He wanted to kiss Riley, but he wasn’t sure he was allowed to anymore.
Riley wouldn’t want to be tied down like that, and Brent didn’t want Riley to resent him. He needed to be content with what he’d gotten.
But hewasn’t. Brent knew now what being with Riley could be like, and he wanted it so badly his stomach was knotting up at the thought of not having it.
With a surge of something—confidence, or need, or maybe stupidity—Brent leaned in, brushing his lips against Riley’s cheek.
It wasn’t the slow, comforting kiss he wanted, but maybe it’d be enough to let Riley know that he was still interested. That he wanted more of what they’d had.
It wasn’t even about the sex—not that Brent was going to refuse it—so much as it was about the closeness. About wanting physical affection, and wanting it from Riley.
They’d been so innocently affectionate when they were kids, and this week had felt like a natural extension of that. Like it was the way things were supposed to be.
Brent was glad now that he hadn’t married Rose after all. Being with her had never felt so good, soeasyas being with Riley did. It would have been a mistake.
He wasn’t sure he could tell Riley that yet. Riley was still treating him like he was fragile.
“I’ll make lunch,” Brent said, suddenly feeling the need to get away. He didn’t want to face the aftermath of kissing Riley.
He just wanted to kiss him and have that be okay.
“Okay,” Riley said slowly, blinking at Brent. He was clearly surprised, but he didn’t seem upset.
“Are sandwiches okay? I need to go grocery shopping, but I think I can throw something together.”
Why was he still talking?
Probably because as scared as he was of how Riley would react once he recovered from the shock, he didn’t actually want to be away from Riley.
He wasn’t ready to feel like that, but that was how he felt.
“Sandwiches sound great,” Riley said, still staring at Brent. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” Brent responded, turning away, his cheeks burning.
He had no idea whether that reaction was good or bad, and the suspense was killing him.
Making lunch seemed like a much safer option than hanging around.
