Making It Personal Wells, C. (red queen free ebook TXT) 📖

Blake stared at him. There was a painful tightness in his throat. “He left? Will wouldn’t just leave! Besides, how will he get home? I drove us here!” He ran his fingers through his hair, making it stand up crazily. He had to find Will.

“Then he’ll probably be heading for the station. It’s a good twenty minutes walk from here, so if you hurry, you’ll catch him up.” Stephen clasped his shoulder and squeezed. “Go find the boy.”

Blake nodded absently and headed out the front door, the cold night air a shock after the warmth of the house. He climbed into the car and switched the engine on, tires crunching over the gravel as he turned in a tight circle and drove back along the driveway. He scanned the pavements anxiously, peering out into the darkness. Where the hell are you, Will?

Suddenly he spied him, shoulders hunched, chin tucked against his chest, walking briskly along the road. Blake pulled up next to him, braked and rolled down his window.

“Will!” He watched Will jerk his head in surprise as he saw Blake. “What’s going on? Please, get in the car.”

Will waved a hand at him and didn’t slow his steps. “Go back to the party, Blake.” His voice was flat. He kept his eyes on the road ahead.

“Please, Will,” Blake insisted, keeping an eye on any traffic, “Just get in the car so we can talk about this.”

Will’s gaze flickered briefly toward him. “What are you doing out here? Go back to the party and have a good time. That’s what you came for.” That lifeless tone tore at Blake’s heart.

“I didn’t want to go to the party, all I wanted was to be with you.” Will came to a dead stop, eyes fixed on Blake. “Please, Will, just get into the car.”

Will stared at him for a moment of two, and then Blake heaved a huge sigh of utter relief as he walked around the front of the car and got in the passenger side. He twisted in the seat to look at Blake, his eyes large and round. Blake noted his cheeks which bore the tracks of recent tears, picked out by the nearby streetlight. For several long seconds, neither of them spoke, the only sound the purring of the engine in neutral.

“We can’t sit here all night,” Will said at last. “And I think we need to talk.”

“Agreed. But before we decide where that conversation will take place, I need to pop by the office. I left my hard drive there and there’s stuff on it that I’ll need to look over before tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Blake drove them through the quiet streets, which grew steadily busier as they neared the city center.

“I thought it was what you wanted,” Will said at last as they drove along.

Blake shook his head. “No, babe. I was only going to the party because I thought you really wanted it.”

Will let out a shaky laugh. “God, what a right pair we are.”

“What a right pair we are? Yeah, you’re right, we do need to talk.”

Blake pulled up in front of the building. “I won’t be long, okay?” He got out of the car and dashed up to the main door where he fumbled with the keys.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Will leaned back against the head rest. He still couldn’t believe Blake had come after him. His head was buzzing. What am I going to say to him?

Well, that would all depend on what Blake had to say, too.

The car door opened and Blake got in. Rather than fastening his seatbelt, he looked at Will keenly for a moment before holding out a familiar looking white envelope.

“Gonna tell me what this is?” He wasn’t smiling.

Will’s heart skipped a beat. Oh God— the resignation letter. He’d forgotten all about it.

Blake’s voice was hard. “You were just going to leave? Without saying goodbye to my face?”

“The party was my farewell gift to you. The chance to live out your fantasy.” Will’s voice quavered. “I thought it would be easier on both of us if I just walked away, got out of your life.”

He bowed his head for a moment. Blake reached for him with trembling hands and cupped his cheek. Will could feel the tremors that rippled through him. Blake tilted Will’s head upward.

“Oh, Will.” Blake’s voice shook with emotion. And then he kissed him.

Will’s heart leaped as Blake’s lips met his, claiming him in a fierce kiss unlike any other they’d shared. No tongues, just lips pressed together, unwilling to be parted, until Will was dizzy from it. And yet he moved closer, leaning into Blake, seeking more.

How long they kissed, Will had no idea. He only knew he was lost in it. He nuzzled his face into Blake’s palm, deepening the contact between them.

At last they parted, their breathing slower, synchronized.

“I only wanted to make you happy,” he murmured, fingers combing through Blake’s short hair.

Blake gazed at him, a look of puzzlement etched across his face. “Why did you leave me there?”

Will dropped his gaze. “I couldn’t watch you be with someone else.” He was surprised to hear Blake laugh.

“Oh, babe.” Blake smiled. “I felt the same way. When you first mentioned going to the party, all I could think about was having to watch someone else touch you.”

Will felt almost giddy. It was more than he could have hoped for. He closed his eyes as Blake moved in for another kiss, this time running his tongue lightly along the seam of Will’s lips, the movement sensual. He moaned softly, wanting more, but logic prevailed. Will broke the kiss and leaned back, opening his eyes to gaze at Blake.

“Blake… take me home?”

“Your home?” Will nodded. “Okay.”

“And then…” Will hesitated, unsure of giving voice to his thoughts.

“Then?” Blake echoed. He was watching Will, his eyes never leaving him.

“Stay with me tonight?” Will held his breath, waiting.

Blake’s face creased into a