Free Hard to Be Good (Hard Ink #3.5) by Laura Kaye Page B

could, denying himself sleep, and giving freely of his expertise. All that, despite the way his father had treated him. That took character. Integrity. Strength.
    And then the way Charlie had spoken to Nick earlier, building his brother up and refusing to let the guy tear himself down. Charlie’s words had gone straight to Jeremy’s heart and reemphasized for maybe the hundredth time that Charlie felt like . . . family.
    He’d never felt that with anyone else before. Man or woman.
    The emotions fueled Jeremy’s need to release, to let go, to claim.
    Charlie grasped Jeremy’s hand and held it against his throat, making him feel the movement of his cock deep inside.
    “Fuck, Charlie. I don’t want this to end.”
    But then Charlie started stroking himself faster, his fist tight and flying and twisting around the swollen head. The sounds he made became more urgent, more desperate, almost pained. And then a strangled moan ripped up Charlie’s throat. He jerked his T-shirt up his chest and came in long stripes against his own belly.
    It was too much.
    Jeremy groaned Charlie’s name, grasped his face in both hands, and held him tight as he buried himself deep and splintered into a thousand pieces. The orgasm was so intense, Jeremy saw stars and his vision went splotchy around the edges.
    When it was over, Jeremy eased himself from Charlie’s mouth and fixed his own clothing, then helped Charlie sit up until his legs hung off the edge of the table. Standing between Charlie’s knees, Jer held the man’s hands and gave him a million little kisses. For a long moment, they were just together quietly, their foreheads resting against each other.
    Family.
    Being with Charlie felt so damn natural. Like they’d always known each other. Like they belonged together. Like they were the best of friends—only so much more.
    Family.
    The realization that Jeremy was having these kinds of feelings about a man was surprising only because all his other encounters had been casual, just for fun.
    But this was Charlie. And that made everything different. That made everything . . . more.
    Jeremy stroked his knuckles down Charlie’s handsome face. “Thank you for that.”
    Charlie gave a small smile. “You, too. I’ve never . . . done that before with someone who was pierced.”
    “No? Was it different?” Jeremy asked.
    His cheeks turned pink, just the littlest bit, and it made Jeremy smile. Charlie was adorable and cute and sexy as hell by turns. “It was like another sensation. Cool when your skin was hot. And harder against the back of my throat than I’m used to.” Charlie peered up at him from behind longish lengths of his hair. “I really liked it,” he said quietly.
    Smiling, Jeremy pressed a kiss to Charlie’s temple. “I really liked it, too.” They both chuckled.
    “I want you to know something,” Jeremy said, taking a deep breath as he gathered his thoughts . . . and his courage. But he didn’t want Charlie having any more doubts. Not about him anyway.
    “Okay.”
    “I’ve loved the things we shared today, Charlie. For real. But what I’m feeling for you isn’t just physical. It’s something more. I’m not sure what yet, but I . . .” Jeremy shrugged. “ . . . don’t want you to think this is just about sex for me.”
    Charlie released a shaky breath. “It’s not just about sex for me either. Even before today, I wasn’t sure I’d ever had a friend as close as you. Now, to find a best friend and a lover in the same person. Honestly, I never even dared to dream that could happen for me.”
    Jeremy’s chest filled with the warmest, sweetest feeling. He leaned in and kissed Charlie once, twice, three times—
    “Hey, Jeremy,” a voice said as the door opened. Kat.
    What Jeremy noticed even more than Kat’s interruption was Charlie scrambling out of his embrace and shifting off the table.
    Not that his actions fooled Kat for one second. The knowing look in her eyes and the smirk on her face