I huffed. “Okay, then, what about this… I still think the development should go forwardin some capacity.”
He winced. “That’s… a tough one,” he admitted. “But I think I just need to know you’re listening to me without dismissing me. We are always going to disagree on things. I donotthink you’re perfect or that you’re always right. Spoiler, Jack Wyatt: that ship set sail about seven years ago when you told me you weren’t into reading romance.”
I laughed out loud. “I’m surprised you gave me any kind of chance at all after that.”
Hawk bit my knuckle lightly before smoothing over it with his tongue. “Even the things about you that might be frustrating or disappointingusuallyhave a good reason behind them…” He gave me a teasing look. “With the glaring exception of your unilateral decision that we, as legal, consenting, unattached adults who wanted one another, couldn’t have sex. And honestly, that was part of why I was so damn frustrated about that. Your reasons didn’t make any sense, and you wouldn’t explain them. But you know what else?”
I shook my head, trying to ignore what his mouth was doing to my skin so I could focus on his words.
“I’m not a child, and I’m not a shrinking violet—not with you, anyway. If I think you’re being a jerk, I’m gonna tell you so. If I think you’re wrong, I’m going to do what I think is right. Last night, after… well,everything… I decided that I couldn’t take this back-and-forth between us anymore. I was going to tell youthis morning that I wanted you to leave. That I needed to put serious distance between us. And I would have done it, too,” he said softly. “Even though I knew it was gonna hurt.”
“Fuck,” I breathed, realizing how close I’d come to losing my chance entirely.
“But then, there you were, apologizing and admitting you were wrong.” He squeezed my fingers tightly. “Because you’re agood man, Jack.”
My heart looked for a way to escape his kindness. It couldn’t take these feelings. “I’m not, though. Not completely. I?—”
“If I was injured, would you drop everything to come help me?” Hawk demanded.
“What? Of course I would,” I snapped, not even wanting to think about such a thing. “And can we not talk about you getting hurt, please?”
He grinned. “Uh-huh. And what about if the people of Little Pippin Hollow experienced a natural disaster and yours was the only kitchen left operable in town? Would you increase prices to take advantage of the opportunity?”
My lips tightened. “You know I wouldn’t, Bird. I’d feed everyone for free, even if it tanked my business. But I’m not talking about big stuff like that. I’m talking about little everyday disappointments. What if I forget to bring you flowers on Valentine’s Day?”
He straightened up on his knees and shuffled forward. His grin was giving me dirty thoughts about his mouth. “I’d buy enough for both of us.” He cupped my face and met my eyes. “I don’t need flowers. I needyou.”
I tried not to stare at his lips. “I never do the dishes at home,” I added pathetically. “For days at a time.”
“I know.” He leaned in and kissed me whisper-softly on the side of my face. “You’re a monster.”
“I leave wet towels on the floor of my bathroom.”
“Mmhmm,” he murmured, kissing my chin just as softly. “I’ll have to institute a spanking regimen for naughty boys.”
My dick roared to life. “What if I’m terrible in bed?” I breathed against his searching lips.
He let out a gasp of warm air against my mouth and pulled away. “Whoa, wait! You mean Smug Peter lied, and all this time I believed it? Dear god. You’re right, Jack. This will never work. I’m sorry?—”
I tickled his ribs, right in the spot I knew would make him scream with laughter, and he squirmed as he grabbed my hand in both of his.
“Kidding! I’m kidding. If you’re terrible in bed or your advanced age means your stamina is lacking?—”
“Hawkins,” I growled.
He giggled and kissed the edge of my mouth. “Then we’ll have to watch tutorial videos online together. Lots of them. I’m willing to let you experiment on me until you can perfect your technique.”
Our lips came together gently this time, less awkward and hungry but still just as intense. I pulled him into my lap and wrapped my arms around him, pulling his sleeping bag over his back to keep him warm.
“You drove me crazy last night,” I finally admitted in the small space between us.
“Really?” Hawk’s face burned red. “I kinda can’t believe I actually went through with it.”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you in here touching yourself. The sounds you made, Bird…Jesus.”
He held on to my shoulders. “I was so mad at you for not joining me when it was clear you decided to do the same.”
I shook my head and held him tighter. “I didn’t want it to happen like that. Because it wouldn’t just be fucking. Not for me. Not with you.”
