Page 43 of The Librarian’s Familiar

“I felt it. Right now, I don’t care about the bond.” He grabbed Charlie’s hoodie and pulled him to his feet.

A part of him was glad that he hadn’t dressed properly and was still in pajama pants and a T-shirt with the hoodie for extra warmth… On the other hand, his well-worn and extremely comfortable light gray pants, dotted with cats unraveling balls of wool—which he’d bought as a bit of a joke—were not doing anything to conceal his hard-on.

His dick jutted forward, tenting the pajama pants in a rather obscene way. August didn’t even look down; he simply wrapped his hand around Charlie’s shaft and stroked him through the fabric.

Charlie sucked in a breath and lifted onto his toes, hands on August’s chest. “If you keep doing that…”

Did August want to be fucked? It didn’t bother him, but that’s what plenty of guys wanted.

August gave the head a light squeeze. “As much as I want to make you come in your pants, I’m hoping that you will come in me. If you want…how much do you like topping?”

“About the same as I like bottoming.”

August frowned. “Does that mean you like both or neither?”

“Both. You?”

“Topping seems like hard work; I’d much rather lie there and groan appreciatively.”

Charlie laughed. He had never heard anyone describe it quite like that. “Have you done that often?”

“No because I don’t want a stranger all up in my business.”

“Right…and because of who you are, you’ve never had a boyfriend?” How much experience did August actually have?

August kissed him. “What do you think those solo trips over summer were for? It’s quite easy to find a holiday fling that lasts for a few weeks.”

“And you want me after only a few days. I feel very honored.”

“Well, you are my fated mate, so I figure if we’re going to test this thing, we might as well go balls to the wall.”

“Or balls to your ass.”

“That’s definitely more fun.” August grabbed his hand and led him toward the bedroom.

Charlie glanced back at his half-full mug of coffee. This was not how he expected breakfast to end, but he should’ve known something was up by the way he’d made porridge for two. It’s been so focused on the unravelling of the bond that he hadn’t paid attention to the feelings coming through the bond.

August released his hand the moment he stepped into the bedroom and began pulling off his clothes.

“Are you always in this much of a rush?”

“Habit…though I don’t want you unraveling every stitch of clothing I own.”

“Fair call, and it is fucking tempting.” Clothing was easy to unravel, and it wouldn’t take much. A couple of seams…

“Don’t even think about it.” August cupped the back of Charlie’s neck and kissed him hard enough that for a few minutes, he couldn’t think of anything else. August’s hands slid under his hoodie, then under his T-shirt, before pulling them both up at the same time.

Charlie wriggled out and shoved down his pajama pants.

August’s gaze skimmed over his body. “Now who’s in a rush?”

“I’m being efficient.” He helped August get out of his jeans, letting his hand brush against August’s cock. He didn’t smell like he’d been outside cutting wood and getting sweaty.

“I like it when you’re efficient.” He sat on the edge of the bed to take his shoes off.

Charlie dropped to his knees and pulled off his boots and socks, placing them to one side before pulling off August’s jeans and briefs. He ran his palms over August’s thighs, enjoying the feel of his hair against his skin. It was tempting to rush, but even though August wanted it, he didn’t do it very often, and Charlie didn’t want to leave a bad impression—and not only because they might end up stuck together forever.

That was a thought he wasn’t quite ready to entertain. He struggled to imagine anything permanent because he was so used to everything falling apart…which was always his fault.