When I first started reading them, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, so I was relieved when he asked me not to tell him what I thought. If I hated the books and he asked me about them … well, talk about awkward.
Instead, I love them. I want to tell him how much I love Jaciel and how I think Klein is a bit of a douche, but Tombra is a badass motherfucker, and he and Jaciel should bone already. The more I read, the more I’m convinced it’s going to happen too.
I want to ask Beau about it, but I don’t want to spoil the ending, so when I reach the last pages and Tombra has just taken Klein, instead of worrying how Jaciel will get him back, all I can think is good.
But still … Beau said Jaciel had to save his love interest, which makes me think he isn’t setting up Tombra at all. I swear it’s there though. Those two have chemistry for days.
With Beau still tapping away behind me, I open my phone and do a little googling. If his books are as popular as he’s said, there should be …
Damn.
There are a lot of fan sites and fan fiction, and … wow. I do a quick scroll to the bottom of the page, then go back and type Jaciel and Tombra boning.
Bingo.
I’m far from the only one who thinks that’s where Beau is taking this thing.
I turn on the couch and watch him, dying to ask my question, and thankfully, ten minutes later, his fingers slow and he slumps in his chair.
“How’d you go?”
Beau jumps and swings around. “Shit, I didn’t know you were there.”
I hold up his book. “Just finished.”
“You did?” He hesitates, then reaches over to take it from me and sets it back on the shelf. “I don’t want to know.”
“You sure?”
He bites his lip.
I wait patiently.
“Urg, fine. Did you hate it? You totally hated it, didn’t you?”
“Nope. I mean this with total honesty, and not at all because I want to get in your pants again tonight … that was fucking incredible.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I shift. “Your writing is insane. Like I was there with your characters.”
He ducks his head. “Thanks.”
This next part is the one I’m cautious bringing up with him. He’s the only author I know, so I’m not sure how he’ll take my opinions on characters he’s created. It’s not my business to tell him how to write his books.
“Looked like you got some good words in,” I say instead.
He nods, eyes drifting toward his computer again. “A couple thousand. That scene came easily.”
“What was it about?”
“When we were out at that land and Trent was talking about how it could be used, it reminded me of how I wanted to write a scene with a full training facility for Jaciel to prepare at, but I couldn’t decide how I wanted it to look. I made it into this full outdoor obstacle course thing. It was fun.”
“That’s awesome. Does that mean the muse is back?”
“Nope.” He scowls. “I don’t know where to go from here. I’m getting further into the book, and I swear it’s like Jaciel couldn’t care less that Klein’s waiting for him.”
Interesting … “What makes you think that?”
“Every time I try to write a scene, the focus is on Tombra instead. I did a word search the other day, and Klein was mentioned three times. I’m worried he’s not worried enough about the guy he’s supposed to be in love with and that it feels … empty.”
“Huh.”
His attention snaps back to me. “That was an odd huh.”
“Uh, nope. Nothing odd here.”
“Payne …”
“Can I say something that you might not like?”
“Sure.”
I’m not convinced I can believe him, but here goes nothing. “I think it seems that way because … I don’t think Jaciel is in love with Klein.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure he wants to bone Tombra.”
Beau stares at me. “No … No, they’re mortal enemies.”
“Are they though? You can’t tell me they didn’t almost kiss in that last fight they had.”
“He was trying to slit his throat.”
I snort. “Wasn’t trying that hard. I mean, he might be a badass sword fighter, but Tombra has magic and could realistically obliterate him. Like, when Jaciel got hurt and Tombra sent an army just to check he was okay?”
“They were sent to finish him off.”
I hold back my skepticism, because apparently, what I was reading wasn’t actually what he was writing. “Interpretation, maybe, but I can’t be the first person who’s mentioned that to you. There are a ton of theories online.”
Beau’s whole body is twitching with nervous energy. “I … I don’t go on social media because it makes me too anxious … Tons?”
“A whole fuck ton. You really weren’t planning to throw that plot twist in there?”
“Shit …” He stares across the room blankly, and I wonder what’s going through his mind. He isn’t angry about me pointing it out, so that’s a bonus at least. “Now I’m confused.”
“You know what helps to clear your head?” I ask.
“I don’t feel like drinking.”
“I was actually going to suggest fucking me, but if that—”
He shoots to his feet. “Deal. Now? Whose bed?”
I laugh to hide the sudden onset of nerves. It’s been a long time since I’ve bottomed for anyone so I’m not overly confident on how this will go.
“Yours.”
But when Beau takes my hand and leads me down the hall, it’s easy to ignore the nerves because it’s him.
24
Beau
Seeing Payne stripped and lazing across my bed is my wildest dreams come to life. He’s physically mouthwatering, but the thing that has my cock standing at full attention is his eyes. His full focus is trained on me as I undress, weighted in lust and a million other things I can’t name.
I lick my lips, so desperate for this I want to rush through it, but I’ll hate myself forever if I don’t take my time.
“You’re going to have to ease me into it,” Payne says in that sexy, deep voice of his, reaching for the lube in my bedside table. “I organized things in the shower earlier, but it’s been a really, really long time.”
They were together, what, a decade? If his ex didn’t top him, then he’s not exaggerating. I need to make this good.
“You never used toys?” I ask.
Payne scowls. “I tried. He didn’t like it because it—get this—made him feel insecure.”
“Fuck …”
“Asshole.”
I hate Kyle with every cell in my body. Fuck him for making Payne feel that way. “Just saying, if you want to buy yourself a dildo and put on a show for me, I’m one hundred percent here for that.”
He grins. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.” I drop my boxer briefs and step out of them, giving my cock a slow, loose stroke before I climb up onto the bed.
Payne greedily watches every movement as I crawl over him. I’ll never be able to tell him how amazing I think he is, so when I lean down to kiss him, I try to make him feel it. I want him to know, without a doubt, that no matter what that asshole might have done, Payne deserves the world.