Nothing to Gain (Learning the Ropes #2) - E.M. Denning Page 0,56
Linden. “I know I love you,” he corrected.
Linden whimpered, then slanted their mouths together. He kissed him as if starved for oxygen and Brett was air. It was a heady, desperate thing that sank into Brett and lit him up like a Christmas tree. Even if Linden never said the words, Brett felt them in the way Linden kissed him, like he was stamping his adoration into Brett’s very being.
Linden pulled away. His fingers were still buried deep into Brett’s soapy hair. “I love you, too.”
They kissed again. Their tongues and lips danced, gliding together, until the steam in the room and the passion of their embrace stole all the oxygen from their lungs and they had to separate.
Linden washed Brett’s hair, then they quickly washed themselves before turning the shower off and stepping out into the tiny bathroom.
Linden kept looking at Brett while he dried off. Every so often he’d smile and Brett would smile back. Their confession tied them together. Brett no longer felt too big for his body and his heart stopped making his body pulse with adrenaline.
“The other day,” Linden wrapped the towel around his waist. He closed the lid of the toilet and took a seat. “There were these cute Capri leggings downstairs. They were teal.”
“If they’re still there, we can get them for you.” Brett bent over and wrapped his hair up in his towel. He twisted it tight, then stood and tucked the end of the towel in so it wouldn’t unwind.
Linden had a strange look on his face. He glanced down at his legs. “Won’t they look stupid? I’m so hairy.”
In the small space, it only took two steps, and he stood in front of Linden. Brett tilted his face up and kissed the tip of his nose. “It’s just body hair. You can shave it if you want, or leave it if you don’t. Either way, you’ll look perfect to me.”
“Will you help me? I’ve never shaved anything but my face, and even then I only need to once or twice a week.”
“Of course, I’ll help you. Let me put something on first.”
“And ruin the view?” Linden pouted.
“Fine, naked shaving it is.” Brett turned and gathered his shaving supplies from the medicine cabinet. He set the tube of shave gel on the counter and grabbed a new razor from the package.
“It will be easier if you sit on the edge of the tub.”
Linden did as he was told, and Brett took his place on the lid of the toilet. He put the plug in the sink, then filled it half-way with water. The small bathroom made it a little awkward, but he lifted Linden’s foot into his lap.
“Are we doing the whole leg or from the knee down?”
“I don’t think I’ll be comfortable flashing my thighs anytime soon.”
Brett nodded and squirted some gel into his hands. He worked it into a lather before gently coating Linden’s right leg. He dragged the razor carefully down Linden’s skin.
“That shaving cream feels amazing.”
“Just wait until we’re done.” Brett rinsed the razor in the sink, then did another pass. “You know, there’s no wrong way to do this, right?”
“Shave?”
Brett lifted his gaze. “Be yourself. There’s no wrong way to dress or wear makeup. There’s no wrong way to act or think or be.”
Linden nodded, and Brett rinsed the razor again.
“I tell myself that a lot. Usually it’s your voice in my head. It’s a bunch to get used to. I mean, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I have real friends. I have the world’s best boyfriend. I’m doing great in school. I have the freedom to be who I want now and sometimes it feels like if I do one wrong thing, it might all disappear.”
Brett rinsed the razor and set it aside. He gently toweled the residual shaving cream off Linden’s now hairless leg. He ran his fingers up the smooth skin, then down again. “I won’t disappear. I love you, remember?”
Linden’s smile was brighter than a supernova. “Sometimes I wonder if you’re real, you know. It’s like I dreamed the perfect guy, but then met him, and somehow made him fall in love with me.”
“You are the most beautifully ridiculous man.” Brett released Linden’s leg and patted his lap. “Give me the other one so I can make you match.”
“For a figment of my imagination, you sure are bossy.”
“This figment of your imagination will remind you how real he is so hard you’ll feel me for a week.”