I wanted to pull him close, kiss him, tell him everything I'd been holding back. But we were still in the hallway, still exposed, still under scrutiny.
“Later,” I said. “When we're not standing in a public hallway where anyone could see.”
“Later,” he agreed. “But Grant?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For protecting me. For fighting for me. For not backing down.”
“That's what you do for people you love,” I said quietly. “You fight for them even when it's terrifying.”
He smiled—small and genuine—and I felt something settle in my chest. We'd survived. Barely. Paul was watching, the media was circling, and one wrong move could still destroy us. But we'd survived.
And for now, that was enough.
“Come on,” I said. “Let's get through the next six days. Then we can figure out what comes after.”
We walked back toward the locker room together, side by side, and I let myself believe—just for a moment—that maybe this could actually work.
CHAPTER 27
DAMAGE CONTROL
GRANT
Jace's body was pressed against mine, his head tucked under my chin, one leg thrown over my hips. The morning light was filtering through his bedroom curtains, soft and grey, and for a moment I just lay there listening to him breathe.
We'd both known we shouldn't. Said as much to each other, standing in his kitchen last night with the city quiet outside and the weight of the day still sitting heavy on both of us.
Then Jace had looked at me and saidstay, and I hadn't even hesitated.
I shifted slightly, and Jace made a small sound of protest, burrowing closer.
“Don't move,” he mumbled against my chest. “Comfortable.”
“I need to piss.”
“Suffer.”
I laughed quietly and ran my hand down his spine, feeling the curve of his back, the dip at his waist. “Come on. I'm serious. I really need to go.”
“Wait.” His voice changed, went from sleepy to something else. Something darker. He lifted his head to look at me, and his eyes were already dilated. “Don't go to the bathroom.”
I stared at him. “Jace?—”
“Do it in me.” He said it casually, like he was suggesting we order breakfast. “Like last time.”
My brain stuttered.
“You're serious.”
“Yeah.” He shifted, moving to straddle my hips, and I could feel his cock already starting to harden against my stomach. “I've been thinking about it. Want to feel it again. Want you to fill me up.”
My cock was responding too, despite the urgent pressure in my bladder. “You're going to kill me.”
“That's the plan.” He grinned, wicked and filthy. “Come on, Daddy. I know you need to go. Do it inside me.”
The casualness with which he said it still caught me off guard every time. For someone who'd had limited experience before me, Jace had discovered he loved the filthy, kinky shit with an enthusiasm that was both surprising and fucking intoxicating.
