Page 165 of Stop and Seek
Screw waiting.
Theo launched himself at Noah, arms wrapped tight around his neck, fingers tunneling through blond hair crunchy with gel. A plastic bag crinkled between them, warm against Theo’s chest. He barely registered it.
The kiss was all teeth and heat, a wet, frantic tangle of tongues that wasn’t even close to sweet. He didn’t aim. Didn’t think.
Noah made a small, surprised noise into his mouth—part gasp, part laugh.
But he didn’t pull away.
Theo kissed harder. His mouth slid open wider like he was starving, like he wanted tocrawl insideNoah and just—stay there. Hide there. There was no way he could get close enough. Not even when he was drowning in Noah’s citrus cologne.
He bit down, not enough to break skin but enough to feel the catch of Noah’s breath. Their hips bumped, clumsy, a knock of belt buckle and thigh that dragged a quiet, helpless whine from somewhere deep in Theo.
“You’re gonna make me drop food,” Noah murmured against his lips.
Theo grinned. “Fuck food.”
“No—not—you’re shaking, Theo.”
This time, Noah did pull back, and Theo had to remind himself to breathe.
Noah sat the bag down, both hands coming up to cup Theo’s face. That dumb smile made it hard to think about anything else.
“Hey,” Noah whispered. He kissed him again. Once. Soft and sweet. “I missed you too.”
“Did you—” Theo swallowed. Waited for the pounding in his ears to ease. “Did you come by to eat together? I take lunch at noon.”
“Kinda? I wanted to make sure you ate something. I was out grabbing groceries for us—”
Us.
Notyou.Notme.
Us.Like they were something real. Something fucking solid. Like they hadroutinesnow. Like hebelongedsomewhere.
I am not emotional right now.
“—and I was getting hungry, so I thought you might be too.”
Every damn thing Noah did made Theo’s chest ache.
He couldn’t look away. His heart was too loud. His skin felt like a lit match beneathNoah’s touch.
Noah’s thumb brushed gently across his cheek, and goosebumps exploded down Theo’s arms, racing over his skin in a wave.
“Are you okay, baby?”
“Never better,” Theo said.
And for once—
For the first time in his miserable life—
He meant it.
Why wouldn’t the inside of Noah’s hotel be nice?
Nicenice.
