Page 17 of Confession
Quinn, who obviously heard me coming, has his back to the counter and his eyes on me. He sets his glass aside and crosses his arms. His white t-shirt pulls tight across his shoulders and chest. His gray sweats hang low on his hips.
My dick starts getting hard as I look at him. It’s weird. It’s like as soon as I let in the knowledge that I’m attracted to him, a floodgate opened.
He says, “You’re home early.”
“Were you going to avoid me? Disappear into your room before you expected me back?”
He doesn’t reply, which I take as a yes.
When I start walking across the kitchen toward him, he tenses but doesn’t move. I crowd into him, my polished shoes inches from his bare toes. I pick up his glass from the counter and drain it. My arm brushes his elbow as I set it down. He shivers.
I step closer, one foot between his. He sucks in a breath. His arms are still crossed.
“Not gonna shove me this time?” I ask.
“What are you doing?”
“Right now?”
“Yes, right now.” His voice is sharp.
“I’m crowding you.”
“Why?”
“To see what you do.”
“I’m not going to do anything.”
I put my hand on his side at his waistband. His muscles contract under my hand, not quite a flinch but almost.
“Why do you hate when I touch you?” I ask.
“I don’t.”
“You do,” I insist. “You always react badly.”
He’s starting to tremble, but I’m not letting him off the hook. He needs to answer me. But he sidetracks.
“About last night.” His crossed arms tighten. “I shouldn’t have …”
“Shoved me?” I prompt when he trails off. “Or … what?”
“Jesus, Vitali just do it. Get it over with.”
“Get what over with?”
“You’re obviously going to fire me. Just fucking—”
“Fireyou? You think I wouldfireyou for shoving me?” I’m really being a dick now, but I think he kind of deserves it.
“Vitali, just—”
“Answer the question, Quinn.”
His eyes have been avoiding mine, but he meets my gaze now. “No, I don’t think you would fire me for shoving you.”
“God, you can’t say it, can you? But it did happen. You kissed me. Almost. Sort of. That’s what you think I would fire you for.”
