“I’mglad you told me, E,” Beau said, and his hand moved across the table to touchhis.
Ethandidn’t pull back, unsure why not. Had he been thinking clearly, he would’velooked around to ensure no one was looking, yanked his hand as far back as hecould. But for some reason, he needed Beau’s reassuring touch, neededeverything Beau had to offer him even if he had nothing to give in return.
“Let’sget out of here,” Ethan told him, forcing a smile.
Beaunodded as he pulled his hand back to his side of the table. Ethan snatched thecheck off the table and tossed his credit card in the folder.
Whilethey waited for the waiter to do his thing, Ethan stared at his hand, feelingthe loss of Beau’s warmth and realizing just how much he missed his touch.
Ashort while later, Ethan was walking into their hotel room with Beau rightbehind him. He was emotionally drained, and he was pretty damn sure he’d ruinedBeau’s night. He had tried to apologize again, but Beau had shut him up with aglare.
Glancingat the bed, he suddenly wished they’d opted for two double beds. He doubtedthat Beau would want to be anywhere near him at this point.
Droppingonto the edge of the mattress, Ethan removed his boots, his socks, and thenpulled his shirt up and over his head. Scooting back on the bed, he proppedhimself up on a pillow and tried to relax on top of the comforter that wasstill rumpled from their earlier encounter.
Heatinfused his body as he remembered what it felt like when Beau had been ballsdeep inside him, staring straight into his eyes as though he were the only manin the entire world who had ever meant anything to him. It was nice to hang onto that dream for a while because he sure as shit knew it wasn’t a reality.
“Losethe jeans,” Beau told him, but Ethan didn’t make a move to comply. He wasemotionally and physically exhausted.
Hewatched as Beau stripped down to bare skin. Despite his own reluctance, hisbody had other ideas as soon as he got an eyeful of the perfect male specimenthat was Beau Bennett.
“Well,if you won’t do what I ask, then I’ll just have to do it for you,” Beau said ashe moved around to the side of the bed Ethan had claimed.
Watching,his breath lodged in his chest, Ethan couldn’t deny the intense satisfaction hefelt when Beau unbuttoned his jeans and then carefully pulled them down his legsuntil he was laying there as naked as the day he was born.
Butthat’s where Beau’s seduction ceased. Ethan stared in disbelief as Beau movedaround to the opposite side of the bed, pulled the blankets back and thencrawled in beside him.
“Comehere,” Beau said curtly, trying to push the blankets out from under Ethan.
Notwanting to cause any more problems for the night, he did as Beau asked andsituated himself beneath the blankets and then flipped off the lamp on thebedside table.
“Isaid come here,” Beau told him, his command leaving no room for anymisunderstanding.
Beforehe had the opportunity to move, Beau was pressed up against him, his hard chestagainst Ethan’s back, his firm, solid thighs brushing up against the backs ofhis own.
Godit felt good to be held. Just to have Beau’s strong arms wrapped around him.Their fingers twined together and Ethan held them close to his chest, breathingslowly, deeply.
“Thankyou for sharing with me tonight.”
Ethanlaughed without mirth. “Thanks for letting me ruin the night.”
Beautugged his hand, forcing him over onto his back, and Ethan stared up intoBeau’s dark eyes, the faint light coming in through the open curtains making itpossible for him to see somewhat.
“Youdidn’t ruin anything, E. Just being here with you is more than I everexpected.”
Ethanswallowed, unsure what to even say to that.
“Nowsleep. I’m right here if you need me.”
Ethannodded, not sure whether Beau could actually see him or not. Turning back tohis side, he snuggled in deeper against Beau, wanting – no, needing – to feelhim.
??
Beaudidn’t close his eyes, didn’t even try to sleep. He simply held Ethan in hisarms, breathed in his intoxicating scent and sent up a silent prayer, thankingGod for giving him this.
He’dspent his entire life confused about who he was, about what he wanted, aboutwhat would possibly make him happy. He’d found clarity when V had so graciouslyconvinced Zane to give Beau what he needed. And true, he had needed Zane. Butnot for anything more than clarification on what he’d believed for a long time.
Wasthat wrong? Maybe some would see it that way. Not Beau. And he knew from theirlast conversation that Zane didn’t harbor any ill feelings toward him. Theywere friends, as close as brothers, and he cherished that relationship, but no,like he’d told Ethan, Beau didn’t love Zane. Never had loved him other thanlike family.
