Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“I don’t want any of their light,” says Teague, a touch firmer.
“I’m going home.” Liam takes one step.
The next thing he knows, Teague’s hands are on his chest, pressing his back against the side of the truck.
Their eyes are locked once again on each other’s—Liam’s in surprise, Teague’s with yearning.
“I said I don’t want them,” repeats Teague. “I want you.”
Liam’s lips part, at a loss.
The next thing he knows, Teague lunges forward.
Their lips come together.
The full weight of Teague’s body presses against Liam’s with need, pinning him to the side of the truck with his heat, with his desire, with his nearly naked body. No matter what words were just shared, no matter the aggression, no matter his fears …
Liam instantly realizes this is what he wanted all along.
Teague’s lips. Teague’s fierceness. Teague’s passion.
Teague’s attention.
Even the bulge in his skintight shorts is acutely and fully felt.
And it responds, flexing against the stretchy material.
Nothing seems to go through Liam’s mind as Teague kisses him deeply, leaving him in a blissful state of denial, oblivion, and boundless glee. He’s become another person. Living another life. Experiencing something he never dreamed he would know.
And also everything seems to go through Liam’s mind. The unexpectedly soft and tender touch of Teague’s lips. The breath crashing between their faces. The weight of their bodies against each other, pinned to the truck, no escape possible.
No escape desired.
Teague’s grip on Liam turns soft. Then he lets go, but doesn’t take a step back.
The two stare into one another’s eyes in wonder, each of them as stunned as the other.
“I didn’t realize …” murmurs Liam, frozen in place.
“I, uh, didn’t plan that.”
A moment passes as the two catch their breath. Teague’s body is still very much pressed against Liam’s. Every breath they take fills their ears, no other sound or noise able to penetrate them.
“I didn’t, uh … go too hard, did I?”
Liam blinks. “What?”
“The kiss. I didn’t want to hurt you, considering your braces.”
“Oh. Uh, no. It was … fine.” But was it fine? Did it hurt? Liam could barely form thoughts while it was happening.
“Okay, good.”
Then Liam’s mind takes a different direction. “Are you … Are you messing with me?”
“Messing with—? No. What?”
“This isn’t some kind of prank?”
“Liam …”
“Because if this is some kind of prank …”
“I have wanted to kiss you for a long, long while now.” Teague stares pleadingly into Liam’s eyes as he speaks. It’s as if their game on the couch never ended. “But you kept hating on me so much, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get the chance. Maybe you really didn’t want anything to do with me. Maybe you still don’t. But I had to try. Even if it was just a ride on an old country road. Or a bite at a burger joint in little dusty Spruce. I couldn’t let this summer go by without at least … trying.”
Liam stares at him in wonder.
Nothing about Teague’s face looks false.
He means every word.
Finally, Teague takes a step back. “I should probably, um …” He clears his throat, appearing awkward for the first time in human history that Liam has ever paid witness. “I should go. You should stay and … hang with your friends. All those gingersnaps Gracie made you will go to waste, which is honestly pretty tragic. She’s, like, devastated. Well, kinda-sorta. Actually she’s probably gobbling them up right now. Never mind.” After one last moment of gazing at Liam with unmistakable longing, he turns to go.
Liam doesn’t let Teague get two steps away before he chases a totally insane impulse: “Hey, why don’t we blow this off together and, like … hang out.”
Teague stops, dazed by the question.
“J-Just to hang out,” Liam adds in a panic. Wait. Is he really asking this? Are these really his words? Has something taken over his body? “Chat. Talk. Uh … y’know. Whatever.” He takes a breath. “To … start over, like you wanted.”
Teague peers into Liam’s eyes for the longest while. “I … I …”
Liam lifts an eyebrow, worried.
Then Teague’s lips curl. “I … like the sound of that.”
Liam stuffs his hands in his pockets. “That’s … good. Great.” Then he stands there awkwardly, unsure what comes next.
Teague takes the lead. “My place or yours?”
Liam can only imagine the delightfully intense interrogation they will both endure at the hands of his nosy parents, who might very likely still be awake. “Yours …?” he suggests.
“I can drive us.” Teague nods at his truck.
Liam glances back at the vehicle they just made out against. “Oh. I didn’t recognize it.”
“Really? After spending all afternoon in it? My loyal steed?” He comes up and slaps the side of it, then gives Liam one of his signature crooked smiles. “You hungry? We can grab something to eat on the way. Pizza, fast food, tacos, whatever hits you right. And that’ll be two meals we’ve shared today. Then I’ll take you home later on when you get bored of me.”