Page 257

“No.”

Nate was staring too.

Leo brought his other hand over theirs, holding Nate’s between both of his. He could do that. He could put his hands wherever he wanted, and Nate was there.

Nate glanced at the ring, then back at him.

“I can feel you.”

His mouth trembled. He tried to smile, and Leo suddenly wanted to be much closer.

“Do you think you can hold me too?”

Nate got up so quickly that his chair scraped across the floor. Leo went with him, still holding his hand, and then Nate’s other arm was around his back, bringing him close.

For a moment, Leo couldn’t do anything but stand there and soak in the feeling.

Nate’s shirt against his cheek. His arm, firm around his waist. The warmth of him everywhere.

He’d known all of that before. But he’d never been able to have it like this, without waiting, without wondering whether Nate would be hurting later.

Leo let go of his hand so he could put both arms around him.

Nate made a quiet sound against his hair and held him tighter.

“Oh,” Leo said, and pressed his face into Nate’s neck.

He wasn’t sure how long they stood like that.

Eventually, he opened his eyes and found Miriam watching them from the other side of the table. Her gaze moved from Nate’s hand on his back to his face, and she smiled, a little shakily.

“Thank you,” Leo said.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

He meant to say more. There was so much more he should say, but Nate’s hand moved up his back, and Leo forgot all of it.

He drew back enough to look at him.

Nate loosened his grip at once, and Leo caught the front of his shirt. “I wasn’t trying to get away.”

“Okay.” Nate’s mouth curved. “Good.”

“You told me love doesn’t hold anyone here.”

Nate looked at him for a moment. His hand settled against Leo’s back.

“I was wrong.”

“Yes,” Leo said. “You were.”

He put his hand against Nate’s cheek. Nate leaned into it, just a little, and that was enough to make Leo want to kiss him more than he could stand.

So he did.

Chapter

Fifty-Five