Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
He came.
What did that mean?
Concentrating on the final half hour of his event became impossible. All he could think about was the man upstairs, waiting in his apartment. It spoke to how deeply entangled he was with Tate if the man took up more of his brain than this night he’d been planning for years.
“Thank you, Liam. This was just wonderful.” A woman who’d introduced herself as Cathy and showed up with three rowdy children in tow hugged him. “I have all three of them signed up.”
“Excellent. Classes will begin next week. And if you know anyone who is a dance teacher looking for work, please send them my way. It looks like I’ll need to hire another teacher right away.”
Not a bad problem to have. Every class advertised had filled, and he even had a waitlist forming for his nonexistent second teacher.
“Absolutely. I have someone in mind, so I’ll pass her your information.”
“Thank you so much. I look forward to teaching your little ones.”
He had similar conversations with many lingering customers, and within fifty minutes, everyone cleared out, and the studio fell blessedly silent. Liam killed the music and then fell into the front desk chair, completely exhausted. The night was a success beyond what he’d ever imagined, and he felt like he was floating on cloud nine.
The studio was a mess and would require a few hours of dedicated cleaning, but Liam had something much more pressing to attend to. He forced his tired body up, turned off the lights, locked the exterior doors, and practically flew up the stairs to his apartment.
When he walked in, he found Tate reclined on his couch, snoozing. Liam smiled. The man had shed his shoes and socks, leaving those large feet bare as they rested on the couch. As usual, Tate wore a T-shirt and jeans. His shaggy hair was mussed, giving off a sexy, disheveled vibe. Liam’s hands itched to mess him up even more.
He didn't bother to change out of his dance tights or fitted tee. Instead, he walked straight to the couch and climbed on the dozing man, straddling his lap.
“Luxe?” Tate asked in a sleepy voice before he opened his eyes. His hands were already full of Liam’s ass by the time he completely woke.
“It’s me.” Nothing had been settled between them, but he couldn’t resist reaching out and sifting his fingers through Tate’s hair.
“Mmm.” Tate leaned into his touch with a near purr. His eyes opened. Sorrow and pain reflected up at him from those deep blue orbs.
“I’m sorry,” they said at the same time.
“What? No.” Tate shook his head. “What the hell do you have to be sorry for? Jesus, Luxe, I was an ass. You were so right. We just met. I don’t know your past or what you’ve gone through in your life. I never should have said that shit.”
“And I shouldn’t have tried to label you or force you to label yourself.” He ran his hands through Tate’s hair again to feel the softness on his fingers. “You never have to pick a label if you don’t want to. It was wrong of me to throw that in your face. I was upset about what happened earlier in the day and overreacted.”
“No.” He shook his head. “You didn’t. You were right to be upset and to call me out. I looked up that internalized homophobia stuff you mentioned.”
Liam winced. “I shouldn’t have thrown that at you.” He’d forever hate how he’d let anger control him that day.
Tate swallowed. “I’m-I’m gay.” He nodded once. “Gay. That’s how I identify.”
Liam felt the grin stretch his cheeks. “First time?”
“No,” he said with a sheepish grin. “I said it to my car mirror earlier today. I never even realized how I had taken the garbage I had been told my whole life and turned it on myself. I thought I was so open-minded, accepting others for who they were, but I couldn’t do it for myself.”
“I’m so proud of you.” He kept his hands in Tate’s hair, massaging while he enjoyed the cool strands against his skin.
He snorted. “I might fuck up sometimes, but it will never be like it was the other day. I’m so fucking sorry for how I reacted when Randy almost found us. I’m so sorry you got hurt.”
“That’s in the past. And I’m fine. My hands are practically healed already, and my knees don’t hurt anymore. Promise me you won’t beat yourself up over that anymore.”
“I’m still a work in progress, Luxe.”
He wasn’t the only one. “I get that. And I understand years of learning, even if it’s wrong, doesn’t go away in one afternoon. But you’ve taken a huge, scary step. I’m allowed to be proud of you.”
Tate squeezed his ass. Liam rocked forward as he shivered in pleasure.
“Speaking of proud…” Tate said as he kneaded Liam’s cheeks over his tights. “Damn, you did good down there tonight, Luxe. You’re incredible with those kids. They worship you already.”