Page 33 of Legendary

“But only in the technical sense because I haven’t seen her since I was twelve or talked to her since I was fifteen. I never had the chance to break up with her officially, though. She’s dating someone else and has moved on.”

It’s silly, but a rush of relief runs through me at his formal assurance.

Still, I need to know if he’s still carrying around a crush for his childhood sweetheart.

“Is she the one that got away?”

He shakes his head. “I’m gay.” He blushes. “I guess maybe you figured that out?”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I suspected it. Though what just happened between us doesn’t mean you aren’t bi or even pansexual like me.”

“I’m definitely gay. I was fifteen when figured that out. I was going to tell Mira, but then—” His face pinches, and a look of pain flashes in his eyes that reminds me of the night he pulled away from me when we were staying at the StanleyHotel. I reflexively tighten my arms around him. “But then we lost touch.”

I give him a long look. I know Eli. He’s a stickler for details. “Would a part of you feel better about this—” I say, lightly grinding against him, making me stifle a groan at the glorious friction. “If you reached out to Mira?”

“I believe it would,” he says solemnly. “I’ll reach out to her, and even if she chooses not to respond, I will have provided the appropriate, if much delayed, resolution to our relationship.”

I lean down and give him a quick kiss. “Good,” I say and mean it. Knowing there is a Mira out there with a claim, outdated as it may be, on Eli irritates me like a rough seam on a t-shirt or a scratchy tag on the back of my neck. I want it gone.

“Anyone else?” I ask.

He turns his head away from my gaze and pretends to have not heard my question.

“Look, you don’t have to answer if —”

“I’ve nev—” he breaks off and then moves his head back. His eyes are full of embarrassment, but he meets my gaze full-on. “You are the first person I’ve ever done anything like that with.”

I suspected Eli was a virgin. Hell, the guy had never gone to a bar, played pool, or watched a film in a movie theater before he met me. So, I thought the odds were good that he might have never hooked up with anyone either. But hearing him say the words sends some serious caveman vibes rocking through me. I’m the only one who’s seen his eyes go heavy with want. Or heard his breathy moans. Or felt his long, beautiful cock pulse in my hands. It’s a thrill that rivals robbing my first bank or pulling my first big scam.

While I’m flying high on staking first claim on Eli, he takes my lack of response as some kind of rejection.

“Oh no, no,” I say, grabbing him by the chin and making him look me in the eye. “You don’t get to be embarrassed about never messing around with anyone else,” I tell him. “After all,” I say, winking at him. “You’re a genius. You were smart and waited around for the best candidate to show you the ropes.”

He tries to say something to burst my cockiness. I see him trying to formulate one of his lawn dart-sharp responses that hit hard, but nothing makes it to his mouth. “You’re right,” he says with a huff that seems to go through his entire body. “I can’t imagine letting anyone touch me but you.”

Jesus. Even when he’s not trying to hurt me, the kid knows how to pierce me deep.

And turn me on.

“I think it’s time for more touching.” I kiss Eli’s neck, who responds by craning his head back so I have better access, and then I begin to nip and suck at his pale skin. A primitive thrill runs through me at marking him with evidence of this moment when he’s mine.

He begins shifting against me. “I want to make you feel good,” he says breathlessly.

“Fuck. You already are,” I say, kissing him and getting lost in the intimacy of our mouths and tongue exploring each other.

The taste of him is so addictive. Like dark chocolate. Rich and slightly bitter, with just enough unexpected sweetness to make a man crave the taste of it forever.

Eli wrestles from underneath me to break free. Realizing his determination, I roll to my side. “What’s wrong?”

“I want to make you feel good,” he repeats, this time a stubborn look set on his face that is pure Eli.

“And like I said, kid, you already are.”

He’s grumbling at me for calling him ‘kid’, when I take his hand and place it on my throbbing cock that’s now straining against my board shorts.

“Oh,” he lets a big breath of surprise and then starts exploring. His curious fingers trace my cock’s bulging outline against the fabric. His movements are unpracticed, but I don’t think I’ve ever been more turned on in my life. There’s something about Eli’s touch that is a sweeter, wilder thrill than I’ve ever experienced.

“I want to suck you?” he says, almost as if he’s asking me permission.

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