Page 77 of Grounding the Baker
“He’s a baby.”
“Twenty isn’t a baby.”
“He’s half my age.”
“You’ve always said it’s the age of the mind which matters most.”
“Yeah, but within reason. Not someone in their twenties. That’s just wrong.”
“Excuse me?”
“Liam’s different. He’s more mature that most of us.”
“That’s fair,” said Austin with a chuckle.
“There’s no way Callum’s interested in someone likeme. And regardless, his brothers would break my legs if I even considered looking at their baby brother like that.”
“Again, fair!”
They both laughed.
“How are things going with you and Liam?”
“Didn’t you get a full update from Giselle earlier?”
“Of course, but I’d like to hear the proper story.”
“He’s... fuck, Michael. I’m in deep. I just can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“Wow. Have you told him how you feel?”
“No, but I will. I just don’t want to scare him off. You know how intense I can be.”
Michael nodded, looking thoughtful. “Don’t take too long to say anything, though. If he doesn’t feel the same way, better to know now rather than get hurt.”
“Don’t say things like that, Michael. If he doesn’t feel the same way, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“I don’t think it’ll be a problem. Based on the way his face lights up whenever your name is mentioned, I know he feels the same way. He might just think the same as you and be worried his feelings have developed too quickly. But you guys practically edged each other for three months before your first date.”
Austin chuckled. He’d been right to wait until Liam was ready. There had been too much on his plate at the beginning of the year, even if Liam didn’t see it himself. The difference in Liam over the past few weeks had been remarkable. He smiled more, and those dark circles around his eyes were gone, so he was clearly sleeping better. Austin almost felt guilty about keeping him up late whenever he was in his bed, but Liam never complained. Austin would tell Liam how he felt soon. He’d know when the time was right.
TWENTY
LIAM
“Are you pouting?” asked Liam, unable to suppress a grin.
Austin rolled on top of him, his cock pressing against Liam’s leg. How was that thing hard again already? He tickled Liam’s sides, making him squeal and try to get free from Austin’s fingers.
“It’s only two nights,” he gasped, protesting.
“I’ll miss you,” said Austin, kissing Liam’s neck, making him moan. The things this man could do with his mouth, and tongue, and... well... everything.
“At least you won’t have to get woken up at half-three tomorrow.”
“I don’t care about that, because I can go back to sleep and the pillows still smell of you.”
Liam felt his heart rate speed up. Austin was very open about his feelings for Liam. They’d only been officially dating for just over a month, and sleeping together the last three weeks, and he meant that literally. Liam had stayed at Austin’s almost every night since the first night they’d spent together. It felt intense, but not in a way that made Liampanic. He was a little scared, though. He’d had guys offer him the world, and as soon as he let his guard down and said those three little words, he’d been dropped, ghosted, or treated like shit. Liam knew in his heart that Austin wasn’t like those guys, but he couldn’t risk it by putting his feelings out there. He couldn’t be the first to say what his true feelings were. Not this time.
