Page 38

Time ceases as the inside of his wrist is clearly visible. I’m hallucinating.

“Oh, um, about that…” Sky follows my gaze and covers his wrist with his other arm.

“Is it…” My throat seizes, and I reach for him, asking permission with my eyes. Sky nods but turns his head away.

“How come I haven’t seen this before?” I ask, rubbing my thumb over the image to confirm it’s permanent ink.

“No one sees it. It’s for me. Emmet inked me a couple of years ago.” Sky’s voice is thick. “I planned to tell you.”

“It’s incredible. Is it what I think?” I ask, not assuming, and he gives me a single nod. “Thank you,” I murmur, kissing the black horse running through blue and green waves with an image of a trident.

“You remember?” Sky asks.

“Being compared to the legendary Greek horse Arion isn’t something to forget. Did you know I had to look it up?”

Sky shakes his head. “You were so fast, and the ice seemed to bend to your will. All I could think of was Poseidon’s equine son running over water as the proclaimed fastest horse ever. You took my breath away.” He caresses my stubble.

This is the first tangible sign he didn’t give up on me.

“You take my breath away,” I state matter-of-factly.

I have every intention of making the most of my second chance by settling between his legs and kissing his entire torso. I lick his right cum gutter, then sit on my heels admiring his body.

“What are you doing?” he asks desperately.

“I told you that I’d stare at you.” I lean back and bring his ankle to my mouth. “You haven’t a clue how beautiful you are, do you? How your tattoo melts my bones and makes me want to worship you? I didn’t see it when you danced for me.”

He makes a face of annoyance, and I’m determined to tell him he’s gorgeous until he believes me. “I use makeup, especially when I dance, so no one notices my wrist. I cover it because I’m not willing to share that piece of me, and having identifiable marks isn’t great for anonymity and security.”

“After I treated you worse than shit, you still kept a piece of me.” I’d rather rip my heart out than hurt him again.

“We weren’t ready for each other.” His face is apologetic.

“Are we now?” I ask, metaphorically standing on the edge of a cliff.

“We can answer that together.” His smile takes over his face, exposing his crooked tooth.

I soar off the cliff and back to my Sky. “This time will be different. We’ll be version two point a million,” I promise with a kiss, drinking him in. Every word coming out of my mouth is the truth, and tonight is the beginning of showing him, giving him all of me. Of living the life I choose for myself and being an active participant in the queer community in every way.

“I love the freckles on your neck.” I connect them with my fingertips. “This mole’s so sexy.” I kiss the brown patch on the left side of his ribs. “Your muscles are so strong.” I trail along the ridges of his abs, but he makes another annoyed sound. “They are”—I hold my hand up to shush him—“don’t compare your body to mine. Both are optimal for our sports. Yours is lean and flexible, and mine is hard, capable of hurting people.”

“Come here.” He hooks his legs around me and pulls me down by the nape of my neck. “You’re too good for me.” His fingers brush my nipple in the narrow space between us. There’s a nerve-ending that connects my nipples to my balls, and my control slips.

“We’re not arguing about this now.” I pant and inhale his exhales. “Lube?”

Sky flings his arm out toward his nightstand. “Top drawer.”

I pour cool liquid, but he wipes his hand on mine.

“Let me.”

My dick jumps as his long fingers close around it. They’re smooth, without callouses, and the pressure is heaven.

“Next time, I’m sucking you first, but I’m already close.” Sky coats himself, raises his hips, and holds his hand out for more lube. I oblige and moan when his hand closes around both of us. “You like that,” Sky says smugly.

I’m mesmerized by watching him jack our dicks together. When his crown slides over mine, every nerve ending lights up. It spreads through my body so I feel him everywhere, as if his hand on me touches all of me at once. I’m so giddy my excitement escapes in a laugh.

I meet his eyes, but our laughter turns to moans when he twists his wrist.