warm and solid and I like it.” Alexander sighed and dropped his chin to his chest, exposing his smooth nape. “I really like it.”
Logan’s breath started hitching, coming out thicker.
Was this an act?
He cleared his throat. “I like it too.”
He couldn’t resist—he placed a kiss on the back of Alexander’s neck, just below his hair. Goosebumps pebbled Alexander’s skin.
Alexander turned around in his arms. “How long until we’re free?”
Logan wasn’t sure if he meant the bathroom, or them. Either way. “Not too much longer.”
He nodded tightly and dropped his forehead against Logan’s shoulder. His breath drizzled under the collar of his shirt. “Promise me something?”
“Anything.”
“Don’t let me let you go.”
Logan tightened his hold and slammed his eyes shut.
Was that a promise he could keep?
Chapter Fifteen
ALEXANDER
* * *
After they were busted out of the bathroom, Logan insisted on taking Alexander home. Nico had given Logan a funny look that demanded they talk, but Alexander had thwarted all their opportunities.
The story behind Alexander’s freak-out was as embarrassing as it was painful.
Logan waited patiently as Alexander fumbled to open the house door. The softness in Logan’s behavior tonight stirred deeply in Alexander’s gut.
He caught Logan’s reflection in the window; he’d removed his cap and shoes, and the way he stood made him fit in the room like he owned it.
Alexander passed him, heading for the kitchen.
Logan snagged his elbow and gently urged him round.
Alexander blinked back the lingering mortification and met his dark eyes.
Logan plucked a piece of missed popcorn from Alexander’s hair. “I’m happy to run out anywhere and get you dinner,” Logan said. “Or we can order in. Whatever you want.”
“Your accent. It’s—never mind.”
“I’m, ah, trying to sound like I was born and bred in Minneapolis.”
Alexander stilled. Was this the real Logan? Did he want an excuse to momentarily step outside his role?
Alexander’s chest hopped, taking the cautious part of Alexander hostage. “Your accent is a little off, but I’m sure it’ll improve.”
Logan smiled, his dimple shallow. “I should practice.”
“Practice does make perfect.”
“I should practice the whole night.”
Alexander’s heart tripped. The whole night with the real Logan? “You could make up a character. Who is this Minneapolis guy? Let’s give him a backstory.”
Logan slung himself onto a barstool. Alexander whisked around the kitchen island.
Under the spotlights, the bruise under Logan’s eye was a god-awful yellow. Alexander wished he could have taken that punch.
Logan scored a hand through his hair. “I dropped out of college. Before that, class clown. I’ve been jumping between small-time acting gigs.”
Logan’s cheeks flushed red, and it took great effort to hold Alexander’s gaze. He was ashamed of his backstory.
Alexander lost control over his sanity. “Keep going. You’re more than just a career.”
Logan stilled, struggling to absorb that. Or to find more to say?
“Are you religious?”
“Uh, no,” Logan said. “Maybe something else exists out there—space is too big for something not to—but I don’t believe in heaven and hell.”
“Where do you stand politically?”
“Way over on the left!” Logan spoke with passionate animation that Alexander hadn’t seen from him before. Alexander dropped against the fridge in relief. In this respect, he and Logan were the same. He believed in government building a fair, free, and open society. He believed in liberty and equality. He believed in free universal health care.
Logan continued to vehemently reject every move the orange mistake ever made, and Alexander happily prepared a plate of leftovers.
Logan stopped ranting abruptly and gaped at his steaming plate. “I said I’d buy you anything you want for dinner.”
Alexander set his plate of possum and sweet potato down and grabbed two forks. “I know.”
“Why eat this?” Logan’s face morphed from confusion to concern. “You’re allowed to not like things.”
“I don’t like a lot of things.”
“And that’s okay.”
“Yes.” Alexander met Logan’s stare with a poignant one of his own. “If I’ve tried them first.” Alexander nudged the second fork towards him. “Will you try this with me?”
He meant the food. He meant more than the food.
Logan might have self-esteem issues about dropping out of college, but he was smart. He understood. He didn’t look away and it made Alexander shiver to his toes. “It might not agree with me.”
Alexander pushed the fork another inch in his direction. “You won’t know if it agrees with you unless you try it.”
Logan stared at the fork and Alexander and the fork again. He tentatively scooped some meat. Alexander did the same.
The trajectory to their mouths was slow, but unlike last time, they didn’t try to stop it.
The meaty taste hit Alexander’s tongue with a