Ethan studied him for a moment. “But not tonight?”
“No. Not tonight.”
Ethan hated how much control Beau had and how little he was apparently showing. He was supposed to be pushing him away, making sure that great divide remained between them because Ethan knew he would never survive with a guy like Beau. He’d be overwhelmed by things he swore he would never feel again.
Tonight was just proof. He had let down his guard, given in to Beau in ways he refused to do with anyone else. He didn’t talk. Didn’t ask questions. He preferred to be alone to wallow in his own self-pity, not get close to anyone. Sex was sex, fucking was fucking.
This… this was none of those things and Ethan knew without a doubt that he was in way over his head.
The problem was… he was fighting a losing battle and he was tired.
So damn tired.
The urge to touch Ethan, to put his hands on him was so great, Beau was surprised his muscles weren’t bulging from the effort he put forth to keep his body still. Just kissing him was pushing him beyond his limits. He wanted more.
Thankfully, the limited space within the truck wouldn’t allow for anything more. And Beau knew in his head that he didn’t want to push it. He’d brought Ethan here to talk, and that’s what they had done up to this point. He wanted to get close to Ethan, and not just physically.
He knew Ethan would use sex against him if they gave in right now to the uncontrollable urges that were building between them. It would be rough and hot and wonderful. But it would be a one-time deal and Beau wasn’t willing to settle for one time. He wanted much more than that which was why he was testing his own limits.
As Ethan’s hand moved across his skin, leaving razor sharp tingles in its wake, he wondered if the man was trying to make him explode. His dick was like a steel spike lodged painfully in his jeans and he couldn’t do a damn thing about it. The only positive, the pain was a constant reminder that he had to hold back. This wasn’t the time or place for this.
“When?”
It took a moment for Beau to realize what Ethan was asking, and when he did, he smirked. “Not as soon as I’d like, but I assure you, it’ll be soon.”
Ethan nodded as though that answer was sufficient, but the way his fingers dug into his skin told him otherwise. They were hanging by a thread, both of them. Pushing back, Beau put some space between them until Ethan’s hand slid around to his stomach and then fell from beneath his shirt. Beau immediately missed his touch.
“Let me take you home,” Beau told him. “You’ve got work tomorrow, and I’ve got some errands to run.” Beau wasn’t going to say he had to go look for a job because he wasn’t interested in ruining the moment.
Ethan nodded, but before Beau could move back to the driver’s seat, he was being pulled back, Ethan’s mouth latching on to his, sucking his tongue in deep and driving him crazy with lust. A throaty growl emerged from his chest as he pressed Ethan into the seat with his body, still refusing to touch him with his hands.
They ravished one another with only their mouths until they had to come up for air. That was the only thing that stopped them though.
“I want you,” Ethan whispered, the blue-gray of his eyes darker than Beau had ever seen them. Even in the dim light of the truck, he could see the intensity in his beautiful blue gaze.
Grinning, Beau whispered, “I know,” against Ethan’s lips. “And you’ve got me.”
The last part was probably too much, but he sensed the vulnerability in Ethan’s words. He had admitted his need, something he’d denied for months now and Beau wasn’t about to let him get away without knowing just how affected he was.
“Now let me get you home.”
Ethan nodded, and this time he let Beau move back to the driver’s seat. Before he pulled out of the spot, Ethan opened the window and tossed the empty beer bottles into the truck bed. The freezing air that whipped through the cab did remarkably little to cool his overheated libido.
It was going to be a lonely night, he could feel it.
Chapter Ten
“Honey, I’m home,” Ethan called out when he stepped into the empty shop the following morning at about nine o’clock.
Thanks to a nasty headache – he refused to call it a hangover – he’d taken his time that morning. Didn’t matter what time it was, there was no one there to greet him, but he wasn’t expecting anyone to be either.
Grabbing the remote to the stereo system, Ethan clicked the power button, filling the cavernous space with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ White Walls. At least there’d be some noise to fill the empty space. Something that wasn’t going to make him feel pathetic and lonely.