Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Leo’s face was relaxed, but he nudged Zolt with one knee. “Why are you being so nice all of a sudden, huh? I thought you hated all Hellers after today.”
Zolt licked his lips, looking at the dip in the blanket where their shoulders touched, creating a glow of heat that spread farther up his body. “I don’t hate all Hellers.”
Leo was quiet for a couple of seconds before glancing at Zolt as if he were lost and wordlessly asked for help. “I think the booze is wearing off because I’m getting cold. Let’s go inside.”
They jumped off the pickup together and wobbled toward the back door, uselessly trying to fit under the same blanket. Zolt hated apologizing with his whole heart and avoided it as often as possible, but it did take pressure off his chest to see Leo feeling better.
He’d usually have treated this kind of situation as an opportunity to get into the other guy’s pants, but he was apprehensive. He didn’t know Leo’s thoughts, so he followed his lead, almost forgetting to lock up for the night.
Chapter 15 - Zolt
Leaving the warmth of the blanket felt like stepping on ice barefoot, but Leo waited for him while he dealt with the door.
“So you’re cold,” Zolt said and stepped out of his shoes just like Leo.
“Yeah, I think I’ll take a hot shower, get an extra blanket, and that’s that.”
Leo had said his piece about the sex they’d had, Zolt had apologized, explained himself, but when Leo grabbed a towel, Zolt still didn’t know where they stood.
He’d gotten used to Leo’s touches, and the physical distance created by his terrible choices made him feel out of place in his own home. When they were alone, Leo would freely stroke Zolt’s back, give him quick hugs, or kisses in passing. And Zolt missed them already.
He followed Leo past the living room, past his bed, stuck in a strange state of hollowness and discomfort that ate him up from the inside. He had apologized—yes—but not made things right.
Leo was about to shut the bathroom door behind him when Zolt grabbed it, catching the blue gaze in a moment that had his heart thrashing like a rat caught inside a trap.
Leo was the one to speak first. “What is it?”
Zolt swallowed, all his insides squirming, as if they no longer found comfort in his body and wanted to crawl out through his mouth. “Can I come with you?”
Leo rubbed his forehead, his soulful eyes glancing at Zolt from beneath long lashes Zolt hadn’t really noticed before. “Only if you can be honest about what it means. I’m not okay with fucking and then not talking.”
Zolt cleared his throat, his brain stewing in its own juices, but he felt as if the bathroom door was somehow a symbol of their relationship, and if he let Leo close it on him, their friendship would be over. “It means we’re good.”
Leo bit his bottom lip, not even blinking as they watched one another. When he leaned forward, Zolt was so eager he stepped closer to meet his lips sooner, but he still let Leo make that last inch. The kiss, while chaste, tasted of relief.
“I did like what we did,” Leo whispered, trailing his fingers up Zolt’s side. “You made me lose it. And you’re as hot as you were a few hours ago, but I’m err… achy, so it will be a while before we could do it again.”
Zolt nodded and pushed inside, his hands resting in their usual place on Leo’s hips. “I’ve been there,” he said and dived in, running his nose along Leo’s jaw to reacquaint himself with his scent after a break that had felt like forever. “What was this thing about me making you lose it? You care to repeat that bit?”
The flush on Leo’s face spilled into arousal inside of Zolt. “I kinda… I like that you’re so butch,” Leo confessed into Zolt’s ear.
Zolt entered the bathroom, too entranced by Leo’s closeness, which only moments ago had seemed so unattainable, to care about the door slamming loudly behind them. “And what do you like most?” So maybe asking those questions made him needy, but a man craved compliments sometimes.
“I love your tats, your size. Your forearms with all that dark hair.” Leo leaned in for another kiss, and the small space started heating up before they switched on the water. “Your beard oil smells so good, and you’re so strong. It’s all pretty impressive.”
Zolt grinned, peeling himself away to remove his clothes. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have Randy?” he teased, eating up Leo’s handsome form with his gaze.
Leo shook his head with a smirk. “Randy was sixteen, you perv, and I never saw him again, so don’t put that in my head or I’ll need to bleach it.” But he seemed just as eager to get naked when he took off his hoodie, his T-shirt, and sped through the buttons of his jeans.