Page 30 of Guys Like Him

“Starving.” Kieran’s voice dropped lower, making Finley think he was referring to a different kind of hunger.

And that’s when he noticed a very pressing need—Kieran’s, not his. If he didn’t remove himself from the vicinity of Kieran’s enormous erection, he might drop to his knees in broad daylight and do something about it. Finley’s self-preservation woke from its nap and stretched. He released Kieran’s neck, because of course he’d still held on to him, and stepped to the side, promptly tripping over the tote bag Kieran had dropped and spilling some of the books.

“Christ, I can be so clumsy,” Finley said, squatting down to repack the bag. But truthfully, he was glad for the opportunity to put some distance between himself and—

Holy shit.Dropping down had put him at eye level with Kieran’s crotch and gave him an eyeful of the long, thick erection pressing against a pair of Levi’s. His mind immediately spun through the delicious things he could do with that beast, but his pucker clenched in protest.

Kieran knelt and started reaching for his spilled items, reminding Finley to do the same. Just how long would he have stared at the man’s dick if Kieran hadn’t taken charge of the situation?Mmmm.Take charge. Jesus, he was acting like a teen boy who’d just discovered the cool thing his dick could do and who lived to do it again as soon as humanly possible. Some things apparently didn’t change. Thankfully, he hadn’t said the “holy shit” thing out loud. A quick glance at the smirk on Kieran’s lips said maybe he had. Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no. Finley averted his gaze to the remaining items on the ground and noticed a paperback ofThe Count of Monte Cristo.

Finley picked up the book and dusted it off.The Count of Monte Cristohad been required reading in high school. He’d looked at the size of the book and dreaded reading it over the summer, but it hadn’t taken long for him to fall into the story of redemption and revenge. Finley held the book out to Kieran, who carefully placed it on top of the items in his bag. With everything now restored, he had no excuse to squat down and avoid meeting Kieran’s gaze. Finley pushed up on his legs and barely avoided a moan when his body protested. Kieran hadn’t missed his discomfort in the barn, and it didn’t slip by him in the alleyway either.

“You sure you’re not hurting?”

Finley wanted to strike a quid pro quo bargain. He’d confess to Kieran that he’d ridden a dildo while fantasizing about him as soon as Kieran told Finley why he feared those guys spotting him. But Finley didn’t make the suggestion because it would’ve been just as inappropriate as him kissing a subordinate. “So…dinner?” Finley asked when they were both standing upright in the alley.

Kieran puffed up his cheeks and released his breath in a long exhale. “I’m still going to need a minute.”

Finley dropped his gaze as any masochist would and noticed the Beast, as he now inappropriately thought of Kieran’s dick, was still primed and ready to fuck. Incarceration had to be hell in so many ways but especially on his sexual health. Finley recalled Kieran’s comment about never being alone. It probably wouldn’t take much to get the Beast off. Finley could unzip his jeans, slide his hand inside, and—

“You staring at it doesn’t help,” Kieran said gruffly. “And please don’t whisper ‘holy shit’ like my dick is the first, last, and only one you want to ride.”

Finley jerked his head up as heat rushed to his face, and he moaned in mortification. “I said that out loud?”

Kieran pierced Finley with dark, glittering eyes. “Yes, and you moaning like I’m balls deep inside you isn’t helping either. I’m on the verge of coming in my pants, Finley.” He briefly closed his eyes and swallowed hard. “I don’t want to do that. I can’t handle the loss of control right now. Can you give me a few minutes to regroup? I’ll meet you at the diner. Please.” The last word sounded like he’d forcibly ripped it from his soul.

“I’m so sorry,” Finley whispered. He could say he’d only been trying to help all he wanted to, but his actions had been selfish. “I’m horrified by my behavior.”

Kieran’s gaze softened. “I’m not.” He lifted his hand toward Finley but stopped and lowered it to his side. “I am horny, though. And hungry.”

Finley’s guilt eased enough to free his feet. He sidestepped toward the alley, unwilling to take his eyes off Kieran. “I’ll go grab us a table.” A horrible thought occurred to Finley. What would he tell Cash if Kieran left the ranch? Cash implicitly trusted Finley to look after the horses and recruits, and he’d betrayed his faith.

“I won’t run,” Kieran said softly. “We’re good.”

Finley hated that his emotions were so transparent. He had no choice but to believe Kieran and head toward the diner. The sign at the hostess station told guests to seat themselves, so he chose a booth overlooking Main Street to observe the people enjoying the festival, not to watch for Kieran like a lovesick fool. What he felt wasn’t love; it might not even be like. Lust was a tumbleweed barreling into Finley, and he didn’t mean those puny props they put in movies. He was talking about the authentic kind that could knock an adult to the ground and leave them scraped and bloody. He’d been a heartbeat away from falling back into unhealthy patterns with Kieran. The realization stung as if someone had doused him with lemon juice after the tumbleweed had had its way with him.

Finley’s breath hitched when a familiar figure stepped out of the alley and crossed the street with purpose. He wanted to think the man was eager to eat dinner with him, but he knew better. Kieran kept his head down to avoid making eye contact with anyone who might recognize him. With his gaze glued to Kieran, the waitress caught him by surprise when she set down napkin-wrapped silverware. He jumped like someone had shot him, causing the petite brunette to jolt too. Water sloshed over the edge of the pitcher she held in her hand and splattered against his sleeve. Finley didn’t recognize her, but her tag identified her as Merri.

“I’m so sorry,” Finley said as he heard the bell jingle over the door.

“No, I’m sorry,” Merri replied. “Let me go get some extra napkins. You’d think it was my first day.”

Finley waved off her gesture. “It’s fine. Have you worked here long?”

“Here, no. I recently moved from Santa Fe, but I’ve been waitressing for six years. So sorry I startled—” Her words died when Kieran stepped around her and slid into the booth opposite Finley. “I…um…” Yeah, Kieran Sullivan was that good-looking. “I’ll go grab another set of silverware. Be right back.”

Kieran looked from her retreating figure to Finley. “What did I miss?”

“I was daydreaming and not paying attention to my surroundings, and Merri startled me when she set the silverware on the table. My jumping triggered a chain reaction, and she splashed water on me.” Finley lifted his arm so Kieran could see the wet spot. He turned over both water glasses and filled them. “Oh, and Merri recently moved here from Santa Fe.”

Kieran arched a brow. “You move fast.”

Finley, who’d just taken a drink, nearly spat the liquid on the gorgeous man across from him. He managed to swallow it and set the glass down without incident. “Move fast?”

Kieran shrugged. “You haven’t been here long, and you already know where she’s from.”

“Oh, it was a natural progression from our conversation.”

The brooding man across from him either didn’t buy the explanation, didn’t care, or both. He lifted a menu tucked behind the condiment caddy and extended it across the table.

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