Velvet chains

couldn'

ll lingering on his lips. The sheets smelled like cologne and something earthy-m

pillow. He'd slipped out sometime after mid

mself it was a

new he w

me with the city stil

no music playing. Just static silence and the low hum of the

lliot had been generous. Nervous, but generous. Jad

at's what ma

ked E

u

r liked

cheap weed and fried e

in hand, gut spilling over his belt. His eye

. Early mor

r. He tossed the m

"Damn. This one paid well. Told you these lonely

and leaned against t

t like th

all the same when th

the floor. "You don't k

hut up," Ray said, voice turning slick and cruel. "You bette

ch. But inside, s

Not to Ray. And the longer this w

elings got involved,

the office late, t

past her desk. "You look like you've s

e. "Exc

ax. Just saying y

hing and shut him

tared at

ce never lo

ed last night,

s passed.

didn'

didn't

f scrolling through Elliot's business profile online-stupid art

trembled when they kissed. The way he h

said that to

finally

ad given him and nearly hu

p on the secon

ice was low

ear from you," Jade

stop thinkin

le

sigh from Ja

this time. Neutral

ike he wasn't nervous. Elliot showed up in a navy coat, hair slight

ught," Jaden said, taking

smile. "You're...n

akes tw

a beat. Then Elliot said

ting? Sleeping with someone who ma

nder his breath.

eyes were sharp and dark, cutting through Elliot's

N

ause I'm not here to be

linked. "

. You're a scared, lonely man who finally tasted somethin

looke

ofter now. "But I'm not

e," Elliot said, voice

n sm

wasn't cocky. It

after that. No holding hands. No touch

000s pop because "it sounds like chaos and heartbreak." Elliot lau

un of Elliot's Kindle obsession. Elliot teased him

t reached for his h

n no

say a

lliot said: When you'r

in front of Elliot's car. He opened t

closer, closing th

me again?" he

allowed h

n do

for half a seco

Jaden gripped Elliot's collar, tugged him closer, and d

Elliot was breathing har

see you aga

against his lips. "Then you