Page 51 of Home Ice

“Sure.” I don’t wait for him as I take off toward the car.

“What’s up with you?” he taunts. Like he enjoys having me on edge.

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.” We reach the car, but he crosses his arms and leans against the passenger door. “Don’t lie to me.”

“Why the fuck did you tell Trevor and not me? You didn’t trust me?”

He doesn’t answer. Just stares at me like he’s amused. “Is that what you’re really pissed about? Because you didn’t tell me either.”

“I—”

“Wanna know my guess?”

“No.” Because I have a feeling he’ll know the exact reason I want to storm out of my skin.

“I think you’re mad because you wanted to be the one to suck my cock.”

I scowl and go to pull away, but Barrett bunches his hands into my shirt, so I don’t get far.

“That’s it, isn’t it? You wanted to be the first mouth I ever dipped my dick into.”

I slam my hand against the side of his car and stare him down. “Yes, it should have been me. Fuck you for choosing Trevor when we could have gone through all that together.”

There are a few seconds where all we do is breathe. Where I let myself want like I’ve never been free to do for him before. Barrett is still incredibly attractive, but there’s something about the way he’s grown up that’s moved my interest from fuckable to desperation.

“Well …” he murmurs. “You know now.”

My gaze slowly sharpens on his, the brown depths that hold the weight of too much for someone our age. Instead of all the worry and stress that’s been there the last few days, they’re burning with interest.

Is he saying what I think he’s saying?

The tug in my gut is urging me to read into it. To process how he’s still gripping my shirt, and the space between us is all but gone. My heart feels like it’s trying to beat its way out of my chest, and my head is growing hot, feet unsteady, and he’s looking and I’m looking and⁠—

“Fuck it.”

My mouth is on his before I have time to think. One hand on his jaw, one diving into his hair, tongue plunging in to meet his. All I can taste is the beer we were drinking, and then Barrett feeds me a deep, rumbly moan.

My dick is so hard it hurts.

But he’s kissing me back.

Finally.

Like that, the years of distance are gone.

But the ache I have for him only grows hungrier.

Chapter Sixteen

TAI

Ididn’t think he’d actually fucking do it, but Hawke pushing his tongue into my mouth has stolen every expectation I’ve ever had. I grip his shirt tighter, worried he’s going to come to his senses, when now that this has started, I don’t ever want it to end.

All I’d wanted was to be friends again.

This is an exciting development.