“This was more than that,” Coury said, his face pinching in annoyance. “I couldn’t concentrate. Not on the test, not the days before it.” He locked his frustration on Liam, and Liam wanted to take the week back for a do-over.
“Coury, I—”
“You’ve been acting different. Ever since you kissed me.”
Those final words blasted through Liam and he rocked back on his heels. Coury was calling him out.
The truth stretched, weighted between them.
Coury came forward, tension rolling off him in thick waves. “Yeah, you remember this.”
Cool lips covered his warm ones and Coury slid his hand behind Liam’s head.
The kiss thrummed between them, full of frustration and need and impatience. Coury’s lips were hard on his, but the hand in his hair was so gentle.
Coury pulled back and looked at him.
“I meant everything I said.” Liam snaked his arm around Coury and kissed him back.
Their bodies molded together and his hard-on pressed against Coury’s. He moaned as a tongue pushed his lips open. His limbs tingled and he forgot everything except that he was finally getting the kiss he’d wanted for almost half his life.
“Excuse me while I turn up the heat,” Pop said behind them. “That way you two can argue and kiss with my front door wide open and the neighbors will be warm while they watch.”
Liam broke their kiss, flushed with more than embarrassment. He pulled an equally red Coury farther into the house and swung the door shut.
“Happy?”
Pop looked between them, and his smile twinkled in his eyes. “Completely. Coury, are you staying for dinner? I ordered enough for three.”
* * *
Coury
Coury uncoiled his limbs from the warm body laying against his. He hadn’t been sure what to do with Pop sitting there, but Liam ended that issue by snuggling in.
He didn’t remember much about the movie, and he’d seen it before. Ask him how Liam smelled or how his muscles felt, and Coury would ace that test. He didn’t want to get up, but he knew he should.
Pop left after the movie. They’d stayed stuck together while Pop took Slider for a walk, came back, and said good night. Alone, Coury wanted to kiss Liam again, but he hadn’t forgotten Beckett’s admonishment.
Their second kiss, spending this evening with Liam . . . it was worth it. But he walked a thin line. It would hurt them both when Coury left. Liam had worked his way into that spot in his heart reserved for someone special.
The way Liam adhered himself to Coury only compounded the feelings of affection. He was in so deep. And maybe Liam was, too.
Reluctantly, he stretched, and Liam moved forward, turning.
“I was so comfortable.”
“Me too.” He wrapped his arms around Liam and pulled him back. Liam laid his head on Coury’s chest. “I wish I didn’t have to go.”
“You could stay.”
He sighed. “I have PT first thing.”
“I thought it was in the afternoon.”
“It was, but now that practice has officially started, I switched it so I could watch. And . . .”
“And what?”
