Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
My parents both stared at me. “Who?” my mom asked.
I felt light-headed. This wasn’t the way this conversation was supposed to happen. And no amount of questioning would make me reveal anyone’s sexuality like that. I loved my mother dearly, but I also knew full well she would mention it “in confidence” to a close friend who’d mention it “in confidence” to another until the entire town was in an uproar over it.
The front door opened and Billy’s voice could be heard chattering to Major about going to a Texas Rangers game that weekend. The low rumble of Major’s short responses made me feel strangely emotional. When his familiar face appeared in the kitchen, his eyes found mine immediately.
“Hey,” I said. It came out as more of a squeak. His eyebrows furrowed and he flicked his gaze to my parents before looking back at me. “Everything okay?”
What would my parents do if they found out their beloved second son was a gay man? What would they do if they learned that their very own flesh and blood wanted to lie naked with him that very night?
“I, uh—” My breathing came fast and shallow. “—was just going upstairs to change.”
Major ran his hands through his hair, undoing some of the damage his cowboy had done. “Can I come up there and get that Creedence Clearwater album you said I could borrow?”
I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Yeah, right. Of course. Come on up.”
He said a quick greeting to my mom and dad before following me up the stairs to my bedroom. I closed the door behind us and turned to find him with his hip propped on my dresser and his hands clasped loosely in front of him. He didn’t say anything, just looked at me with the same patience he’d always had.
The man could read me better than anyone, even Betsy. After a few beats, he held his arms out in invitation and I stumbled over to fall into them. While my seeking physical comfort from him was fairly new, it was as natural as breathing. I thought back to the night in Bangkok when I’d snuck into bed with him and held him tightly. Who exactly had I been trying to comfort that night, him or me?
Major’s warm hands rubbed up and down my back.
“You’re shaking,” he murmured into my hair. “What happened?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Just… I needed this right here.”
“Liar,” he said with a smile in his voice. “You know you’re the worst liar ever, don’t you?”
“Shut up.” God, he felt good. And smelled good too. Like outdoor work and sweat. Hay and horses. The scent of my childhood.
“You still coming over later? You know it’s okay if you’ve changed your mind. I won’t pressure you, Liam.”
When he said my real name, it made me shudder. I remembered all the times he’d murmured it in his sleep over the years. Every single time he said it was like him hand feeding me a morsel of gourmet chocolate.
“I don’t feel any pressure. I’m coming over because I can’t get you out of my damned mind, and I can’t stop wanting to take your clothes off.” I pulled back and met his eyes. “And because I’m desperate to know what it feels like to kiss you on the lips, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to do it for the first time with my parents downstairs.” I grinned at him, trying to wash away the conversation with my father and tuck it into a box to keep it safely away from the man in my arms.
I never wanted him to feel prejudice or pain, and I’d fight like hell to ensure he especially didn’t hear it in this house.
Major stepped away from me before casually adjusting himself with a large hand on the front of his blue jeans. My stomach flip-flopped wildly with nerves.
“I’m, uh… I’ll be a little while. I’m going to take a quick shower,” I stammered.
His grin was slow and knowing.
“Wash yourself real well. Don’t forget the cracks and crevices, Lieutenant.”
Christ on the cross.
If what my dad had said was true, I was going to hell for sure. But I wasn’t so sure I minded all that much.
Chapter 26
Weston “Major” Marian
Liam Wilde flustered and blushing was a sight to behold. If I’d thought he was attractive before, that was nothing compared to how he looked now that I knew he might want me. I grabbed the first record in the stack of albums by his turntable and returned back downstairs, stashing the album by my boots so I wouldn’t forget to take it home. When I put it down, I noticed it was Loretta Lynn. I snorted. Betsy and her country music crooners.
When I returned to the kitchen, I asked Lois where the girls were.