Page 24 of Dead Air
Niallwantedto focus and to take the conversation seriously, but Chance’s body was so warm and firm. And he was so strong and smelled like heaven. It didn’t make any sense, the way Chance always looked like he’d just gotten a fresh haircut and his beard trimmed or how he always smelled like soap, warm grass, and sunshine. Even when they worked up a sweat in their climbing gear. It was driving Niall wild.
“More?” His teeth dug into his lip, stifling a desperate moan as Niall felt something large and hard pressing against his hip.
“Mmmhmm… Like a life,” Chance said as his head lowered, his lips brushing Niall’s cheek and ear.
“A life. Life is nice.”
The hot huff of Chance’s breath as he chuckled made Niall shiver. “What if I could give you a beautiful life? Think about it, Niall: the two of us in a cozy little cottage with two dogs and a dour, old cat. On the weekends, I’ll bring you tea in bed and we’ll take the dogs for walks in the woods or on the beach. We can go on roadtrips to the other parks and spend a few weeks in Alaska. I’ve always wanted to sleep under the Aurora Borealis.”
“Me too!” Niall leaned back in Chance’s arms, stunned. He could barely believe how perfect Chance was but it was like he knew Niall’s dreams and deepest wishes, right down to the two dogs and the dour, old cat. “Alaska’s on my bucket list.”
“What’s stopping you, then?” Chance asked, giving Niall a gentle shake. “You deserve an amazing life with a man who will cherish you and make your wildest dreams come true. Why the hell are you hiding and why are you hiding from me?”
“I…” Niall was dizzy, his heart was beating so fast and so hard. “I’d probably feel better if you kissed me.” His brows rose hopefully but Chance shook his head.
“I’d be distracted and you’d ‘miss’ another chance to share something real with me.”
“I’m not so sure I’d miss it,” Niall said, still ducking around the truth. “I don’t really know why I’m still hiding. I had a really bad ex but it was so long ago and the last I heard, he’d moved on.”
“How bad was this ex?” Chance asked, his tone severe. But his hands were gentle as they spanned Niall’s back, cradling him protectively.
Niall had gotten so good at jettisoning any thoughts of Andy to the imaginary compost heap in his brain. He preferred to bury those memories deep so something healthier could grow in their place. “About as bad as you can imagine.” The black eyes and busted lips, the lies and excuses, the humiliation and the shame… It all came back to Niall in a terrible, nauseating rush. “No. Itwashell but I’m a different person now.”
“This is why I’m afraid to kiss you,” Chance rasped, shaking his head. “I’ll never want to stop and I won’t be happy if I can’t give you everything you deserve.”
“Wow…” Niall was dizzy, his emotions pinging between lust, his anger toward Andy, and…love? “This is really intense. We haven’t known each other that long and you haven’t even kissed me yet.”
“It is,” Chance agreed. “But I can feel that this—we—could be real. That I could make you happy if you’d give us a chance.” His nose wrinkled and Chance coughed softly. “I do know peopleand I have friends who can make problems go away, if you’re still afraid of this ex. Or if you want some closure.”
All the heat left Niall’s body and his heart dropped into his stomach. HehatedAndy and he was still afraid of him, but Niall could never wish for that and he got sick at the thought of being the cause ofanyonelosing their life. “What?No.”
“Anyone would understand if you wanted some closure and justice, Niall. He was a monster and no one would miss him.”
“That’s not—! How do you know?” Niall countered and Chance shushed softly.
“Anyone who could hurt you would have to be a monster. I’m sorry, I got a little carried away. Abusive men are one of my pet peeves and I already feel like it’s my job to keep you safe.”
Niall gave Chance’s chest a swat. “I can keep myself safe and I’ll forget you said that if you’ll kiss me.”
“Fine,” Chance sighed, gathering Niall in his arms again. “I have a feeling I should be sitting down. My heart is racing,” he said with a shaky laugh.
“Good idea. The bed’s right behind you,” Niall purred as he rose on his toes and offered his lips.
“Calm down, Ranger Filthy.”
Niall was anything but calm as their lips touched and brushed. A rush of heat swept down his body, flooding his boxers and turning his knees into jelly. The cabin was spinning as Niall’s lips parted and their tongues tangled.
I know you.
Wild hunger and giddy delight radiated from Niall’s core and his heart sang as Chance’s hand closed around his ass. Their bodies locked together perfectly, as if they’d been made together and for each other, and instead of the nervous awe of a first kiss, Niall was home.
“It’s you.” His eyelids fluttered and opened and for half a second, Chance’s eyes were a bright, burning blue before they were green and seeking.
“Me?” Chance’s lips curved as they nudged Niall’s before diving in for another kiss.
Need burst within Niall and he could already feel Chance’s beard between his asscheeks and his lips around his cock. He craved the feel of Chance deep in his ass, filling him with driving heat as he pinned Niall to the bed.
But these weren’t heated fantasies. These werememoriesand Niall was already addicted to his touch. Only Chance could sate these longings because he’d planted them deep in Niall’s soul and there were already roots.
