For Real (Spires, #3)

by Alexis Hall

“You depraved little monster.”

“Your depraved little monster.”

I was going to be there for him in every way I hadn’t been before. Make him safe and happy.

Then he gives me this shy little smile and says, “Banoffee pie.”

“Y’know,” I say, when we finally get home, “let’s not do that again.” Laurie gives me this look. “You know, let’s not.”

we only do kinky stuff in a sex context—honestly, it’s the only context I want to do kinky stuff in, the rest of the time I want a boyfriend—I

and so I’d kept my peace. And so he’d fled from me.

What was the point of giving people keys and phone numbers and all these promises if they were going to mean nothing?

I cuddled his honey badger instead and waited for him to find me.

“This isn’t submission.” “Isn’t it?” “No.” He looks up at me, tired as well, but he’s never looked more beautiful to me than in this moment, strong and open and unafraid like when he surrenders his body. “It’s love.”