Page 71 of The Long Game

God, had he told Barnaby he was going to keep his feelings to himself? Apparently, he’d decided to spew them all over the place instead.

He wasn’t going to take back a single word, though. He meant everything. He wanted Jack to know it all, even if he never ended up being Grady’s naked person. Because that, in the end, didn’t matter.

What mattered was Jack.

Jack’s heartwas attempting a full retreat from his chest via his throat, choking off his voice as his pulse pounded in his ears.

He’d shown Grady the ugly parts and he only saw beauty. Strength. How was that possible? Grady had two fingers pressed to Jack’s chest over the ink and Jack’s heart and the very place he’d made room for Grady without letting himself think too much about why, and he’dseenJack and still thought him worthy.

Jack was at a complete loss. He had no words. His brain couldn’t find the phrase or sentence or paragraph or novel to say what he was feeling.

So he leaned up on his toes, gripping Grady’s shoulder for balance, and kissed him.

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Jack wasn’t sure what he expected to happen when he kissed Grady, but it wasn’t for Grady to jerk like he’d been hit with a cattle prod.

Fuck, that had been a mistake.

Jack stumbled back. “Sorry.Sorry. I should go. I don’t know what I was thinking, I—”

Grady cut off the tide of self-recriminations spilling from Jack’s mouth with another kiss. Jack was so shocked and off-balance, he staggered backward into the kitchen island.

Grady caught him before he could careen to the floor. “Shit. I’m sorry,” Grady said breathlessly. “I should have asked first.”

Jack rolled his eyes. “I didn’t ask first either.”

They stared at one another, at an apparent impasse.

Jack was well and truly outside his comfort zone.

Fuck it. Grady had kissed him back and that had to mean something, right?

Jack went in for another kiss. Unfortunately, Grady had the same idea. It wasn’t so much a meeting of lips as it was a clash of foreheads.

“Ow,” Jack said, rubbing the ache.

“Jesus,” Grady muttered. “I used to have moves. How are we so bad at this?”

A burble of laughter escaped Jack. “You hadmoves?” Because he and Grady might be trying—and failing—at the whole kissing thing, but Jack was still his friend and therefore under obligation to mock him mercilessly for saying he hadmoves.

“Shut up,” Grady said, but Jack could see he was trying not to smile.

Jack laughed again, which was probably notwhat he should be doing and might ruin the mood, but…it wasGrady. And he was still Jack’s best friend.

Jack’s best friend who he wanted to kiss.

He leaned in again and this time when he pressed his lips to Grady’s, no one got hurt.Hallelujah!Clearing that massive hurdle, Jack let his eyes flutter closed and kissed Grady again, tugging at the soft pink lower lip that had featured in many nighttime fantasies over the last few years.

Grady made a little sound—half surprise, half want—and kissed him back. Jack was about to step back when Grady’s hand came up to cup his cheek, keeping him close and tilting his head so Grady could kiss him again.

Oh. Oh.Oh.

Now they were getting it right.

Jack parted his lips and Grady’s tongue dipped into his mouth, brushing gently over his. Jack’s knees went weak. He clung to Grady’s shirt, meeting the stroke of Grady’s tongue with his own, and let Grady tow him closer.

How had he not done this a thousand times before now?

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