Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
As Luke crossed the library and headed for the stairs that would take him to the second floor, his gaze caught on a familiar head bent over a book. The table was covered with a variety of other books, his laptop, and an open notebook for writing his thoughts as he read.
With a smirk, Luke walked briskly along the edge of the room so he could get to Matteo without the chance of being noticed. He circled around, dodging other students as they grabbed books from the shelves for their studies, while student librarians pushed heavily laden carts back to the stacks to return other books to their proper spots. Sunlight streamed down through a series of skylights, making the library appear to be a magical place.
An internal debate raged within him. What should he do when he reached Matteo?
Cover Matteo’s eyes with his hands?
Kiss him on the cheek?
Tickle him?
Ugh, all of that was too corny and silly. He didn’t want to scare Matteo away before they could go on their first date.
He was still debating when Matteo stood and turned toward the stacks, so that they nearly ran into each other, surprising them both.
“Luke!” he said in a whispered gasp.
“Crap!” Luke cursed. “I was trying to surprise you.”
“You succeeded.” Matteo grabbed Luke’s hand and pulled him to the table he’d been using. Luke fell into the seat across from Matteo and smiled the moment he noticed Matteo had yet to release his hand.
“I don’t want to disturb your studies. I stopped in to check out a book and I saw you studying.”
“Research for a paper,” Matteo grumbled. “Are you done with classes for the day?”
Luke nodded. “You?”
Matteo’s shoulder slumped, and his expression became pained. “I’ve got one more in…” he glanced up at the clock on the wall, “about thirty-five minutes.”
“Oh, then I should leave you to finish your research before class.” Luke started to pull his hand free of Matteo’s hold, but Matteo only tightened his fingers around Luke’s.
A wide grin returned to Matteo’s lips. “No, what you should do is help me retrieve a book.”
“Oh…okay,” Luke agreed. If it meant they could spend a little more time together, why not?
He went with Matteo as the younger man rose to his feet and sort of tugged Luke with a playful grin. They wound through the area filled with tables where students were reading, writing, or quietly discussing important topics. No one appeared to notice them as Matteo pulled him back through the tall bookcases that stretched forever.
The bright lighting provided by the skylights didn’t reach this far into the library, and the traditional bulb lighting was so much dimmer here. Shadows grew thicker, and there was even dust accumulating on the shelves.
Matteo turned at the next aisle and moved into the stacks. Luke’s brow furrowed, and he lifted his eyes to the books, trying to skim some of the titles. What in the world was Matteo researching that they were heading into what felt like a little-used area of the library?
At the next turn, Matteo spun toward Luke, put his hand on Luke’s chest, and pushed him against the shelves.
“Wha—” Luke didn’t even get all of his question out before a pair of incredibly soft, warm lips found his. He relaxed, melting into the stolen kiss. Matteo let out a hum of happiness as the tip of his talented tongue slid along the seam of Luke’s mouth. Luke’s lips parted, and the kiss deepened, sending the most wonderful tingles rushing throughout his body.
Kissing Matteo was fast becoming Luke’s favorite thing in the entire world. No one kissed like Matteo. His lips always used the right kind of pressure. Soft and sweet as he explored, kissing Luke as if nothing could ever rush him. No, it was like he planned to spend all day just kissing Luke. Then, so slowly, more pressure would creep in, demanding more, stoking fires throughout Luke’s body until he was just a tangled ball of aching need. How could he not love all of this?
He was kissing the hottest guy in the world in the campus library in the middle of the day. How was this his life now? It wasn’t that long ago that he’d skulked around the library, trying to find a secret place to grab an hour of sleep, hoping no one would discover him and kick him out. Now he had a wonderful home, weird but helpful roommates, and a sexy man who enjoyed kissing him.
“Ope! This spot’s taken!” A woman’s soft, giggling voice broke through their kiss. Matteo ripped his mouth from Luke’s and for a second Luke could only blink, waiting for his brain to kick in.
“Sorry,” Matteo murmured, not sounding all that remorseful at all.
“Hey! Matteo!” The young woman who’d been turning away jerked back. Her voice was still in a whisper, but the amusement in her voice had turned to annoyance as she marched toward them. Behind her was a muscular blond who looked as if he could play on the college’s football team. The young woman was a tiny pixie who was half his size and a quarter of his weight, and yet she had a firm hold on his hand as she dragged him behind her.