“Do you want me to come with you?” Jeremy zipped up his jacket.
“I don’t need a guard dog. I can take care of myself.”
Hurt, Jeremy said nothing and walked outside, his head down.
“Hey, wait, I’m sorry.” Blake grabbed his arm. “That was mean. I know you were trying to help.”
“I don’t like him accusing you of things.”
“I appreciate it. But I’ve learned to stand up for myself. I won’t let him bully me.” Blake stepped in front of him. “Can we finish this later?”
Jeremy slid his arms around Blake’s waist and kissed him. The warmth of Blake’s lips, their familiar comforting shape and taste, lit a fire through him, driving away all his coldness. “I’ll be waiting for you. Come home to me tonight.”
“It’ll be late.”
Jeremy kissed him again. “And I’ll be waiting.”
****
At eleven thirtyp.m., Jeremy opened the door to an exhausted Blake. “I’m glad you texted me when you were on the train. You weren’t kidding about late. Here. Give me your stuff. Go right into the bathroom. I have a bath ready for you and your favorite hot chocolate.” Without waiting for Blake’s response, Jeremy took the bag from his shoulder and set it on the floor. He closed the door behind Blake and caged him between his arms.
A wan smile touched Blake’s lips. “You’re my favorite.”
“I’m glad to hear. Because tonight I’m going to make sure you know you’re mine.” Jeremy undid the buttons of Blake’s coat and slipped it off, then still holding it in one hand, gave him a little shove. “Now go.”
Giving him a sweet yet tired smile, Blake did as he was told, but not without glancing back over his shoulder several times before he disappeared into the bedroom. Jeremy hung up Blake’s coat and quickly made himself an Irish coffee and Blake his hot cocoa with a few marshmallows in it. That was how he drank it when he was a kid.
Mugs in hand, he walked into the bathroom and couldn’t help smiling at the sight of Blake naked in his bath. After their talk today, Jeremy knew they were in a better place than before.
“Hey, there’s something wrong here.”
Blake sat up and hugged his legs to his chest. “Yeah, what?”
“You’re naked and I’m not.”
“Jer, I told you—”
“Shh. No talking. Here.” He handed the hot chocolate to Blake and quickly stripped, leaving his clothes in a pile next to the tub. “Now give me the soap and the sponge.”
Blake complied, giving him the bottle of liquid soap and the fluffy sponge Jeremy had gone out earlier in the day to buy specifically for this. He drizzled soap onto the sponge and with a sweeping circular motion began to massage Blake’s shoulders and chest.
“Hold out your arms.”
“Take my mug. This is too delicious to spill a drop.”
So are you, Jeremy wanted to say but refrained, afraid he’d make Blake too nervous about performing tonight. Silent, he took the mug, set it down, and proceeded to lavish the rich foamy soap all over Blake’s body.
“Oh, feels so good.” Blake closed his eyes and rested his head on the edge of the tub, and Jeremy could see the tension drain from his body.
“I’m going to drain the water and rinse you off.”
“Mmm, you can do whatever you want.” Eyes closed, Blake smiled, and Jeremy held back from kissing him.
I fully intend to, baby. Just you wait.
The soapy water drained out, and Jeremy rinsed Blake off, noting how much thinner he was from the last time he saw him naked. He also saw that Blake had gotten semi-hard, which was half the victory, but Jeremy didn’t want to call attention to it, fearing it would have the opposite effect and cause Blake to tense up.
“Stand. I’m going to dry you now. I bought these heated towel racks today when I went shopping on the way home, and I want to try them out.”
