Chapter Five #3
The suspense had Diesel’s neck hurting from how rigid he held himself. “They said they wanted to make sure I knew you weren’t in danger or something like that.” He couldn’t even think clearly with Kuba’s fury coating his every sense.
Kuba snorted. “You’re not. Neither am I, but they are.”
“Okay.” Diesel had to take a log off the fire. “Just take a breath. Who am I dealing with?”
“Ace and Trace Winslow. They’re two of Dread’s hangers-on. They worship the guy and think that makes them bad-asses. It definitely makes them braver than the beating their bodies can take.”
In a desperate move to calm the situation, Diesel let his mouth get away from him. “Enraged sounds sexy on you.” Diesel slapped his hand over his eyes—literally.
A smooth rumble of laughter came through the phone, coating Diesel’s entire body in goosebumps. “Did you just slap yourself?”
Diesel didn’t uncover his eyes. “Accidentally, yeah.”
Another laugh had Diesel’s toes curling. “How is someone like you so innocent when it comes to being more than friends?”
He couldn’t uncover his eyes if he tried, especially since he couldn’t stop saying shit. “I was a huge, nerdy nobody growing up.”
“Mhmm.”
The moment that hum hit his ear, Diesel went hard. He dropped his hand.
“I find it hard to believe you were ever less than the most beautiful guy in the room.”
He couldn’t stop blushing. “Yeah, well, believe it. I was the ugly duckling. It’s not an easy transition from that to having everyone speak to you the way Jayme did earlier.”
Kuba snorted. “On that, I call bullshit. If I’d considered myself unattractive my entire life, and suddenly, everyone was crawling all over me, I’d be the most insufferable bastard you’ve ever met.”
Diesel rested the back of his head against the headboard and stared at the ceiling. All he saw was Kuba. “I don’t believe for a second you don’t have people crawling all over you.” The words burned his throat with hot jealousy.
Kuba laughed. “Yeah, but I’ve never considered myself ugly.”
Despite the topic, Diesel chuckled. In any other case, the conceit would turn Diesel all the way off. It was Kuba. Diesel wasn’t sure he could back away.
“No one’s ever kissed me the way you do.”
Diesel snorted even as his chest warmed. It was a lie, but Diesel couldn’t help the way that false statement made him feel.
“I’m being serious, Diesel.” He sounded so sincere.
His tone had turned soft and honest. “That snort wasn’t wrong as far as me kissing countless people.
But people only want to fuck me, not keep me.
I didn’t even notice that until I kissed you tonight.
You should’ve shoved me away. Instead, you meant that shit. ”
He had. God help him. Diesel had never so immediately wanted forever with someone, and it was just a kiss. He cleared his throat. “You…” Diesel couldn’t think of a good way to continue this conversation. He opened his mouth to try again.
“I meant that shit too.”
Diesel snapped his teeth together, reeling in surprise at Kuba’s admission. He had to keep going. Diesel couldn’t stop shoving his way closer to being more than a guard, even though he was fully aware how dumb this was. “So, what now? Do you want to call Steel?”
An aggravated-sounding growl hit Diesel’s ear. “For fuck’s sake. Would you stop asking me if I want to replace you? I don’t. Hear me now so we don’t have to talk about it again. I don’t want anyone else.”
Silence fell between them at the intensity in Kuba’s tone. He had a feeling Kuba shocked even himself.
The quiet didn’t last. “Yeah, so. Maybe I mean that as more than a guard too.”
“Maybe?” Diesel wasn’t embarrassed now. He was in too deep.
He heard the smile in Kuba’s voice when he answered. “I want you.”
Diesel drew a slow, steadying breath. “So, what if I want you too?” He chewed the side of his thumbnail.
Diesel realized something as the conversation went on.
While he didn’t want to lose this position that got him back home, he wanted Kuba even more.
People didn’t get under his skin. He had never seen much appeal in relationships.
They looked messy. Diesel was fine being alone.
This was different. For once, Diesel actually longed for something larger than anything else in his life. He had to take this risk.
“Will you let me come over? Wait. Your mom. I guess I should wait.”
“Mom went to stay the night with her friend.” He wasn’t even ashamed of how quickly he said that.
“Does that mean you’ll open the door if I show up?”
He couldn’t believe Kuba was still asking. Diesel was ready to beg him to hurry. “I’ll be waiting.”
“Then I’ll see you soon.”
The hair on his arms stood. “Be careful on your way over.”
“Always.” The call disconnected, and everything inside him shook with nervousness and excitement.
He was beyond giving a shit about anything but touching Kuba.
Whatever else happened, it would happen.
This felt like a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Diesel stood and paced. Kuba couldn’t get there fast enough.