Fake Friends - Saxon James Page 0,65

her whole form.

I swallow thickly.

Then stand. “It’d be a bit hard for him to turn me when I’ve been a fucking queer all my life.”

I toss my fork at my plate, and it rings out so loudly I almost miss the gasp. Someone sobs. But I can’t tell who because I’m already tearing blindly from the room in a mad race to get to my room before anyone follows me.

I blink and blink again, trying to clear my vision as I grab my wallet and keys and those Polaroids and shove whatever else I need into my backpack before slinging it over my shoulder and racing for the door.

Piper beats me to it. Her eyes are big, cheeks streaked with tears. She steps forward without a word and gives me a tight hug.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispers, just as Grandpa shouts, followed by the sounds of breaking china.

Piper darts away, and I leave.

Under no illusions about ever coming back.

The tear of wheels through gravel echoes in the quiet house. It sets me on edge. Only Leon and Rowan know where I live, and Leon was having an early night tonight.

Rowan … Well, I’d assumed he was going to have some quiet time at home.

But if it’s not him, it’s some random person at my house at night, and I’d prefer not to get murdered just when I’m starting to make plans. I mean, I had basically no future a month ago—couldn’t a potential murder have been scheduled for then?

I cautiously approach the front door, wondering if I should have consulted the 8-Ball. Too late now.

Footsteps are coming down the front entrance, and it’s only just now occurring to me that some kind of peephole probably would have been a good investment.

I jump as someone knocks heavily on the door.

“Circus!”

Oh, thank God.

“Circus!”

I scramble to unlock the door, and my smile splits my face when I open it to see Rowan standing there.

And then I take in his expression.

“Holy shit, are you okay?”

He drops his bag with a thump, then steps forward and pulls me in for a hug. He grips me hard, and I’m shocked into silence.

What the hell is going on?

Rowan’s face presses into my neck, and his shoulders start to shake with quiet sobs. Whatever this is, it isn’t good.

The bag, the crying.

Ohhh holy no …

Did they find out?

Because I’m an incredibly smart human, it’s only just now hitting me how stupid those photos were. I bet they’ve seen them. And if they saw them and disowned him because of it …

I wrap my arms around him tighter and shift us away from the door. I kick it closed, turn the lock, and then sink into the hug.

If all of this is because of me, there’s no way we’ll be able to get past it.

Rowan’s crying starts to calm.

“Do you want to talk about it or get drunk?”

He sighs against my shoulder and pulls away, revealing red eyes. “Can we fuck instead?”

I laugh. “I’ve created a monster.”

That doesn’t stop him from taking my hand and dragging me into my bedroom.

“Are you sure about this?” The speed he’s undressing in has me worried.

“Completely. Now strip.”

“I feel like you’re deflecting emotion or some shit …”

Rowan pauses, left only in his boxer briefs, and stalks toward me. His fingers are gentle as he reaches for my shirt and pulls it over my head. “We’ll talk after.” His lips skim my jaw. “Right now, I just want to get lost in you.”

I tweak his nipple. “Are you calling me loose?”

His smile is fast but there, and it gives me a little hope. “You’re perfect.”

Well then. With sweet talking like that, he can get as lost as he likes.

He kisses me hard, and it’s the most confident he’s ever seemed as he strips me and walks me backward toward the bed.

Rowan breaks away from me long enough to get a condom and lube, and then he’s back on me. And whatever’s come over him, I don’t hate it. He works me open with his fingers, and when he finally slides inside my body, I know what he means about getting lost.

He consumes me. His kisses, his rough hands, and with every rock of his hips he pegs my prostate, grinding as deep as he can manage.

“This, this is what I need,” he pants.

His glazed eyes open and meet mine. I’ve always hated eye contact during sex, but for some reason, whenever Rowan does it, I can’t look away.

He’s so open and vulnerable.

I want him