Page 303 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“I know.”

Ronan almost complained about the phrase. Didn’t. Because this time Elliot did know. He simply didn’t care.

“Would you have regretted it?”

Elliot looked directly at him.

“No.”

Ronan’s pulse jumped. There should have been disgust. Maybe there was. Somewhere. Buried beneath everything else. But there was something uglier beside it. Heat. Ronan hated that. He hated Elliot for putting it there. He hated himself more for recognizing it. Elliot noticed the change. His eyes dropped briefly toward Ronan’s mouth. Then immediately lifted again. He didn’t move. That restraint felt more intimate than touching. Ronan whispered:

“Stop doing that.”

“What?”

“Waiting.”

Elliot frowned.

“I thought that was what you wanted.”

“I don’t know what I want.”

“That makes two of us.”

“No.”

Ronan stepped closer. Elliot went still.

“You always know what you want.”

Silence.

“Yes.”

“What do you want right now?”

Elliot’s eyes dropped again. This time he didn’t hide it.

“You.”

The answer moved straight through Ronan. Fuck. He looked away. Elliot didn’t touch him. Still waiting. Ronan’s heart beat harder.

“You find this funny?”

“No.”

“You look like you do.”

“I’m trying very hard not to look like anything.”

“Why?”

“Because apparently my face is incriminating.”

Despite everything, Ronan laughed. One short breath. Elliot smiled. Then Ronan looked at his throat again. The bruise. His anger returned.

“Nathan put his hands on you.”