“You tried to stop me.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t want you to be alone.” I put one arm around him and cupped his jaw with the other hand. “But you ended up being alone anyway. I’m sorry, I should have been here sooner.”
“It’s okay. It was actually nice to talk to West,” he said. “He gets it more than I thought he would. And it was good to talk about shit with someone who’s been in the same place. I mean, I know you have too, but like?—”
“I get it. My experience was very different to yours. Being a professional athlete and growing up in that system is going to shape everything, and I can’t pretend to know what that’s like.”
“No, but you’ve still supported me through all of this.”
I smiled and leant a little closer, desperate to kiss him but holding back because I knew if we got distracted, we weren’t going to have this conversation. And we had to. “Of course I have. I’m not going to let you struggle alone.”
“West said he’ll support me if I come out and that if anyone says anything, they can take it up with him.” He chuckled softly. “I can’t see any of them wanting to do that.”
“I can’t either.”
“I think I’m gonna tell them. I don’t want to hide anymore and I’m sick of pretending. I’d rather be me.”
I nodded, my stomach bubbling. I had to say something soon, before he made all these plans. I needed him to know where I stood, how I felt, so he could make a decision. “Danny, I… I’m…”
“Are you breaking up with me? ’Cos if you are, I swear to fucking god.” The indignation on his face was so adorable it just cemented how I felt about him. I needed him to be mine.
“No, puppy. I was thinking about it, but someone reminded me you’re an adult and I can’t make decisions for you.”
“Good! Who are they? I’m gonna buy them a drink.”
“It was Shane, and the first time you two meet, I’m going to start praying.”
“I didn’t know you were religious.”
“I’m not,” I said, gently tapping his nose. “As I was saying, I’m not going to decide for you. All I can do is tell you whereI stand. I don’t think I have anything to offer you but sex and sarcasm. I’ve got baggage and scars and a broken heart, and I’m in the middle of a petty divorce with a man who’s determined to make my life hell. I’m fourteen years older than you, I live in a shitty flat, and I’m having to start all over again with fuck all to my name. I have nothing to give you except adoration. You make me feel alive again, Danny. Like my life might actually be worth living. I know that isn’t much, and if you want to find someone else, someone your age who?—”
“Fuck that,” Danny said with a little growl. “If I’m going to be anyone’s, then I’m going to be yours. I don’t want anyone else, Ezra. So get your head out of your fucking arse and kiss me.”
“Demanding, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, but you love it. I’m your puppy, remember?”
“Yes, you are.” I brushed my lips against his teasingly, my hand on his jaw holding him just tightly enough that he couldn’t take what he wanted. “Needy, bratty, demanding, beautiful, adorable, and fucking irresistible. And all mine.”
“Mmm, good. And you’re mine too. Nobody else is getting their hands on you.”
“Possessive too.” I kissed him lightly. “Good, because I’m not sharing either.”
Danny groaned, his grip tightening on the back of my shirt. “Stop teasing.”
“What if I think there’s more we need to talk about?” I asked, smirking as I kissed him teasingly again.
“Talking can wait. Sex first! We were supposed to fuck in your office. You were meant to bend me over your desk.” He pouted furiously. “Then West ruined it. Stupid hooker.”
I raised an eyebrow. “No, puppy. We don’t call people names simply because they caught us making out in public.”
“True and we did get to talk about shit. Fine, he’s not stupid. He’s cool. But I still didn’t get my desk sex.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” I said, reaching around to squeeze his arse.
