Page 52 of Sharing Silence
I shake my head. “No. It looks good.”
The energy between us has shifted. While the comfort and familiarity are still there, there’s an undercurrent of more—of a pulsing heat that I’m afraid could destroy everything. Yale searches my eyes, and I’m noticing things that I never have before, the first being just how beautiful he is. Kindness shines through him in such a way that I’m holding myself back.
My hand is still on his beard, and he gently takes my wrist. “Did Xavier say something to upset you?”
Quite the opposite. My cheeks heat. “No.”
“You ran out of there pretty fast.”
“I did.” I exhale deeply and pull my hand away to wrap my arms around my middle. “Still trying to get my head around the … rules.”
He looks away and pushes his hands into his pockets. “Right. We didn’t really have much time to discuss them.”
My heart thumps in my ears, but I cling to the rhythm as if it can ground me. I’m still aching from my conversation with Xavier. The things we said, the things I almost did … that should be enough, right? I dipped my toe in; now’s the time to regroup.
But with Yale right next to me, I find myself eager to test him, too. Xavier is clearly extremely dominant, and the line obliterated between us with just a few words.
What if it isn’t so easy with Yale?
“Zayden told me to go with what happens in the moment,” I say, my voice low. “He trusts me. He trusts both of you.” Yale remains quiet, and I steal a glance up at him. “He said if I needed to kiss you, to touch you, to figure this out, then … I could. But I’m scared.” My throat suddenly feels full and aching. “I’m so scared I’ll lose you. I love you so much, and I don’t want to push you into anything that would change us forever.”
Yale Silver searches my face, quiet, observing. I can read him so well, but there’s a distinct shift in him after I ask that question.
“You’re worried I don’t want you?”
I nod tearily. “And that we’ll only find that out when we’ve gone too far. I’d rather never do this than lose you. You’re my best friend.”
He doesn’t hide his hurt, but that isn’t what I wanted. I’d rather be honest now than after. “You were sure about Xavier.”
“There’s a disconnect with him,” I insist. “But with you—”
“Our connection is why this would work,” he says quietly, and takes my hand, pressing my palm against his chest. His steady heartbeat thrums, and the intensity in his eyes has me wanting to check my own heart is still beating. “Yes, I’m your friend. That means I know you, I love you, I miss you when we aren’t together. I adore you.” I smile softly, and he cups my cheek, his thumb sweeping away a stray tear. “But there’s another side of me, love. One that wants to fucking worship you.” I pull in a breath, but it’s almost impossible, especially with what happens next.
He kneels.
Yale Silver kneels in front of me, his hands resting on my outer thighs, head tipped back to look up at me. His green eyes are shadowed in the darkness of the room, and as my heart thrashes inside my chest, he simply watches me.
I can’t breathe. Can’t think. But I’m speaking before I can do either.
“Touch me.”
His expression becomes that of someone else entirely. His heated gaze remains locked on mine as he tucks his fingers into the belt of my robe and slowly tugs it open. It parts, revealing my underwear, and Yale slips his hands inside and rests them on my hips. His palms are warm, not as calloused as Zayden’s, and he makes slow circles on my skin as he gently pulls me forward—and presses his lips to my stomach.
My head drops back and my eyes flutter closed. He kisses across one hip, then the other, and I tangle my fingers in his hair. Arousal pools between my legs, and I pull in fast breaths as he gently presses the tip of his tongue to my skin.
I’m dizzy, almost drunk, with need, and more words escape me.
“Kiss me, Yale.”
His hands slip to my lower back, and he pulls me down until I’m straddling him, and then his mouth is on mine.
Yale Silver.
My brother-in-law.
My best fucking friend.
And oh my God, he kisses like he’ll die if he stops.
