August was already reaching for him, stroking a thumb along Quinn’s jaw and cupping his face, bringing them closer until Quinn was on his tiptoes, preparing for the contact.
“What do you want from me?” Quinn whispered against August’s mouth. “Other than to drive me mad?”
August pressed the barest hint of a kiss to Quinn’s lips and drew back. “I wantyou, but I don’t know if you’ll let me have you.”
Quinn’s eyes fluttered closed when August brought them together for another brief kiss. “What did I tell you before we agreed to this?”
August smirked against his mouth and let out a breathy laugh. “Don’t fall in love with you.”
Another kiss—this one deeper and more urgent than the last. Quinn’s toes curled in his boots, and his breath left him in a gasp. “And?”
More laughter.
“I heard what you were saying, but tell that to my damn heart.”
Quinn moaned into August’s mouth, sweeping his tongue inside to taste him as he wrapped his arms around the back of his neck to steady himself. His traitorous heart didn’t seem to be listening either because it was beating frantically in his chest, skipping repetitively when August’s calloused hands slipped under his shirt to touch his heated skin.
Shit—shit—shit!
August stepped back, ending the kiss and putting some much-needed space between them. They were both a panting, blushing mess, but it was clear that these feelings weren’t going to leave anytime soon.
“Don’t think about it now,” said August. “Can we just—keep going until—”
Blood spilled from August’s nose, sliding down his chin before dripping onto the floor, swiftly ending the conversation. Quinn scrambled for a handful of toilet paper and shoved it into August’s face, holding it there until it was taken from him.
“Fuck’s sake, August.” Quinn hated the nosebleeds. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were happening for a reason he wasn’t prepared to deal with.
And he didn’t like how tears were forming in August’s eyes, like he was…ashamed? Scared?
August turned and unlocked the stall door, pressing himself to the wall so Quinn had enough room to get past. “Go,” he said. “Give me a second to stop the bleeding, and then I’ll join you. That way it doesn’t look like we were making out in a public bathroom.”
Quinn wanted to stay, even with August smiling at him reassuringly. He didn’t want to leave him alone, bleeding into a tissue, looking lost, while Quinn got to walk away, but he also didn’t want to get banned from the gallery for inappropriate behaviour if they got caught.
“I’ll wait for you,” said Quinn.
August pinched his nose tighter, letting out a defeated chuckle. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Quinn knew damn-well he wasn’t talking about waiting for him outside of the bathroom, but he returned August’s smile anyway before he left, shaking his head at August’s fuckingaudacity.
It was all fun and games until someone wound up trussed like a present, and theybothknew whose skin Quinn’s knots would be decorating when they returned to Vancouver.
Chapter 28
Quinn
August reappeared after a worrisome five minutes, and they picked up their date where they had left off. Quinn made good on his promise to talk about every piece they came across, but to August’s credit, he seemed far more interested in the artwork than Quinn had been about hockey.
They wandered slowly, August stopping them every time Quinn went into an explanation, not moving from where they were standing or sitting until the topic was exhausted and it was time to carry on.
Even his first trip to the gallery with Esme hadn’t been as fun as the two hours he spent talking to August while they explored. It had nothing to do with the added touch of holding hands, but rather, August’s genuine interest in whatever Quinn was saying.
The man hadn’t been lying when he said he liked listening to him talk. Quinn knew August couldn’t grasp ninety percent of what he was telling him, but his wonder-filled expression was adorable, and Quinn found that he couldn’t lookaway from him.
They were rounding the corner on their way to the exit when August checked his phone and cursed, his voice echoing loudly through the quiet halls.
“What?” Quinn asked, touching his hand to August’s arm. “Who’s hurt?”
He knew there was nothing to be worried about when August scowled and shoved his phone angrily into his pocket. “It’s nothing. These people just don’t know how to leave me alone.”
