Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Mike jumped on the bike with the victory of the explosion overshadowed by fear of what his stupid mouth might have caused.
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Chapter 17 – Arden
“You don’t understand. They had to undress me there and then, in the street. Everyone saw I was wearing panties.” Arden groaned into the phone, cuddled up in a comforter on the bed he shared with Mike.
He’d called his sister once he was done with his drawing of Mike. Weirdly enough, this one wasn’t even all that porny. Sure, Mike was naked on it, all his birds of paradise on show, but Arden had missed Mike so much he just drew them hugging.
Kayley snorted. “I’m only laughing because you’re fine now, okay? And people know you wear them because you let them peek out of your pants.”
Arden ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “It’s not the same as standing butt-naked and being hosed down with water.” He bit his lip at how terrified he’d been. “But you know… Mike’s mom was really kind to me. She covered me with a sheet and stayed with me throughout. Even spoke for me when the doctor arrived… I wasn’t expecting it, because she’d been giving me the stink eye before, but I may be growing on her.”
“Whoa, whoa! Back up. What’s that even mean? What’s going on there, Ardy?”
Arden lay his head down on the pillow. It was about time to come clean. Mike had called and said that he’d dealt with the Jarens, but that Kane needed to go to the hospital, and that he’d be out with his brothers until late. Arden would stay up and wait for him. The attack should have scared him off from Mike, because this might be the beginning of more mayhem, but instead of faltering, his feelings for Mike only became stronger.
Mike had been so understanding when he listened about the assault, so caring and protective as the tear gas had hit. It was a blur in the moment, but Arden remembered Mike carrying him out of the gym when Arden had been unable to walk and panicked so hard he’d curled up on the floor instead of trying to get away.
“I’m in love with him, Kaley…”
The long silence made his guts twist.
“Well, shit. That’s really bad, honey,” she said, soft where he’d expected loud berating. “I told you not to fall for his bullshit.”
“But it’s not bullshit! He wants to be with me. He told his whole family we’re a thing, and… we’ve kinda been living together.”
“I’m gonna kill him.”
Arden rubbed his face in frustration. “No! This is serious, he’s nothing like Luke.”
She gave a loud exhale. “No. He’s not like Luke. He won’t physically hurt you, he’ll just leave you heartbroken once he gets bored. I’ll come over and pick you up.”
“You don’t have to. It’s not like that. He’s not like that.”
“No? Everyone always falls for his charm. Don’t be that, Arden.” She cleared her throat. “So are you like… sleeping with him? You must know he’s straight.”
Heat flushed his face but at least in the dark room no one would see. “He’s… not so straight. He likes me the way I am.”
“Arden! You can’t be so gullible! Don’t believe a word coming out of his mouth.”
“I don’t want to never trust anyone again because of Luke,” he whispered. “We’ve been through stuff with Mike.”
She exhaled, and Arden rolled over in the double bed, pushing his face into Mike’s pillow, which still faintly smelled of his cologne.
Kaley spoke again. “I’m not saying he is a bad person. He has a good core, but he’s careless when it comes to other people’s feelings. He thinks the fact that he makes no explicit promises makes everything okay, and then you’re left heartbroken while he suddenly withdraws all interest and moves on.”
But he’d made a promise to Arden, hadn’t he? This was different than the fling Kaley had with him years ago. Mike had committed, and fought for Arden.
“Okay, okay, I’ll think about it.” He wouldn’t. “But I wanted you to know what’s going on. Oh! I think they’re back!” Arden sat up on the bed when he heard more noise and voices downstairs.
“Arden, do me a favor and stop thinking with your dick.”
“I will. I have! Bye! My boyfriend’s back.”
He giggled at her deep sigh and disconnected. How was he to not think with his dick when he had the most amazing guy in his bed every night? Arden slipped off the strap of his satin pyjama top to appear casually disheveled.
The sound of motorcycles outside died down, replaced by loud conversations. Would Mike stay downstairs and chat about how everything had developed out there?
Should Arden change and join him?
He froze in the middle of the bed when the door handle lowered. For a moment he was uncertain whether he should have left the room unlocked, but tension evaporated from his muscles when Mike’s blond head popped in.