“Oh, okay,” Colton replied just as Henry blurted out “You know what…” They grinned at each other in unison and once again Henry was struck by the thought of how easy it was being around Colton. Sure, he was behaving like a horny, lovestruck teenager with verbal diarrhea most of the time, but Henry mostly just felt happy and at ease. Almost as if he could just be himself for the first time in ages.
“A ride would be great, thanks. I seem to have gotten more than I initially thought.” Henry had left the car at home since he preferred walking the short distance. It was a habit from when he’d been living in the city. Everything was within walking distance, and he’d never needed a car back then.
He caught Colton glancing at his basket, cheeks reddening slightly as he bit back a smile. As Henry followed Colton’s gaze, he immediately realized what Colton was looking at. Even if a spotlight had been shining directly at the small bottle of lube on top of a bag of brown rice, it couldn’t have been more obvious. Horrified he looked up at Colton, who was smirking at him, not doing a very good job at containing the urge to laugh. If Henry could’ve crawled into a hole, he would’ve done so. Of course, there was nothing strange about a single man buying lube, but that it had to be in front of this man, whom he was crushing on in epic proportions already…
Henry swallowed heavily, trying to gain some sort of self-composure.
“Well, this has been nice,” he finally forced out. “Do you mind holding my basket for a sec while I just go look for my dignity? I seem to have lost it in the frozen foods section earlier.”
He was met by the most stunning smile, and for just a split second he saw a much younger looking version of Colton as he threw his head back and laughed with abandon. His face seemed to relax, and Henry could almost imagine how Colton must have looked at the age of twenty or twenty-five, maybe even as a teen. His gaze drifted from Colton’s glowing face and narrowed in on the straining muscles cording his broad neck and he couldn’t help bite back a moan as he watched the protruding Adam’s apple bounce up and down.
So, it’s official then,he thought to himself.Even public humiliation in front of my straight crush isn’t enough to make me stop lusting after him.Henry swallowed back the drool he felt piling up in his mouth and refocused his eyes on his basket.
“C’mon,” Colton laughed at him. “Let’s get out of here before you lose anything else.” He reached out and grabbed Henry’s basket. Then, before heading in the direction of the check-out counter, he winked at Henry with the sexiest smirk ever.
For a second, Henry stood frozen between the breakfast aisle and the section with toilet paper, feeling his heart melt into a puddle on the gray epoxy floor beneath his feet.You’re falling for him,he thought to himself and this time he didn’t even bother denying it. Yeah, he was so screwed.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Colton
SLOWLY HIS FINGERStraced the smooth skin of the firm stomach he was resting his head on. He nuzzled his nose and chin in the softness of the hair dusting the patch of skin just below the belly button. He felt the abdomen raise and lower itself with each breath. He smelled sunshine and something citrusy. His nostrils tingled with the smell. He stuck out his tongue and licked the skin of the pale stomach. Salt. He tasted salt. And something else. Something tangy but also sweet. He lifted his head from the comforting cushion of the stomach and continued to lick across the patch of skin leading towards the indention of the left hip. The surface was like cotton. Featherlight and smooth. He traced his fingers lightly across the pale, even ridge where the hip bone protruded through the frail tissue. He felt a slight tremble beneath his fingers and sucked in a breath. Then he bent his head so that it was lined up with the hip and slowly lapped at the skin, tracing his tongue even lower. The citrusy scent took over and sensation exploded in his brain. A burst of colors spun behind his eyelids as he tasted the skin and its saltiness again and again on the tip of his tongue. He swallowed and felt the tanginess and the sweetness gliding down his throat until the sensation settled deep within him, making a home in his abdomen. He traced his hand even lower and was met by something hard yet velvety smooth. He’d never felt anything like it before. A strong, gentle hand grabbed the back of his neck and guided his head even closer. Stroking his hair quietly, guiding him.Colton, a distant voice whispered.That’s it, the voice sounded as if spoken through layers of cotton.It’s all for you, Colton. You can have it. All of it… Again, he moaned as all his senses were attacked simultaneously. Grinding down on the comforter of the bed, his body seeking friction. Relief. Searching for something he couldn’t yet name. Something which was just beyond his grasp. If he could just reach out with both hands, then perhaps he could grab on to it, whatever it was. He could hold on to this feeling for just a little while longer. Skin against skin. Heat met with heat in return. Something, which was just on the tip of his tongue. Something wonderous yet terrifying. This time when he moaned, it was no longer just a sound. It was a word. No, it was a name. His name.
