“I’m sorry,” he whispered and still seemed to be bracing for the worst, which made me determined not to get flustered.
“Just shower. That’s your job right now, okay? I want you to do that.”
He gave me a wary look but nodded, then hustled off toward the door on the right. I wanted to snoop when I caught a flash of a bed inside as he rushed into the room, but rather than do that, I was good.
“Hm.” I walked over to stare down at the amazing catastrophe on the floor in the kitchen area, then glanced at my clean clothes. That sauce and my threads were not going to mix. I took off my shirt and draped it over a tall chair at the end of the breakfast bar, then kicked off my shoes and shoved my pants down.
“Well, this is one way to get me naked. Not the way I wanted,” I said with a laugh, then draped my pants over my shirt. Thankfully I’d gone with boxers tonight, so I didn’t think I would be scaring Micah too much. Normally I didn’t mess around with the button, but I popped it through the hole so I wouldn’t flash him if he came out while I was unfucking this mess. I put my shoes back on, then grabbed a roll of paper towels off the counter. The garbage can was at the other end of the breakfast bar, so I went around on the clean side and grabbed it.
Before I started on this rescue mission, I tugged my phone from my pants pocket, then found the online order form for Manzi’s, my favorite restaurant in New Gothenburg. Milo had introduced me to the food, and I loved it. I ordered chicken parm and a few other things because Italian food was usually safe, even for selective eaters. With a deep breath, I got to work.
By the time I was finishing up and tossed a rag into a bucket full of soapy water—I’d found both when I’d snooped under the sink—I heard a gasp behind me. I stood and slowly stretched, then turned around.
Micah’s curly hair was wet, and it snagged my attention first because it was extra springy and I wanted to run my hands through it. His eyes were wide as he stared around the clean kitchen, and I loved how cute he looked in jeans and a plain pink T-shirt. He was hot in a suit, but he seemed softer and cuddlier this way, and it wasn’t a bad look for him at all, especially since the material stretched nicely across his pecs. It was clear he had good genes and didn’t really work out, but overly muscled guys weren’t my type anyway.
“You cleaned up,” he said, sounding totally baffled. “And you’re almost naked.”
Laughing, I planted my hands on my hips because I wasn’t ashamed of my body art—or anything else I had to offer. He took a long time staring at the tattoos on my chest, and by the way he nibbled on that bottom lip again I thought he liked them. His nostrils flared, and I ran my hand down my abs.
“Why do you have curse words tattooed on you?” he murmured with a small frown.
“Why not?” I held in a smile and stared at him.
He tilted his head as if he was giving that some real thought. “Okay. But why are you not dressed?”
“I didn’t want to ruin my clothes.” I shrugged.
“You cleaned it all?” He shook his head as he walked around the kitchen. The scent of lavender from the soap I’d found next to the sink lingered in the air. Pink lit up his cheeks, brighter than the last time I’d gotten a blush out of him. “You must want to leave.”
Strolling toward him, I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”
He flashed a glance down my body, and I swore I saw him shiver. Fuck, that was cute. “Why?”
“One, because I didn’t see a movie with you yet.” I tapped the underside of his chin, and he let out a long breath. “Two, because we didn’t eat anything together yet.” I tugged on his bottom lip just a little, and his knees almost gave out, but he caught himself against the counter. “Three, because you sucked my brain out of my dick earlier, so I kinda want to be available for a replay.” I blew him a kiss.
He shuffled from foot to foot. “You liked that?”
“I loved it.”
A smile tugged on the corners of his lips and he was still flushed, but he looked less upset. “I would like that, too.” He glanced around, then rushed over to the chair where I’d flung my clothing. “Let me get these for you.”
I kicked off my shoes, and he picked up my pants. Something hit the floor and skidded to a stop at his feet. At first, I thought it might’ve been my key fob, but no. Of course not. I chuckled.
He made an adorable little noise and froze.
Amusement had me fighting down a laugh as he tilted his head and stared at the floor, and then he bent and picked up the fluorescent pink bottle of lube. He stared at me and held it up, along with a condom that must’ve slipped out of my pocket. I walked over to him and took my pants from his loose grasp. I stepped into my jeans and watched him have a very small meltdown while his mouth opened and closed as I zipped, buttoned, then buckled my belt. He didn’t say anything until after I’d tugged the Henley down over my head, and only whimpered when I took the lube and condom from him and slipped them back into my pocket.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for that,” he said softly.
The blush was still there, lighting up his cheeks, and he pursed his lips. I’d never seen anyone look that bashful in real life, and I wanted to hug him.
“That’s fine.” I had a million questions, though. How could a man with a son my age be acting like he’d never seen lube in his life? What was going on there?
“Is it?” he asked, staring into my eyes.
My chest squeezed. “Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “You look nice.”
“Oh,” he said, plucking at his shirt. “Thank you. Uh....” He glanced toward the laptop on the coffee table across the room. Wincing, he stared up at the bright overhead lights. “Do you mind if I turn those off and switch on the lamp?” He pointed at one nearby, probably the only light that wasn’t burning. “I’ve been told before that other people don’t like to be in the dark.” He frowned at the bright lights again. “If that’s okay. Is it okay?” He blinked at me and tugged on the bottom of his shirt.
