“Go ahead,” I said shyly. Even though I was used to people saying they liked my work, it was never really clear to me if they were just doing it to be nice.
He scanned through the drawings on the table. Each held an image of a new character for the series. On each page was a full-length body drawing, next to it a couple of head shots of the character with various emotions on the character’s face, followed by one or two vignettes pulling detailed shots of something about each character – a hand here, an eye there, a close up of a boot or detail of clothing. Each was different, but each character was evidently part of the same story.
“These are really good,” he said, and I felt my cheeks warm even more at his approval.
“I usually do a whole reference book for the characters in my graphic novels so that I can refer back to it in case I can’t rememberwhat someone’s eye color was, or if they were right or left-handed… that kind of thing.”
“Seems like a smart thing to do,” he said, nodding. “You are incredibly talented.” He looked at me as he set the pages down. “Now, come over here, sit down, and tell me what the babble was about.”
The heat in my face had started to cool a little, but at his words it went up a few more notches.
“I need to finish this…” I said, waving at the kitchen.
“Okay, then tell me what I can do to help,” he said.
“Um, set the table?” I suggested. “I wasn’t exactly sure where everything was.”
He slid my drawings to one side of the table then came over to the cabinets to get plates and silverware.
As he set the table, I mixed the last of the spaghetti sauce and hamburger together and pulled the garlic bread out of the oven. The actions felt so odd, and so damn domestic, I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it. This felt surreal.
By unspoken agreement, we didn’t really talk again until we’d used the bread to mop up the last of the spaghetti sauce. Though he didn’t say anything, the look on his face at the first bite of spaghetti was more than enough to make up for the effort of making dinner.
“So…” Lee began, leaning back in his chair as he finished. “Dinner was incredible. Thank you… You really didn’t have to, but I appreciate that you went to the effort. Do you want to tell me now what this was all about?”
I took a deep breath. I was supposed to be a goddamn adult. I could do this.
“I wanted to apologize for how I acted last night,” I began, unable to meet his eyes. “You were absolutely right, I was out of line, and it shouldn’t have happened.”
I couldn’t look at him as I spoke, because that felt like just too much. “I understand if you want me to leave but… I would really like to stay.” I looked up finally and the uncomfortable look on his face made me pause. “What?”
“You… You’re apologizing tomeabout last night?” he asked inpuzzlement. “I’m the one wholiterallyfell on top of you,” he said. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
My face flaming, I twisted the napkin in my lap as he spoke. He was being nice, but I remembered very clearly how things had gone.
“—But… I’m the one… the one who—”Fuck it. “I’m the one who was grinding my dick against you like some kind of… of animal and wouldn’t let you go when you tried to get away.” I got out in a rush.
“I’m so sorry, I can’t believe I did that, it was wrong and evil and I promise to stay away from you and—” I stopped as he stood abruptly, pushing his chair back from the table. On the defensive, I stood, too. I remembered all too many times being beaten while seated. At least if I stood, I had a chance to avoid a few blows.
In two steps he was standing next to me, his legs brushing mine. My eyes were locked on my hands, which had a death grip on the wooden chair back.
“Mason…” Lee said, one hand coming up and brushing against my face. I couldn’t help but glance at his face as I felt his thumb brush across my skin. “…you have some spaghetti sauce on your face. Do you mind if I get it?”
My mind couldn’t process what he was saying, and the sound of the blood roaring in my ears was so loud, all I could do was watch as he leaned forward and brushed his thumb across the corner of my lips, his eyes never leaving mine.
When he brought his thumb up to his mouth and sucked some invisible sauce from it…Oh god… my cock felt like it was going to explode.
15
Lee
The tasteof Mason’s skin was amazing, and I knew in a moment that I wouldn’t be happy stopping there.
“Mason…” I watched as his eyes stayed glued to mine, his pupils dilated and his breath coming in sharp pants. My own mouth was dry as I whispered his name, struggling to control my voice, trying not to startle him.
“Mason, can I kiss you?”
His wide eyes had locked on my lips but darted back to my own. For a moment I was terrified that he wouldn’t answer, or would say no. I was almost dizzy with relief when he nodded shakily. I gently leaned in and pressed our lips together, gently teasing and probing the seam of his sweet mouth.
