Page 70 of Midnight Ink

His hand drifts lower, careful for a moment, until I slip my hand down to rest on the curve of his ass “Can I ask you something?” he asks softly, his fingers still mapping a path over my chest. I nod. “What do you prefer?”

“In bed?” He nods, still with that soft smile, as he drags his knuckles gently down the center of my chest. “I don’t care. I’m open to anything. I’ll try anything once. Well, except like, rough stuff. Not into pain.”

“Ironically.” He smiles, tracing the wraith on my chest.

“That’s different.” His chin lifts to look at me. “It is. I don’t know. Tattoos don’t bother me. But while I’m having sex . . .” I swallow. “All pleasure. No judgement at all, but it’s just not my thing.”

“Do you have a preference?”

I shake my head. Ian can have me any way he’d like. “You?”

“I prefer to bottom, but I like both too.” He smiles softly then leans in, pressing a lazy kiss to my chest. It’s like his fingers are trying to memorize every inch of my skin. Then his eyes darken. “How long have you and Elijah been hooking up?”

Where the hell did that come from? “What?”

“I’m just curious. Did you have feelings or⁠—”

I study him. “Are you jealous?”

“Fuck no,” he says fast. Too fast. “I just thought—never mind.”

“Holy shit, you’re jealous!” It’s all making sense. I thought Ian just didn’t like Elijah for some reason. Holy shit, has he been jealous this whole time? I don’t know what to do with that. I don’t know what that means. “Oh my god, that’s why you always sound mad when he comes in.” I grin so wide it hurts. Fuck, I can’t believe this. This is too funny. “I just thought you hated him.”

“I don’t hate him, and I’m not jealous!” he says when I laugh harder. “I’m not! I’m just asking. I want to be respectful if you both⁠—”

“You had my dick in your mouth last night, I think we’re past being respectful. Damn. Jealous Ian. I love to see it.”

“Fuck off, I’m not jealous of stupid handsome Elijah and his stupid thick black hair or beard. I can grow a beard too you know! Stupid paramedic with his stupid license to help people like a goddamn Superman! He’s the worst.”

“A real villain.” I pull him against me, tucking him inside my arms as he fights me. “You’re adorable. I’m telling him the moment we get back. He’ll love this.”

“You better not!” His lips purse as he pushes me away. Fuck me, he’s so cute.

“If it makes you feel better⁠—”

“Probably not—” I kiss him hard, the sound of his moans sending a thrill through me as he melts against me.

Then I pull back, fingers cradling the back of his head. “We’re not together. Just friends with benefits for a bit.” I shrug. “Nothing serious.”

“And this?” He swallows. “How serious is this?”

A knock cuts through the room. “Mr. Ian, Mr. Jules.”

“Mr. Jules.” I snort. “You locked the door, right?”

“Yeah,” he says, pulling away from me.

“Uh, yes?” I call out.

“Mr. Ian’s bag arrived this morning. I’m sorry, I wouldn’t bother you but I know it’s important.”

Ian’s eyes widen. “Holy shit,” he says to me. “Uh, thank you! Thank you, we’ll be down soon.”

“There’s breakfast down here as well if you guys are hungry.”

“Uh, thank you.” She’s like a mom. Well, I mean she is a mom, but I like the warm way she is with us. “We’ll be right down.”

There’s something there in Ian’s eyes. An edge to him now, as if her voice snapped him out of some trance. “Hey, I’ll go grab it if you want to shower.” I’d like to shower with him, but there’s something going on with him and I don’t want to test the weight of whatever it is. We’re finally getting somewhere and I don’t want to undo all the progress. I’ll give him a minute.