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“Cooper slipped his lips around Park’s thumb and sucked, looking up at Park in what he hoped was an alluring way, though an ex had once told him the wide-eyed thing just made him look like a terrified squirrel getting some bad news. Definitely not the image he was going for when trying to get his face fucked.”
― Charlie Adhara, The Wolf at Bay

“I played basketball freshman year of high school. Does that count?”
Cooper laughed. “No, not at all. In fact, that’ll probably just set him off on a lecture about follow-through and commitment. Why’d you stop?”
“I got cut. I was terrible.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Park tilted his head. “Why do you look so happy about that?”
“Do I? No.” Cooper tried to school his expression, but Park squinted at him suspiciously, and eventually a grin broke free again. He snagged the front of Park’s shirt and twisted it in his fingers, suddenly unable to resist touching him. “I guess it’s just nice to know you’re not perfect at everything.”
Park seemed to think that over, perhaps looking for hidden digs or sarcasm. Eventually, almost tentatively, he said, “Well, I was really, embarrassingly bad. Can’t dribble for shit.”
Cooper tugged Park still closer and slid his free hand around Park’s waist. “Go on.”
“When my hands are above my head, I’m all thumbs. Can’t catch a thing.”
“Mmm.” Cooper pressed their bodies together and inhaled the curve of Park’s neck to his shoulder.
“I never once made a free throw.”
“Oh baby, the things you say,” Cooper groaned.”
― Charlie Adhara, The Wolf at Bay

“You’re afraid.”
Cooper nodded, then let his head tip back, gasping, when Oliver pulled him closer still and moved to nuzzle over the scars on his belly.
“Why?”
“Because you can hurt me.” It slipped out without Cooper thinking, and he almost kicked himself when Oliver pulled away to stare at him seriously.
“I would never.”
“Not like that. You could hurt me because I... I care.” The last words were nothing more than a mumbled exhale that your average person wouldn’t have heard.
Oliver heard.
He stood, their bodies pressed together, and he leaned in so his mouth was hovering over Cooper’s. “In that case, you scare me, too.”
Cooper’s heart pounded and he tingled all over. “Yeah?”
He felt Oliver’s smile on his lips. “Special Agent Dayton, I’m absolutely terrified, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
― Charlie Adhara, The Wolf at the Door

“My name’s Oliver. Though if you want to call me Pretty Eyes Park again, I promise I’ll still come running.”
― Charlie Adhara, The Wolf at the Door