Page 44 of A Cold Hard Truth

A lie.

“I want to be here,” Jace said, stretching out beside him. “But I want you to tell me why you look like a hypothetical cat died.”

Remington rubbed the bridge of his nose and let out a soft breath. “I think I’m in over my head.”

“Living alone isn’t going to be a bad thing.”

“Not with that.” Remington cast a sideways glance at Jace. “Remember how I told you I met someone online?”

“Yeah.” Jace frowned. “Did that not work out?”

“It’s Sebastian,” he blurted, covering his face with his hands and folding himself down so his chest pressed against his thighs. “It’s Sebastian. I don’t know what to do.”

“Sebastian? Callahan’s Sebastian?”

He nodded.

“I’m not sure I see the problem.” Jace scrunched his nose and pressed closer to Remington, rubbing his back with long and calming strokes.

“It’sSebastian,” he said again. “It’ll be weird.”

“Why would it be weird?”

“Are you really going to make me say it?” Remington unfolded himself and flopped back against the couch with a loud grunt.

“Well, yes.” Jace laughed at him. “I don’t understand what the problem is.”

Jace was going to make him say it, make him spell out all the reasons he couldn’t be with a man like Sebastian.

“He’s donated to the museum,” he started.

“You know about that?” Jace blinked, eyes wide.

“Of course. So did you. The books.”

Jace’s face blanched. “Right. The books. That’s whatever, right? You know it.”

“He’s never been with a man before.”

“Neither have you,” Jace countered.

“Exactly. I’m not cut out to be someone’s first.”

Remington scrubbed his hands over his face. He had no right wanting the things he wanted, let alone taking the things he wanted from a virgin. Two virgins. What a joke. What a cruel joke.

“Does it bother him you’re a virgin?” Jace asked, stifling a gasp. “Shit. He does know, doesn’t he?”

“I told him. He doesn’t care.”

“Then why do you?”

“What if I mess up?” Remington asked.

“Then you mess up. You recover.” Jace leaned against him, sliding onto Remington’s lap and blinking up at him with proud eyes. “No one is going to get it right the first time.”

“I don’t even know what to expect,” he sighed.

“A slippery mess. Some pain. A lot of pleasure.”