Page 30 of Rules to Love By

“Like you have to be in charge?”

Eli curled his lips into a smile, denying Marcus the kiss he’d attempted to take. He cupped a hand around the back of Marcus’s neck and held him still. “Kind of, yeah.”

“Oh.” More a breath than a word, then Eli kissed him, and Marcus melted.

Oh, indeed. Sex on a stick melting through his fingers was potent. It ignited every burning instinct Eli had to protect it. He cupped his other hand around Marcus’s face and ignored the drill biting into his side as Marcus melded to him, clinging hard.

He tangled fingers in Marcus’s hair, tugging until he was rewarded with a soft moan.

Even as he let out the sound, though, Marcus pulled free, one hand firmly pushing against Eli’s chest. The drill in his other hand pressed against his ribs. “Wait.”

Eli spread his hands, releasing Marcus, trying to get a look into his eyes, but Marcus kept them down. “What’s happening?”

“Nothing. I—” Marcus stepped away.

“Marcus?”

“No, it’s fine. I just…” He turned to face the wall, wiggling the shelf. “Have to get this done, right?”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” He let out a heavy sigh. “Sorry.” When he looked back, his smile was thin, a plastic expression stretched over pale features.

“You’re not fine. What’s going on?”

“Just a dodgy tummy.” His gaze dropped hard and fast. “Probably hungry, is all. Let’s get this done so I can get back. Kreed probably has a plate in the warmer for me, and Tris will be wondering why I’m so late.”

Eli touched Marcus’s cheek with his fingertips to feel skin, cool and slightly clammy. “They take good care of you over there.”

“They’ve been great.”

“Then I guess we’d better get you back where you belong.”

“If only I knew where that was,” Marcus said, no doubt trying to sound glib but coming off a bit too wistful for the joke to land squarely.

Eli wanted to wrap him up again, and if not kiss him, at least help him catch his balance.

Instead, he followed quiet instructions, asked questions when he didn’t understand why they were doing something, and generally let Marcus lead the way through the dismantling of the sorry display area.

By the time they were done, Marcus was less grey, if still subdued, the air of fragility gone. Maybe that had been what he’d needed more than coddling. Out of his depth without the strict guidelines he usually set with most men, Eli could only guess and hope he got it right.

“What next?” he asked as he helped Marcus sort the reusable screws from the garbage ones. If it was working, he might as well stay on the same course.

“Next, in the morning, I ask Andre when he can come look at the electrical. Once he’s assessed it and let me know when he can work on it, and that work is done, it’s plaster, paint and rebuild. In the meantime, I can finish the inventory.”

“You mean we.”

“You don’t have to stay. I’m sure you have classes to go to and work.”

“I am supposed to be learning how to do this stuff, remember?”

“I mean, I suppose. But aren’t the classes you’re paying for more important?” He didn’t look at Eli as he asked, and a wash of pale freckles showed through his pallid complexion.

“Hey.” Gentle, so as not to startle him, and to give him the option of pulling away, Eli laid a hand on Marcus’s arm.

Marcus stilled but didn’t look up. He didn’t move away, either.

“Will you look at me? I promise not to kiss you again.”

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