Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
“It’s a definite perk of having a rich boyfriend,” Josh said lightly.
Dev came to stand beside Ewan. Ewan resisted the urge to close the gap between them. He had to keep reminding himself that Dev wasn’t his to touch, because the urge to put an arm around him or take his hand was strong.
“So, Ewan. You’re an undergrad too, yeah? What are you studying?” Josh leaned against the rail on Ewan’s other side, a welcome distraction from Ewan’s magnetic pull towards Dev.
As Ewan started talking about his course and asking Josh about his, Rupert came outside to join them, and they moved to sit around the balcony table.
They stayed outside to eat, and by the time dinner was served, Ewan was much more relaxed. The wine had filled him with a warm glow and the finer details of his relationship with Dev felt much less important than they had earlier. Josh had put them at their ease by drawing them into conversation. Ewan learned that Josh was in his third year. Despite his finals looming, Josh seemed remarkably chilled.
“Aren’t you nervous? I think I’ll be shitting myself this time next year.”
“I’m staying focused and doing my best.” Josh shrugged. “It’s all I can do.”
“You’ll do great,” Rupert said reassuringly.
Ewan thought uncomfortably about his own exams that were coming up soon. But he’d worked hard all year and was pretty sure he’d do okay. His only weak spot was statistics, and he was already feeling more confident about that, thanks to Dev.
They fell quiet for a while, all focused on eating rather than talking. The table was small, and Dev sat adjacent to Ewan. Their knees bumped occasionally, and when they weren’t in contact, Ewan was acutely aware of the space between them and his desire to close it.
Every now and again, Ewan would catch Dev’s gaze on him. Dev’s eyes were dark and hard to read behind his glasses, but Ewan thought he saw a softening when their gazes met and held for a few seconds. Dev watching him made Ewan clumsy. Carefully, he picked up his glass and drank, noticing Dev had hardly touched his wine. There was water with the meal too, and Dev was drinking that instead.
After they’d finished the main course, Josh cleared the plates, refusing any offers of help. He returned from the kitchen with a huge tub of ice cream and some bowls and spoons. “I was in charge of dessert, but I cheated and bought ice cream.” He grinned.
Rupert huffed, but his lips curved in affectionate amusement. “You always buy ice cream.”
“That’s because nothing I could make would ever come close to the perfection that is cookie dough ice cream. Does everyone want some?”
Everyone did.
Ewan knew Dev had a sweet tooth, and he wasn’t surprised when Dev accepted seconds. Ewan declined and tried not to watch too intently as Dev spooned the ice cream into his mouth, licking his lips occasionally and making appreciative sounds. Ewan shifted in his seat and wondered whether Dev realised he made the exact same sounds when he sucked Ewan’s cock. Ewan spread his legs a little to make space for the semi currently swelling in his jeans, and when his knee pressed against Dev’s, he didn’t pull it away.
Dev didn’t move either.
Once, after a particularly prolonged scrutiny of the way Dev wrapped his lips around the spoon, Ewan caught Josh watching him with an amused expression. Cheeks heating, Ewan looked down at his empty bowl, knowing he was being too obvious. The wine was making him careless.
After they’d finished, Rupert and Josh cleared the table and left Dev and Ewan alone for a moment. Ewan’s gaze moved inexorably to Dev again, and he found Dev looking back.
The tension was thick, and Ewan was suddenly positive Dev could feel it too. His eyes were huge and dark, and his lips parted slightly. There was a pale smear of ice cream on the lush pink of Dev’s lower lip. Ewan’s pulse thumped in his ears.
A clatter of crockery came from the kitchen and the sound of Rupert and Josh talking filtered through.
“You’ve got some….” Ewan lifted his hand and wiped away the ice cream with his thumb. He let his hand linger, his fingertips on the softness of Dev’s cheek, skimming lower to catch the hint of stubble on his jaw. Caught up in the beautiful inevitability of the moment, Ewan leaned closer, closing the gap until the caress of Dev’s breath became a kiss. Dev’s lips parted and their tongues touched. Dev sucked in a sharp breath and put his hand on Ewan’s knee, gripping tight as though it was a lifeline.
“Would you like some coffee? Or more wine?” Josh’s voice made them spring apart. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” He grinned at them and explained to Rupert, who was coming through the door behind him. “I just caught them snogging. I guess that means I was right.” Then, to Ewan and Dev again. “You’re such a cute couple. Don’t stop on my account.”