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“I…”

I got my answer when his eyes flicked down to my mouth and back up. I wasn’t shy about it, and I didn’t pussyfoot around my interests, either. I had always been a cut to the chase kind of person. I didn’t like playing games. Aziel was hot, and I wouldn’t say no to some fun, but he had to be upfront about it. I didn’t do the whole experimenting thing. If he wasn’tsure, then he needed to find someone else to bring him on that journey. I didn't have time to play nice.

“If there’s something you need to say, just say it. Otherwise, I’m going to make the boys some dinner. I don’t have time for games.”

I gave him a second, but when he didn’t offer me an answer, I shook my head and turned toward the door, pausing when he finally spoke.

“And if it’s the second option?”

Glancing over my shoulder, I raised an eyebrow at him. “Depends. Is the hesitation because you’ve never hooked up before?”

He frowned. “No. I just don’t do it often. I don’t… trust easily.”

Yeah, no shit. It was written all over him. But for some reason, he trusted me. His friend said the same thing about his tattoos last night. He could’ve gone to his friend's contact, but he trusted me more. I wasn’t sure what I did to earn that, but I wasn’t going to throw it in his face.

“Same. I’m cool with having some fun, but not if this is some kind of experiment. If you want me, just say something.”

I didn’t really do casual, I preferred to be in relationships, but after my last bad break up, I avoided getting back out there. Maybe something casual was what I needed to get back on the horse. And once it was out there, Aziel was less shy about it.

“Busy tonight?”

Lucky for him, this was the one night this week I didn’t have Ollie with me after dinner. My parents squeezed an extra shift at work for a little more of a buffer in their spending for this vacation, so Ollie was left with me, but they weren’t going to have him spend the night one day earlier than they had to. They’d pick him up after dinner.

“Ollie leaves at seven with our folks. You got a babysitter?”

At the basketball game, Dante told us he lived with his cousin because his place was closer to school. He didn't talk much about his parents or why he didn't live with them, but he seemed happy living with Aziel, and that was all that mattered.

“Yeah.”

“My shop closes at nine. I’m done cleaning up a little while after.”

“See you at ten,” he growled. The discomfort was gone, and his eyes were heated, and excitement built up under my skin. It’d been a while, andI was looking forward to working off some pent up frustration that had been building the past few weeks.

The universe must have been looking out for me, because the rest of the evening went without a hitch. The boys ate their food and played video games. Aziel took Dante home just after my parents picked up Ollie. And my notoriously late client was actually on time, which meant I was done just before closing time. I sent Ben home after we cleaned up and locked up behind him, booking it up the stairs to get ready.

I had enough time to shower and make my room a little more fit for company, but Aziel was fucking prompt and I heard the knock on the back door exactly at ten. I didn’t bother with shoes, since we weren’t planning on going out anyway, and I didn’t dress up either, sticking to sweats and a t-shirt because I’m a lazy shit. None of that seemed to bother Aziel, because when he looked me over after I opened the door, there wasn’t an ounce of disappointment in his face. Lust kind of blocked out everything else, and I was more than okay with that.

“Gonna come in, or are we fooling around out here? Gotta say, I’m not really looking for jail time right now.”

A smirk flashed across his face, taking the edge off all that tension and scowling I’d seen all day. He was hot all growly like that, but he was a lot hotter when he smiled, even if it barely counted as a smile. He followed me inside, locking the door behind him, which made me grin. Looks like someone planned on staying a while.

We made it up the stairs before he spun me around and his mouth crashed against mine. Not one to back down from a fight, I shoved my tongue past his lips, tangling it with his. It was an all out duel, both of us trying to dominate the other’s mouth until I jerked away with a frown.

“Why do I get the feeling we should’ve discussed things before we agreed to this?”

He growled, and his face turned away from me. It almost seemed like he was irritated, but it needed to be discussed. I didn’t bottom. It wasn’t my thing. Tried it, didn’t love it. No one I’d ever dated since complainedabout it. But Aziel was as dominant as I was, and we might need to skip penetration if we both couldn’t agree.

“Az?”

He huffed out a sharp breath, scowling at the floor. “You lead. Just… go easy. I’ve never–” He cut himself off with a snarl. He didn’t look happy with the idea and I wasn’t about to force him, but when I opened my mouth to say something, he attacked me, taking his frustration out on my mouth. He sucked on my tongue, nipped my bottom lip hard, and knocked the rust off me in three seconds flat.

For someone who said I could lead, he really fought hard against it. I had almost no hope of manhandling him when he was that much bigger than me. It was when I fisted his hair tightly that he got the picture, growling low as he loosened his grip on me.

“If this is what you really want, then stop trying to control shit. I’m not going to force you, but I’m not going to let you get away with taking over, either. Yes or no. Pick one.”

“Yes.” It was a growl, deep and definitely not human, but when I pushed against his chest, he let me lead him to the bedroom. Shoving him onto the bed, I stood between his knees with my arms crossed.

“Strip.”