It's Complicated: A Reservations Story

If Beckett were, in fact, going to make his move, then he’d have to do it slowly. Give Julian enough time to feel like he had a say in what happened.

“We need to move past you saying all those things to push me away.” Beckett took a step closer to Julian, setting the burger on top of the car in a very purposeful movement. “Nothing’s changed for me except that I’m finally breaking through your barriers. I’m getting to know you, and I really like learning about the complexity of the man you are.”

“Beckett,” Julian said, his voice a little louder than a whisper as his blue eyes tracked every one of Beckett’s movements. “I’m not good enough for you. I’m not saying I’m a bad guy, but you deserve so much more than me.”

Beckett took the final step in, stopping a hairsbreadth from being chest to chest. He looked over Julian’s handsome face, memorizing every angle like he had done so many times before. Julian wouldn’t look him in the eyes. The uncertainty came as a surprise from a man who appeared to own the world around him. Beckett slid a finger along Julian’s perfect jawline, the tip catching him under the chin. He slowly lifted Julian’s face until those haunting eyes met his.

“I know what I want. I’m just waiting for you to catch up.”

Resignation crossed Julian’s face as he opened his mouth to speak. His sweet breath puffed across Beckett’s face and neck. Julian’s warm hand slid inside Beckett’s suit coat and fisted into the side of his dress shirt. Seconds passed before Julian finally spoke.

“I’m not into monogamy. I have no interest in the confines of a relationship.”

Beckett grinned and stepped closer, brushing against Julian’s chest, bringing his palms to Julian’s cheeks. That was such a strong relationship boundary statement that Beckett’s heart clung to the hope. His palms skimmed across Julian’s stubble. He couldn’t help the way his fingers ended up tangling in Julian’s short, silky strands. The pads of his thumbs swept across the soft skin of Julian’s cheek. He committed it all to memory as he registered Julian’s heart wildly thumping against his own.

“Julian, I’ll never ask you to change. When we get there, we’ll deal with it.”

Julian opened his mouth to say more, probably another argument as to why this would never work. Beckett wasn’t interested and shifted his thumbs to cover Julian’s lips, stopping him from saying more.

“I’m going to kiss you. Are you good?”

Turmoil swirled in Julian’s vibrant eyes, but he gave a single small nod as he pushed his other hand into Beckett’s jacket, his arms circling Beckett’s waist, sliding up his back. Beckett dipped his head at the clear invitation. Julian lifted on his tiptoes, meeting him halfway.

Beckett palmed Julian’s face as their mouths met, hot and greedy. Those lips were soft but firm and oh so fucking pliant against his. When they parted, and he slid inside, the sugar and cinnamon of Julian’s taste drove him to chase after the intriguing flavor with his tongue.

Licking into Julian’s mouth, soft and slow, Beckett savored every second, every brush of Julian’s tongue against his. The fact that Julian had wanted to kiss him meant everything. He’d kept to his word and allowed Julian as much time as he needed.

Their tongues tangled as the kiss deepened, and the intensity grew tenfold in a matter of seconds. Beckett couldn’t get enough of this man. He moved his hands from Julian’s face to the back of his neck, holding him in place as he explored his mouth, swallowing Julian’s soft moans as he clung tighter to Beckett. He didn’t ever want to let Julian go either. He had lost himself in this beautiful man. Beckett wanted nothing more than to hold Julian in his arms forever.

The sheer romance of the moment had Julian clinging to Beckett, begging for more until the need to breathe and gain perspective had him pulling back from the intimate kiss. Julian’s insides shook. Not for the reason he might expect but from passionately kissing a man again. The unbridled desire running rampant through every nerve ending in his body had set off the trembling. He had a hard time thinking straight. Impossible to put his thoughts in any sort of succinct order. The kiss had affected him.

Beckett tightened his arms as Julian lifted his eyes, staring into Beckett’s compassion-filled dark gaze. Their soft puffs of breath hit and mingled together as Julian’s heart drummed wildly in his chest. He couldn’t hold the stare. The moment was too intense. He dropped his chin to his chest, his forehead knocking against Beckett’s collarbone.

The barrage of emotions had completely caught him off guard, fueling the desire. Julian didn’t want to close his eyes, because he didn’t want to miss a single second of what happened. And something significant was happening.