Jake was asleep beneath me, his arms tight around me. I wanted to lie there and sleep with him, but my mind was buzzing. I had to bite back the giggle that rose deep in my chest, because even though I was comey and in jeans, which wasn’t comfortable, the best thing in the world had just happened to me.
I was ridiculous.
I nuzzled into his chest, took in his scent, felt his heart beat against my cheek, and smiled. Jake would probably run if he could hear my thoughts, but then, that didn’t fit Jake. Even if he didn’t feel the same or want to keep going, I knew he was the type of man who would talk to me about it and be kind about it. Those were the reasons I felt safe enough to be there with him in the first place.
So I lay there and soaked it all in, savored the feel of his arms around me and licked my lips to chase his taste and wondered a million different things. Were we dating? Going to keep doing this? Was I just someone for Jake to explore his bisexuality with? Did he like holding me as much as I liked holding him?
An hour or so later, he stirred beneath me. I looked at him, and he smiled. I couldn’t help but lean forward and kiss him again. It felt so good to be able to do that.
His voice was hoarse from sleep when he said, “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“It’s okay.” It was late, and I knew he had to work in the morning. “I can go.”
“You don’t have to. It’s after midnight. Why don’t you stay?”
My grin grew impossibly big. “Yeah?”
“God, you’re adorable.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Yes, stay, but this couch isn’t the most comfortable. You can sleep in the spare room again, or if you want, come to bed with me. Your choice. It’s always your choice.” I opened my mouth to reply, but Jake cut me off. “And before you ask, I wouldn’t invite you if I didn’t want you there, okay? I always say what I mean. We’re just going to be sleeping tonight.”
I took in a breath, gained my courage, and stood. I held my hand out for Jake, and he took it, letting me help him up. I led him upstairs, then past the spare room and to his door.
“I like this choice,” he said.
“Me too.”
Jake opened the door, and we went inside. “I need to change. I’m a mess. I can give you something to wear too.”
I nodded because dude, wearing Jake’s clothes sounded hot, even if they would be huge on me. Plus, I was a sticky mess.
He plucked a T-shirt from his drawer before searching and pulling out some shorts. “These will be big on you, but they’ll have to do. I’ll be good. I promise.” He winked playfully.
The secret guy inside me who wanted to have wild, storage-room sex the way Jesse did, wanted to tell him not to be good, but I knew neither of us was ready for that. It was kind of perfect that Jake had never been with a guy, actually. He wouldn’t expect too much, too soon—not that someone like Jake would. “We’ll make it work.” I took the clothes from him. “I’ll use the bathroom in the hallway.”
Jake agreed, and I slipped into the other room, out of my clothes, cleaned up with a washcloth, took a leak, washed my hands, and smiled at myself in the mirror. I really hoped more orgasms with Jake were on the horizon.
When I got back into his bedroom, the only light on was the lamp on his nightstand. He was in bed, the blankets over him, but his shoulders were bare. “Do you want me to put a shirt on?” he asked. It was a reminder of how perfect this was, how much he respected me.
I shook Colton from my brain. “Absolutely not.”
He laughed. “Then get your ass in here.”
I climbed into bed with him, under the blankets. Jake turned out the light, and we lay there for a moment before he said, “I can hold you if you want.”
“Yes, please.” I went to him, and he wrapped an arm around me. My face was on his chest and my leg over him. He was wearing shorts too. “I like the feel of your chest hair against my cheek,” I said softly.
“I like the feel of you against me too,” he replied, and then we were quiet.
I fell into a perfect, dreamless sleep.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
I jerked awake, disoriented for a moment, before remembering I was in Jake’s bed.
“Sorry.” He kissed the top of my head. “You’re welcome to stay if you want.”
“No, no. I can go home.”
Jake got out of bed, and I watched him move toward his dresser again. He had a broad, muscular back, a tight ass, and when he turned, a prominent tent in his shorts.
“I need to jump in the shower,” he told me.
“I’ll go ahead and go home.”
He frowned. “You sure?”
No, no I wasn’t. Still, I nodded. I had to hold the waist of his shorts so they didn’t fall down, and Jake laughed. “Shut up.”
“My clothes drown you. It’s cute as hell.”
“I’m not real excited about putting mine back on.”
“Don’t. Wear those.”
I was going straight home, so it should be fine. “Okay. Thanks for last night.”
“I feel like I should be thanking you,” he replied playfully. “Come on. I’ll walk you to the door.”
“Such a gentleman,” I teased. I loved how comfortable I felt around him.
Jake walked me downstairs, and when we got to the door, he cupped my face. His hands were huge on my cheeks and neck, which I loved. He leaned in and pressed a few soft kisses to my lips—no tongue, just sweet. They made me feel cherished. Treasured.
“I like you,” Jake told me.
“I like you too,” I replied, my heart thumping.
“Good. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Okay.” He kissed me again, and I whimpered, then ducked out before I made a fool of myself.
I was giddy the whole drive home. I wanted to call Jesse but knew he would likely be sleeping as he’d worked the night before. And I also wanted to go back to Jake’s and join him in the shower and do all sorts of naughty things, but I was nervous about that.
So instead I drove to my apartment, showered, got dressed, washed his clothes, then picked up my cell phone.
“Hey, you,” Jesse answered.
“Go with me to buy a car.” Holy shit. I hadn’t planned that, but the second I said it, I knew I wanted to.
“Um…what? I’m confused.”
“I hate my vehicle.”
“You have a Beamer! Holy fuck, Seth. How can you hate your ride?”
Of course he wouldn’t understand, because I’d never told Jesse all those things about me. All I knew was I felt invisible. I liked Jake, and he liked me, and we’d kissed and held each other and had orgasms, and now I was pretty sure there was nothing I couldn’t do.
Also, I hated my car.
“I appreciate my car, but it’s not me. Please don’t get me wrong. I know how lucky I am, but it’s just…not me,” I said again. “My mom forced me to get it because, well, I don’t know. Because she’s controlling and it’s safe. She picked my car and my apartment and decided what I’m going to school for, and I just…I need to do this.”
There was a short pause before Jesse said, “Let’s go car shopping, then. It’s a date.”