Page 24 of Ridge

But that wasn’t the only reason he was warm. The other reason was walking next to him, close enough that their arms brushed every few steps, and Kael wasn’t moving away.

He didn’t want to.

That was the thing, wasn’t it? He’d been spending so much energy on not wanting things that when he finally stopped, it was almost dizzying to realize how much he did want. He wanted Ridge next to him. He wanted to stop being afraid of what that meant. He wanted to kiss him again, the way he had earlier when the words had run out and his body had decided to take over.

He’d kissed Ridge twice now. That felt important.

Poppy had stayed behind, not ready to leave her friends, which Kael suspected meant she was trying to give them space. He was grateful for it. The night was cool and still around them, and he felt unguarded in a way he didn’t usually allow himself, especially not with Ridge.

“You were good in there tonight,” Ridge said.

“I think the drink helped.”

“You were good before the drink.”

Kael glanced up at him. Ridge was looking ahead, his expression relaxed in the way it only got when he thought no one was paying attention. Kael had noticed that about him over the past few days. Ridge had a public face and a private one, and the private one was softer.

He liked it.

“I meant what I said in there,” Kael said.

Ridge’s jaw tightened slightly. “I know.”

“I didn’t say it just because Poppy was watching.”

“I know that, too.”

They’d reached the house. Poppy had left the porch light on, and it cast Ridge’s face in gold. Kael stopped walking. Ridge stopped a few seconds later, turning back to look at him with a question in his eyes, and Kael decided that he was tired of waiting to know what this felt like.

He kissed Ridge again, properly this time, his hands coming up to Ridge’s chest, and Ridge made a low sound against his mouth and kissed him back like he’d been waiting for permission.

Maybe he had been.

Kael wasn’t sure how they got inside. He had a vague impression of Ridge’s hand at the small of his back, of the door closing behind them, of moving through the dark hallway toward their room. Ridge was looking at him in the soft light coming through the curtains, and Kael’s heart was beating very fast.

“Are you sure?” Ridge asked. His tone was careful, but the way he moved told Kael that he was sure.

“I’ve been sure for longer than I wanted to admit,” Kael confessed. He just hadn’t allowed himself to admit it.

That seemed to be enough.

It was nothing like Kael had imagined, which he was willing to admit that he had done. He’d expected it to feel significant but also terrifying, and it was. But Ridge was very good at keeping Kael present, and his weight made it difficult to think about anything beyond what was happening between them.

Ridge was careful with him, but it wasn’t the carefulness of someone moving around something fragile. It was the carefulness of someone paying attention, and that was different.

That was better. Kael found himself saying things out loud that he hadn’t meant to, making small sounds and words he would’ve been embarrassed about if Ridge hadn’t responded as if they were exactly what he wanted to hear.

Kael came with Ridge’s name on his lips, and he let himself fall, knowing that Ridge would catch him.

Afterward, Kael lay with his cheek pressed to Ridge’s shoulder, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing slow back to normal. His was doing the same. The room was quiet, but he could hear something that might have been an owl outside. He felt good, better than good, actually, like something that he’d been resisting for months had finally been given to him, and it was a relief. He finally knew. He didn’t have to wonder anymore.

Ridge’s thumb moved slowly against Kael’s arm, almost like he was making sure Kael was still there. Kael couldn’t blame him since he’d been running from him for a while.

“Hey,” Ridge said.

“Hey,” Kael said back. He wasn’t sure what else to say. Apologize? Mention he’d really liked this and couldn’t wait to do it again?

He could feel Ridge thinking, and from the slight tension in Ridge’s body, he didn’t think he was going to like whatever would come out of his mouth.