Page 92 of These Wicked Hearts

I don’t really want to bother putting clothes on, so when I walk out of his bathroom after washing my face and brushing my teeth for bed, I’m pleased he’s also naked. I wasn’t kidding when I told him I’ve never felt attraction this strong before. He’s on the bed with his knee bent on the mattress and turns toward me as I sit. “This is more practical, I think.”

“More practical than a giant green dick? Sounds fake.”

He rolls his eyes, but more and more there’s a soft smile accompanying the gesture. I look in the bag and take out the tissue paper, and I watch him as I pull out one of the boxes in there. I look at it, confused for a moment.

“An e-reader,” he says finally. “So you can take comics with you. They won’t get ruined and you can download as many as you want for your trips.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I mean, unless you don’t like electronic⁠—”

I pull him in for a hug, squeezing him harder than I should if the grunt that leaves his lips is any indication. I hug him tight for a minute because I don’t trust my own voice right away. Finally, I let him breathe. “Thank you. Wow. I don’t know why this didn’t cross my mind.” And I’m glad it didn’t.

“It’s supposed to have some sort of filter so you can read for a while and not hurt your eyes. I also read that you can read on like a plane or a bus, whatever, and it won’t make you sick. If you get motion sickness.”

I look at him. “Come here.”

He frowns. “Why?”

“Just come here.”

He moves, and before I overthink anything, I pull him in for a kiss. Gage makes a soft sound against my mouth, making me dizzy. Warmth spreads across my chest and I try so hard to swallow this down. My throat is tight with whatever the hell’s going on with me. “Not very stranger-like.” He huffs, pulling back. “Thank you.”

“You said that.”

“And I’m saying it again.” I become very aware of him. The warmth of his leg pressed to mine, his warm eyes as they watch me. Then I remember the second box. “I lied. This topped the dildo.” He smiles as I reach in and pull it out.

I open it and bark out a laugh. “A flashlight?” My eyes widen. “Is this one of those sex flashlights?”

“Sex—no, Atlas.”

I grab it from him and flick the button and shine it against the wall.

“A bat signal.” He laughs, taking it from me.

“I’ll flash it whenever I want to have sex.”

“How will I see it all the way up at my place?” He laughs, setting it on his nightstand. “That’s amazing. I love it.” I look at it then down at my e-reader, feeling something strange. I turn to Gage and lean in for another quick kiss.

“I’m glad you like everything.”

“Officially the best gift I’ve ever been given.”

“Which one?”

“Yes.”

He looks away and I pull him forward, tugging him onto my lap and stealing a couple more kisses. His arms wrap around my shoulders, and I lift him up and lay him back against the bed, then I slide in beside him. Gage doesn’t say another word. He doesn’t ask me to leave. I’m exhausted, but I can’t help thinking about my gifts.

No, this doesn’t feel very stranger-like at all.

TWENTY

Gage

“This is fucking insane.”

Chen stands cheering with the crowd. I should have known he’d like this. Chen loves everything. It’s one of the reasons we got so close at first. He always used to have me go along on the insane things he loved to do, even as kids. Where I’m more cautious and suspicious, Chen goes into everything with an open mind.

The arena roars around us like a living, breathing thing, but just like at the game with Vanessa, I can’t help feeling claustrophobic, like the arena is pressing down all around me. It’s so much different than on TV. It’s like you can feel the excitement. The sharp scrape of skates, the slap of sticks, and the screams from fans, players, and refs build into this symphony around us.

“Fuck, your guy’s fast,” Chen says beside me, sitting back down, and oh, if he only knew. I watch Atlas, and again I’m hit with this feeling. I don’t know what it is or what to call it but it’s there, heavy, sitting in my gut. Atlas is . . . oh, fuck, how do I even begin to explain him?