Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 145088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“You don’t… block me from being myself.” Dex took a deep breath against Hammer’s shoulder, and having the ability to calm Dex down felt like a superpower. “I don’t have to censor myself around you, because you’re different from me, and yet just like me. Most people tell me to stop being myself in one way or another. You don’t, even though you’re so much smarter than me, more confident and collected, you make me feel like… I’m not a nuisance.”
Hammer swallowed, surprised by how good it felt to hear such things. He tightened his arms around Dex and spoke, “I think the same about you. You take me as I am, without any drama. And you’re not weirded out by the things I do, because you understand,” he said, pulling back to meet the brown eyes that made his heart beat faster.
Dex snorted, and it was such a relief to see him cheer up. “You sure? Seems to me I cause drama everywhere I go.”
“That’s because people have high expectations of others. You never go in trying to make the situation messy, and you never seek out problems. I like that about you.”
Dex gasped and his eyes widened. “You do get me! It’s so true. I have good intentions most of the time. That’s why it hurts so much when things backfire. Like, of course I tried to get into your pants because I thought you were hot, cool, and dangerous, but you’re so much more to me now. I found something in you that I didn’t even know I needed. I thought this dark thing inside of me was something meant for me to experience on my own, but now I can share it with you. I guess that’s why I freaked out when I thought I could lose you over the stupid decision to see your parents. I wanted to be the one who helped you reconcile with them, because then I’d be important to you.”
Hammer stilled. What was Dex saying? “‘Important’?”
Dex ran his fingers through his hair with a groan. “Yeah. I wanna attach myself to you like some fucking barnacle.”
Hammer smirked and pulled up Dex’s chin with his index finger as warmth spread in his cold chest. “I think we already defined our relationship at the diner yesterday.”
“Sorry for this meltdown. I can’t control it sometimes.”
Hammer shrugged and stroked Dex’s cheekbones with his thumbs, leaning closer. “I also have many, many flaws and you still seem to enjoy my company.”
Dex chuckled, hugging Hammer and petting his back. “You say the funniest things sometimes.”
Hammer frowned. “I’m not being funny.”
“Not right now, but you can be. Like when you said, ‘I’m well aware I’m attractive’, back at the dinner. And all with that stern expression. I still think about it, because it cracks me up so much.” Dex grinned despite his eyes still being bloodshot from crying.
“But I am attractive. Why is that funny?” Hammer asked but smiled at the first sight of Dex’s grin.
Dex got to his toes and kissed the scar above Hammer’s lips. “Because you were so analytical about it. I instantly imagined you having an out of body experience where your soul looks at your body, and you nod to yourself thoughtfully, ‘Yeah, I’m hot’,” he said in an imitation of Hammer’s voice.
Hammer gave Dex a little swat with the flat of his palm before tugging him toward the hotel. “Next time you’re this upset, you come to me instead of running, understood? Or I’ll be giving you an out of body experience.”
Dex snorted. “I don’t know if that’s a threat or a promise.”
Hammer smirked. Maybe it was both.
Chapter 22 – Hammer
The hotel had changed owners since Hammer had last been in town, and now instead of the outdated decor that was considered neutral thirty years back, everything from the carpets covered with Persian-style prints to reproductions of rococo paintings in frames covered with gold paint screamed excess.
But the customers seemed to like it, since there was just one room left for the night, and the gaudy decor was likely why the short stay cost as much as it did. Not that Hammer cared at this point. This was what his savings were for.
He rested his forehead against their door and exhaled, relieved to push down the handle and enter the space that was theirs for the night. He didn’t expect Dex all but pushing him inside.
“It’s the honeymoon suite,” Dex chuckled, gluing himself to Hammer, cold hands and all. “So you do care.” His fingers were icicles when they dove under Hammer’s T-shirt, and he kissed Hammer’s jaw with a big grin.
Hammer grunted, letting his head fall back as the door locked behind them. He’d need to secure it, to make sure no one forced entry while they slept, but that could wait. It was only now that the fatigue of the journey, the disastrous family reunion, and needing to take care of Dex’s emotional needs were catching up to him, and the cold touch was not helping him relax.