“Oh, fuck,” he said again, but different this time because he’d told the guy that Avery was too good for him. He’d been too drunk and too stupid to stop himself. Avery had been hurting, and Linc was too scared to be out the way Oliver and his boyfriend were. He could only protect Avery, even if it meant making an ass of himself in public with a stranger who probably thought he’d lost his mind.
He rolled, hiding his shame, but he was left facing the dresser when Avery came back. Linc should have said something. “Good morning” would do, to let Avery know he was awake. But Avery was naked except for the towel around his hips, his skin pink from the shower as he bent and opened a dresser drawer. He twisted and squirmed, pulling the clean briefs up, gifting Linc with a glimpse of his pink and freckled ass for a split second, before it was covered with dark cotton. Being this turned on was against the “just friends” bro code, but Linc was in a vulnerable spot. His dick ached between his legs again, and all he could do was silently lie there, pretending to sleep, while Avery slowly dressed himself.
Linc managed to get under control by the time a blender whined from the kitchen. Silently, he slid into his clothes from the night before. The gentle exertion brought back the smell of sweat in his shirt, the memory of the endless hours they’d spent trying to stop a fire that had already taken everything from so many people.
No wonder he’d been a mess.
Avery was pouring something green and chunky into a travel bottle when Linc entered the kitchen. Avery was in his work wardrobe: khakis, pressed shirt, his hair still damp and smooth on his head.
“I forgot, I have an early meeting with a client. Are you working today?” he asked as he gathered up papers off the dining room table and put them into his laptop bag.
“Tonight. Nine o’clock.”
“You’re welcome to stay here if you want. I’ll probably be back at six,” Avery said, still moving quickly. He nearly dropped the green shake bottle, but caught it again as he hopped on one foot to put on a shoe.
“Here.” Linc took the bottle from him and pushed him toward the couch.
Avery flashed him a brief smile, before turning his attention to his laces. “I was thinking about making meatloaf tonight. Do you want to have dinner before you go to the station?”
“Sure. I might sleep for a bit this morning too.” Avery’s bed was a nice place to be. He gave himself a second to picture what waking up there more often would be like, with Avery pressed beside him.
“Okay.” Avery did up his other shoe. “Then I’ll buy extra potatoes and see you tonight.” He hopped to his feet, planted a quick kiss on Linc’s cheek, and went to the door.
Maybe he didn’t notice what he’d done. The kiss had been so fast, almost like a reflex. The natural extension of their cozy domestic scene.
Linc had noticed, though, and his head was full of thoughts of the way Avery smelled right before he woke up. The warm dry brush of Avery’s lips on Linc’s skin snapped something inside of him.
Avery was still babbling goodbyes, pulling the door open while juggling his bottle and his bag. Linc stalked toward him and slammed it shut again.
“What—” But Avery didn’t get to finish before Linc turned and pressed him up against the door, fitting their mouths together instantly.
He should have been gentle. He should have asked if this was okay. Their shared orientation didn’t mean Avery actually wanted this. His mouth was crooked and stiff, either confused or caught mid-sentence. Linc pulled back long enough to apologize, but Avery followed him, dropping his things to wrap himself around Linc’s shoulders while his lips chased Linc’s mouth before he could speak.
Good enough. Avery’s kiss was the signal Linc needed to let go. He gripped Avery’s hips, pushing him against the door, and Avery whimpered, hands tightening around Linc’s neck to pull him closer.
The lust he’d felt in bed, temporarily banked, roared back to life. Linc slipped away, nipping at Avery’s chin, sucking on the soft spot at the top of his throat. Avery’s skin carried the tang of soap, and his breath caught as Linc ground against him. Tasting more of him would be so good. Get that shirt off and see if his chest was gently hairy the way Linc had been fantasizing about.
And so much more Linc wanted to do after that. He could be thirty seconds from dropping to his knees and mouthing Avery to hardness through his fly, and maybe another thirty seconds from Avery’s dick in Linc’s mouth while Avery pulled his hair and stared down at him in trust and adoration.
He stepped back, putting a palm over the front of his jeans, with no delusions of it making any difference to his modesty.
“What—” Avery was flushed. His hair was a mess, and his shirt was rumpled
“You should go to work.” Just like that. Suddenly disheveled, so that everyone would know what Linc had done to him.
“But—”
“Go.”
If Avery stayed any longer, Linc would strip him and take him down to the floor.
“You want me to leave? But this is my apartment.” Avery’s chest heaved under the checkered cotton of his shirt.
“Go,” Linc said again.
“But you kissed me.” Avery stared at him with wide eyes.
“Please,” Linc rasped. “You need to go or take your clothes off. Those are your options right now.”
