“And then they came back with a plan. They wanted to teach that… faggot a lesson,” Kash said, like the word hurt to repeat.
Ody felt sick.
Kash’s eyes lifted to his. “Do you know how I felt when they told me to come along and beat him up? How could I hit him? He hadn’t done anything. He was just a guy who kissed another guy. Why did he deserve that?” He dragged a hand over his face. “Every time I hit him, it felt like I was hitting myself.” He swallowed. “I went home after and I couldn’t calm down. I was screaming, punching the wall, crying like a damn idiot.”
Ody blinked fast, watching him.
“I don’t know if you’ll understand, but I couldn’t back out.” His gaze dropped, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He clenched his jaw and stared at the floor, the memory weighing heavily on him. “Do you see now why I can’t speak out? They beat up a kid just because he liked men instead of women. How can you say I chose this? If I show who I really am, they’ll destroy me.”
Ody looked at him, stunned and saddened. After everything he’d been through, he should’ve felt nothing but anger, yet he could still recognize the fear underneath Kash’s armor. “I’m sorry you have to go through that.”
Kash looked up. Something in Ody’s tone loosened a knot he didn’t even realize he’d been holding. For a moment he juststared at him, breath unsteady. “You’re such a good person.” His hand lifted slowly as if he wasn’t sure he was allowed, then he cupped Ody’s cheek with gentle fingers, eyes warm. “I’m really glad I have someone to talk to.”
Ody flinched at the touch, not pulling away but freezing for a heartbeat. He didn’t know what to feel, only that the warmth of Kash’s hand scrambled something inside him. “You said there’s one other person who knows,” he said, trying to steady himself.
“Yeah.” He glanced down. “Someone who loves me no matter who I’m attracted to. But you’re different. You’re…” He brushed his fingers along Ody’s jaw, gaze softening.
Ody’s breath hitched. “I’m… what?”
Kash leaned in a little, then stopped. His eyes flicked to Ody’s lips, then back to his eyes, searching him, waiting. When Ody didn’t pull away, Kash closed the last bit of distance and kissed him.
It started slow, soft. Kash’s lips warm against his.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispered between kisses. He slipped his tongue in gently, almost testing, giving Ody enough time to respond. When he did, the kiss intensified.
Kash’s hand slid under Ody’s shirt, fingertips brushing his stomach. His other hand rested at the back of Ody’s neck as he pulled him closer. His lips trailed down Ody’s neck, wet and lingering, before returning to his mouth.
Then Kash pulled away only long enough to tug off his own shirt. Ody flushed, breathless. Kash leaned back in, kissing him again as their bodies pressed together. His hand moved down Ody’s chest to the waistband of his trousers.
Kash stilled, studying his face. When Ody gave a shy shake of his head, Kash simply nodded and lifted his shirt instead. “Can I touch here?” he asked, his hand pausing against Ody’s stomach.
Ody’s mind felt scrambled, blank. His body moved before his thoughts could catch up.
Kash kissed his way down Ody’s stomach until he saw the stitches. “How did you get this?” he asked.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry.”
“Don’t tell me…” His face went pale. “That because of me…”
“No.” Ody shook his head. “It’s old. It doesn’t hurt.”
Kash pressed a soft kiss to the stitches before moving upward again. He lifted Ody’s shirt higher, kissing across his chest. When his tongue brushed Ody’s nipple, he jolted, his breath catching. Kash looked up at him, his expression shifting at the sound he made, then leaned in and sucked gently. Ody couldn’t stop the small gasp that slipped out. Kash watched him with clear satisfaction before moving to the other side, slow and deliberate.
He kissed his way back to Ody’s lips. “You’re so sexy,” he whispered between kisses. “I love seeing that look on your face.”
Ody panted beneath him, heat spreading through his body.
Then his phone rang.
Both froze.
Ody glanced at the screen and saw Anna’s name.
Everything inside him collapsed. The room snapped back into focus. So did reality.
This wasn’t right. Anna didn’t deserve this.
The phone kept ringing.
