All the little pieces of Ezra I’m collecting are adding up to something completely fucked. As if I’m standing in the eye of a storm, I can only prepare for the approaching devastation, unable to escape it now.
Part of me hopes Ezra will change his mind and leave Sinro Enterprises, knowing I’ll only manage to hurt him again. Selfishly, I want him to stay.
Ezra’s fingers curl into the muscles along my back like he can hear my thoughts.
Without hesitation, I press a kiss to his hair. “You hungry?”
He pulls back and sniffles. When he starts kneading his bottom lip between his teeth, I reach out and gently pull his lip free. I stroke my thumb over the bloody spot he created and fix his lip ring.
“No more of that,” I say firmly.
I fucking despise this entire situation. His self-inflicted wounds turn me inside out because I can’t slaughter those demons. They exist in his head, not out here in this fucked up world. No bullet or blade can penetrate them.
His throat bobs. Sensing he needs more from me, I gather him up in my arms, wrapping my hands around his thighs as he secures his legs around my waist. I carry him into my apartment. Then I set him on my couch and tuck him in with a blanket.
“Stay.”
For once, Ezra doesn’t argue or throw back sarcasm. Ezra sits. Ezra blinks back at me with nothing behind his gaze. Ezra needs me to take charge tonight.
I retrieve a new shirt to throw on. After I wash my hands and wrap my bloody knuckles, I prepare giant salads for us. I toss on sliced chicken and walnuts to boost his protein intake.
We eat on the couch in silence, looking out at the golden lights of the city. Only when our bowls are empty do I speak the words that have been circling my brain since I cracked open that file on my computer. “I won’t ever expose you to something again without warning or consent.”
Ezra makes a face like he’s going to brush me off again but thinks better of it when I cut him a glare. He nods. “Okay.”
“You will tell me when something becomes too much. Your training here. My affection.”
He gives me another nod, and I collect our dishes to wash in the kitchen sink. When I walk back over to the couch, I can’t help but give in to the pressing worry in my brain. “Are you okay to sleep by yourself?”
What I really want to know is if he feels the need to harm himself again. I want to ask him why he sleeps on the floor. I want to know why those photos troubled him to the point of self-mutilation. I want to ask him so many troubling things I know will wreck me.
Mostly, Ineedhim close to me tonight.
His brows raise. “As opposed to what? Sleeping with you?”
Blood rushes to my cock, but my head is too bogged down with stress and frenzied emotions to let anything happen between us.
“You can. If you want. Just… just for tonight.”
What the fuck am I doing?
But I can’t take my words back. Not when Ezra’s suddenly overcome with demonic energy, leaping over the back of the couch and bolting for my bedroom. I hear the headboard rattle as he dives into my bed at full speed.
When I reach the doorway, I catch him rolling around, messing up my perfectly made sheets. His shift in behavior summons a relieved laugh from me. I lean against the door frame, crossing my arms over my chest. “Weirdo.”
This pretty little thief is going to kill me.
He hums and rubs his cheek against my pillow, looking far too cute to be legal. Rev told me his age, but I still haven’t processed how I feel about the gap between us. Still don’t know why I’m hung up on it, or the fact that I want to keep thinking about him and me like we could be something. I don’t even know what that something is.
I let my eyes appreciate him for a moment. He reallyisbeautiful, in a feral animal kind of way. I want to delve my hands into his chaotic blonde waves. Run my tongue over his plump bottom lip and suck it into my mouth. Trace my hands over his lean, tan skin and seal our bodies together.
I want to fuck him hard and raw, but I think I’d like to take my time with him, too. Work him into delirium.
“How about you rinse off before you get sweat all over my bed?” I say, padding in to turn on the shower for him. Away from his eyes, I adjust my erection.
I leave him to shower, fetching us both bottles of water. Then I set my alarm and browse through a few emails in the kitchen. Soon enough, Ezra’s back in my bed after a shower, dressed in only his boxer briefs.
“Thought I told you pants are necessary,” I mutter, strolling past him to take my turn in the shower.
