[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

New York was much colder than San Francisco, driving Ian to
pull the coat closer around his body.  As long as it s warm. With a
bed I can stretch out in. And we walk to get there.
Lucas laughed, carefree once again.  What about your ankle?
 My numb arse trumps a sore ankle.
 Fair enough.
But Lucas still took it into consideration, Ian realized. All they
did was round a corner. He chose the first hotel they saw and got
them a room with two queen-sized beds using a credit card and ID
Ian hadn t seen before. He held his tongue, even when Lucas
specifically asked for a lower level room. It was the same sort of
courtesy he d been granted the entire trip, the same sort of respect.
It kept him quiet until they were both in the room, and the door
was shut firmly behind them.
 If you want to crash and get some decent sleep, I ll start
working on the Polaroids. Lucas dropped the bag onto the
luggage rack with a groan of relief.  I need the whole bed, so we ll
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have to take turns on the other one.
He watched Lucas brush past him to head to the bed nearest the
window. He was weary from all the traveling, but he refused to
shirk his share of their situation, no matter how considerate Lucas
insisted on being.  I ll help.
Lucas shook his head as he dropped the packages of Polaroids
onto the bed.  There s nothing for you to do.
 I can help you sort them. Removing his jacket, he laid aside
the few odds and ends they d accumulated during their trip.
 We re a partnership, aren t we?
His terminology diverted Lucas from his task. His eyes
narrowed, sharp and assessing.  Are we? he challenged.  Have
you finally committed to this?
He tried to make a joke of it.  I came with you across the
country, didn t I?
 You re closer to England now. Closer to flying home. You
haven t mentioned the Blood of Sheol once since we left.
 I haven t wanted to jinx our good luck. That joke fell flat as
well. His only choice was to approach, though when he stood only
inches away, he was less inclined to argue with Lucas and more
inclined to focus on the man himself.  I m in. I want to see this
through to the end.
Lucas searched his face, clearly waiting for the other shoe to
drop. Every line was visible, from the tightness around his mouth
to the exhaustion at the corners of his eyes. Ian knew he would
never admit it, but the past four days had been hard on Lucas, in
more ways than one. He claimed responsibility for everything that
had gone wrong, from the death of Ian s dig mates to their trek
across the country. It was on the tip of Ian s tongue to tell him he
was wrong, that they were in this together, when the frown
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disappeared, replaced by a familiar smile.
 Partners. Lucas grasped Ian s shoulder and hauled him
forward the rest of the way, embracing him in a loose grip as he
slapped Ian s back.  Best word I ever heard.
Ian returned the hug awkwardly, all too aware of the hard body
now pressing against his. Every flare of desire he d managed to
squelch since meeting this man roared back to life, stoked by his
proximity, their agreement, the weight that had been lifted from
their shoulders in arriving. How many times had he been lulled
asleep by the sound of Lucas s voice? Or flushed at a smile caught
out of the corner of his eye? Already, his blood reacted, sheer want
making his hands shake and his cock thicken when he really
wished it wouldn t.
Or at least, wished it could have waited until the object of his
desire didn t currently feel it nudging against his hip.
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CHAPTER 8
Lucas had lived most of his life acting on impulse. His instincts
rarely let him down. Pulling Ian into a loose hug had been a
moment of sheer glee, relief that he didn t have to worry about Ian
abandoning the hunt. He d been suppressing his own desires for
the man so effectively, he didn t give a second thought about a
random casual touch. It was supposed to be brief, after all. Just two
friends, relishing a minor victory.
It would have been, too, if he hadn t felt Ian s cock growing
against his hip.
His breath caught. Exhaling would be acknowledgment, and
then Ian would be gone, back in his virtual corner watching Lucas [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]