“I’m supposed to be taking care of you.” Oliver tilted his head back to rest it against Nick’s shoulder.
“Says who?” Nick kissed his cheek with a smack.
Said who?
Oliver wrapped an arm backward around Nick’s shoulder, pulling them close. He closed his eyes and let himself get lost in the feeling of Nick’s hands on his skin again.
Said who? Why did it have to be Oliver who was in charge? He’d been going it alone for months. Maybe he could let go for a morning.
Soapy hands roamed over his body, making no demands, touching and taking care.
He could get used to this. Addicted, almost.
When they finally turned the water off, the whole bathroom was so steamy they could barely see. They laughed and kissed as they toweled off.
“I’d offer to make you breakfast,” Oliver said as he walked toward his bedroom. Nick followed, a gorgeous hairy distraction wrapped only in a towel. “But you kind of screwed up my morning routine. I have to open the shop soon.”
Nick ran a hand over the back of his head and gave Oliver a smile that was like a punch to the gut.
“I’d say I was sorry, but you screwed up my whole night’s routine. And now I’ve missed an hour of sleep at home. This makes us even.”
What did it say that Oliver was ready to go again? As he reached into his closet, Nick coughed uncomfortably behind him.
“I don’t suppose I can borrow some clothes. Mine are kind of sweaty. You run fast.”
Oliver went to his dresser and found a pair of sweats and a long-sleeved shirt. Nick was bigger than he was. Anything with buttons or zippers was unlikely to fit.
“I qualified for the Boston Marathon last year,” he said, tossing the clothes to Nick.
“Why does that not surprise me?” Nick smiled at him, dark and full of secret thoughts.
“Can I give you a lift home?” Oliver asked as they headed to the front door. Their clothes were still all over the hall, but Oliver left his where they were.
Behind him, Nick had frozen, his confidence vanishing. His dark eyebrows were pulled together, and his eyes filled with hesitation. “You don’t have to. I can ride back.”
“No, it’s not a big deal. How far away can you live?”
Nick made a face, but he followed Oliver silently into the garage and didn’t say anything else. He loaded his bike in the back and climbed into the passenger seat of the SUV. Oliver pressed the button to open the garage door and then backed slowly out onto the street.
“This is a nice car,” Nick said as they drove away from the house.
“Thanks.”
Cooper picked it out. Oliver hadn’t wanted something so ostentatious, but Cooper did. And yet, Oliver wound up with it as they’d negotiated their separation. He should sell it. The cash would keep the shop going a while longer.
He forced himself to focus on the drive. He and Nick agreed to keep their personal lives out of this, and even thinking about Cooper felt like breaking the rules now.
Nick gave short directions to an older part of town that Oliver didn’t know.
“This is me here.” He pointed to a small but well-maintained bungalow.
“Pretty spot,” Oliver said, but Nick only shrugged and wouldn’t quite meet his eyes. “I’ll see you on Sunday?”
“Sure.” Nick unclipped his seat belt and plucked at the shirt he wore, stretched tight over his frame.
Neither of them moved. The space in the SUV felt close, and, for once, Oliver wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say next.
Then Nick leaned across the console and pressed a kiss to Oliver’s mouth. His lips were soft, and knowing Nick was worn out from their morning antics was gratifying. Every other time they’d kissed was like a gust of wind bringing a fire back to life. This morning, though, it was a kiss.
