Page 104 of A Hard Sell

Now it was Luka’s turn to flush—again—but he tossed his head. “Well, yes, we agreed I’m adorable, but you—”

“You’re more than adorable.” Thomas’ gaze was heavy on him as he tucked a strand of long hair behind his ear.

Luka felt like his heart might explode right out of his chest if he didn’t kiss Thomas this very second.No. No, no, no, Luka.“Have you always had long hair?” he scratched out instead, hoping it would prove to be a sufficient distraction.

“My dad did, so I did too. And at my first real job, just in the mailroom at a law firm, some ass told me I should cut it. So…I didn’t.”

“I’m glad.”

Thomas flushed and bent to grab the handle for the foldout bed. He gave it a tug. It didn’t move. He frowned and gripped it with both hands, giving it another yank. This time it rattled out with a shriek. He unfolded the rickety frame for the bottom half of the bed but the mattress was so limp and thin it didn’t spring open.

“Well, that looks…comfortable,” Luka said with a raised eyebrow as Thomas flipped the mattress open. The coils were trying to burst through the thin cover.

Thomas grunted. “I’ll be fine.”

“The offer still stands to share the bed. I don’t bite…unless given permission first.” He waggled his eyebrows at Thomas.Oh, Jesus. I can’t stop.

Thomas suppressed a smile as he shook his head, pulling extra bedding out of the closet.

Luka took his turn in the bathroom, chugging an extra glass of water to counteract the half bottle of bubbly he’d consumed.

When he came back into the room, Thomas had made the bed and was settling in, frame squeaking.

Luka wiggled out of his robe and flopped onto the king-sized bed in his pajama bottoms. “Oh, Thomas. If you knew how perfect this mattress is, you might not give it up so easily.”

“Hmm. We’d better get some sleep.” Thomas rolled over a few times trying to get comfortable, to no avail.

Luka listened to Thomas tossing and turning for a good thirty minutes, the bed creaking and groaning with every movement.

After Thomas growled and bunched up his pillow for the twentieth time, Luka sat up. “Thomas. Would you just get over here?”

Thomas propped himself up on an elbow. The springs protested. “It’s fine.”

“It is very clearlynotfine. This bed is huge. There’s plenty of room for both of us. Will you please stop thrashing around and get over here? Neither of us will sleep a wink if you stay there.”

It was silent for a moment. “I could sleep on the floor.”

“The floor? Now I’m insulted.”

Thomas sighed. “Okay.”

Luka was already lying on one side of the bed, but he scooted over even closer to the edge.

Thomas circled around to the other side, his skin shining in the moonlight, muscles thrown into stark relief. He pulled the covers back, sliding in. “Ahhh,” he sighed as he burrowed.

Luka rolled over and grinned at him. “What did I tell you?”

“It’s good.” Thomas was lying on his back, eyes closed.

Luka watched him for a moment, a smile playing on the edges of his lips. “Goodnight, Thomas.”

“Goodnight, Luka.”

He studied Thomas a while through half-closed eyes, lulled by the way his chest rose and fell with deep, even breaths. Eventually he drifted off, still smiling.

* * * *

At seven, Luka’s alarm woke him from perhaps the best sleep he’d ever had, and it took him a second to figure out where he was, and who the large, warm, very firm body was under his arm. He took a slow, contented breath, then his eyes flew open at the scent. He was staring at a bare chest, head tucked under Thomas’ chin. They each had an arm flung over the other’s waist, and Luka’s knee was notched between Thomas’ legs.

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