LOVE CAN'T BE SAID

hadn't been

and iron. The one who undressed not out of desire, but surrender. The one who

ki about it. He h

nded not to care about-was now

it might answer something. And

Reiji's

alls. But Reiji stood barefoot at the edge of the balcony, dressed on

exted him twice-once about a meeting with her family's PR manager,

responded

eeing Aki

fire. The way Akira looked at him like he already kne

coffee down

until four. I'm n

message to K

udio – Ear

a canvas when the knock c

hm-three even taps, sharp

ned th

in. Understated coat. Collar f

," Akira said,

u weren't do

e. "Come in before

ly, like he was walking into a m

and something citrus. A soft jazz vinyl pla

d to the chai

took off his coat

don't have to take you

aid it

f you can give me that

t if I don't know what t

in hand. "Then that'

nsion in his jaw had softened. Akira moved around him, adju

this quiet?"

when I'm trying not to

struck me as the type who

I'm too busy trying to figure out if the

silent f

ruin anythi

started with the edges-the suggestion of Reiji's jaw, the s

k at people like t

s I'm trying

ickened be

ght away. "And am I mak

t's the problem. You're not making it anythi

prised even him. "Good. I thought

n. Because in person, I can't stop noticing the way

tension returned, but it w

tood

his brush. "

owly. "No. I just wanted to see what happe

s were inc

e. "You sure you

"But I can't afford to

uched his face-just the

sn't

s a p

kira's Ki

orner, knees brushing, mugs of in

round the studi

nned. "It

't lock

rying to forget

ed at him.

said, eyes sof

ugh to start something. Enough