Page 143 of Haunted

The swift change in direction gave Butch whiplash. “Right about what?”

“I wasn’t going to stay in touch, but then I reconsidered.” The frequent pauses served to ramp up Butch’s anxiety. “Because I came to a decision.” Another pause.

Christ, it was worse than watching those goddamn reality TV shows Walt was so freaking fond of, where they paused for what seemed like forever before they announced who was leaving, who was staying, who’d won…

“You gonna leave me hangin’ or are you gonna get to the punchline?”

“Okay then.” There was the slightest pause this time before Sol spoke. “I want more.”

Oh dear Lord.

“I’d be down for another blowjob,” Butch affirmed, thankful he’d managed to keep the tremor out of his voice.

God, he wassodown for that.

“Nope. Not what I had in mind.”

Then what is he—

Alarm bells started clanging. “Er, no. Uh-uh. No kinky shit, remember? No nipple clamps, floggers, paddles… no benches...”

“That’s not what I had in mind either.”

The seed of an idea planted itself in Butch’s head, unfurling shoots and tendrils faster than that fucking beanstalk in the story books. “Then what are we talking about?”

“You and me, naked, on a bed, and the only thing between us is a condom.”

Holy fucking fuck.

Butch’s skin couldn’t seem to make its mind up whether it was burning up or ice cold. His mouth dried up, and his heart was beating like a whole battalion of drums.

“Okay, I’ve got the message,” Sol said after a few seconds of silence. “That’s a no.” He sounded flattened, his usual confidence drained from him.

Wait—what?

“No, it’s—”

“Like I said, it’s okay. I won’t mention it again.”

I did that. I deflated him.

“Will you just shut up for a sec and let me get a word in?” Butch blurted out.

Silence.

Butch took a moment to breathe. “I want that too, okay? I mean, who wouldn’t? You’re gorgeous.”

Sol chuckled. “I used exactly the same word to describe you a short while ago.”

Butch momentarily forgot his consternation and glowed. “You said that about me?”

“Uh-huh. No word of a lie.”

Damn, he felt like a million dollars.

“So if we’re on the same page, what’s the problem?”

Butch stared at the water cascading over rocks, flowing around them, a happy, bubbling sound that lifted him.

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