Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
This man was proving to be very dangerous to Liam’s heart. If Liam wasn’t careful, he’d fall down the slippery slope of romantic feelings and end up hurt. He was almost certain Tate had never dated another man. The first was always memorable but rarely lasted.
It was the starter relationship, the training boyfriend, not that they were even boyfriends. Ugh, if he didn’t get out of his own head, he’d miss this incredible experience and spend the next month kicking himself, so he swallowed down the surge of emotion.
“Tate, this is incredible. I can’t believe you did all this.”
He’d never have thought it possible, but the man turned an adorable shade of pink. He rubbed the back of his neck, staring down at two chipped wine glasses in his hands. “I didn’t know what you liked so…” He shook his head.
“I’m easy. Whatever you have is perfect.” He walked over to the blanket. Tate’s gaze shifted up as he approached. The other man watched as Liam sat with his legs curled to his side like a mermaid.
Chucking, Tate said, “You even sit gracefully.”
Grinning, Liam shrugged. “Two decades of dance training will do that.”
“Two decades?” Tate unscrewed the wine and poured some into the glasses.
“Yep. Started when I was five, which is after many of my co-performers.” He accepted the glass from Tate and then held it up between them. “To safe havens, whether they be a beautiful place or an unexpected person.”
With a nod, Tate tapped his glass against Liam’s. “To safe-havens,” he whispered.
As he took his first sip, he kept his gaze on Tate over the glass’s rim. A crisp, fruity flavor filled his mouth, and he smiled. Sauvignon Blanc, his favorite.
Tate’s nose wrinkled before he swallowed. He pulled the glass away from his mouth and stared at it for a second before shrugging and going in for a second taste.
“Like it?”
“Not bad. Though I can think of something much more delicious to taste.”
There wasn’t anything better than Tate letting his guard down. The few times he’d allowed himself to flirt, the effort sent butterflies through Liam’s stomach.
“There you go, flirting with me again,” Liam said with a wink.
“That a problem?” An eyebrow arched into Tate’s forehead.
“Um, hell no. Quite the opposite. I love it. Flirt away.”
They grinned at each other.
“So, what did you bring me to eat?”
The man had enough food to feed an army. He’d brought cheese, crackers, grapes, an assortment of finger sandwiches, a fresh pasta salad, and one large cupcake for dessert. Liam couldn’t wait to share it.
“Seriously, Tate, this is amazing. Thank you so much for doing all this.”
“It’s nothing,” he said as he ripped open a bag of crackers.
“It’s not nothing.” Liam scooted until his knees bumped Tate’s thighs. “This is really wonderful. No one has ever put this much thought into planning a date for me. You made me feel really special tonight. Thank you.”
A world of emotions burned in Tate’s gaze—fear, lust, pride, and hopefully the same magnetic draw Liam was experiencing. He cupped the back of Tate’s neck and drew him close, pressing their lips together.
Tate gasped at the contact, and Liam took the opportunity to slip his tongue into the man’s sexy mouth. He tasted of wine, and the flavor went straight to Liam’s head. Unlike their other kisses, this one had no end goal or time limit. They weren’t in a club racing to get off or in his studio hiding from prying eyes for a frantic few minutes before Tate had to leave.
Liam took his sweet time exploring every corner of Tate’s mouth with licks and strokes of his tongue. He kept his hand on Tate’s neck, playing with the unruly strands of hair at the nape. How on earth did he get it so silky?
When Tate moaned and grabbed Liam’s thighs, pulling him until he straddled Tate’s lap, his cock hardened to near aching. The man beneath him was just as rigid but seemed to realize the same thing Liam did—they didn’t need to do anything about it right then. They could enjoy kissing and touching for the sake of being close and connecting.
But later, he wanted Tate in his bed and in his body.
“Come home with me tonight,” he whispered as he rocked his erection into Tate’s, drawing a harsh curse from the man. “After this, come to my apartment. Sleep in my bed. Fuck me.”
“Jesus Christ.” Tate nibbled along his jaw, squeezing his ass with those very strong hands. “We gotta stop, or I’m gonna lose it.”
It took Herculean effort, but Liam managed to wrench himself away. “What do you say?” he asked as he crawled back onto his own spot on the blanket.
“Yeah,” Tate said as he ran a hand through his hair and pressed the other one to his crotch. “Fuck, yes. I’ll stay with you tonight, Luxe. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”