He slowly blinked his eyes open, squinting at the light pouring in through the windows. They hadn’t pulled the curtains closed last night, which was probably a blessing in disguise. He knew Ezra wouldn’t say a word about his bed being empty, but there were others who might get up early enough to see him try to sneak back upstairs.
He sat up, putting his hands on the mattress behind him as he turned his head, taking in every inch of visible skin on the man next to him as he lay bathed in sunlight. Wilder was sprawled on his stomach, the covers bunching around his hips, while he had an arm reaching across the bed toward Emmett.
His pulse raced as he bit his lip, considering for a long heartbeat to reach across and wake him, to see those brilliant eyes staring up at him with the same desperate need he felt.
Shaking his head, he turned and let his feet hit the floor. He leaned down, reaching for his discarded pants. He stuck his feet through the pant legs and stood to pull them up. He had no concept of whether he was being quiet or not, but he didn’t want to put on his receivers. A part of him felt like it would ruin the illusion.
He picked up his shirt, tugging it over his head before grabbing his CIs off the nightstand and shoving them into his pants pocket. He lifted his head, eyes finding Wilder’s still form, a knot forming in his throat at the thought of leaving, but he knew he had to.
He slowly opened the door and stepped out of the room, nearly colliding with someone. He snapped his head up, eyes wide as he stared at Solo.Oh, shit.
Solo’s lips were pressed into a firm line as he raised a brow at Emmett. He felt heat spread through his cheeks, and the embarrassment of having been caught doing the walk of shame made him unable to concentrate on reading Solo’s lips as he spoke.
He dug his receivers out of his front pocket and put them on, clicking the magnetic part into place behind his ears, his blush only deepening when Solo said, “You’re not supposed to be coming out of that room, are you?”
“No.”
It was reflex to answer in sign, so he opened his mouth to translate, but Solo cut him off.
“I know the sign forno,” he said, looking rather affronted. “It’s the sign Kaz demanded we all learn on day one.”
His mouth dropped open. He hadn’t known that. Kaz had learnt some ASL himself, but to know he’d taught the other bikers some, too, had a warm feeling spreading in his chest.
He heard Solo’s sigh as much as he saw it through his body, big shoulders lifting then dropping, his mouth pinched, and his face set in a grimace.
“I take it this isn’t a Dove situation?”
Emmett winced before he could help it, his voice hoarse as he forced out, “No.”
“Fuck sakes, Wilder,” Solo muttered, glaring at Wilder’s door for a second before his gaze returned to Emmett, the intensity in that look scalding.
“I get it,” Solo said with a shrug. “There aren’t many who haven’t fallen into his bed if he wanted them there, but he’s going through some stuff. Just be careful. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone, but… He’s not a relationship guy. He’s never been that guy.”
“I know,” Emmett said quietly.
Wilder might love his body, but he wasn’t going to keep him around forever. He’d always known that. He just hadn’t wanted to think about it too hard.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Wilder
WAKING UP without Emmett next to him was downright weird. He didn’t know how he’d gotten used to it so fast, but he did know that it was something he wanted. He wanted Emmett close. He wanted to be able to look into those eyes, to kiss those lips. He wanted to cause that laugh, that blushing smile.
Emmett was his first thought when he opened his eyes, his last thought before he closed them. He didn’t know how that had happened, and yet, as he thought about it, he knew. Knew that the second Emmett had walked into his life, had gone from staring at his tattoo to snarking at him, to making him want to drop to his damned knees if he asked him to, that Emmett had consumed his every thought. He was taking up space in his chest, he hadn’t even known was empty. Or, perhaps he had known, because hadn’t he been trying to fill it with meaningless things for years?
Emmett made him feel alive, and he wanted to hold onto that feeling, hold onto Emmett. He wanted to hear that laugh. To sit in the silence and just feel Emmett there with him. He wanted to hear those uninhibited sounds, feel that soft skin under his fingertips, fill his nose with that creamy vanilla scent he couldn’t get enough of, he wanted to sink inside him and see his skin flush at his touch.
His heart was beating so fast he felt faint whenever he thought about what all that might mean?what that feeling was?because it scared the shit out of him.
Letting Emmett in was the easiest thing in the world. He trusted him. Trusted every single word out of his mouth. Trusted that every action, every move, was made with nothing but utter sincerity. Emmett was a beacon of light in the murky darkness he’d been suffocating in for so long.
A door slamming jerked him out of his thoughts, his gaze snapping toward the hallway. Heavy footsteps sounded, followed by the appearance of a few of his brothers. He tried not to pull a face when he spotted Solo, but from the man’s flat stare, he knew he wasn’t successful. Kaz stepped up behind Solo, leaning in to speak with him shortly before he wandered over to the dining table, where he took a seat, pulling out his phone.
Solo’s gaze returned to Wilder, the flash of pain in those deep browns spearing his heart. He missed him. He missed who they used to be. Missed the guy who’d had his back through everything. He missed his brother’s quiet company. Hell, he missed arguing about nonsensical things.
He swallowed down the painful emotions and headed across the room, watching only for a second as Solo turned on his heels and walked back outside.
He pulled out the chair across from Kaz and sat down with a loud sigh. Kaz looked up at him, a brow creased in question as he put his phone down on the table.
