Velvet chains

ttress, one arm draped over his forehead, moonlight slanting through the broken

ot P

before answ

yed like he'd been thinking

lied, voice gravel

er cou

to feel like a confession. Th

sheet falling of

't want this to be a once-a-week t

e. This time

king out over the cracked concrete

pl

e again, this time with a backpack slung over one shoulder and

he'd peeled off the CEO mask. Soft pajama pants, a b

owed behind the glass walls of the apartment

" Elliot said, rubbin

aid, dropping his bag.

ere in silenc

I couldn't stop thinking ab

s head, smile c

"It wasn't just physical. It felt...

id. "And that scares

back against the couch, sipping tea Elliot

mitted after a while. "Not publicly.

brow. "You're n

Reputation matters more than truth. I grew up th

oftened. "And

m. "Now I think I'm

w warmer. Jaden reached out,

with a guy be

shook h

dropped. "Do y

ened. Elliot didn't s

shell of Elliot's ear. "Then let me sho

ly, like reading braille. Jaden's hands slid over Elli

rtain, like he didn't know h

yes burning into him

opened

his," Jaden whispered. "Y

shakily. "I d

ning perfectly. He guided Elliot's hands t

his T-shirt. He kissed down Jaden's throat, tasting skin, learning slowly. Every

hours, their bodies moving together like a slow dance in the dark. Jaden led, Elliot

ess and warm against Elliot's chest, he w

e top of his hea

ed, "You ever think about what it'd b

ked. "What

t... this. And yo

er across his cheek. "Then maybe I wo

losed h

a breath, "maybe I still would've

didn't

gers together-like maybe, just for toni