Always (Indigo Falls #1)

by Loren Leigh

I stare ahead as we walk, lost in thought. I’ve never held very tightly onto the idea that I’m straight. In fact, if I really think about it, I might have had moments of noticing a guy’s ass here or there. I guess I thought everyone is like that—just this subtle, low-level attraction that can happen with anyone.

“Fucking kiss me, Quinn.” I close the distance, my lips flattening against his, and it’s like something between us snaps. His mouth crushes against mine, and the kiss is instant—no pretense, no second-guessing, no questioning—like this kiss has been lingering there between us, just waiting to happen. His lips are warm, and his tongue slides lightly against mine.

“Maybe not, Quinn. But I gotta tell you, I like everything I see.” His shoulders stiffen. “Everything?” “Everything.” I just set the truth out there, good idea or not. “And it’s full, not empty. There’s nothing you could show me that would make me think less of you.”

Maybe I still struggle to read Kepler’s thoughts on his face, but as soon as his tongue brushes mine, I feel them. Washing over me, his want, his need, the cup of his hand on the nape of my neck. It’s the way he kisses me. With that same intensity he has when he studies me. One-hundred-fucking-percent.

“I noticed.” His eyes sail over my pecs, lingering on the piercing, and then down to my stomach, all my abs, to my dick, then carving back up over the ink along my obliques. It’s the most blatantly sexual once-over I’ve ever experienced. It’s hot. ‘Cause it makes me feel pretty hot.

Across the room, Kepler squeezes the lime into glasses as Flora drops in mint leaves. After the last glass, Kepler looks up, his smoky grays pinning on me from across the room. When he finds me watching, he upnods, and I return the gesture, my heart thumping hard in my chest. I can’t stop this. Don’t want to stop this. This is more than a crush. More than me exploring this sexual awakening situation. More than friendship. What if I could fall in love with Kepler Quinn? What if I’m a bit in love with him already? What if I have been for years?

I run a hand up over my pecs, the metal scraping lightly against my palm. “You don’t mind the tatts?” He laughs. “No, Jin. I’m going to suck on those too.” “You’re making a lot of promises.” “I intend to fulfill any that you want.”

I try to keep my gaze from flicking around the room, but it doesn’t work. If Kepler’s here, then I can’t not look for him. It’s as simple as that.

“It seems so easy for you.” His hands swing up in frustration. “You didn’t even really come out, just you were suddenly. It was the same with Kepler a few years ago. It hasn’t been so easy for me, and I don’t even fully know why. I’m broken about it. Really fucking broken.” “You’re not broken,” I cut in. “The fuck I’m not,” he snaps, his voice rising.