Chapter 11: Ask Me

The kiss went on until the lamp burned warm on the backs of Eli's eyelids.

Laurence kissed the way he did everything, with his whole attention.

One hand held Eli's jaw, the other lay flat between his shoulder blades, and neither moved an inch without asking for it.

"Stay with me tonight, please," he said against Eli's mouth.

"Stay for what?"

"Everything."

Eli laughed, unsteadily.

"You've never asked anyone for anything, have you?"

"I'm trying it out."

"How's it going?" Eli asked.

"Terribly," Laurence said. "I want to take your sweatshirt off. Let me, please."

Eli's heart lurched, then settled into something strong and hopeful.

"Yes."

The grey cotton went over his head and dropped on the carpet.

Laurence looked at him in the lamplight, at the thin white scars and the narrow ribs.

His breath came out unsteadily.

He did not touch.

"You're allowed to look," Eli said. "It's not a test."

"You're beautiful."

Nobody had ever said it before.

Eli's face went hot, and he took hold of Laurence's shirt.

"Your turn. Take it off for me."

Laurence's head went back with a low sound in his throat.

"God. Yes."

The buttons were small, and Eli's fingers fumbled them.

When the shirt came open, the skin underneath was smooth and hot.

He put his palm over Laurence's heart.

It was racing.

"You're nervous," Eli said, amazed.

"Of course I'm nervous. I've been wanting to do this since August."

"Since the dining room?" Eli asked.

"Since I read the file."

Laurence's voice cracked.

"I didn't know your face. I only knew you ate standing up, and I wanted to feed you for the rest of my life."

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