"Good," Landen breathed. "So good. You feel so good."
The words were gasoline on a fire.
Adriel whimpered. Actually whimpered, the sound embarrassing and real and completely uncontrollable.
Landen's mouth left his. Trailed across his jaw, down his throat, found the spot he'd found before, the pulse point that made Adriel shudder. He kissed there, licked there, sucked gently, and Adriel saw stars.
"Yes," he heard himself say. "Please…"
He didn't know what he was asking for. Didn't know what he needed. Just knew he neededmore.
Landen's hand slid from his waist to his ass. Gripped there. Pulled him harder against his thigh, increased the pressure. Adriel's head fell back against the door with a thunk, but he didn't feel it. Couldn't feel anything except the building heat in his belly, the desperate need coiling tighter and tighter.
"Landen," he gasped.
His voice broke on the name.
Landen lifted his head. Looked at him. Those dark eyes, that ruined expression, that mouth red and wet from kissing him.
"I've got you," Landen said. "I'm right here."
He shifted. Stepped back just enough to take Adriel's hand, to pull him away from the door.
Adriel went. There was no thought in it, no decision. His body simply followed, let itself be led, let Landen's fingers wrap around his and tug him forward. The warmth of that grip was electric, sent sparks up his arm, made his breath catch all over again.
Landen walked backward through the small apartment, pulling Adriel with him. His eyes never left Adriel's face. That gaze, those eyes, dark and intent and hungry; they held him captive, pinned him in place even as they moved.
Past the living room. Past the coffee table with Jenna's books. Past the kitchen doorway, the dishes in the rack, the ordinary evidence of a life that felt very far away right now.
Adriel's hand trembled in Landen's grip. His hip bumped the edge of the hallway table. He barely felt it.
Landen's thumb stroked across his knuckles. Slow. Soothing.
They reached his bedroom door. The room beyond was dark, lit only by the streetlamp through the blinds, the same pale gold stripes that had kept him company through the sleepless night.
Landen pulled him inside.
The doorframe brushed Adriel's shoulder as they passed through. Then they were in the room, in his space, the most private part of his life suddenly open and exposed and filled with Landen's presence.
Landen slowed the kiss.
Gentled it. Softened it. Drew back just enough that their lips barely touched, just enough that Adriel could feel his breath, warm and uneven, against his mouth.
Then he moved back further. His forehead pressed against Adriel's.
"You okay?" Landen whispered.
Adriel nodded.
His hand came up to Adriel's face, cupped his cheek, held him gently.
But was he okay?
He didn't know. He didn't know anything right now. His mind was hazy, thick with want and disbelief and the lingering shock of it all.
No one had ever kissed him like that. No one had ever looked at him like that. No one had ever made him feel like he was something worth crossing a city for, worth showing up at a door for.
"You asked me why I wanted to kiss you," Landen whispered. The hand on his face moved. Fingers caressed his cheek, traced the curve of it, followed the line of his jaw.
