Page 64 of Psychic Obsession
Nikolai wanted to caress Frode.He wanted to hold him, to kiss him, to slide his hand underneath his clothes, but he didn't move.He was surprised he'd managed to get Frode to lean against him; pushing for more would be stupid.
He didn't know where he stood.Frode had spent twenty years avoiding him, and he didn't think his animosity would go away overnight.They had talked about the incident, though.Nikolai had acknowledged he might have been a dick back in school, had tried to explain why he'd acted the way he had.
He should've kissed Frode then.Not with the whole football team watching, but he was at Hjalmar's place several times a week.He could've gone to Frode.Could've talked to him, could've...done a lot of things.
Hjalmar might've been pissed for a week or two, but he honestly didn't think it would've been a problem.Not like it would've been if anyone in Nikolai's family had found out.
Or maybe it was good things had turned out the way they had.Teenage relationships seldom lasted, and maybe he'd have lost Hjalmar in the process.
Though he could've been there for Frode when his powers manifested.Could've supported him.
Sighing didn't help much.
He was glad he hadn't allowed his family to say hurtful things to Frode.If they'd been a couple back then, he was sure they would have found out, and it wouldn't have been pretty.
Without thinking, he curled his arm tighter around Frode and hugged him.He wouldn't allow any of his family members near Frode.The risk was small.He'd been in town for three months, and he'd spotted Uncle Georgiy in the grocery store once, only to have him meet Nikolai's eyes, then whirl around and stomp away.It didn't matter.Had it been Uncle Mikhail, it would've hurt, but he didn't give a fuck what Georgiy thought of him.
"Hey."Frode patted his hand with a gloved one, and for a second Nikolai could understand why Declan had disliked the gloves.If Frode hadn't worn them, there would've been skin contact.On the other hand, if he hadn't worn them, he wouldn't be relaxing under Nikolai's arm.He'd be lost in a trance and might end up barfing all over him, so the gloves needed to stay on.
"Are you okay?"
Nikolai met Frode's worried gaze."Yes, fine."
"Then why are you trying to squeeze the air out of me?"
Blinking helped little."Sorry."He wasn't squeezing him, was he?
"What were you thinking about?"
Ugh, he didn't want to talk.He toyed with Frode's hair and plastered on a smile."It's nothing.How are we doing in the game?"He glanced at the TV.The numbers on the scoreboard had changed.He must've missed a few goals.
"No idea.Basketball is pretty boring to watch.They're skilled, and if I could've done what they do with a ball, I might have played basketball, but--"
"You're like half as tall as they are."The referee looked tiny next to the players, but Nikolai didn't think he was particularly short.
"Fuck you, Nesterova.We can't all be built like linebackers."
Nikolai grinned."Compared to those guys, I'm tiny."Which was a bit unnerving to think about.He was used to being among the tallest in a room, and he liked it that way.He and Hjalmar towered over most, which made it easy to exchange looks and eyerolls when they were in a room full of people.
"Is Julian tall?"
Nikolai widened his eyes.The question threw him."Eh...no.He's your size."
"My size?"Frode raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, you know.Tiny."
Frode huffed."I'm not tiny."
No, he wasn't.He was lean, but Nikolai would guess he was 5'11."Maybe an inch or so shorter than you."
"So you like tiny?"
Nikolai shrugged.He didn't think he'd ever gone for a guy based on his height, but most men he picked up were smaller than he was.He almost snorted.Picked up.As if it was something he did.He hadn't picked anyone up in years, not since before Julian."I don't bring a measuring tape to a date."
Frode grinned, and it stole Nikolai's breath.He didn't grin often, at least not in this carefree manner.Frode was pretty good at sneers, but this was unguarded amusement, and it made Nikolai's heart speed up.
"What about you?"
