“Please, just go,” Ethan whispered.
To his horror, Beau moved closer. They were hidden in the shadows of the porch, but Ethan wasn’t worried about anyone seeing them. That’s not what had him barely breathing.
Beau’s nearness was making him crazy, and the fact that he’d fought this feeling for so long was finally causing him to crack. When he’d been sitting in the living room, Beau close to him, right at his side, Ethan hadn’t been able to avoid thinking about what it would be like if this were his life. If Beau was with him. If Beau was there because of him. His lover. His man.
For a fraction of a second, he’d wanted that. Wanted to have Beau with him, to know that when they left his parents on Christmas night, he’d be going home with him. Spending the night in his arms.
But it wasn’t real. It wouldn’t happen.
It couldn’t happen.
And now he was freaking out like a fucking pussy.
“Ethan.” Beau was close enough that Ethan could feel his breath, could practically feel the warmth of his skin against him. And the way he said his name…
“Breathe.”
Ethan made the mistake of looking at Beau. Meeting his gaze in the dim light cast by the holiday lights outlining the house, the concern he saw there nearly had him choking on his own fear. Fear that he could possibly get in over his head with this guy.
When Beau’s large, callused hand came up and touched him gently on the cheek, Ethan thought he might pass out. “Fuck,” he groaned, never taking his eyes off of Beau.
What would he do if Beau kissed him? Could he even push him away? He needed to. That was the smart thing to do because it didn’t matter how badly Ethan wanted him, he wasn’t the man Beau needed.
Ethan was notorious for casual sex, nothing more, nothing less. He wasn’t looking for a relationship and the gentleness in Beau’s gaze every time he looked at him told Ethan that’s what Beau was looking for.
“Awww, fuck,” Ethan whispered. He was going to lose his control. Beau’s hand eased down, his thick, warm fingers sliding behind his neck, his thumb scraping sensually across his throat as he stared at him.
When Beau’s lips came down to rest on his, Ethan swore he would come right then and there. Gentle, sweet, and so fucking tender, Ethan didn’t know what to do. He was confused, angry. He didn’t want this, didn’t want Beau.
But, God, he did want him. With a desperation he’d never known before.
Without realizing it, Ethan found his hands gripping the front of Beau’s shirt, pulling him closer until their tongues were entwined, the world and everyone in it diminishing with the taste of Beau’s kiss.
The squeak of the front door opening was like a bucket of ice water being tossed over him and Ethan pulled away at the same time he shoved Beau. Glaring at him, he let his rage take over.
“Get the fuck away from me,” he bit out, his voice low, threatening. “This ain’t happening.”
To his surprise, Beau didn’t look hurt, just shocked. With a simple nod of his head, he turned to go but paused, looking back over his shoulder as he said, “Just remember, when you’re tired of the games, I’ll still be here. Because no matter what you think, there is something here. And you won’t be able to stop thinking about it anymore than I will.”
With that, Ethan watched Beau’s back as he disappeared around the side of the house, talking to whoever was there. With a thud, Ethan let his head fall back against the house.
Closing his eyes, he made a promise to himself.
No matter how hard he had to fight it, Ethan would never give in to Beau Bennett. And if he had to break Beau’s heart in the process, he would do just that.
Whatever it took.
Chapter Twenty Five
Let’s ring in the New Year together…
Please join us for a New Year’s Eve party
December 31st at 7:00pm
Alluring Indulgence Resort
Hosted by the Walker brothers
♂
Beau
New Year’s Eve
Beau honestly couldn’t believe his eyes.
Here he was, standing inside of the luxurious Alluring Indulgence Resort and the place wasn’t even open to the public yet. Not that he could tell from looking around, considering the sheer number of people who were there.
From the moment he had walked in the door, Beau had been introduced to one person after another, many of them from Dallas. As he watched the action heat up around him, he tried to put faces with names. Not something he was proficient at, but it wasn’t like he had anything else to do at the moment.
Sitting at the bar height tables scattered throughout the room, Beau saw Zane and V talking with another couple he’d been introduced to. If he recalled correctly, their names were Logan and Samantha. He only remembered because the man mentioned that his twin hadn’t been able to make it for the event and Beau had been pulled into the conversation.