to improve energy efficiency he thought I might want to hear.”

“You could probably give that lecture, why would you need to hear it?”

“I couldn’t give that lecture, it’s not my specialty.”

“You know what I mean,” Aiden says pointedly.

“Yes,” I agree, since I know his response has nothing to do with the lecture and everything to do with the fact we can’t ask each other to do things like this, which we’d both enjoy. I think it’s starting to grate on him that Daniel can suggest public outings he can’t.

---