Snowbound by Jace Alex

Author:Jace Alex
Language: eng
Format: epub

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Dawn broke on an empty bed, the

space beside him cold. Rich had

woken with a spark of excitement,

but it quickly cooled. He could have

sworn that Parker had shared his

bed last night; he had half a memory

of waking once during the night to

find Parker still there.

It must have been a dream. Again.

Rich staggered downstairs still

rubbing his eyes, thinking only of

coffee. The world was pale and

hazy with winter light that filtered

through frozen windows. Outside

trees clawed with bare fingers at a

sky the colour of glass. Inside, the

house had long gone cold.

Then Rich stopped on the last

stair as the memory of the previous

night hit him with a jolt. He hadn’t

been dreaming. And Parker had left

before Rich woke up. Panic sparked

as Rich wondered if last night had

been a mistake.

When Rich stepped off the last

stair, Parker waited for him at the

kitchen island, fidgeting. Parker

must have been worried about

something, because he had

comforted himself by cooking again,

making creamed mushrooms on

wholemeal toast. Cups of coffee

steamed in the cool air. Parker

watched him, half hopeful, half

fearful.

Rich couldn’t help breaking into a

smile. “You’ve been busy.”

“It was nothing.”

“It looks amazing. Thank you.”

Parker relaxed. “You’re cute

when you’re asleep.” That sweet

smile crept out again, that little

dimple in his cheek. Rich melted.

Over breakfast, Parker hesitated.

“Last night… it was nice.”

Rich’s smile deepened. A sense

of warmth filled him. “Yes, it was.”

“I really—I really like you.”

Parker’s voice went choked.

Rich’s fork stopped halfway to

his mouth. He had not been

expecting that. He had sort of

thought that Parker had just been

experimenting yesterday when he’d

kissed Rich. Nothing serious.

Nothing real. Nothing to persuade

Parker to stay. “You do?”

“Course I do. You’re really nice.

You always are. And you’re so…

so…” Parker’s gaze heated again.

“Hot.”

Rich licked his lips, but his voice

still came out a croak. “You could,

um, kiss me again.”

“I’d like that.” Parker was still

looking at him in that hungry way. “I

just don’t want you to be

disappointed.”

Rich was so startled he laughed.

“What? Why on earth would I be

disappointed?”

Parker shifted in his chair, his

eyes dropping to his plate. “I’m—

I’m not very good.” He reddened.

“In bed.”

“What?” Rich’s brow furrowed.

“What makes you think… Who told

you that…” Rich trailed off as he

realised what was behind Parker’s

unhappy expression.

Sinclair. This was another bruise

Sinclair had left on him.

At that moment Rich could

cheerfully have murdered Sinclair.

Rich had to take several deep

breaths before he could calm down.

“Sinclair is mean. Okay? Just mean.

He says things that aren’t true just to

hurt you. Just to make you sad.

When you kissed me, it was…”

Rich swallowed hard. “It was

unbelievable. You’d be absolutely

great in bed. It would be fine.”

Parker said nothing.

“Parker, even if you weren’t

good, which I seriously doubt, I’d

teach you. That’s all. I’d never

laugh at you. Ever.”

Parker stared fixedly at his hands.

“I didn’t like it. When Sinclair

fucked me. It hurt.”

Rich could have strangled

Sinclair with his own hands. What a

bastard. Rich could not imagine

how anyone would want to hurt

Parker at all, much less in bed,

much less repeatedly. Even the

thought made Rich sick with fury.

No wonder Parker was getting so

anxious. Rich needed to be very

gentle with him. “I wouldn’t hurt

you,” Rich said. “If you didn’t like

anything we did, we’d stop, that’s

all. No pain.”

Parker didn’t look up.

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