Page 81 of The Husband Game

Ugh, might have saved him a heart attack or two if he had.

Charlie sidled up next to him, wrapping one arm around Dustin’s waist and waving with the other. “Thanks for the fun night, boys! Let’s do it again.”

“Yeah, that’s the last time we’re playing with you, you little hustler,” Nico called out as he walked backward toward the Jeep.

“Coward!” Charlie shot back.

Dustin was still laughing by the time he closed the door behind him, twisting the lock of the deadbolt.

“Thanks for being so great,” he said with a smile, turning to Charlie so they faced each other.

Charlie hadn’t let go, his palm still warm against Dustin’s hip, even through his clothing, and Dustin dared to wrap his arms around Charlie and tug him into a loose embrace.

Smiling too, Charlie shrugged. “It was fun. I like your teammates.”

“And they like you,” Dustin admitted. “Of course, how could they not?”

“I am pretty great,” Charlie said teasingly. He tilted his head back and there was something in his gaze that made Dustin’s blood run hot.

“You sure are.” Dustin leaned their foreheads together and closed his eyes.

Charlie settled a hand on Dustin’s chest and he tensed, sure Charlie was going to push him away, but he only stroked his palm over his shirt, slowly sliding to his shoulder and down his arm, like he was mapping out Dustin’s musculature.

Charlie let out a tiny sigh and sidled a little closer. “Dustin …” His voice was so soft, barely more than a breath.

“Charlie.” Dustin lifted his head but only far enough to press a featherlight kiss to Charlie’s cheekbone. “What are we doing here?” he whispered.

Charlie shivered. “I don’t know. I … I …”

Dustin kissed his cheek again, so soft it was barely even a touch, but Charlie’s warm skin, his sweet scent, and the feel of him in Dustin’s arms was almost too much to resist.

He kept brushing tiny little kisses against his skin, working his way down to the corner of Charlie’s mouth, painfully aware of his sharp little inhale and the way his grip tightened.

“I can’t stop thinking about that kiss from earlier,” Dustin admitted with a little groan. “You know I don’t want to pressure you but … God, you have to know how much I want you, Charlie.”

“I do.”

Charlie let out a sigh and pressed their lower halves together. The move was so unexpected Dustin stumbled back, bumping lightly against the door. Pinned between the hard surface and Charlie’s body, all Dustin could do was tighten his grip on Charlie and nuzzle against his cheek, heart beating fast.

“And I want you too,” Charlie whispered, rocking forward a little in a barely there grind of their hips. “But I’m scared.”

“You can trust me, I swear it,” Dustin promised, head spinning with the possibility that things between them were actually shifting.

“I know.” Charlie slid his hand up Dustin’s shoulder and neck before tangling in his hair. “I know I can trust you. You’ve shown me that already. I just … I don’t always trust me.”

But Charlie lightly tugged at his hair until their lips grazed, the touch so small and delicate it shouldn’t have rocked Dustin to the core the way it did.

He gasped against Charlie’s mouth, his lips tingling like he’d been shocked.

“Tell me what you want,” Dustin whispered urgently, sliding his hands down Charlie’s narrow back, down over his small waist and cupping the muscular curve of his ass, not moving his hips to grind against Charlie like he wanted, not even daring to breathe.

Just hoping.

Charlie let out a little groan and fitted their bodies more tightly together, tugging at Dustin’s hair again and sending a shower of sparks down to his toes. Charlie was hard too and Dustin shivered at the feeling.

The air around them felt charged and Dustin’s skin was ready to combust into flames.

“I want …” Charlie let out a breathy little gasp, grinding against Dustin again.

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