Jace chewed on the inside of his cheek, and Callahan would have given up his entire checking account to know what thoughts were racing through his mind in those silent moments, but before he’d managed the courage to ask, Jace spoke again.
“You’re asking me for more than a kiss, aren’t you?”
That wasn’t what Callahan had expected to hear, and a surprised noise bubbled in the back of his throat. It tumbled out, sounding like a desperately sad laugh. How did this man see through him so easily? Jace looked at Callahan like he was a crystal clear piece of glass, when everyone else saw a dusty and murky mess, probably one of those horrible gold veined mirrors from the sixties that had been neglected for so long it was impossible to get clean.
“Yes,” he whispered, again feeling the weight of Jace’s watchful stare.
“It’s Monday now.”
“Yeah.”
“So it’s not the weekend anymore.”
“It’s not.”
Jace looked down at their hands and then back up at Callahan. “This part isn’t pretend now.”
Callahan shook his head. “No.”
Jace licked his lips and gave a gentle tug to their joined hands.
“Then kiss me, Callahan.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jace Shares His Bed
Against him, Callahan’s mouth burned hot. He pressed their lips together, his eyes wide like he was surprised he’d been given the go-ahead. Jace smiled against him and cupped the back of his head, and only then did Callahan relax. His lashes fluttered and his body turned soft, and he opened, dipping his tongue into Jace’s mouth.
Callahan tasted like sour coffee and sleep, but to Jace, it was all perfect. He flexed his fingers against the back of Callahan’s neck and Callahan moaned, leaning closer so their bodies pressed together. Jace could tell by the way Callahan trembled that he wanted more, to kiss more, to touch more, to do more, but he restrained himself. For once, Jace didn’t know if he was in the mood for restraint.
He’d been so angry since he’d left Mallardsville, though most of it had not been directed at Callahan, but himself. Jace had caught glimpses of a man he thought he could see a future with, but those bits of Callahan were so fleeting he worried they were imagined. Then, to see the way he reacted to Sebastian and the importance he placed on the approval of people he claimed to not like, Jace worried he’d misjudged Callahan from the start.
“I was scared I’d never get to do that again,” Callahan whispered against his mouth, and before Jace could reply, he’d crashed their lips back together, kissing Jace with a clearer, and heavier, intent than before.
Jace’s cock leaked, precum pooling around his slit, ready for a repeat of the last time they’d kissed this way, but he couldn’t. He wanted Callahan, but he wanted him in ways that scared him and confused him, and he couldn’t risk so much so soon.
“Me too,” he admitted before flattening a hand against Callahan’s chest and giving him a gentle push.
Callahan came away with his mouth open, lips already swollen from kiss. His eyes were hooded and heavy, bright blue irises staring out at Jace and begging him to not stop.
“Jace.”
Jace closed his eyes. “I like the way you say my name when you want me.”
“I always want you.” Callahan blinked rapidly until his eyes were fully opened and his stare leveled at Jace.
“I’m not certain about that.”
“I’ll prove it to you.” Callahan clutched Jace’s hand, holding it against his chest. Callahan’s heart slammed against his sternum, battering Jace’s palm with every frenetic beat.
“I hope you do.” Jace rested his forehead against Callahan’s and let out a breath.
“I know I have work to do.” Callahan let go of Jace’s hand and reached for his face, cradling Jace’s cheeks against his sweaty palms. He pulled Jace until they stared straight at each other, and he saw the sincerity—and the desperation—in Callahan’s eyes. “I want to deserve knowing you, Jace.”
Something about that hit Jace different, and he nodded, tipping his face to the side and pressing a kiss against the exposed edge of Callahan’s hand. Jace was surprised to find he wanted Callahan to deserve it too, and more surprised to find himself hoping and praying that this…this man was the real Callahan.
“You don’t even know yourself,” he said, a necessary reminder of how they’d gotten to where they were.
