Page 56 of Midsummer Phoenixes
“About why I’m getting chased sometimes?”
“Yeah.”
His jaw worked. “Because I ask for it, and then I get chased.”
“You ask for it. Huh.”
The way he looked at me was a lot of asking to get chased, and I would. I would chase him and catch him. I would do every little thing to him he let me do. I felt the need build inside me like steam in a pressure cooker.
Amory nodded once and walked away, his coffee pot in hand. It took everything in me not to chase after him then and there.
At around two, the place was almost empty, except for a pawn at the counter who was at his second slice of pie, Ben, some human at one of the tables, and of course Mr. fucking Laptop.
Mr. Laptop was typing away, and I wondered whether it was worth my time to look into what the guy was really doing while he was sitting here and projecting the air of writer to my lover.
But there were better things to spend my time on. Mr. Laptop might be many things, but a real danger he was not. And if Amory ever asked me about it, I didn’t want to have to lie.
Mr. Laptop would just have to learn that he couldn’t have what was already another’s.
Amory being Amory, he didn’t kick anyone out but waited until it was time to officially close. Few things were better than seeing all of these stragglers leave me alone with the man who was mine.
When Amory finally turned the key in the lock, a woosh of air went out of my lungs.
“Finally.”
I stood and walked up behind him so fast he didn’t have time to turn around. I hugged him around the waist from behind and kissed his neck, just where his hair tickled my nose.
He giggled. “Hey. I’m not quite done yet.”
“I know. But I had to hold you.” I stepped away from him. “There. Now you can finish closing up, can get in a cab with me, and then we can go home.” I frowned. “I didn’t cook anything. I’ll throw together a quick curry, or we can order something.”
Amory smiled at me. “We can have sandwiches again. I’m fine with something simple.”
I lifted my brows. “Are you? And here I was, thinking I’d have to…chase you.”
His widening pupils, his flushed skin, the way he nibbled his lip—those reactions told me everything I needed to know. And what I knew was, I had to get him home as fast as I possibly could.
Amory cleared his throat. “I’ll finish. The dishwasher. I’ll finish the dishwasher. Okay?”
“I’m right behind you, Amory. You know that.”
I stalked after him, sticking close. Amory’s steps grew hurried, almost as if he were wanting to be chased already. I knew I wasn’t going to get quite that lucky, I knew he wasn’t going to let me drag him into the small staff bathroom, and that was fine. Knowing I’d get to take him home meant I would be able to keep him close all night, and I was…I was craving that. Nearness. Comfort. The sex was no more than a bonus, really.
Before heading through the swing door, he switched off the lights in the diner, bathing us in semi-darkness for a delicious moment that had me hum with desire. He heard, looked at me, eyes wide, their beautiful blue and golden color illuminated by a slice of light that came in from the back.
“Soyer…”
“Don’t dally, my heart. Unless you want to rile me here.”
His jaw set, but a smile played around his lips. With that, he went through to the back and turned on the dishwasher. The kitchen was new and clean and tidy, but for a second, I was overcome with the memory of seeing Amory bleeding on this floor, and I clenched my hand into a fist.
But then Amory turned, and I wiped my face clean before he could beg me to move. I was sort of blocking the door.
“That’s it. Just have to grab my jacket.”
He looked at me as if that would make me move out of the way.
I grinned. “Go ahead.”
