William let out a breath. Warmth crept up his cheeks, the look in Adathan’s eyes rendering him speechless.
Silence settled, broken only by the faint buzzing of the refrigerator and the whoosh of late-night drivers. William still had a lot to say, but the words evaded him. He couldn’t bring himself to listen to his thoughts anymore.
Peacefulness wrapped around them—a calm yet unshakable certainty that everything would be okay. William had never felt this kind of connection with anyone before. It was...
His mind began to blur, the edges of the room softening. A tiny, distant voice tried to warn him it was fake, that he was being manipulated. But he ignored it. He recognized it for whatit was: his brain’s desperate attempt at rationalizing something that couldn’t be. When had his reason ever helped him, anyway?
“You look cold,” Adathan said. “Should we get under the covers?”
William smiled. “Good idea.”
Adathan lay much closer to the center of the bed this time, and William made no attempt to put distance between them. He pulled the covers over them both and rested his head against his pillow, letting out a sigh. The warmth of his bed seeped into him, made him relax.
William’s eyelids grew heavy, drowsiness hitting him like a truck. What a week he’d had.
But tomorrow would be nice. They were going to get Adathan a library card. And go see the animals. And eat all the soup.
William tried to stay awake a little longer, but it was no use. He studied Adathan’s features one last time before succumbing to his need for sleep—to make sure he truly was okay.
His breath caught. How could someone be so beautiful?
“William?” Adathan whispered.
William blinked. “Yeah?”
“Can I sleep in your arms? Just for tonight?”
William’s heart melted into a puddle. He knew he should say no, but couldn’t bring himself to. He didn’t want to talk anymore. He didn’t want to think.
He lifted one arm and waited for Adathan to shift closer before wrapping it around him.
Adathan rested his head on William’s shoulder, pressing his warm body against him. The wonderful scent of his shampoo lured William in, made him smile, made him tighten his embrace. He ran his fingers through Adathan’s hair, relishing how smooth it was.
Adathan’s hand came to rest against William’s chest. His fingers danced across his skin, producing blissful chills in their wake. William couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so good.
His lips brushed Adathan’s forehead. He inhaled deeply. Exhaled.
Just for tonight, he lied to himself as he started drifting off.
Softly, tenderly, he pressed a kiss.
CHAPTER 17
Too Late
Well, fuck.
William’s bladder was killing him, but he couldn’t get out of bed. He couldn’t move. He barely dared to breathe.
Adathan looked too comfortable curled up against him, sleeping peacefully like he didn’t have a care in the world.
It tore William’s heart to pieces. And then it mended it, warmed it, and broke it all over again.
It was too late now, wasn’t it?
A smile pulled at Adathan’s parted lips. His fingers moved just slightly against William’s chest, as if he were caressing Biscuit in his dream. He murmured an unintelligible sound, then wrapped his arm around William’s chest and squeezed.
William held his breath. He waited, but Adathan didn’t seem to wake. His body relaxed against William’s, his breathing returning to its slow, steady rhythm.
