Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Rayne climbed off the comfortable chaise lounge and gathered his books in his arm and his lightweight Burberry jacket from out of the hall closet. Wood was the first to notice him readying to leave as he sat forward in his seat.
“Hey. You ready to go so soon?”
“Yeah. I have to get up early and check out those jobs you found online for me in the morning.” Rayne widened his smile, although the last thing he felt was joy. Actually, he was feeling anxious and needed to get the hell out of there.
He liked what he and Mike were doing—the flirting was exciting and different—but he knew it was a long shot to have him as his. What if Mike didn’t like the conditions of being in a relationship with him? Shit, what if he doesn’t do commitment at all? That’s what his partner would have to agree to before things could get as heated as Mike seemed to want them.
“Okay, I’ll take you home.” Wood appeared hesitant, and Rayne noticed Trent’s displeasure at having to leave despite how fast he schooled his expression.
“No, no. You two stay. Trent just said Edison’s chocolate cake is his favorite, right? I’m sure he doesn’t want to miss that.” Rayne nodded, encouraging Trent to agree, which he did.
“Sounds good. All right, we’ll see you at home, Rayne.”
“We can take it to go,” Wood disagreed with Trent.
“We all don’t have to be rude and eat and run. I’m good, I promise.”
“But you’ll be home by yourself.”
Trent tossed his game controller on the couch beside him. “Hersch, stop babying him, for fuck’s sake. Rayne’s almost thirty. What the hell?”
Uh-oh. Rayne knew that look in Trent’s eyes and the meaning behind the glare he was giving his boyfriend. Shit. This was always how it started, with the significant other getting annoyed and then eventually jealous. Rayne was going to have to leave soon despite how much he liked having a safe place to live. Anytime a friend took him in, no matter how hard he tried to show their partner that he was not a threat, somehow he still came in between relationships. He wouldn’t let that happen to Wood and Trent. He respected them too much and wanted to keep them as friends.
“I’m just making sure he gets home safely,” Wood bit back. “He’s my friend, Trent. Why are you—”
“I’ll take him home,” Mike told them, cutting off the feud.
Rayne was glad he didn’t flinch at Mike’s deep voice that came from just behind him, but he’d been thinking so hard on a way to defuse the bomb he’d somehow armed that he hadn’t heard him come into the living room.
Wood narrowed his eyes at Mike, already shaking his head. Trent scoffed and got up off the couch and stormed into the back room.
How the hell does this always happen to me? Rayne was seriously trying to figure out what he’d just done wrong. Everyone around him was pissed at each other, and he felt as if he was right in the center, defenseless to do anything about it.
Wood got to his feet, and Rayne thought he was going to chase after his boyfriend, but instead, Wood stood between him and Mike and asked, “Rayne, can I talk to you outside for a minute… alone.”
“Jesus Christ, Wood,” Rayne hissed, leaning in so no one heard him. “Go after your boyfriend before you end up sleeping on the couch.” And me on the streets. Rayne could sense the ultimatum coming from Trent any day now. Me or him.
“Yeah. Go after my boy, Wood. He looked upset.”
Wood ignored Mike and gently took Rayne’s elbow, pointing toward the patio door. “Just a minute, then you can go, okay? Please.”
Rayne sighed. The damage was done, and he didn’t want Wood to stand there and keep begging. Whatever he had to say, it couldn’t be good, so he might as well let him get it out and get it over with. Wood marched toward the rear of Edison’s home like he expected Rayne to follow.
Mike shook his head, a provocative half grin playing on his lips as if Wood’s behavior both infuriated and amused him. Rayne stopped at Mike’s shoulder and waited for him to turn his head and lower those ebony eyes to his. The moment he did, desire knocked hard between Rayne’s legs at Mike’s dark red aura, at his display of power and assurance.
There was a faint sheen of moisture on his forehead, but his mouth was dry like he’d swallowed some cotton balls as he said in a croaky whisper, “I’ll be right back, Mike.”
“I’ll be right here, Rayne.”
As close as they were standing, Rayne could see the faint gray-and-black stubble on Mike’s strong jaw. Rayne had been with a lot of older men in his past, but he’d never considered why they’d been so easy to be intimate with. He was attracted to maturity. Mike’s gaze lowered to his mouth and stayed there until Rayne walked away.