where you want to be?”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Yes. But now that you are, and we’re talking, maybe that thought has changed.”
Foster shook his head slowly. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
I wanted to believe him, that he was into me and not there to satisfy his curiosity. And since I was already playing with fire anyway…there was only one way to find out which one it was.
We were already seated close together on the couch, so it didn’t take much for me to lean over and close the gap. But I didn’t dive in like I wanted to, instead I tested the waters. Foster remained frozen to the spot, his curious eyes locked on mine to see what I was about to do. Did he frown when my lips didn’t immediately land on his? I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t cave and change my plan I was about to put into action.
Instead, I closed my eyes as I placed a soft kiss on his temple. His slight shudder was the reaction I’d hoped for as I gently ran my nose along his cheek, inhaling his intoxicating scent of musky cologne mixed with alcohol. I knew it was something I could easily get addicted to, so I lingered on his cheek a little too long, breathing him in.
Foster swayed a little closer to me, and I couldn’t stop my hand from reaching up to cup his other cheek as I finally moved down to his jaw. A low moan escaped him as I made my way to the juncture of his neck and shoulder where I could feel his pulse beating a wild staccato rhythm beneath his skin.
I took another deep inhale and nuzzled that spot as I used my thumb to caress his cheek. Foster’s body swayed again, only that time he reached out to grasp my bicep, as if he needed me as an anchor to steady himself. The fact I’d gotten such a reaction from him already, without our lips even touching, was promising. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling against his neck, since there was still so much I wanted to do to him. But I still needed to taste him, first, just not yet.
“You’re not playing fair,” Foster gasped when I pressed my lips gently against his neck.
“Why’s that?” I murmured.
“You’re being a tease.”
His petulant words had me smirking as I pulled away to look at him. “Is there something particular you’d like me to do?” I asked. His parted lips, flushed skin, and dilated eyes told me exactly what he wanted. But I wanted to hear him say the words. I needed that invitation.
But rather than say anything, he swallowed audibly and gave me a brief nod. That wasn’t good enough for me, though.
I ran my thumb across his lips, and he gasped softly. “I can’t read minds, Foster. If you want something, I need you to tell me.”
“I want you to kiss me,” he said softly. His voice so low I could barely hear him.
“What was that?” I knew I wasn’t being fair, but any uncertainty on his part made me hesitant to do more. “I didn’t hear you.”
“I want you to kiss me,” he repeated. That time his words were loud enough for me to hear, and the certainty that he wanted this was there. But that didn’t stop me from asking one thing.
“Are you sure?” This was new territory for him, considering he’d never been with a man before, and I didn’t want him to wake up later that morning filled with regrets. So, I was giving him a chance to change his mind, even if I hoped like hell he wouldn’t.
Foster cleared his throat and licked his lips—the ones I was dying to taste.
“I’m sure. Kiss me, Stellan.”
There it was—the invitation I needed. That time, there was nothing to hold me back as I closed that gap again. That time there was no teasing on my part. I didn’t kiss his temple or his neck. I didn’t pause to inhale his scent. I didn’t feel his pulse beating wildly in his neck. Instead, I put my mouth on his, and when his lips parted under mine, I wasted no time sweeping my tongue inside to lick against his and finally learn what he tasted like.
It was better than I could have ever imagined. Sweet with lingering traces of scotch, and as I continued to devour his mouth, I knew it was going to be my new favorite flavor.
11
Foster
It’d been a long