WhileNicoshowersandgets ready for work, I rush through a quick shower of my own in the downstairs bathroom, throw on a clean pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, and make us coffee and a small breakfast. It all feels a bit domestic, but I can’t deny I sort of love that.
Just as I set our plates on the table, he comes jogging down the stairs, tucking his polo shirt into his slacks. His dark hair is still slightly damp, the longer strands starting to curl at the ends, and as he pauses at the bottom of the steps, a thick lock falls down over his forehead, contrasting with his pale skin.
God, he’s just gorgeous.
My heart leaps as I watch him finish tucking in his shirt, and when he glances up at me, his deep green eyes sparkling, my whole body tingles with the memory of what we did in bed not more than twenty minutes ago.
Hell, Ineedto kiss him right now.
I push myself away from the table and start toward him. As soon as I’m close enough, my arms slip around his waist, and I pull him against my chest. He’s grinning, and his eyes are bright and happy. It’s warm and perfect, and god, I love this.
I lovehim.
I can’t believe my luck. I can’t believe he’s here with me and mine and in this as much as I am. I shake my head and purse my lips, trying to hold back my smile.
“What?” He crooks an eyebrow at me and shifts his hands up from my hips to my chest. Then he stretches up so his mouth is nearly touching mine. His grin almost looks cocky now, and I love that, too.
I bring my mouth even closer. “It’s you,” I say on a breath. My lips just barely brush his, and he closes his eyes and lets out the most arousing and needy little moan. “You’re gorgeous,” I whisper against him, and then I kiss him again in that same playful way.
He shakes his head. “You’re just saying that because of what we did in bed.”
“No, I—”
“You remember?” he cuts in, smirking up at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. His hands slide the rest of the way up my chest, and his fingers tease along my neck. He stretches up until his lips are nearly touching mine, and he whispers, “Remember how you jerked me off while rubbing one out against my ass?”
I gulp, and heat rushes to my cheeks as Nico presses his hips forward into me. With a laugh, he closes the rest of that gap between us and kisses me. He holds me to him and deepens the kiss briefly, his tongue dipping into my mouth to taste me, before he pulls back, grinning.
“It was hot as fuck,” he whispers. “I loved it.”
My heart’s pounding now, and my dick throbs with want, apparently ready for a second round. I groan and lower my mouth to his again, capturing his lips in a kiss that’s much different from our light, teasing touches from a few moments ago.
There’s a need and a hunger to it that I can’t really hide, and I’m having a hard time not dragging him back upstairs. But he has to go to work, and I want him to have time to eat. So, after anotherfew seconds, I pull back. He whimpers in protest and chases the kiss with another touch of his lips to mine.
I loosen my arms from around him and gaze down at him, letting myself get lost. His red, swollen lips taunt me, and his eyes are half-lidded with bliss. I smile softly and lean down one more time for one more kiss. Brief and much more chaste.
Then I force myself to step back, and I tip my head toward the table. “Hungry? It’s not much, I know you’re in a hurry,” I say. “Just some scrambled eggs and then we had strawberries and cantaloupe. Unfortunately, we’re out of syrup, so no pancakes today,” I add with a smirk.
Nico rolls his eyes, but he’s still grinning.
And god, that grin. It might just be making me fall even harder.
I motion to the table. “A-after you.”
He purses his lips and shakes his head, and his eyes stay locked on mine as he says, his voice totally serious, “You first. It’s my turn to admireyourass for once.”
“What the—Nico!”
He laughs, and it makes this perfect moment even more perfect to see the pure delight in his eyes. I love it. Damn.
“Come on, now,” he argues, though the façade of seriousness is completely gone. “You got all intimate with my ass earlier. Give me a little eye candy, at least?”
I’m still too stunned at his bold banter, and I can’t form any words to respond. He just grins at me again, then takes my hand and pulls me along with him to the table.
I’dlovetobeable to say I didn’t fret all day about the discussion Nico and I are supposed to have tonight. Unfortunately, thatwould be a lie. I’m not at all immune to worrying, and my brain is quite adept at running around in circles and overthinking things.
Fortunately, though, I’m also my mom’s son.
After I get back from lunch, which was perfect in every way and ended with a quiet kiss stolen under an old oak tree at the back of the library courtyard, I sit down at the kitchen table with my laptop, a notepad, and a pencil, and I start planning.
