Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
His lover collapsed in a heap first and Harrison followed him over. He had just enough strength to roll them both onto their sides so he didn’t crush Hale with his weight. Harrison managed to loosely wrap his arms around the man while trying desperately to catch his breath.
“Welcome…” Hale panted, “to the Dark Side. We…have cookies.”
Harrison hadn’t the brain power to even contemplate a response to that. It was idiotic. And yet, he couldn’t remember ever feeling so happy, so fucking relaxed in all of his life. Had this been the best sex of his life? Maybe. Or was it simply that he’d finally found someone he craved more than anything or anyone else in the world?
With a great deal of reluctance, he grabbed the edges of the condom and carefully pulled free of Hale’s body. On wobbly legs, he retreated to the bathroom to dispose of the condom and clean off. He returned with a damp towel and carefully wiped Hale’s hands and stomach before tossing it away.
Harrison collapsed on the bed once more, glad to be back in the bed, under the covers, and partially wrapped around Hale’s loose and warm body. The air smelled of sex and sweat, but he didn’t care. They should probably take a shower, but he didn’t care about that either. No one had ever felt so good. He’d never been much of a cuddler. The feel of someone against him after sex made him restless and his skin itchy. It was enough to leave him convinced there was something wrong with him, or that he was just a cold, unfeeling person.
Turned out, he’d never had the right someone pressed against him. Cuddled with Hale was the only place he ever wanted to be.
“I hate to do this, Harrison, because you feel so relaxed right now,” Hale started softly.
Harrison kissed the rounded edge of Hale’s shoulder and slowly worked across his collarbone. “What? Need to get up?”
“No, we need to talk.”
He froze, muscles stiffening everywhere. Being pressed so tightly together, there was no way Hale missed it. He didn’t want to talk about what had sent him in desperate panic to Hale’s side. Even now, the image of Wiley’s stricken face and the echo of his words had Harrison pulling Hale tighter against him.
“That’s what I thought,” Hale murmured softly. He turned into Harrison, wrapping arms around him while lowering himself so that he could press his face into Harrison’s throat. A soft kiss brushed over his Adam’s apple, and Harrison’s eyes fell shut.
“As much of a slut as I am for your dick, we need to talk, Angel. I want to know what’s going on with you. This morning, you couldn’t stand to be in the same car with me, and then the second we meet again, you can’t let go. I’m guessing it has something to do with what sent Baer screaming over the edge in panic for his mate. What’s going on?”
Harrison’s stomach churned, and he fought the urge to tighten his arms further on Hale. There was no such thing as close enough right now. Maybe if Hale was inside of him, hidden behind his heart, the man would finally be safe.
“I’m sorry about this morning,” Harrison began with the easy part, even though there was a low throb of pain that went out from his heart at the memory of hurting Hale. “Last night…took me by surprise. I was still trying to process things, and I couldn’t properly do that with you sitting right next to me. I guess…I guess I’m not as straight as I thought I was.”
Hale lifted his face and smirked at Harrison. “No, Angel, you’re not.”
Harrison tried for a quelling look and it failed pretty miserably, judging by the way Hale’s grin spread even wider. It was the third time Hale had called him Angel. He was not a fan of cute pet names, but there was no denying the warm bubbles that rose up from his stomach every time Hale used it.
After kissing the tip of his chin, Hale settled back against Harrison’s throat. “You’re forgiven. Just talk to me next time. If you need space to think and process, tell me and I will happily give it to you. I understand the need to work things out in your head.”
Closing his eyes, Harrison tightened his hold on Hale in a brief hug and released a sigh of relief. Yes, if there was anyone who would understand, it was Hale. The man was a big thinker who liked to ponder the deep questions of the universe. Hale would understand the need to simply think things through.
“So…” Hale began again with a new note in his voice that put Harrison on alert. “You thought things over and came to the realization that you really did like dick. Or at the very least, my dick.”