Better to Believe (Harrison Campus 4)

“Come on, Lionheart.” Coury helped Liam to his feet. “We have two flights to climb to get you to bed.”

“You’re so cute.” Liam patted Coury’s cheek. “You think I won’t make it.”

“Sure you will. I have total confidence in you.” He flung Liam’s arm over his shoulder and hoped he didn’t need to carry him.

Liam wagged a finger in front of Coury and tried to get face to face. That caused him to stumble and he almost brought them both down. “You just want to get me into your bed.”

“If you’d rather use mine you can. I’ll sleep in Luke’s.”

Actually, that’d be the right call. His bed was closest to the door. Liam could get to the bathroom if he felt sick. And if Liam puked, it’d be better in his bed than Luke’s.

They made it up the first flight. “I don’t want to sleep with Luke.”

“No worries, tiger. Luke’s with his boyfriend.”

“I’m a lion. Roar!” Liam laughed so hard he slipped free and Coury had to brace himself to make sure they didn’t fall.

“Right, you’re a lion.” He got Liam leaning forward and wedged himself under his right arm again. “Roar.”

“Still don’t want to sleep with Luke.” He muttered something else Coury didn’t catch.

“You can talk to him tomorrow. Tonight you’re stuck with me.” At the top of the stairs, they turned toward his room. They passed the bathroom, and Coury kept moving. Once they got settled, he’d check if Liam needed to piss before bed.

It took an effort to unlock his door with Liam clinging to his side, but it was cute. He wished he’d thought to record it to show Liam when he woke up. The door swung open and Liam threw both arms around Coury’s shoulders, draping himself over his front in a burst of squirmy warmth.

He was like a cat, nuzzling close. Somehow, Coury managed to get his key from the lock—

A sigh sifted over his chin and the warmth between them pressed close as Liam planted firm lips on Coury’s.

Coury froze at the suddenness of it, but the shock melted quickly. Now that Liam’s lips were gently moving against his, it felt like a period at the end of a sentence. A natural end to a night of casual flirting.

A soft sound escaped Liam, and he pushed his tongue into Coury’s mouth, not demanding but pleading. His hands found Coury’s cheeks, and Liam angled his head, deepening the kiss.

The first slide of their tongues sent a current through Coury, hot and fierce, and he resisted the urge to reciprocate. Liam was drunk. This might not mean what Coury wanted it to mean.

Coury gently pushed Liam back. “Easy Lion-Boy. There’s no making out in the hallway.”

Coury practically carried Liam through the door. They moved around Luke’s bed and Coury scooped up Liam’s coat before letting him fall back onto the mattress.

“Right. Making out on the bed is better.”

“Sometimes.” Coury shoved a trembling hand through his hair. He wanted to do just what Liam suggested and put all doubt to rest. But Liam wasn’t sober enough.

He pulled Liam’s sneakers off and set them beside the bed. Emptying his trash can into Luke’s, he put it by the bed.

“If you feel like you’re gonna hurl, try to get it in the can, okay?”

Liam flung an arm over his eyes. “I won’t get sick.”

“I’m sure you won’t, but it’s there just in case.” He eyed the blanket under Liam and wished he’d pulled it back. The third floor was warmer than the others, but he generally used the blanket at night. That and Liam’s jeans and long-sleeve Henley weren’t great sleepwear. “Liam, take off your shirt and pants and get under the blanket. You’ll be more comfortable.”

Liam peeked out from under his arm and stared at Coury. His gaze swept up and down and then back up until their eyes met. “You should take them off for me.” He wiggled his brows. “And then take yours off, too, and come lie next to me.”

“Ha, right.” Coury took his shirt off and grabbed two T-shirts from his drawer. He tossed one on the bed for Liam and pulled the other over his own head. From the drawer below, he took out two pairs of navy-blue Harrison gym shorts. He flipped one pair on top of the tee on his bed.

“You gonna sleep like that?”

“Fine.” Liam pushed himself up and nearly fell over reaching for the clothes Coury had set out. “Oops.”

Coury jumped over just in time to prevent Liam from falling on the floor. “Come on. Try to get your shirt off.”

Liam pulled it from the bottom up and the white cotton fabric got stuck over his face; Coury grabbed a handful of shirt and helped ease it over Liam’s head. His lean torso heaved with each breath, and Coury had to tear his gaze away from the tight abs covered in a dusting of light brown hair.