Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Doubtful. But at this point, he was willing to try anything to keep Driver around just a little longer.
Thirty minutes after he hung up he stood before Driver’s door. He hesitated before knocking. It was late. Maybe it’d be better to wait until morning, once they were both rested. Except Tam wouldn’t sleep at all with this hanging over him and he needed to be rested for the audition.
The future of the Sassy Boyz was on the line. He wouldn’t let anything stand in the way.
Swallowing the nerves, he knocked.
It took an endless minute before the door finally swung open to reveal a rumpled and grumpy Driver wearing nothing but a pair of tight blue boxer briefs.
Tam raised the takeout bag. “Olive branch.”
Driver stepped out of the way so Tam could enter. “Burgers?” He shut the door and followed Tam into the kitchen.
“What happened here?” There were papers littering the floor near the counter.
“Wind,” Driver grunted. “What’d you bring?”
“Double bacon for you.” Tam unloaded the contents onto the island.
Driver unwrapped it and took a huge bite.
Tam swallowed his first mouthful with a moan. “So hungry.”
“Midnight munchies.” Driver pushed the fries toward him. “I always starve when I drink too.”
“I’m not drunk.”
“Okay.”
“I skipped lunch.”
“Whatever, just eat.”
“Why are you mad?”
Driver put his burger down and went to the fridge. “I’m not.”
“I’m sorry I missed your text. I was busy—”
Driver slammed the fridge door and spun with a beer in his hand. “It’s fine. Just, can we forget it?”
Tam wiped his mouth with a napkin. “No.”
“Tam.”
“I had a good day. Something really awesome happened and instead of enjoying it, I’m here arguing with you.”
Driver flung his arm out. “You’re the one who knocked on my door. If you don’t want to be here, you know the way out.”
The breath Tam released was more of a roar. “Why are you being such a dick?”
“Why do you think?”
“If I knew, would I be asking?”
Rubbing at his face, Driver took a deep breath. “Fuck. What are we doing?”
Tam went to stand in front of him and placed a hand on his chest. “I don’t know.” His fingers curled into Driver’s shirt. “But I’m not ready to let go. Whatever I did, I’m sorry.”
Driver pushed Tam’s hair behind his ear and shook his head. “You look amazing.”
Tam turned his face into the caress and kissed Driver’s wrist, so grateful just for another moment that he grabbed it with both hands. “Ansel did my makeup.”
“I like it.” Driver traced his thumb over Tam’s bottom lip. “I’m sorry too.”
Tam lifted onto his toes so he could reach Driver’s mouth. He wanted to drown in the kiss. He wanted it to wash away all the tension between them, all the anxiousness.
But that was too much to ask of a simple meeting of lips.
Chapter Thirty
This.
This they were good at. This was how they truly communicated. Driver sank into Tam’s kiss and returned it with equal fervor. It could be enough.
For a while.
Every mark Tam had made on his soul opened wider and wider as they moved together into the living room. They were suspended somewhere between love and hate, that endless black space where anything was possible. But they didn’t belong to each other. They were too distant still, and trying to get closer, to find the right melody, the one they’d lost, could make everything fall apart.
It was so hard to hold on.
Hard to keep his grip on something so slippery and intangible.
There was no name for what they were.
But Driver knew he’d be lost without it.
Thing was, he was just as lost with it. The undertow kept pulling him under and the more time he spent with Tam, the more breathless he felt.
Tam cupped Driver’s erection over his boxers. Their different states of dress added an erotic note to the touch. If only he could worship Tam like he deserved, but voicing his devotion was impossible. He could only give praise with actions because words were fragile. Words got in the way. Words could be misunderstood.
Actions spoke louder. They shouted at the top of their lungs and echoed forever.
He fell to the floor and worked Tam’s golden pants open. Another pair of alluring underwear greeted him, this time a nude lace thong. Awe and admiration filled Driver as he rubbed his face against the fabric. Tam’s musk seeped into his lungs but Driver wasn’t satisfied. He pulled the waistband down just enough to free Tam’s hard cock, then he licked it. The head was velvet between his lips. When Driver tongued the slit, Tam’s essence burst on his tongue.
Tam sighed and combed through Driver’s hair. Just that, a minuscule reaction, but it gave Driver such a sense of victory that he shivered. He’d give his whole heart to keep Tam safe. He’d lie down and sacrifice everything to know that Tam was in the world, shining like the star he was.