Page 74 of Stable Hand

“Adam must have come back early for some reason,” I said. “Just our luck.”

Noah nodded, falling onto his bunk and staring up at the bottom of the upper mattress. “I can’t believe Luke lied to me. To us.”

“Yeah, well he did. I’m not too thrilled about being hoodwinked either.”

“I hate him a little for lying.” Noah said. “And I don’t like the feeling.”

“Then don’t hate him. Hating him is probably what he wants us to do. I’ve known people like him before,” I said.

Noah turned his head. “Really?”

I nodded. “People who sabotage their relationships because they don’t think they’re worthy of anyone, deep down. The world makes more sense when things are consistent with what they’re used to than if they were to strive for a changed outcome.”

“Wow. Makes sense.”

“Sure.” I hesitated for a moment. “My brother was a bit like Luke.” I stripped to my boxer briefs and got under the covers in my bunk.

“Really? Is he better now?” Noah asked.

“Nah. He’s in jail. For armed robbery.”

“Oh my God. Jesus. That’s terrible.” Noah sat up.

“He got in with the wrong crowd, drugs, all that stuff. We tried to help him but…we couldn’t,” I admitted. “And I’m not implying Luke is anywhere near as bad. But the attitude strikes me as the same. The sense people expect you to be bad so you simply fulfill their expectations.”

I didn’t want to examine what Luke’s similarity to my brother meant about my feelings for him.

Noah nodded. “Right.”

“So, if you really want to help Luke, don’t fulfill those expectations. Don’t hate him. Keep loving him if that’s what you think you feel. Don’t let him sabotage your affection.”

Noah huffed and nodded. “Can I sleep in your bunk again tonight?”

I groaned. “Jesus Christ, Noah. You mean I have to figure out how to sleep with a hard-on again?”

He stood up and walked over to my bunk, peeling off his shirt and tossing it onto his bed. My eyes flew to his pale skin and dark nipples. I dropped an arm over my face. “Noah. You’re killing me.”

I heard him chuckle and the rustling of more clothes coming off.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting naked.”

I peeked out from under my arm. Yep, he was naked. And beautiful. And standing right next to me.

“Why?”

“Because the others won’t be back for a while, and I want to snuggle.”

“Noah, if you come under the sheets with me, I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.” I figured honesty was important at this point.

“If I come under the sheets with you, consider that as permission to put your hands on me.”

I blinked, staring at him as my mouth went dry.

His hand drifted down to his erect cock and he stroked it idly as he smiled. “Would be a good way to get Luke back. He’s the one who lit the fire between us.”

“Interesting perspective.” I pulled back the covers. But as Noah climbed in beside me, I said, “Although I don’t know if that’s entirely true. He definitely stoked the flame, but I was already feeling the burn.”