Page 26 of Hold On

“I don’t want to run away screaming or murder you,” Ren said quietly, and yawned.

“Too tired?”

“Yeah.” Tired was his default setting. “I dug up the bust of a woman’s head and shoulders today. Will was almost orgasmic. He thinks I have some magic touch. God knows what he’ll want me to do tomorrow. I’m all for making as little effort as possible.” Ren closed his eyes and sighed.

“I like it in here,” Dominic said. “A private little world.”

Ren liked it too. Just sitting in a warm treehouse, with his back against the trunk and Dominic by his side. He’d not slept well last night. At least his nightmare hadn’t woken Will. But Ren had found it hard to drop off again once his mind began to churn, going over what he’d done, what had happened, what he should have done, how lucky he’d been. But sitting here next to Dominic, even though he was a stranger, maybebecausehe was a stranger, Ren felt more relaxed than he had for a long time.

He dreamt that he was with Levan. They were lying on towels on the long splintery wooden jetty that jutted out over the turquoise mountain lake. Levan leaned up on his elbow, and smiled down at him, hoping Ren took the hint. Ren knew what would happen if he didn’t. But as Ren reached for him, Levan’s face blurred then faded, and Dominic’s took its place. He had almost delicate features to go with those dark eyes. A straight nose, sharp cheekbones…too thin. Why was he so skinny? Ren wanted those long legs wrapped around him. He wanted to put his hands on that flat stomach and on the unmistakable bulge in his trunks.

While part of his mind was telling him this wasn’t Dominic, that he hadn’t even seen the guy’s stomach or him wearing trunks, let alone any sign of a bulge, it was still Dominic’s face he saw and not Levan’s. Ren slid his hand over the silky grey material of Dominic’s swimwear, rubbing his thumb over the damp spot at the head of his dick. He wrapped his fingers around the length of him, squeezing hard enough to make the guy give a lust-soaked groan. A sound that nearly made Ren come undone, but instead woke him up.

He jerked to a sitting position. “I fell asleep? Was I snoring?”Moaning?

And I have a boner. And probably a damp spot. Shit.He bent his knees to disguise the bulge. “Sorry. Not good manners. In my defence, I had a terrible night. How long was I out?”

“About two hours.”

“What?” Then he huffed. “Right. Two minutes? Hope I didn’t drool.” Or sound like he was about to come.

“What were you dreaming about?”

Oh Christ.Had he given something away? “Not sure we know one another well enough for that.” Ren looked round. “We should make this our place.”Our place? What the fuck am I saying?“Somewhere to escape to.”And that didn’t make it any better!

“When it’s not being invaded by a horde of little kids?”

“Well, duh. We wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.”

Ren wondered if Dominic would take the hint, see that he was interested in him.

“I need to get back for dinner,” Dominic said.

There was Ren’s answer. He went down the ladder feeling annoyed with himself. Dominic’s comment had blunted the mood he’d been hoping for.Maybe he’s not into me. Shock! Horror! Even if he is, I’m not in a fit state to do anything about it.As he watched Dominic descend, the T-shirt rode up to reveal bruising at his waist and Ren clenched his teeth.You fucking liar!As Dominic turned, Ren snapped, “Take off your T-shirt.”

“What?” Dominic’s eyes widened.

“Take off your fucking T-shirt and show me what I did. I can see it’s more than just your arm.”

Dominic stared at him for a moment, then pulled up the T-shirt. He was black and blue all down his side and the bruising continued under the waistband of his low-slung jeans.

“For fuck’s sake.” Ren groaned.

“It’s nothing.” Dominic pulled the material down.

“It’s clearly not.”

“Don’t say anything to my brother or Theo.”

Why the fuck not?“When am I going to see them?”

“They’ve invited you to dinner tonight.”

“Theyhave? Not you? And you’re only just telling me?”

Dominic headed out of the garden and Ren followed. “It’s not my place to invite anyone. I’m just staying with them. They said there’s enough for you if you want to come.”

Ren wondered if that was the most ungracious invitation that he’d ever received to anything. Possibly not, but… “I’d love to.”

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