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Admittedly, Isaac felt bad for Levi, who was pacing, growing more agitated by the moment.

“I’m not ignoring you. We spoke, but I work at Lucky’s. I’m not there to hang out and talk.”

“That’s not what I mean.” Sympathetic to Levi’s obvious distress, Isaac gentled his tone. “Can I assume you’re in the closet? That you haven’t come out to anyone?”

Levi’s face turned bright red. “Well…yeah. That’s part of it,” he mumbled. “You saw those guys. Can you imagine me telling them I’m gay?”

“I don’t know. Can you?”

“No.”

There was no hesitation, and Isaac knew he should get up and leave. He had no idea why he was there in the first place. Then he recalled Levi’s nervous smile when they first met and his wild abandon later that evening in bed, and knew he wasn’t ready to give that up. Not yet.

Having resumed his pacing of the small space, Levi reminded Isaac of a caged predator—all that coiled tension beneath the beautiful, sleek exterior. Without thinking, he left his seat and met Levi in the middle of the room. He took his arm, and Levi froze. Isaac slid his hand up Levi’s biceps and curved it around his nape. A deep shudder ran through Levi.

“It must be very hard to live like this.” Moving closer, he pressed his chest against Levi’s, and Isaac swore he could hear the frantic pounding of Levi’s heart.

“I-I’m used to it,” Levi whispered.

“Maybe so.” Isaac dipped his head and kissed Levi’s lips, his cheeks, and the flutter of his lashes. “But you shouldn’t have to be. You don’t have to be.” His fingers gripped Levi’s shoulders and pulled him nearer.