The thought settled in Robby’s belly like spoiled milk. He needed to take his mind off the gorgeous man in the other room, but each time he tried to shift his thoughts to something else, it was the open mouth of his attacker and the hot sticky blood on his skin, which led to thoughts of jail and sharing a toilet with other people…in front of other people. No. Just no. How had his life spun so far out of control in such a short time?
Robby couldn’t just lay there, crawling out of his skin. He was on his feet and moving before he could change his mind. Maybe he could find a way to be brave enough to just kiss Calder, to remind him that he liked to break the rules. Robby wanted to be worth breaking the rules for, just once.
Calder wasn’t sleeping. He was sitting on the sofa in red boxer briefs, eating dry cereal straight from the box and watching an old movie on tv. He glanced up and smiled when Robby entered the room, seeming genuinely happy to see him. It warmed his insides.
“I thought I put you to bed already, angel face?”
Robby shivered at Calder’s low drawl. He wanted to wrap that voice around him like a blanket.
“I can’t sleep,” he said, flopping down beside Calder without waiting for an invitation, acutely aware of their sides touching.
He was warm, and Robby fought the urge to lean in. Calder glanced over at him and grinned, tipping the box of cereal in his direction.
Robby’s heart fluttered at Calder’s perfect teeth, but he shook his head, declining the cereal. There was no way he could eat with his stomach in knots. “What are you watching?”
Calder cocked a brow at him. “Rear Window.”
Robby shrugged. “I’ve never seen it.”
Calder shook his head. “Shoot. An actor who’s never seenRear Window? They should revoke your SAG card,” he teased.
Robby glanced at the screen where a man with two broken legs sat at his window in a wheelchair, gazing into the courtyard below.
He’d come out here to try to seduce Calder, but he could already feel himself losing his nerve. “Can I stay out here with you for a while?”
Calder’s expression softened. “You don’t have to ask.”
Robby chastised himself for the flush of heat that ran over him. It wasn’t a marriage proposal. Calder just said he could hang out on his sofa. Robby needed to calm down. He yanked the soft black blanket off the back of the couch and laid down, using Calder’s thigh for a pillow, praying he didn’t reject the overt demand for affection he was asking for from a virtual stranger. The muscle beneath his head tensed briefly before Calder’s large hand settled on his head. Robby shivered when fingers began to comb through his hair. It was nothing, hardly a seduction technique, but Robby’s cock hardened just the same. He was grateful for the blanket covering his lower half.
“Get some sleep. You’ve had a long night,” Calder said, his finger tracing the shell of Robby’s ear before returning to his hair.
“I don’t know if I can sleep. My brain won’t shut off,” Robby mumbled.
Calder turned the lamp off, plunging the room into shadow except for the large tv screen with its soft technicolor images and hushed tones. Within seconds, Robby’s thoughts grew hazy and his lids grew heavy. Calder’s touch was addicting, pulling Robby under the blanket of sleep in minutes.
He woke to find himself in Calder’s bed, his morning hard-on tenting his borrowed sweatpants. Had Calder carried him in there? Robby flushed at the idea of being bridal carried through the apartment by the large Texan. It was alarming how much he wanted it to be true.
He could hear Calder moving around out in the other room but was in no hurry to have another awkward encounter. He picked up his phone only to find a message from Wyatt and Charlie.
Wyatt: Well?
Charlie: Did you bone?
Robby sighed before tapping out his reply.
Robby: Wow, so romantic.
Three dots danced before Charlie’s response appeared.
Charlie: Romance, schmomance. First, you get in his pants, then you get in his heart. That’s how this works.
Wyatt: Charlie! Focus. Did you see the news, Robby?
His stomach plummeted into his feet.
Robby: No. Why?
Charlie: The media. They know.
