Chapter 9: Under the Sheets

The lock clicked, and neither of them moved.

Dash stood with the crew jacket in his fist and the cold of the lawn still in his hands.

Wilder stood three feet away with his hair wild and his T-shirt damp at the collar.

The room was lit by the glow from the Green, pale gray and blue.

The blue tape still ran across the floor.

"It's finished," Wilder said. "The rule."

"Yes."

"So ask."

Dash dropped the jacket.

"Wilder," he said, and found that his voice would not behave. "Come to bed with me."

"Properly."

"Come to bed with me, Wilder, with the lamp on."

"That's better." Wilder's mouth curved.

Dash crossed the three feet and put both hands on his face.

Wilder's skin was cold from the night and warming fast.

He leaned into the touch, and his lashes lowered.

Dash kissed him the way he had wanted to since the first night, slow and deep and in no hurry at all.

Wilder's hands found his belt and pulled.

"The lamp," Dash said against his mouth.

"Leave it," Wilder said.

"I want to see you," Dash said.

"Then see me."

Dash switched it on.

Warm yellow light spread across the bed, and he took his time looking.

He saw the long pale line of Wilder's throat and the flush climbing from his collar.

He saw the paint-stained hands already working at the buttons of Dash's shirt.

"You're staring," Wilder said.

"I'm allowed," Dash said.

"You're allowed."

"Say it again," Dash said.

"You're allowed, Dash."

Dash's knees nearly went.

They fell back onto the narrow bed together in a tangle, and the springs shrieked, and Wilder laughed out loud, wide and unashamed.

It was the best sound Dash had ever heard in this room.

He pushed up Wilder's shirt and bent his head and kissed his way slowly down the center of his chest.

Wilder's back arched.

"Don't be nice," Wilder said, breathless.

"I'm not nice," Dash said.

"You're being careful," Wilder said.

"You're eighteen," Dash said.

"I'm not made of glass."

Wilder caught his hair in one hand and tugged.

"I want the one from the alley. The one who put me against a wall."

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