You Belong to Me – 80

 

Releasing his hold on Corey, Scott took his hand and led him to the sofa. “I’ve come to a decision.”

 

“Which is?” Corey asked after sitting down.

 

“I want there to be an ‘us’.” Scott sat, looking gravely at Corey. “There’s a string attached, though. You have to be you all the time, not just in private or at a club.”

 

“Meaning I have to admit to the world I’m gay. I’m… I’m not sure I’m ready to do that yet.”

 

“Then I guess I should leave, because I’m not willing to keep what I feel for you secret.” Scott put his finger over Corey’s lips when the younger man started to reply. “I’m not saying I’m in love with you. We haven’t known each other long enough to have gotten to that stage. But… I do like you more than a little, and I want to see if there could be something more than friendship between us. Of course”—he smiled ruefully, moving his finger away—“this could all be one-sided. You might not see me as anything other than a man you had to pretend to like so we could catch your stalker.”

 

“How can you say that?” Corey asked, dismayed Scott thought it could be true. “Okay, yeah, maybe at first it was playacting. That changed fast. I wasn’t… I didn’t mean to….” He worried his lip with his teeth. “Yes, I teased some, but only because I knew you’d disappear once you wrapped up the case. I teased rather than letting you know how I really felt.”

 

Scott blew out a relieved breath. “Then you’re willing to see if we can be more than friends?”

 

Corey nodded. “Yes,” he whispered.

 

“Even with the proviso that I won’t be your deep, dark secret?”

 

Corey looked directly into Scott’s eyes. “Yes,” he said resolutely. “No more hiding who I am. From anyone.”

 

“Thank God!”

 

Corey’s reply to that was to wrap his arms around Scott’s neck, then meld their lips together. The kiss began slowly, just a brief exploration of each other’s lips. Soon, though, Corey wanted more. He urged Scott to open to him, then began an in-depth exploration of his mouth. Obviously not intending to be outdone, Scott delved into Corey’s mouth. Their tongues warred as the kiss heated, until it became necessary for them both to breathe.   

 

Pulling away, panting slightly, Corey managed to get out, “I have a proviso too.”

 

Scott leaned back and looked at him. “What?”