At the mention of food, Alfie’s stomach took the opportunity to make its displeasure known. When their gazes met again, his cheeks were stained pink. He moistened his lips with his tongue then bit down on his bottom lip, a sheepish look in his eyes.
Malachi didn’t think before using his thumb to soothe Alfie’s bottom lip.
Malachi heard his mate’s heart rate pick up, and Alfie tried moistening his lip again, his tongue stopping when it touched Malachi’s thumb.
Malachi couldn’t stop the groan that escaped, his chinos tightening as his erection strained. He swallowed, trying to lubricate his suddenly dry throat.
Don’t think about lube, dummy.
“KFC,” Malachi blurted, “We can stop for KFC.”
He quickly stood and turned away to keep his erection from his mate.
Malachi heard Alfie clear his throat behind him, but he didn’t turn around. Instead, he focused on trying to get himself under control.
Alfie seemed to get himself together, then repeated, “KFC… I mean KFC is fine, thank you.”
Eight
Alfie
Malachi was being weird. The man had said barely a word to him, except to ask him for the key card to check out with and what he wanted at the KFC drive-through.
Alfie was feeling very confused. He was pretty sure they’d had a moment, and now the man was acting like he didn’t exist.
“So, how long is it to your… where you live… I mean Axel…” Alfie wasn’t exactly sure whether Malachi said he lived near Axel and Malek. Had he?
“I mean, do you… you do live close by, right?” For some reason Alfie couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He didn't want to be far away from Malachi. It seemed his brain hadn’t understood that they weren’t trying to get with someone else anytime soon.
Not that he could get with Malachi. Was the man even gay? Alfie was pretty sure he was—at least eighty-five per cent sure… well, maybe more high sixties since Malachi was ignoring him. So maybe the moment in the hotel room hadn’t reallybeena moment.
“Isn't it weird how quickly my brother and yours got together and, like, moved in together?”
He glanced at Malachi, but the man seemed totally focused on the road.
“Rowan met him… your brother, I mean, and he was all… ‘Malek was super-hot, but like super intense.’ He said he barely took his eyes off Axel when the three of them went out to dinner. How cool would that be, you know, having someone that couldn’t take their eyes off you?”
Still no reaction, but the man hadn’t told Alfie to shut up, so… he kept on speaking.
“Axel told us…” He glanced over at Malachi again, “…we have a sibling chat on WhatsApp.” Malachi still didn’t say anything, but Alfie was pretty sure the man was listening to him.
“Well, Axel was all like, he’s found his soulmate…” Alfie looked out of his window at the other cars on the motorway and lowered his voice even though he probably didn't have to since he was clearly talking to himself.
“I don’t know if I believe in soulmates… at least I don’t think I do…”
“Maybe you just haven’t met the person who will show you they exist because you’llalwaysbe number one to them.”
Alfie’s head turned so fast at the sound of Malachi’s voice he probably gave himself whiplash.
He studied the man’s profile, surprised at the reply since he’d been having a one-sided conversation so far.
“I take it that means you believe in soulmates?” He wasn’t sure if Malachi would reply since the man seemed to pick and choose whether Alfie existed.
Malachi looked his way, and their gazes met and held for a moment. The look in the man’s eyes stole Alfie’s breath away. Malachi faced the road again and he began speaking.
“I believe that there is one person that was created especially for you. To complete you and walk alongside you on the long journey through life. That person is there to pick you up when you fall, and help you to keep going when you feel like you have no strength left to go on.”
With every word the man spoke, Alfie felt goose pimples cover his body. When Malachi looked his way again, they locked eyes. Alfie’s heart skipped a beat and then started racing.
