Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
The rumble of his voice made Connelly shiver. For the first time in his life, he was torn between duty and desire. He’d worked hard to prove his father wrong. Which meant he’d never done anything to jeopardize the job.
He’d never been tempted. Until now.
He noticed the way Azariah’s full, unpainted lips parted before his eyes darted up.
“I can deal with that, Azariah,” Connelly said.
“It’s Z.” He absently flicked ashes to the sidewalk.
“Okay, but I’ll still probably call you Azariah.”
Azariah gave a lopsided smile. “Fair enough.”
Another deep drag from the strange cigarette. It felt like time was slowing with every pull. Like the sweet smoke filling the air was wrapping them both in a bubble. He noticed things he never would have noticed before—the quick flutter of Azariah’s lashes, the tiniest of beauty marks near his ear, the sharp edge of his jawline.
Moments passed and neither of them spoke. Azariah’s hand rested, forgotten, near his hip, the cigarette burning low. His tongue peeked out to wet his bottom lip, and it took all of Connelly’s resolve to hold himself back when all he wanted to do was lean in until their lips touched.
Finally, Azariah broke the silence. “The guy you usually eat with...”
“My partner, Raoul.”
“Where’s he today?”
“With his wife.”
Azariah flicked the butt to the ground and stepped on it before meeting his eyes again. “Why didn’t you eat with your wife?”
“Not married.”
Azariah’s brow scrunched. “Oh.”
“Listen, I think you’ve got me all wrong. I’m not straight.”
Azariah’s face morphed into confusion as his confession sank in.
“I’m gay,” Connelly said.
“No, you’re not.”
“Sorry?”
“You can’t be gay.” Now Azariah seemed offended.
“But I am. Been out since I was eleven.”
“Prove it.” He planted his hands on his hips like he was standing up for all gay men.
Unbelievable. Connelly shook his head. “How the hell am I supposed to do that?”
“I don’t know, show me your Grindr profile?” The challenge was clear by the lift of his chiseled chin.
“I don’t have one.”
Azariah scoffed like his point had just been proved. “Pictures of an ex-boyfriend?”
Why the hell was Connelly’s heart pounding like he was in front of a firing squad? “No.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Enough. With a frustrated growl, Connelly pulled Azariah into his arms and brought their mouths together.
First contact was better than he’d imagined. Better than hot-fudge sundaes, better even than solving a case. This made the hair on his arms stand up, it was so electric. Azariah’s hands flexed on his chest. The heat of them there, just above his heart, made Connelly groan. His cock twitched desperately.
Just as he’d thought, their bodies were made to fit together. Azariah was slender and on the short side, but it worked. Connelly tasted the faint spicy flavor of black licorice and chased it down, slipping his tongue past Azariah’s plump lips and behind his teeth. God, that was delicious. Sweet and bitter and spicy all at once. So alluring he didn’t care that he’d just taken a huge risk. His body had never been so alive. He gripped Azariah’s ass in both hands and brought their hips together in a rough grind.
Right there on the crowded noisy street.
Like he had nothing to lose.
It was thrilling. So much so that his fingers tingled with excitement and his head whirled with the danger.
“Get a room!” someone shouted.
And then, “Fucking queers.”
Connelly reluctantly ended the kiss. Running a shaky hand through his hair, he stepped away. Heat crawled up his neck, and his chest constricted as the world around them came back into focus. And with it, Azariah’s stunned face.
“You are gay.”
Connelly blew out a breath. “Tried to tell you.”
“But my gaydar is never wrong.”
Fighting his anxiety—and the very strong desire to toss Azariah over his shoulder and find a dark corner so they could get naked together—Connelly said, “Maybe it’s on the fritz, want me to take a look at it for you?”
Azariah shook his head. “Damn it, you can’t be funny.”
“Why not?”
“Hot, funny, a great tipper, and a perfect ass? That’s too much awesome for one person.”
“You think I’m hot?” The flirting did not calm his racing heart.
“Shut up.” Azariah slapped his chest.
Connelly captured his hand before it could be pulled away. “I think you’re pretty fucking hot too, just so we’re on the same page.”
Azariah’s fingers curled into Connelly’s T-shirt. “Why didn’t you say something before today?”
At this, Connelly stepped away, releasing Azariah’s hand. He looked over his shoulder, noting the passersby and the everyday hustle and bustle of the city he loved. There was no good answer to Azariah’s question. In truth, he might never have said anything if he’d never seen the way Azariah shone like a million stars; he would have continued to believe him ordinary and the mystery would have faded.
Even now, he was fighting it. Trying to convince himself the only reason he’d kissed Azariah was to prove his gayness. How ridiculous was that? He’d risen to Azariah’s challenge because he’d been weak.