“Do you mean tonight?” I asked.
“I’m free,” he said. “But if you’d rather another time, that’s cool too.” He gave me an easygoing smile.
I hesitated. I was on this date to meet a potential boyfriend, not to hook up. If I wanted that, I’d chat up some random on a dating app or go to a bar, like I had done all of last year. Sure, Leo’s offer was innocuous enough — come over, play Minecraft on my couch. It’ll be chill. But everyone with half a brain cell knew that when someone offered to take you home after a date, what they really wanted to do was fuck.
I looked at him. I looked at his grey eyes, lips, and how he rested one elbow on the table.
“I’m free,” I said before I could really think about it.
Leo grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. He had the type of face that got more attractive the more I looked at it. Photos wouldn’t have done him justice — most of his appeal came from the twitch of his lips, the raise of his brows, or the relaxed shift of his shoulders.
After we paid, Leo led me through the city, not holding hands but moving close enough for our shoulders to brush now and then. It was dusk now, the sky purple against glittering skyscrapers.
Fucking on the first date wasn’t a big deal. Yes, Leo was physically appealing, but we’d had great conversation. Even though I’d only met him today, I liked his personality. I hoped that he liked mine, even after he’d got me into his bed.
Honestly, the extent of his friendliness took me aback because in his emails, he was…not blunt, exactly, but direct. I’d expected someone, probably a science major, who was straightforward, organised, and maybe even a little awkward. But Leo wasn’t like that at all.
3
Leo lived by himself in a tiny studio apartment similar to mine. He had a double bed squeezed against the singular window, which looked out at the city lights. His kitchenette was smaller than mine — no oven, just a sink and electric stovetop, and there was a door that led to what I assumed was the bathroom. His desk was pretty large, though, and was currently covered in paper and card along with a half-completed model.
We took our shoes off at the entrance, and Leo hurried past me to tidy his desk.
“Is that a project for uni?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s due at the end of this week. Here’s my Xbox.” He gestured at the TV on the wall opposite the bed’s headboard. He fiddled with the console and passed me a wireless controller before taking one himself. Then, he got onto his bed, sitting up against the headboard with a pillow to support his back. I got myself seated next to him. I assumed he’d have a couch we’d play on first, but I couldn’t fault him for having a small apartment, and besides, sitting here made things a lot more efficient.
He booted up the game, and it took me a while to get used to the Xbox controls. Leo had no hesitation touching my hands to instruct me which buttons to press, and every time he did, I’d suck my stomach in, thinking he was making a move, but then he’d turn his focus back to the game.
As he said, he made us play creative mode, and we decided to build a huge mansion, albeit a very simple and geometric one. It was fascinating watching Leo play, eyes never leaving the screen,giving me direct orders on what things to build, but then there’d be moments his seriousness would melt away, and we’d laugh together as we played.
While I was enjoying the game, after half an hour, I was wondering when we’d get to it. I had no problems initiating, but since Leo was the one who invited me to his home, he should be in charge of the pace we took things.
It’s not that I was impatient. Okay, maybe a little bit. But after sitting next to a tall, good-looking guy, with the anticipation of sex, my dick had started to perk up.
Maybe he was shy. Although most of the time he seemed effortlessly talkative, just because someone was confident in public didn’t mean they were confident in bed.
Or maybe it wasn’t shyness, exactly. Maybe he just wanted someone else to take charge. If so, that just meant we were even more compatible than I thought.
I shifted so I was closer to him, the sides of our arms pressed together. He glanced at me, brows raised, but turned his attention to the screen. “I’m thinking we add a wall of shelves here to make a library. What do you think?”
I hummed in agreement.
Five minutes passed. Still nothing but Minecraft.
When another ten minutes passed with not a single move on his end, only “nice choice of carpet” and “let’s add some windows here”, I lost my patience. “Do you want to take a break?” I asked, putting my controller down.
“Sure,” he said, pausing the game and setting his controller beside the bedspread. “Do you want something to drink? Water? I should’ve asked earlier —” He moved as if to head towards the kitchenette, and I yanked him back.
“No, that’s okay, thank you. Unless you’re thirsty.”
“Nah, not really.”
He looked at where I was holding his arm. I slowly slid my grasp to his hand. “You have nice hands.”
“I do?”
“Mmm-hmm. Big.”
