Page 123 of Beau and the Beast

"Whatever, ya'll didn't even live together," Noah shot back, not sure why he was bristling at the implication that Beau had cared about Lincoln. "I'm sure he was nice or whatever but he does like...everythingfor me."

Lincoln hitched an eyebrow. "You'd be surprised. I know I was. I didn't realize how much he actually did for me until he broke it off."

Noah smiled in spite of himself. "You never were good enough for him. You know that right?"

Lincoln scoffed. "You say that like you have any place to judge—like you're such a goddamned catch, Christ."

"I can hold my own," Noah said, posturing up.

"Have you ever even been on a date? Seriously, dude."

Noah rolled his eyes. "Yeah, not that it’s any of your business. Being scarred up doesn't prevent me from getting around."

"Ok, enough—this is weird."

"Why? And don't tell me you and Beau were so close you started to think of me as a baby brother. I know you couldn't stand me while you were dating."

Lincoln frowned but didn't say anything at first.

"Yeah I... guess I really treated you like shit, looking back on it."

Hadhe though? Noah couldn't recall a time when Lincoln had been rude to him unless Noah had been the one to instigate it in the first place.

"Whatever," Noah said, waving his hand. "I dished it out more than I got it."

Lincoln smiled then and Noah was glad for it.

"It's all water under the bridge at this point, anyway. I’ve gotta get back to work but text me and let me know you got back up to your apartment safe,” Lincoln said, pushing the bag of leftovers across the table toward him and standing up. “I’ll grab you a cab on my way out.”

* * *

Beau had heldhimself back all day after the call. Wolfram hadn’t even acknowledged that anything was different between them, keeping their normal schedule perfectly, staying on task.

After dinner, Beau decided he’d had enough.

He didn’t wait to be asked back to Wolfram’s study—simply followed the man back there—and as soon as they were on the other side of the door, he grabbed Wolfram by either side of the vest and pulled him into a kiss.

Well. Pulled was an exaggeration. He pulledhimselftoward Wolfram’s bulk, standing on his tiptoes and waiting to receive the kiss that Wolfram gave into immediately.

Wolfram’s kiss was surprisingly urgent, hungry, and Beau wondered if he’d been holding himself back all day. If he had been thinking of Beau—kissing him, touching him—he was certainly better at keeping himself together than Beau was. He’d had a look at his notes before dinner and they were near nonsensical.

The only thing he’d been able to think about was Wolfram, the night they’d spent together and then the morning after—all of the different ways that he wanted to please Wolfram, to return the favor.

Beau wasted no time, reaching for the waist of Wolfram’s breeches. He growled and leaned in, pressing himself against Beau, pinning the smaller man to the wall and writhing against him, his mouth hot and insistent on Beau’s.

They broke abruptly, Wolfram groaning and stepping back from Beau as if he was suddenly repulsed. Without a word, he put more distance between them and began to pace, an erection straining against the dark fabric of his breeches. He breathed hard, golden eyes gone a little wild in the way that they sometimes did.

It shouldn’t be appealing to Beau, knowing that there was something else inside of Wolfram that he couldn’t understand. Something other than his own senses. Itwas, though.

“I’m sorry,” Beau said from his place against the wall. “I can’t stop myself—I’m sorry.”

Wolfram shook his head, his dark mane reflecting the lamplights as he paced.

“It’s alright,” Wolfram said.

“I want to make it up to you, Wolf,” Beau said gently. “It’s my turn to make you come.”

Wolfram let out a sound at Beau’s words that was half whimper, dragging his hands through his mane, tail whipping behind him.

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