Page 156 of Paradox
“A cigarette burn has never been near fatal.”
“But hypothermia has.”
Eden wraps his hand into the front of my jacket and drags me towards him. “I thought I told you to shut up?”
I put my hand on his chest so he can't pull me any closer. "I bet you got hard while stripping me."
"I get hard all the time."
"I could feel you grinding on me."
"The hell?" Eden pulls his head back, and I climb properly onto the seat beside him.
"I wasn't faking it, I really was passed out. But I came back a few times, and… I knew I only had my underwear on, and I knew you were holding me, and… I could feel you."
"I…" Eden pauses. He looks at me, then across the back of the bench, to the air conditioning vent, and to where I know his leg was stretched out behind me on the seat. "I don't remember doing that."
"You had one arm wrapped around me so tight."
He grabs the top of the backrest behind me. "I was holding here the whole time."
I shake my head—it's only slight, but I know what I remember. "You had a hold of me right here," I tell him, and grip my left pec.
He looks at my hand, then lets his own slip down to rest against my lower back. "You probably just imagined it."
"That's what I thought, too. I convinced myself I'd dreamt it, but after the first time we hooked up, I knew it was real."
"Jin—"
"Seriously. See here." I put Eden's hand back up then crawl to my knees. Tugging at his thigh, I pull his foot onto the bench and make him twist in his seat until his leg is stretched out behind me. Finally, I sit myself between his legs and rest my head back on his shoulder. "So this is what you remember, right?"
"Sure."
"But this…" I unzip my brother's jacket and guide Eden's hand to my chest. "Is what I remember."
His fingers slowly tighten around my muscle, and I close my eyes. "Is this your way of asking me to drive to the lake like this?"
"No. But I wouldn't mind if you did."
"I'd rather you just sit right on my lap."
I turn my head towards him. "I don't think we're gonna get to the lake at this rate."
"Are you saying you don't want me to kiss you right now?"
"I don't want you toevernot kiss me."
Eden's hand leaves my chest to force my chin up further. He makes a point of gently bumping my nose with his, then kisses me. It's deep. All mouth and tongue. His fingers don't make their way around my throat, and he doesn't grind against me likeI knowhe did all those weeks ago. "Fuck, you're such a distraction."
"Is that really such a bad thing?"
He grins, "Not all the time," and pulls back.
"Do you still want me on your lap?"
"No. You're right. We really do need to get going."
"My god." I slap him on the chest. "When did you become such a tease?"
