Walking around, Jacob ignored the way his shoes crunched something under him as he came up behind James to peer over the boy’s shoulder.
“I didn’t know what flavor you’d like best so I went with vanilla. That seemed the safest,” James explained.
Even though he didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, Jacob appreciated the effort. He might not understand why James had decided on making him a cake but it made Jacob feel important. Like maybe he hadn’t totally made James hate him.
Caging James between his arms, Jacob rested his chin on the boy’s shoulder as he read over the simple recipe. He didn’t know what had gone so wrong for the boy. James didn’t move until Jacob backed off and that was to peer up at Jacob with a question in his eyes.
“Let’s clean up this mess first, then we’ll start over,” Jacob suggested. He rolled up his sleeves and reached for a sponge to wet.
“Are you sure?” James shifted from one foot to another. “I just wanted to do something nice for you. You know, as an apology and to thank you. I didn’t mean for you to have to…help.”
Maybe it was time that Jacob took a step out of his comfort zone and was honest. “I want to do this. It gives me an excuse to spend more time with you.”
James’s eyes widened. “You want to spend time with me?”
Everything about the stiff way James held himself told Jacob that he needed to tread carefully. “You may not believe this, but I really do. I’ve wanted to.” Jacob allowed a soft chuckle to escape. “I’m really bad at getting close to people.”
Instead of the snark or teasing that Jacob expected, James seemed to relax. “Okay. Good.”
Good? That was it? Pushing down his frustration, Jacob started to clean.
James ran hot water as he began to wash the measuring cups and spoons along with the large bowl.
They didn’t talk but the silence was comfortable. None of the normal tension that usually surrounded them.
The boy didn’t half-ass the work, which Jacob appreciated.
“Good job,” Jacob praised as James finished drying off the dishes.
James’s cheeks pinked as he nodded. “Thanks.”
“First let’s measure out all of the ingredients,” Jacob suggested. “That way we can put away what we no longer need and have more room to work.”
“What if we need more?”
“We won’t,” Jacob assured him. “In baking, measurements need to be exact.”
James huffed. “Basically baking is like…your favorite thing ever.”
“And your worst enemy,” James said with a grin.
James laughed. “That’s fair.”
The boy had such a wonderful laugh. Jacob wasn’t used to being the cause of it. “Let’s get this cake mixed and in the oven. Then you can see what I brought you.”
“I forgot!” James bounced on the tip of his toes.
“That’s what I thought.” Jacob pulled the large bowl in front of the boy then moved behind him. “Can I touch you?”
James’s sharp intake was audible. “Do…do you want to?”
Jacob could make up an excuse. It was easier being honest. “Yes.”
“Okay.” James replied softly.
Directing James’s hands by holding his wrists was surprisingly sexy. With the boy only being a few inches shorter, their bodies were in perfect alignment. Together they mixed the dry ingredients before slowly adding in the wet.
By the time they were stirring the homemade mixture in the big bowl, Jacob was hard and leaking into his jeans.
