Page 34 of Tender
Emmett reached out to tip his chin up, then lifted his hand. ‘Good,’ he signed and mouthed.
“I know that one,” Miles said with a tiny laugh, then lifted his fingers to his chin and signed, ‘Thank you.’
Emmett wanted to kiss him again. Instead he signed, ‘You’re welcome,’ mouthing along, but it was clear by the defiant smile on Miles’s face he knew that one too. His heart hammered in his chest with want. With need.
Swallowing back the urge to say fuck it and devour Miles right then and there, he decided he’d take it out on his husband who was definitely waiting for him inside.
By the time dinner rolled around, Emmett was in the mood to play with his husband. He was toying with the vibrator still in Cosimo’s ass, turning it up as high as it could go while he was trying to cook the meat, then buzzing it rapid-fire like a jackhammer when he was plating the pasta.
Cosimo was doing his best to keep his cool, but he was losing it. And Miles had noticed something was off. He had keen eyes and had been tracking Cosimo for a while now, and Emmett knew he was playing with fire.
“You’re taking too long,” Emmett said firmly when Cosimo hesitated at the counter.
Miles sucked in a breath, looking a little horrified. Emmett knew he needed to be careful. He didn’t want Miles to get thewrong idea before he understood what was happening. But he also had to get Cosimo in the headspace he needed to be in before they went into the scene. It was the only way it was going to work.
“Yes, Sir,” Cosimo grunted. Emmett knew what it meant for them, but he also knew it came across sarcastic and rude to Miles.
Which was fine.
That was enough.
Dinner was served, and Cosimo sat down, taking a beat then sighing with relief when he realized Emmett wasn’t going to turn it back on. Miles had his processors on which meant there was a good chance he’d be able to hear it.
And that wasn’t something Emmett was ready to explain to the younger man yet.
“So,” Emmett said, but his words were interrupted by a loud crack of thunder.
Cosimo jolted, then looked over his shoulder. A bolt of lightning lit up the sky. “Was there a weather warning?—”
Before Cosimo could finish his thought, Emmett’s phone began to blare with a storm warning. He picked it up, then sighed. “Gale,” he said. “Looks like it’s going to be a nasty one.”
Miles bit his lip, staring at his plate. “Maybe I should head in so I don’t get struck by lightning on the way outside.”
“Or you could stay here,” Cosimo suggested.
Emmett was startled by that. He knew how much Cosimo needed him. Needed the scene tonight. It was saying something he’d willingly offer that up to make Miles comfortable.
“No, that’s okay. I really like that bed,” Miles said.
There was something in his tone Emmett could read that said he wasn’t telling the entire truth. Maybe they’d gone a little too far tonight. Maybe they were making him uncomfortable.
“If you’re sure?—”
Another crack of thunder, and Miles paled. “I’m not super fond of storms. Do you mind if I go?”
Emmett stood up and gave his husband a look, then grabbed Miles’s plate from the table. “Come with me.”
Miles was up on his feet and following behind like he was born to obey. Emmett took in an uneven breath, then grabbed a container to pack up the food, and then a couple of the cookies they’d grabbed from a bakery earlier. He eyed the clothes they’d bought. They were still in bags on the breakfast bar.
“Oh. I can get those,” Miles started.
Emmett caught his arm. “Come over in the morning for breakfast, and I’ll help you put everything away.” He was hoping that in the morning maybe he could convince Miles to unpack in the guest room. But he wasn’t going to hold his breath, either. This probably was all a fantasy.
Miles took the container of food, nodding. The kitchen lit up with a bolt of lightning, and Emmett suddenly found himself with an armful of the younger man. He squeezed tight and counted under his breath.
“Six…seven…eight…”
BOOM!
