Page 20 of Forever Midnight

“Work keeping you too busy?” he asks with a mischievous grin.

“Something like that. Why do you ask?”

Tru does that thing where he nibbles on his bottom lip, tempting me to take over the task. “Maybe I’m wrong, but the way you look at me makes me feel like, well, you know. Like you could be into me.”

Once again, I thought I was being discreet. All I can do is confess. “You are a stunning, complex creature. I’m intrigued, certainly, and I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to stay in my bed awhile.”

“You aren’t going to ask if I’m gay too?”

“I assume you’re at least open to it or you wouldn’t have asked.”

“Fair point, slayer.” A shyness falls over his features. “Thanks for letting me stay today.”

“Of course.”

“I talk a lot of shit, you know, but not gonna lie, you intimidate me. Like, hooking-up wise. I’ve never met a man who looks or carries himself like you do.”

“But you’ve thought about it.”

Tru shoves my arm playfully. “Yeah. Like, who hasn’t when they look at you?”

“You give me too much credit.” I lift his hand and press a kiss to the back of it. “Don’t be intimidated. I’m a man with flaws like any other.” He opens his mouth to speak, but I continue. “But you are under no obligation to do anything with me. If it happens naturally, we’ll discuss.”

Tru nods, searching my eyes. “My parents don’t know.”

“Don’t know what?”

“That I’m gay.”

His words are jarring, taking me back hundreds of years in an instant. Ah. Another one of life’s painful lessons, I see. Drop a pretty mortal in my lap then make him untouchable.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” is my only response.

Tru’s brow creases. “Your vibe changed. Does it make you mad?”

“Mad? Of course not. I’m sure you have your reasons.” I stand, pulling my hand away. “You must be hungry.”

“Guess we’re not talking about it,” Tru mumbles, following me to the kitchen.

Exasperated that he won’t drop the subject, I turn to him. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

“I guess your family was totally cool finding out you like dick?” Tru says, his chest puffed out and eyes narrowed. “No one in your family has politicians in their pocket who actively vote against yourkind? Well, lucky fucking you.”

His words irritate long-buried memories, picking at the scab so tenuously held in place. “I am not judging you, Tru.”

“Whatever.” He pushes past me and slumps against the island, arms crossed over his chest and a dark expression on his face.

Fuck, he’s beautiful when angry. Like a violent thunderstorm wreaking havoc—dangerous, but so stunning you don’t dare pull your eyes away.

“I’m gonna tell them,” he mumbles. “I was always gonna tell them. I’m waiting for a reason. Like, you know, meeting someone. Someone important. Someone worth…” Tru pauses, blowing out a breath and lifting his stormy gaze to me. “Someone worth the fallout.”

A flutter of hope passes through my chest, but I stuff it down. I need to keep my head around this dangerous beauty. He could lure me to my ruin with his wild emotions and staggering aura. The last thing I need is a repeat of the situation that nearly broke me.

ChapterTen

TRU

Midnight’s been acting weird since I told him I’m not out to my parents. I know it’s an issue for a lot of people, but no one lives with the pressures I do.

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