“Come on. I’m ready to leave. Let’s go home, and I’ll order in some dinner and give you a nice massage.”
“Mmm. Sounds like a plan.”
“Lemme grab my jacket and we can go.”
It only took him a moment to sprint to his office, pick up his things, and return to a waiting Blake. They walked out into the cool night to the back where his car was parked. Neither spoke until they were seated and Jeremy had started the engine and pulled out of the spot.
“I’m sorry I never answered your text properly earlier. It’s just that—”
“You’re crazy busy, I know.” He kept his eyes on the road. “I thought you’d find a second at least to stop and say ‘great’ or something.”
“You’re angry with me.”
Was he? Not angry. Jeremy didn’t feel he had the right to be. Disappointed…lonely. Maybe a bit needy after all. Before all the craziness of tax season, Blake had been home with him every evening, and they’d quickly fallen into a routine. A routine, Jeremy realized, he’d become dependent on. He liked having Blake with him.
“No. Not at all. Maybe missing you a bit. Trying to figure things out. You know I’ve never been in a real relationship. I mean, I’ve been with other people, of course, but nothing on a steady basis.” The light turned red, and he stopped. It gave him a chance to face Blake to garner his reaction. “I haven’t wanted to before.” Blake’s hand rested between them on the seat, and Jeremy reached out and squeezed it.
That endearing sweet smile he loved curved Blake’s lips. “I haven’t either. Most of my dates fizzled out after a few times, mostly on their end. But weren’t you exclusive when you dated before?”
The light changed, and he removed his hand from Blake’s to begin driving again. “Ehh. We’d go out a few times, but it got to be more of where are we going and what are we doing, rather than being with each other. Know what I mean?”
“Mmm. Yeah. Almost like it didn’t matter who they were with. You were simply there as a place card. Interchangeable.”
That was why he fell in love with Blake. He understood.
“Yeah. I wanted them to want to be with me. For who I am.”
Traffic was light, and he pulled into the garage across the street from his building. The manager of the building had proposed to reduce his monthly fee in exchange for membership at the gym, and Jeremy readily agreed. He’d spent too many winters circling the neighborhood, looking for a spot.
They sat in the car a moment, Blake looking like he was debating whether to speak or not. Averting his eyes, he unbuckled his seat belt, then faced Jeremy.
“You deserve someone who’ll put you first. You deserve the best. I’ve never met a man quite like you.”
Taken off guard by Blake’s emotional response, Jeremy couldn’t help the delight spreading through him at Blake’s words. “Well, I am an original.” He ran his fingers down Blake’s jaw. “And I have the best. I have you.”
“I love you.”
At his touch, Blake nuzzled his hand, and the tension between them evaporated. He kissed Blake’s cheek. “Come on. Let’s get upstairs where it’s warm.”
More at ease and even chatty as they crossed the street and walked into his building, Jeremy took Blake’s hand and held it tight, knowing Blake liked that show of possessiveness. He crowded him in the elevator, giving him soft kisses, letting him know how much he was loved, and kept it up, kissing his neck and cheek, even as he opened the door to his apartment.
“What do you feel like having for dinner? Unless you’ve eaten already at the gym?” Blake dropped his bag by the door. “I’m starving. Didn’t eat dinner.”
“Uh, yeah, we can order whatever. How come you didn’t eat?” A quick glance at the envelopes in his hand showed nothing but bills and advertisements, and he tossed them on the counter before returning his attention to Blake. “Don’t they usually give you dinner?”
A shadow passed over Blake’s face. Or maybe he was tired and it was a trick of the light because the next thing Jeremy knew, Blake was laughing at him.
“That was hours ago. I’m a growing boy, don’t you know?” Blake rubbed his flat stomach, and Jeremy’s eyes followed his long fingers, intending on personally inspecting what lay beneath the shirt later that evening.
This was the side of Blake he loved—teasing and playful. The side he didn’t show the world. Jeremy liked having a special part of Blake saved only for him.
“Far be it from me to deny your needs. Take the computer and order whatever you like. I’m easy.”
Blake passed in front of him to grab the laptop but stopped, and to Jeremy’s shock, kissed him on the cheek. “Only with me, I hope.”
Startled, Jeremy grabbed Blake’s hand and pulled him back to his side. “You know I am, right? Only with you.”
Blake avoided his gaze and shrugged. “I know, but…” He bit his lip, and Jeremy waited, confused as hell. What was Blake thinking?
