Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
“I’m moving to California.”
Frank’s thoughts came to a halt, crashing into a massive pile of broken sentences and emotions. He looked up at Ezra, who’d rested both his hands in his lap and watched him with an expression that was almost unnaturally blank.
The chicken tasted so bitter Frank put down the fork.
Happy. Fucking. Birthday to me.
Of course Ezra had other plans. Plans that didn’t involve Frank. And in that new place, he’d probably find much wealthier clients, with great connections.
Frank grunted a “hm” and glanced at the food to get his bearings. The seconds ticking away on the Rolex weren’t helping him gather his thoughts.
“Fuck. Sucks for me, but… I guess you’ve got something waiting for you there?” Or someone. It’s probably someone. Someone with real money.
Ezra’s inhale sounded strained. “Yes. For a while now, I’ve been wanting to... raise my profile. It was a decision between New York, Las Vegas, and LA, and I like the beach so...” Drifting off, he picked up the watch again. “I wanted to tell you in the morning but this gift—you needed to know now.”
“It’s okay. You need to do what you need to do. Consider it a bonus for a great year.” Frank gave Ezra a fake smile, but he doubted he was as good of an actor as Ezra. He drank half his wine in one go, but that wasn’t enough to soothe the burn inside. “You’ll fit right in there with your handsome face.”
“Thank you,” Ezra said, staring at his barely touched plate. “You are incredibly generous.”
“Just as you were with your time. Never kicked me out when I stalled in the morning.” He kicked Ezra’s foot gently, because he did seem down about this, and despite the hole opening up in Frank’s chest, all he could think of was cheering up the handsome man who’d given him so many joyful moments.
“I meant what I said earlier. Every two weeks, I looked forward to your visits,” Ezra said, playing with the watch before closing it on his wrist. The gold enhanced the olive shade of his skin, making a part of Frank long for touch. He wished to be the one grabbing Ezra’s hand and not letting go.
But affection wasn’t, and couldn’t be, about force. And what they shared had always been about good, clean fun anyway.
He’d be going back to problems that were much easier to deal with, like finding a good spot for hiding bodies until they dissolved in acid.
He drank the rest of his wine and extended his hand over the table. When he enclosed Ezra’s elegant fingers in his, his heart did some kind of melty shit he didn’t want to analyze. “I never thought I’d have the chance to spend time with a guy like you.” Let alone fuck him. “You made the first year of my forties fantastic. Just look at yourself. You’ll have the best time in California. And if you’re ever back in the area and feel like slumming it, you’ve got my number.” He winked for good measure, even though he felt anything but joyful.
Ezra’s eyes seemed to have lost some of their shine, but he rubbed the inside of Frank’s wrist. “I will,” he said in a tone that did not sound like an empty promise. Rising from his seat, he squeezed Frank’s hand harder and moved around the table until he stood right next to him. “And if you are ever in California, let me know too. I mean that.”
Frank lost his breath when Ezra leaned against him, draping his free arm on his shoulders. He sighed and nodded even though that wasn’t likely to happen. He could leave the running of things to Shane if Wreck & Repair was just about rusty cars and disused fridges, but since it was not, he couldn’t afford a lengthy vacation.
After a second of hesitation he kissed Ezra’s hand, then pulled him into his lap. He had to push the chair away from the table, and the food was getting cold, but as much as he loved Ezra’s cooking, it couldn’t hold a candle to his lips.
They opened without hesitation, and as Ezra went limp in Frank’s arms, uttering the softest of gasps, the need to have him close became an itch that had to be scratched.
Their tongues clashed, and while Ezra was coaxing Frank into a deeper kiss rather than fighting for dominance, it fueled a primal need that sent adrenaline rushing into every cell in Frank’s body. The cool fabric covering Ezra’s legs was so thin one could sense the body hair underneath, and as he cupped the back of Frank’s head and changed position to straddle his lap, cupping his ass felt like the answer to the hollow feeling inside Frank.
He could never truly have him, but he could be inside him at least one more time, to feel him in that raw form.