Page 76 of Falling

Did I want it?

It was my dream job. Back in academia, where I knew what I was doing. Better pay. More responsibility. More prestige, whatever that was worth.

“And I’ve had so much help,” I continued. There was no way I could take all the credit for myself, even in a job interview. “Everyone’s been so kind. We just secured funding and an increase for the next quarter and I really couldn’t have done it if the whole community wasn’t behind me.”

“See, that’s exactly what we’re looking for,” Angela said. “Someone who can get the community behind them. Someone who cares enough to do it. In a world of increasing book bans and censorship and ideology wars happening in libraries everywhere, we need someone like you to, you know, guide the ship. We want our library to be one of the best in the world and it’s going to take a lot of good people to do it.”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that. The thought of being part of it welled up under my ribs, pushing the air out of my lungs.

“Listen, I’m not really supposed to say this, but... look for an email from me by close of business,” she said. “I have a family thing to get to, which is why I had a chance to meet you in person at all, but I’ll be coming back this way on Friday. We could get coffee? And talk about it?”

Oh wow. Oh wow.

“I, umm. Yeah, Friday sounds… Great,” I said. “I normally take my lunch break at noon?”

“Noon in the cute little coffee shop with the plants,” Angela said. “Grinding? With the puppy?”

“Yeah,” I said, smiling at the thought of Theo. He was a good dog. “Yeah, umm. I’d love that.”

I waved goodbye to Angela with my heart pounding in my ears, unsure whether to laugh or cry or scream about what had just happened.

It wasn’t until I went back inside that I realized I’d been carrying Booker’s birthday picture around the whole time.

26

BOOKER

I could’ve gotten used to Miles dropping in on me like a hurricane, pushing me into my office and locking the door behind us. Getting a word in edgeways seemed like the least important thing in the world when he’d already shoved me onto the couch back here and dropped himself into my lap, one hand in my hair and the other one fumbling with my belt buckle.

Whatever this was about, I wasn’t complaining. Not when I could settle my hands on his hips and pull him closer and lick my way into his mouth like he was the only thing in the entire world.

Miles moaned around my tongue as I shoved his sweater vest out of the way, tugging his shirt free from his pants and splaying my hands over his warm skin, feeling the muscles he claimed not to have working under it as he rocked against me, grinding down.

I took the hint and got his pants open, laughing into his mouth as I reached inside and found him half-hard already, drinking down the cut-off gasp as I palmed him through his underwear.

“More,” he demanded. “Dammit, Book.”

“I got you,” I promised. “Everything you need. You wanna take this upstairs?”

Miles shook his head, drawing a stuttering breath and closing his eyes as I gave him a slow stroke. “Too far,” he said. “Just… I need you.”

“You’ve got me,” I promised, filing the desperation away for later examination. “You’ve got me.”

He kissed me again, all teeth and tongue, and pulled me out of my underwear like he owned me.

Which wasn’t so far from the truth, anyway.

We shared a gasp as Miles gripped us together. He paused, spat in his hand, and then went back to it, clearly not interested in taking his time.

That was fine. The bar was closed for lunch today on account of the cleanup after last night, so we had hours before anyone would be in. If Miles wanted to take all of them up, I was all for it. I’d missed him this morning when he’d vanished with a shouted goodbye and seeing him again was the best birthday gift I could’ve asked for.

I loved the way he felt in my lap, warm and eager. When he ran out of breath kissing, he pressed his forehead against mine, the tips of our noses touching. Both of us breathed shared air as I held him close with one hand and explored with the other. His breath hitched as I brushed my thumb over a nipple and he bucked against me when I pinched it, still discovering so much about his body and all the fun things it could do.

I wanted to teach him. I wanted to show him everything, turn his confidence up to eleven and then bask in the rewards of knowing he knew exactly what he wanted and how to ask for it.

When I knew he was close I replaced his hand with my own, catching his mouth for another kiss, nipping at his lower lip as he rolled his hips. Every needy sound that escaped him made me fall a little more in love with him.

“Come for me,” I murmured, curling my free hand around the back of his neck, squeezing gently. “Lemme see you come.”