Startled Colton sat up in bed and looked aroundin the still dark room. He felt his breaths coming out in bursts. He looked down at his naked body. Sweat covered his pecs and his stomach, yet at the same time his skin was covered in goosebumps. He was rock hard, a wet spot spreading on the front of his grey briefs.
“Fuck,” he said aloud as he brushed his right hand across his face. His cheeks were flushed from the dream. He tried to gather his thoughts, piecing together fragments of the dream. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to remember, but he came up blank. Except for one thing. One thing which stood out clearly from the fog in his mind. A name. His name.Henry. Fuck. He’d dreamed of Henry.The realization could have been devastating to a thirty-nine-year-old straight man, and it surprised Colton that that was the last thing he felt. What he felt exactly, he couldn’t pinpoint but it sure as hell wasn’t regret or devastation.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Henry
FOR FUCK’S SAKE,get a hold of yourself, Henry. This is not a date! This is just dinner at Tilly and Vernon’s place. You’re friends. Just friends.Henry looked down with a worried frown at his disobedient dick which hadn’t gotten the memo and was trying to make a prison break from his jeans. His way too tight jeans. Why had he decided to wear pants this tight, when he knew he was going to be in the company of a certain hot and muscular mechanic? He silently cringed at his blunt words the other day.Do I think you’re hot! Fuck yes.Honesty was definitely not a virtue when your name was Henry and you continued to develop a bad case of verbal diarrhea when in the company of sexy, brooding and straight, don’t forget straight, ex-soldiers. It was a fucking curse!Okay, Henry, think about something else… Gran’s soggy meat loaf… Uhm…
“Hey,” a deep voice sounded behind him interrupting his internal pep talk. Colton. He would recognize the husky, hesitant voice anywhere.No, not husky, you idiot!Friendly. It was a friendly voice. Because that’s what they were. Friends.Fuck.
After briefly checking his crotch and finding it somewhat appropriate, Henry turned away from Tilly’s front door and faced Colton.Good Lord have mercy on my poor, corrupted soul.
“Hi,” Henry almost squeaked when he looked at the other man. Why was it that ever since they’d had the friend talk all he could think when it came to Colton were unfriendly thoughts? There was a sadistic irony here that Henry couldn’t quite see the fun in.
He was met by a blinding smile and stunning hazel eyes. Oh, the country air sure was treating Colton well. He looked like a fucking cover model forHot Straight Mechanics, Nebraska Editionin his black and grey plaid button-down and his black, worn jeans. As if that wasn’t enough, he was also wearing a baseball cap backwards. Henry felt as if the universe was taunting him now that he’d decided to friend zone Colton. He had a thing for baseball caps. Especially worn backwards. Chad could drive him near mad with want when he used to wear one. It made him look innocent in a sexy kind of way. The hunky jock.Well, this is really helping. Thinking about your hot ex-boyfriend…
Colton just continued to smile at him while fidgeting with a wayward strand of hair at his right ear which was trying to escape the confinement of the cap.
“How’re you doing?” he mumbled.
“I’m good,” Henry managed to say, this time in a somewhat normal human voice. “You?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, thanks.” Colton replied, a nerve twitching at the corner of his left eye.
Oh, yes you are,was all that went through Henry’s head as he stared blankly at Colton. Why was it that the mere presence of this guy made him appear like he’d just gotten a lobotomy? All brain activity ceased functioning and all the blood in Henry’s body rushed south and settled in his groin.
While Colton, for some reason continued to smile at him, the door swung open, and they were met with a rosy cheeked Tilly and the mouthwatering smell of roast and thyme.
“Now, why are you two having your own private party out on my porch? Get on in,” she beamed as she stepped aside, shooing them inside.
“Nice to see you, Tilly, and thanks for having us,” Colton replied while he gave her a hug. While Tilly looked like she’d just won the lottery, Henry couldn’t stop focusing on one thing only.Us.Colton had saidus. Thank you for having us.Like there was anus.A Henry and Colton kind of us.Us, as in fucking plural, you idiot!Henry cursed himself.Now get a fucking grip!
Before he could continue his internal monologue, it was Henry’s turn to be engulfed in Tilly’s firm embrace. She smelled like lemon and Henry couldn’t help but squeeze her back just as firmly.
