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CHAPTER FOUR

RYLAN

Rylan slowly woke. He felt lightheaded, almost dizzy, as if he had gotten drunk the night before. But he knew that he hadn’t had a drink, much less drank until intoxicated, in years. When his thoughts solidified, he realized there was a warm, solid weight wrapped around his waist and bare skin pressed against his back.

Images from his nightmare the night before flooded back, and he stiffened.

Had Tristan found me?

His breathing sped up, and he had to open his mouth or risk the real possibility of hyperventilating. Before he could panic, a sleep-roughened voice reached him.

“Ry, it’s Cameron. I’ve got you and you’re safe, I promise. I won’t let anyone ever hurt you again.”

Relief, hot and swift, rushed over him. He turned before he relaxed into Cameron’s hold. Trust didn’t come easily to him, but Cameron’s actions as he held himself back, unsure of his movements because he worried about hurting Rylan, developed trust between them. Cameron recognized his size and the intimidation factor that came with it. And Rylan couldn’t picture him hurting anyone.

“Thank you.”

Rylan smiled as Cameron kissed his forehead and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, Cameron’s breathing became deep and even, but his hold never wavered.

He wondered why it was so easy with Cameron when it was so hard to connect with anyone else.

He’d always closed himself off to everyone. Even Issa didn’t know everything about him, always keeping his insecurities and his problems to himself, worried about burdening others. He thought no one would like who he was if they knew his secrets.

Rylan diverged from every trait his father believed a ‘real man’ should possess. He loved clothing and shoes, he loved color and originality. He craved creativity and embraced that side of himself as far back as he could remember. Rylan showed enthusiasm for everything he did, from creating a new outfit to learning something new, and when others recognized that he was gay, they wouldn’t say anything, but Rylan could tell they were uncomfortable with him and who he was.

After their conversations the night before, Rylan relaxed enough to be himself with Cameron, able to express his own opinions without being judged and for the first time in his life, he didn’t have to hide his obvious attraction to the gorgeous man who fascinated him.

Rylan was in awe of Cameron. His laid-back attitude was contagious, but it was the fierce protectiveness he wasn’t afraid of showing that Rylan found sexy.

He gazed at his beautiful face, relaxed in sleep. It should have been awkward sleeping in a practical stranger’s arms, but all of his instincts were telling him he trusted Cameron.

As he thought back to the night before, he realized Cameron shied away from people at the crowded bar where he stood most of the night. Once or twice, Rylan remembered Cameron tensing or flinching whenever someone brushed up against him or touched him with intent. It was the fierce look he gave the beautiful woman that had Rylan falter after he planned to approach the bar and speak to him.

“What are you thinking about?”

“How I almost didn’t say hi to you last night. I sensed that you shied away from, well, touch of any kind. You looked uncomfortable when the woman pressed her hand to your chest.”

“Well, she… let’s not talk about that. I wasn’t interested in her, and yeah, most of the time, I don’t like to touch strangers, or have them touch me. Why were you thinking about that?”

Rylan sighed and although embarrassing for him, he didn’t want to hold anything back from Cameron. “If a beautiful woman can’t attract your attention, I’m wondering if my touch bothers you and how you… if you even are—”

“Attracted to you. Trust me, Ry, I am. I’m relaxed around you and I like it when you touch me. I can’t describe how brilliant I feel when you touch me. It does and I won’t question what feels right.”

Rylan couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. “I’m a little too… tactile, so if it bothers you, please let me know.”

Cameron pressed a kiss to his forehead and smiled at him when he pulled back. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

The moment Cameron stood and walked toward the dresser, the words died in Rylan’s throat and all thoughts ceased. He had known the man was beautiful the night before, but it was nothing compared to the light of day.

His gaze traveled over the wide expanse of his shoulders, over the exposed olive skin on his muscular back and the defined muscles of his arms. He bit his lip as he watched Cameron’s movements, mesmerized by the easy way he walked, with confidence and determination.

Rylan couldn’t pull his eyes away from him, even when Cameron dug out clothes and turned back toward Rylan perched on the bed with what must be a goofy-looking expression on his face as he took in the gorgeous man in front of him. When Cameron caught his gaze and smiled at him, his heart kicked hard in his chest.

Again, Rylan’s eyes watched Cameron’s form as he walked back over to the bed. Cameron held out clothing and Rylan noted they were another pair of sweats with a hoodie. He glanced down at himself and realized he must’ve ditched the sweats and tee he’d worn to bed sometime the night before without realizing.

Rylan slid out of bed and reached for the clothing when Cameron pulled them back out of reach. Cameron’s gaze roamed down his chest, all the way to his toes, and back up again. Rylan’s skin felt as though Cameron caressed him with his hands instead of with his gaze.

“My memory from last night doesn’t do you justice. Beautiful doesn’t even encompass how I would describe you. Gorgeous is an understatement, too.”