“And as for you two,” Cree goes on remorselessly, “I’m not gonna lie, it’s blatantly obvious that…”
The panic flickering in Kesh’s eyes makes me take action. I spin back to Roger Cree, and my fist connects with his face. I feel his bones crunch as the punch lands somewhere between his eye and his nose—or maybe on them both. He groans in pain as he hits the ground, then all hell breaks loose. The rest of the team gathers around us, Kenton helps Cree up, and someone pulls me back. But I’m not done yet. I want to go for him, want to make him shut his bloody mouth and stop trashing the people who matter most in my life.
But I don’t get far. Kesh pulls me outside, around the corner, into the little lane beside the pub. Only then does he let go. I have my back to him and fists still clenched; I’m breathing hard.
“That was unnecessary,” he says, breaking the silence after a minute or two. From out here, you can still just about make out the rock music playing inside. I try to focus entirely on that, and not on Kesh standing close behind me, or on the fact that I just decked a teammate.
That was unnecessary.
It feels like Kesh and I are constantly doing the unnecessary instead of what we actually want.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Kesh,” I reply. Suddenly, I feel as weak as a kitten. Like I’ve given everything I have to give.
I feel him take a step closer until I sense the warmth of his body behind me. A shiver runs up my spine.
“I don’t want you to say anything.” He puts his hand on my back. More tentatively this time. It couldn’t be more different from his firm grip just now. It’s a familiar, gentle touch.
I gulp dryly.
“Kesh,” I say warningly.
He comes closer still, puts a hand round me, lays it on my belly. His chest brushes my back, and I gasp.
“Alistair,” he whispers. His hot breath strokes my ear and I get full-body goose bumps.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
Nobody but Kesh makes me feel these nervous jitters, the electric tingle that runs through me from head to toe, makes me feel weightless.
“I don’t know,” he replies, slowly stroking my stomach.
“I do,” I begin hoarsely. Kesh makes an inquiring sound. “If you don’t stop, I’m going to turn around. I’m going to press you up against the wall and kiss you. And then we both know what will happen next.”
“I think you’re going to have to give me a clue,” Keshav murmurs. He wraps his arms tighter around me. I can feel his chest on my back, rising and falling ever faster—and something hard pressing against my bum. My pulse is racing. “What will happen next, Alistair?”
I snort with laughter. “That’s a pretty lousy attempt at tricking me into kissing you, Kesh.”
Then I gather up every ounce of strength left in me, grab his arm, and push it away from my stomach. At the same time, I turn to him on my wobbly legs. The adrenaline still coursing through my veins has left me dizzy.
I wish I could walk away and leave him here. I can’t lose myself in him again, not when I know exactly what’s coming next.
But as he cautiously raises his hand and lays it on my cheek, I’m incapable of budging.
“Alistair,” he whispers.
I’ve longed to hear my name on his lips again. Desperately. My brain is telling me to turn and walk away before it’s too late, but when Kesh brings his mouth to mine, my mind falls silent, along with all the reasons why it would be better to stop this.
All I can do is kiss him back.
Kesh moves his lips against mine, hesitantly at first, and then a little faster and more confidently. Automatically, I lift my hands to his face, stroke his jaw and his throat, then bury them in his hair.
Kesh groans soundlessly. “Feels good, doesn’t it?” he whispers into the side of my mouth.
I grunt my agreement.
“It can be like this all the time.”
The impact comes out of nowhere, taking me by complete surprise. Suddenly, I’m fully aware that we’re in a dark alleyway and that this is pretty much the opposite of what I want from Keshav.
