Handle with Care by Willa Okati

Author:Willa Okati [Okati, Willa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Published: 2014-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

* * * *

Jesse knelt on the cold flagstones—so cold, bone-achingly cold—and pressed his face to the warm, rough-soft fur he usually scruffed in more playful moments with Dog. Dog, unashamed of having scared him half to death, wagged his tail and wriggled around, trying to lick Jesse’s hand.

He heard Daniel’s footstep on the stones, and knew who it was. He always would know, now.

“I knew you wouldn’t listen,” he said before Daniel could speak. “That’s what you do, isn’t it? What you’re not supposed to.”

“You did too, once upon a time. I never bought that whole ‘I went to a Finder on a whim’ thing, you know.” Daniel came closer. Careful to keep his distance, but not holding back altogether. “They cost enough that no one does that on impulse. You wanted to find someone to love.” He went silent. “Am I that much of a disappointment?”

The naked hurt in his voice made Jesse look up in surprise. Jesse put one arm around Dog. “You think that’s…”

“What else am I supposed to think?” Daniel’s color had gone high and hot, and anger made his eyes look almost blue. Soft dark hair fell around his face, begging for a touch. “Well? Go on. Tell me.”

Jesse’s tongue had gone heavy and numb. He shook his head, helpless, and knew he shouldn’t have done so. The ache in his temples receded somewhat with Daniel so near, but it hadn’t disappeared, and moving so quickly made his stomach flip.

But that’s not why, Daniel. That’s not it at all. It never had been—

But maybe if he thought so, then…

But he wasn’t paying attention. “Do you know why I came here in the first place?” Daniel asked.

Jesse still couldn’t speak. His wrist itched with a sudden near-fury that made him bite his cheek.

“Because I wanted closure,” Daniel said with a snap. “I just wanted to know why. That’s it. That’s all. To find out why you didn’t even want me to know you were alive. That’s it. That’s all. The end. And then I’d go back to living like a widower.”

Jesse’s lips unlocked at that. “What?”

“Is it that surprising?” Daniel kept a measured distance between them. “I told you I’d be faithful to you, and I was. Were you?”

Shame made Jesse’s stomach tighten into a harder knot. “I didn’t know.”

“And then I came here. And I looked at you, and God help me, I wanted you.” Daniel rubbed his mouth. “Did you ever think about me, Jesse? Even once?”

Jesse would have sworn he felt something snap in his head, the fine thinness of a blood vessel going pop. “Don’t want you?” He stood, pushing himself to his feet by using the wall for leverage. “Don’t want you? Are you joking?” His head throbbed. “I want you in ways you can’t imagine and believe me or don’t but I always have. Always. I want to strip you naked and spread your legs and make you come with my mouth. I used to dream about it.”

Daniel had fallen silent.

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