"If you kiss me now, it can be."
Liam stared at him.
For one second, the room held very still.
Then Liam's face did something complicated, betrayed first by the faintest warmth at the tips of his ears, then rescued immediately by irritation.
"You are impossible."
"I am hopeful."
"You are using your beauty and emotional timing against a recovering man."
"Yes."
"At least deny it."
"I respect you too much to lie poorly."
Liam's eyes narrowed. "That was dangerously charming."
"I can try again."
"No."
Arik's mouth curved in a dashing smile.
Liam hated that.
He hated that he had been furious for days, still was furious, and yet Arik could lie beneath him looking exhausted and beautiful and terrifyingly devoted, and some stupid part of Liam's body would still consider the matter from a strictly technical perspective.
A kiss would not solve anything.
Liam leaned down anyway.
Arik did not move to meet him.
