Chapter 13

Thomas was aware Elias’s question was reasonable, but the answer wasn’t pleasant even if he only repeated it in his mind.

Because I don’t want people to see me with you.

How disgusting was such a thought? And yet he had been doing that for such a long time. Keeping the parts of his life completely separate. The professional part, the impeccable role of the respectable detective, a man still crying over his partner’s death, and the nighttime part when he looked for oblivion from his thoughts, and desire for the bodies of consenting men. So, it wasn’t really new to him, the need to hide the men he met at the pub. It was an ingrained habit.

And men, shit. Not suchyoungindividuals.

Elias was good-looking. It would have been stupid to deny the obvious, just as it would have been useless to deny his erection both times Thomas had kissed him. Or that Elias’s lips were as juicy as ripe fruit.