Chapter 14: What Godfrey Holds

At eleven that night Eli's phone lit up with a text:

Back door. Alley.

Eli took the long way round the block with his hood up, because Craig owned a car and a great deal of free time.

The alley behind Declan's building smelled of rain and bins.

A steel door stood open a hand's width.

Declan was inside it, barefoot, in a grey shirt, with his glasses pushed up into his hair.

He didn't say a word.

He drew Eli through the door by his jacket and shut it, and put his back against it, and kissed him.

It was not like the model shop.

It was slow and sure, and Declan's hands cupped Eli's face.

Eli tasted salt on his mouth.

"What did he want?" Eli said, against it.

"A schedule."

"Declan."

"A schedule, Eli. Please."

"Lie. He's lying, and he's good at it, and he's so tired. Please let me have tonight before I have to say it."

Eli could have pushed.

He felt the hours of the week running out under his feet, and he didn't push.

"Okay," he said.

Four flights up, Declan walked him backward to the tall windows with the city's wet lights spread behind them.

Declan took Eli's jacket off and folded it over the drafting stool.

He had never folded anything of Eli's in his life.

"Arms up."

Eli put his arms up.

Declan drew Eli's shirt over his head.

His palms followed it down Eli's sides, ribs and waist and hips, slowly.

"Beautiful," Declan said aloud.

Eli stared at him.

Declan had never said it with his mouth.

"Keep it," the voice in Eli's head whispered. "Keep all of it."

"The freckle under his left nipple. The way he holds his breath when I touch his hip. Memorize it."

"You sound like you're leaving," Eli said.

"I'm standing right here."

Declan knelt.

He undid Eli's belt with his eyes on Eli's.

He pushed Eli's jeans and shorts down to his ankles, and Eli stepped out of them.

Eli's heart was going like a fist on a door.

Declan's mouth closed around his cock.

Keep reading free with an account. Start Kissed My Rival, Hear His Mind from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.