He heard Sid coming and set down the knife. Sid took his cue and spun him around, pinning him against the counter, drinking in his face as though it had been days since they’d last seen each other, not a handful of hours. “Hey.”
Dante’s lips rose into his patented half-smile. “Hey yourself.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yup. You?”
Sid dove deeper into Dante’s gaze, searching for the raw pain he’d glimpsed across the yard earlier. The stricken distress that had broken Dante’s face into that of a man much younger than he actually was. But all he found was guarded warmth. Careful warmth. Like Dante was afraid that if he let too much show, something else would come tumbling out before he could stop it. Something darker that stole his slow, sweet smile away from Sid forever.
You’re overthinking. Let him be.
Easier said than done. Whatever mood Dante was in, he was still hotter than sin.
Sid stole a kiss that went on and on and on. He slid his tongue into Dante’s mouth and rubbed their noses together hard enough to make Dante laugh.
His low, throaty chuckle was heaven. It was real, and Sid’s racing imagination slowed to a crawl.See? He’s fine. Maybe that guy asked him for directions and freaked him out. Like Saban did at Anna’s house. It made sense, didn’t it? Back when Sid’s brain had worked in an orderly fashion, he’d have known the answer. All he knew right now was that he wanted to kiss Dante forever and not worry about anything else.
He pulled back, cupping Dante’s jaw with his soil-stained hands. “How was your afternoon off? Did you do anything fun?”
“What do you think?”
I think you had a conversation with someone that upset you. I think you knew him, and he came to find you to say something you didn’t like.“Dunno. You tell me?”
“I had a shower and picked courgettes. That’s it. I spent the rest of the time deadheading your garden and staring at the ceiling.”
“Nothing else happened?”
Dante shook his head, flicking his gaze away from Sid’s to frown at the neat piles of sliced courgettes he’d made. “Nope.”
Sid waited for him to turn back, for the lie to manifest and the fear in his gut to become tangible enough to voice.
Dante moved his head like his neck was rooted in treacle. His half-smile was still in place and his eyes were as present and clear as they ever were. No shadows. Or perhaps Sid had grown so used to Dante that he couldn’t see them anymore.
Or perhaps you’re a massive drama llama losing your shit because you saw him talking to a hot bloke. Ever think of that?
Sid snorted out a laugh.
Dante’s brows rose. “What’s funny?”
“Me.”
“Says who?”
“Me.”
“Amazing. Enjoy that conversation with yourself, mate.”
Sid laughed again and shook his head. “I’d rather be with you, but I need a shower. How long have I got?”
“Till what?”
“Till you feed me, and then I spend the rest of the night showing my appreciation.”
A subtle flush crept up Dante’s neck. His smile broadened, and he was so fucking beautiful Sid had to kiss him again. He hooked a hand around the back of Dante’s head, drawing him closer. Their chests touched, their hips, and whatever the hell was going on in between. Sid might’ve been hard, but maybe he wasn’t. It didn’t matter. This, right here, was enough.
For now, at least.
He broke away with a reluctant groan. “I need to shower.”