Page 22

“Oh, that’s exciting. How…” he swallowed before he asked, “how long will you be gone?”

“Not long, three weeks. But the location is up north in Vancouver.”

Something stubborn flashed in his eyes and when he glanced back at me, meeting my gaze, he asked, “Should I take the time you’re away to find another place?”

“What?” I gasped.

“Wow!” Lee chuckled.

“Connor!” Spencer sounded outraged.

A chuckle and a hand on Ollie’s shoulder from Lewis did not make me jealous. I might have to tell myself that a hundred times before I get it through my head, but I took a deep breath and lied to myself.

“Huh, I thought I was clueless,” Kaid finished as he gave me a pointed look.

Ollie blushed hard when he realized he asked a private question in front of the group. He learned to be open with his opinions, especially around the nosiest family he’d ever met. Butthen, as I expected him to, he sat up straighter and a sense of determination overtook his sad eyes.

“No! If you want to find a place, I will help you when I get back, but until then, no.”

There was no way I was going to let him move anywhere. Fuck that idea.

At my outburst, I realized as soon as I blurted it out that it wasn’t my actual business to control where Ollie lived, but I knew I said the right thing when the younger man relaxed back into his chair and gave me a small nod.

As I knew he would be, Ollie became ingrained in the group as quickly as Lee and Lewis had. He and Spencer talked about the romances they read over the years and despite Spencer being an avid reader of gay or male/male romances, he hadn’t read any of Ollie’s until I mentioned them.

“Thomas and Sam are cute together. I think that if Sam slows down a bit and lets Thomas spoil him a little, he’d be ready to marry that man. But I can understand why he is the way he is. His job isn’t one where he can relax.”

We moved into Kaid’s living room and I snagged a spot right near Ollie as he continued with his conversation.

For the first time in a long while, I wasn’t craving being in the spotlight and paid little attention to the discussions because the man next to me was the center of all my thoughts.

I moved past the panic of what our kiss meant and replayed the few minutes in time where he clung to me as I traced every inch of skin underneath his tee. The tips of my fingers tingled in anticipation as I watched his animated expressions.

Had I ever been as captivated by one person before?

There was a quick and simple answer.

No.

Like my family and friends pointed out too many times to count, I indulged in whatever felt good to me. If that was gettingmy dick sucked in a club by a random who I’d never see again, then so be it. I’ve fucked and been fucked in return, had multiple partners at the same time and believed that as long as there was consent and condoms, I was up for anything.

But my avid experience didn’t compare to kissing Ollie. Hell, with Ollie, there was no rush to move onto the main event. I wanted to explore every single inch of his delectable body several times over, not once thinking about my dick, knowing his pleasure would be mine. The sounds I could draw from him, the reactions my touch would have on his body; would he arch toward me, needing more, before he opened his mouth and pleaded with me to touch him?

When his arm leaned into my chest, it was as natural as breathing to pull him tight against my body. Not needing to hold myself back, I pondered if I should press my nose to his neck and breathe him in for less than a second before I followed my desire.

His breath hitched in his throat as his hand spasmed on my thigh and I groaned against his skin.

When he whispered, I strained to hear him. “Please don’t make me hard in front of your friends.”

And that was the final straw.

I jumped to my feet, silencing the surrounding conversation. As I reached for Ollie’s hand, which he slid into my outstretched one without hesitation, I hauled him against my side and wrapped an arm around him.

“Thank you for dinner, but we’re going to cut out early.”

Not being subtle at all, Spencer beamed at us while Kaid shook his head and stood.

“Spencer, call me when you’re feeling better and you can show me the production studio. Lee, thanks for the advice. Kaid and Lewis, dinner was delicious. Thank you for having me over. It was wonderful meeting you all,” Ollie said.