Max frowned. “Would you rather I didn’t?”
“No.” He laughed awkwardly, and Max gave him a tentative smile that melted Jeremy’s anger. “Not used to it, I guess.” He bit his lip. Screw it. “Are you jealous?”
The question hung in the air. Max was still by the closed door, and Jeremy had retreated to the end of the narrow bathroom by the toilet, the old claw-foot tub and shower to his right. He fiddled with the shower curtain as he waited for Max’s answer. Levi had been so certain, but…
“Yes.” Max gazed at him, his brown eyes focused on Jeremy like there was nothing else in the world. “I’m jealous as fuck.”
Heart skipping, Jeremy kept his expression neutral, or so he hoped. “What if I was trying to make you jealous?”
Max’s eyebrows shot up. “It worked. I hated seeing you with him. I don’t want him touching you.” He stepped closer. He cupped Jeremy’s face and ran his hands down over his shoulders. “Truth is, I don’t want anyone touching you. I want you all to myself.”
Jeremy could barely resist throwing himself into Max’s arms, but he held firm. He had to know his trust was warranted. “What if I say you can’t have me?”
Inhaling sharply, Max stepped back and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Then I can’t have you. Then I really did fuck up everything.”
Warmth swelled in his chest, and Jeremy couldn’t hide his grin. “Can we stop pretending we’re just friends?”
In an exhaled rush, Max hauled Jeremy into his arms. Jeremy clung to his broad shoulders through his thick coat, his toes barely touching the worn tile floor.
The kiss was everything he’d imagined—hot and tender and absolutely consuming, Max’s tongue invading his mouth. He tasted faintly of chocolate and mint, and Jeremy wondered if it was mint chocolate or chocolate and toothpaste or maybe gum. He met Max’s tongue with his own, and Max hummed, seemingly in approval.
He’d never tasted or smelled or felt another person so intimately. It had been less than a week since they’d last kissed, and it felt like forever. Jeremy was almost frantic with need, on his tiptoes rubbing against Max. His cock ached, pressing against the fly of his jeans. He tried to hook a leg around Max, relief and joy taking a backseat to lust.
Max broke away with a grin, that dimpled flash of white teeth firing Jeremy’s blood even hotter. Max tore off his coat and reached down to hoist up Jeremy, propping his ass on the edge of the sink. Jeremy wrapped his legs around Max, groaning as their erections thrust together through their jeans. Breathing hard, Max broke away.
“I’m supposed to be the experienced one here, but I screwed up that play big time.”
“Are you going to start talking in football clichés again?” He slipped his hands under Max’s sweater, stroking up to his nipples and making Max gasp. That gasp was fuel to the fire, Jeremy’s confidence growing. Max wanted him. Max had been jealous! Jeremy boldly joked, “Because I might have to catch up with Levi if you do.”
Max laughed. “Oh, I see how it is. Fine, I deserve that.” He nipped Jeremy’s ear, his fingers threading through his hair. “I was an idiot. I never wanted you to go on that date. I hated that you even opened the app.”
“I really was just curious! Trust me, I don’t want anyone else with my dream guy sleeping right across the hall.”
Max groaned. “God, the last two nights were torture.” He rubbed Jeremy’s erection through his jeans. “Especially last night. Couldn’t stop thinking about this. Getting my mouth on you.”
Jeremy shuddered, arching into Max’s touch. “I was dying for you to sneak over.”
Max kissed him. Hard. When he broke the kiss, he whispered, “You have no idea how hot you are.”
Jeremy opened and closed his mouth, and Max laughed. “You’re going to argue with me, aren’t you? Tell me you’re not hot. You’re so innocent, but you drive me crazy. You tease me with that tongue of yours. One flick and I’m thinking about blow jobs. Thinking of all the ways to break the stupid house rules.”
Jeremy’s dick swelled even more, his body tingling. “We shouldn’t. I’m a guest.”
“You want me to stop?” He rubbed Jeremy, bending to suck his neck.
“Don’t you dare. Can you—” Jeremy broke off, suddenly shy.
“What? Anything you want, baby.”
“Can you kiss me again?”
Max caressed Jeremy’s cheek with his rough hand and pressed their lips together. This kiss was gentle at first. Dry and light. Their noses bumped, and Jeremy laughed softly. “Sorry. I still have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Don’t worry.” Max traced Jeremy’s cheekbone with his thumb. “I do.” He grinned, then tilted Jeremy’s head and kissed him harder.
Now it was wet again, the rasp of Max’s stubble wonderful on Jeremy’s skin. Jeremy was very much being kissed, and when Max slipped his tongue inside, he moaned and clutched at Max’s thick arms. Being invaded like that turned him on big time, and he surrendered gratefully, gasping for air whenever he could.
Still kissing him, Max tipped him back on the sink, reaching down to push Jeremy’s legs farther apart. Jeremy winced at the pressure on the fresh bruising on his butt.
“What?” Max blinked at him in the sunlight streaming through the yellow curtains on the small window. He bolted up to stand straight between Jeremy’s splayed thighs. “Does it hurt?”
“A little. Don’t worry about it.” Jeremy tugged Max’s sweater, but Max didn’t budge.
“I’m totally going to worry about you being in pain. That’s not good pain.” He eased Jeremy back onto his feet.
“Please don’t stop.” Jeremy didn’t care how much his bruised butt hurt.
“Oh, don’t worry.” A smile tugged on Max’s full lips. “I’m not stopping. Wouldn’t be cool of me to leave you in this state. You really need this, huh?” He rubbed Jeremy’s straining cock slowly, the denim taut.
“Please.” Jeremy arched his back, eager for more pressure on his dick. He’d come in his pants before, and right now he couldn’t seem to care if it was embarrassing or not.
“I’ve got you. It’s okay.” Max ran his hand up, snagging the hem of Jeremy’s sweater and pulling it over his head.
Jeremy lifted his arms, shivering as Max tossed the wool aside. Max’s eyes roved over Jeremy’s chest, his hands following. Jeremy almost cried out at the light touch. He was ticklish and squirmed.
Max smiled, his fingers dancing over Jeremy’s ribs. “Sensitive, hmm?”
“Uh-huh. Please, just…”
“Just make you come?” He raised an eyebrow. At Jeremy’s nod, he laughed softly, his fingers skimming Jeremy’s skin. “I will. I want to find out what you like.”
“This. I like this. All of it. Please.”
Laughing again, Max bent and kissed him deeply. He nuzzled at Jeremy’s cheek and dropped his head lower, sucking what would surely be a mark on his collarbone.
“We’re not supposed to be doing this. Hurry up.”
Max smiled against Jeremy’s skin. “Everyone’s busy out there. We can take a break.”