And then his hand was on Ezra’s jaw, warm and gentle, a solid weight holding him in place. Ezra met his eyes, heart racing in his chest, lungs tight.
A moment passed, and Ezra thought Mike might back off, leave this road untraveled…
But instead, he swooped. Their lips crashed together, making Ezra grunt in surprise, his eyes falling closed automatically as his brain finally registered that he was being kissed.
Theby Mikepart seemed like something he’d need to process later.
Ezra reached out, grabbing the lapel of Mike’s jacket at first, then sliding his hands inside the open front, laying his palms flat on Mike’s chest, soaking in his warmth and letting himself feel that he wasthere.
Mike kissed him uncertainly at first, hesitant nips to his lower lip, their noses brushing together, but he was quickly getting more insistent. Before long, he was backing Ezra up toward the wall of the shed, not stopping until they ran into it, the impact making Ezra gasp.
Instead of stopping, or snapping out of whatever spell he was under, Mike only pressed closer. His hands went to Ezra’s hips, holding him in place before he pinned him down with his entire weight.
All Ezra could think about was how damnedgoodthis felt. He’d always thought Mike would be an amazing kisser if he reallymeantit, and the way he teased and licked and touched… yeah, he’d been right about that.
The hand on his jaw shifted, fingers threading into Ezra’s hair as Mike held him in place and just barely, almostexperimentally, pushed his tongue past the seam of Ezra’s lips.
This wasn’t the kind of first kiss he’d once imagined, but Ezra was sure as hell into it.
Ezra moaned eagerly, sliding a hand down Mike’s stomach, brushing a thumb over the edge of his belt. Letting him know that he was into this, that Mike could keep going if he wanted, that Ezra wouldn’t say no.
A surprised gasp escaped him as Mike pressed their hips together and Ezra could feel his half-hard cock through his pants. His own cock twitched in response, arousal pooling in the pit of his stomach.Hellyes.
Mike could drag him home and fuck him right now if he wanted. Ezra had waited so long for that to happen and never really believed it was going to. He’d take whatever Mike was willing to give him, even if it was only because he was upset about Rachel and in need of comfort.
Comfort was fine. All Ezra had ever wanted was to see Mike happy. If he could be a part of that happiness… even better.
The sudden sound of laughter erupting inside the shed behind them shattered the moment into a million pieces.
Mike paused, backing off, his eyes glazed and a few strands of hair flopping over his forehead. All Ezra could do was stare at him and work on catching his breath, unsure what to say or do now that they’d suddenly stopped.
“Holy shit,” Mike said, which didn’t bode well.
“Mike-”
“Holyshit,” Mike repeated, backing up a pace. “I… crap, I didn’t…”
“It's okay,” Ezra rushed to assure him, not wanting Mike to feel as though he'd done something he shouldn't have.
“It's not okay,” Mike said. “It's not okay!” he repeated, raising his voice this time.
Ezra flinched, unused to Mike shouting. He couldn't ever remember him doing it before.
“I'm sorry,” he said softly, unsure what he was apologizing for, but suddenly feeling the need to anyway.
“Don't,” Mike said, his voice still sharp. The look in his eyes told Ezra that he was panicking.
Unfortunately, Ezra had no idea what todoabout it. If he couldn't say anything, how was he supposed to help?
“Mike,” he tried again, desperate to get across that Mike didn’t need to freak out, that they could talk about this. That whatever was going through his head right now was fine. Ezra was willing to listen, to understand, even to hear that Mike never wanted to do that again.
As long as he couldhelp.
“I gotta…” Mike stumbled back another few paces, the distance between them widening like a gaping chasm opening up during an earthquake. No matter how badly Ezra wanted to reach out and grab for him, pull him back in, shock stopped him.
Shock, and the way Mike was looking at him. Like he was some kind of monster. Like Mike wasafraidof him.
Ezra swallowed. Whatever he’d done, however they’d gotten here, he regretted it. He would have done anything to take it back, to never see Mike’s face like this again.
