Page 48 of A Much Younger Man
Iblinked, at a loss for words, until he covered his face with both hands and laughed like a hyena. Now there was an animal with a bad reputation. Sure, they make a cackling sound, but it communicates fear as often as excitement. Hyenas are rarely amused.
I studied Beck with what felt like entirely new eyes.
Was this joking and laughter his way past the embarrassment—the anxiety—of rejection? Was I finally listening withmyheart?
“I do wish things could be different.” I admitted the truth because I wanted him to know. “You…challenge me, make me laugh, brighten my days, fill my nights with thoughts I frankly shouldn’t have about anyone your age.”
Telling him this made me dizzy as if I were on a high wire, looking down at how far I was going to fall.Way too late, said my conscience. Maybe my dick chimed in there too.Way, way too late. You’re already in pieces at the bottom.
“Now what?” he asked.
Rico squawked. “You ruineverything.”
I glared at the cage. “Shut up, clown chicken.”
Beck smiled. Maybe I did ruin everything, but even my ex would be surprised if I ruined this chance, this God-given opportunity to test the theory that I could come just from feeding a beautiful young man who looked at me like I was everything.
“Clown chicken has a point, you know.” Beck said softly. “Age is just a number.”
“It’s so…so much more than that if you’re the um, elder statesman in the equation.”
“I like elder statesmen.” He moved closer. “What if that’s one of my checkboxes?”
Checkboxes? What did that mean. A preference? A kink? An option likeE. All of the above?“Is it?”
He licked his lips. “Mmhmm.”
“Oh.”
“I like mature men.” He leaned so close I felt his breath on my lips. “You make me feel safe.”
I swallowed audibly because I’m just that smooth.
“How about it, Doc? Do you want to pick up your spoon and explore this epic chemistry? Or are you gonna punk out?”
