Page 53 of Blades and Bone

It was tempting to lie and say nothing, but that never worked. “Honestly?”

“Is there any other way?”

“Have you dated humans?” Hamish asked, knowing they both had. Humans couldn’t hear the lie in a heartbeat. Dishonesty from them was expected.

“You’re my husband…by vampire law.” He added before Hamish could make a comment about human law.

“I’m as confused as fuck. I can’t get a read on you, or if you like me, or…” he couldn’t say the rest without sounding desperate, but he already sounded needy, and he hated it. “If you’re tolerating me because of the treaty.”

“And if I ask you the same questions?”

Hamish shrugged, even though he had no answers prepared.

Brodie’s thumb brushed over Hamish’s lower lip. “You are pretty, and I want to fuck you. Is that what you want to hear? I like the way you push back. You get a glint in your eyes like you’re begging to be in trouble…which has gotten you into the not very fun kind of trouble and landed you in front of me. You may have noticed I like the fun trouble.” He pushed his thumb into Hamish’s mouth. “I like a brat.”

Hamish gave the tip a lick, and Brodie smiled.

Was that what he called it? Fun trouble?

“But you also called me a glass dildo, which stung. However, I can wait until it arrives to make you apologize for that.” He leaned in a little closer. “I hear they hold temperature really well. A little iced water should make things interesting.”

Hamish felt his eyes go wide. He tried to pull back to say something, but Brodie’s thumb was firmly in his mouth, locking behind his teeth and holding him in place.

“Cat got your tongue?”

He made a noise of agreement and kept the shirt clenched in front of him, hoping that Brodie didn’t notice the way his dick was responding.

“I admit I was not thrilled when I was told I would be getting a Reid husband, and your shock was evident. But this is very workable.” He slid his thumb out. “You may talk now and answer your own questions.”

What were his questions?

“Do you need a reminder? Do you like me, or are you tolerating me?”

Ugh, he should have kept his mouth closed. “I don’t know. I told you I’m confused. You’re attractive, on paper a good catch…but then you do things I shouldn’t like, and my body responds and…it feels wrong. And you keep calling me a brat, which makes me feel like a naughty child, which is weird.”

“I can stop doing that.”

“Just like that?”

“If you don’t like it, why would I do it?”

He shrugged again because he really had no idea.

“It’s a negotiation, and everyone has boundaries. Some are fun to push, and some are a hard limit. You like pushing, and you get to enjoy the thrill of defying authority. I can understand why you crave that. There is nothing wrong with your response.”

“And it’s not a sex thing.” Because his dick was definitely thinking it was a sex thing, or maybe it was being naked for so long or sucking on Brodie’s thumb.

“It can be.”

“Do you see why this is confusing?”

“In public, no pushing. Alone you can push, but expect consequences.”

“Yeah…you said that, and I will try.”

“You will, and I have no doubt you’ll fail a few more times.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. But at home or here, what is a conversation and normal, and what is the other thing? Where is the line?”