“This place is really cool,” Max said before taking a handful of popcorn.
“Yeah, I thought so too. The owner isn’t from around here, but his husband is. They’re actually friends with Matthias and Jared, the homeowners we’re working with now. I think they all play on the same kickball team or something.”
“Oh, that’s super cool. I didn’t know there were adult kickball teams.”
“It’s pretty popular around here. There’s a queer league and everything.”
A few minutes later the movie started, and we stopped chatting. As the lights went down, Max lifted the arm rest and leaned into my side. I took the cue and put my arm around him. We spent the first half hour actually watching the movie, but when Max put his hand on my thigh and began stroking my leg lightly with his thumb, it was all over for me. I got hard almost immediately, and it took a few tries of shifting in my seat to get comfortable and re-adjusted. Once I settled, Max looked up at me and grinned wickedly before leaning in for a kiss, cupping my jaw with his free hand and pulling me close.
His mouth was hot and hungry on mine right away, tasting of salt and butter as he plunged his tongue into my mouth. I stifled a groan and buried my fingers in his hair, my free hand dropping to his thigh. He parted his legs at my touch, and though I was nervous, I slid my fingers up until I grazed his erection. Max’s response was a soft, hot exhale into my mouth as he nodded and rocked his hips up into my touch.
He dropped his hand to my waist and gripped my shirt, pulling me closer to him. My cock was painfully hard and Max used his free hand to tease his fingers at the line of my erection through my jeans, and I was grateful that we were completely alone in the theater. Soon we were a tangle of limbs, hands grasping and touching and stroking wherever we could get purchase. Our tongues and mouths moved together, hot and eager, and for a while, I forgot where we were and what was going on in the outside world. It was just Max and me, kissing and touching. That was all that mattered.
When the credits began to roll, we parted, chests heaving and out of breath. We’d been frantically making out for an hour, and even in the dark I could tell that Max’s cheeks were scuffed and pink from my short beard, his lips damp and slightly swollen.
He settled back in as if nothing had happened, leaning on my shoulder, my arm around him, and we stayed that way until the lights came up.
“Max?” I murmured.
He looked up at me, smirking. “Yeah?”
“How would you like to spend the night again?”
His chest shook with quiet laughter. “I think I’d like that very much.”
“Good. Me, too.”
Chapter Fourteen
Max
The Virginia sun was brutal, the day scorching hot, and I was tired of being outdoors. I’d had enough by one in the afternoon and we still had at least three hours of work to do. The house looked amazing though. Floors were going in and it felt like all we had was some paint left, even though there was still a long checklist of to-do items—exterior work, landscaping, cabinetry, painting, fixtures, inspections… the list went on. Regardless, it was looking more and more like a house every day—which meant we were inching closer to the job being done. The thought gave me a stomachache, knowing that soon I’d have to make a decision between Jake and whatever my next job turned out to be. All I could do was hope things turned out in my favor.
Between the heat and my worrying about the show ending, the day felt eternal. By the time we were ready to knock off for the day, I was desperate for air conditioning and something cold that wasn’t alcohol. I wanted ice cream.
When Jake stopped by the trailer as I was locking up, I brightened. He was sexy despite the relentless sun, his damp hair and glistening face a relief to see.
“Hey,” he said quietly, glancing around. We were the last ones on site and he stepped in close and pressed a kiss to my lips.
I smiled widely. “What was that for?”
He shrugged and looked around again. “Just felt like it.”
I pocketed the keys to the trailer and we headed toward our vehicles. “Well, I’m glad you did. What are you up to tonight?”
“I’m supposed to hang out with the guys later tonight, but nothing until then.”
“Want to go get ice cream with me? We can discuss these letters.”
“That sounds like a great idea.”
One quick shower later and I was meeting Jake at Arctic Delights, an ice cream shop in historic downtown Port Grandlin. We ordered quickly—birthday cake flavor for me, and to my surprise, Jake ordered honey lavender—and we took seats outside to enjoy our purchases.
“Where are you with the research?”
I leaned forward and dropped my voice to a whisper. “I found him. Nathan. I’m pretty sure I know who he was.”
Jake’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? Who?”
