I can’t be that person right now.
So I have no right to be this jealous about him talking to other guys I don’t even think are interested in him. I force a smile that hopefully looks more genuine than it feels and remind myself that I really am glad Adrian is here.
“So did Hudson tell you about the house he put in an offer on?” he asks Ollie, finally pulling my attention back to their conversation.
“No. Dude, what the fuck? That’s a big deal, why didn’t you say something?”
“We only toured it today. It’s not like I was keeping it from you intentionally.”
Adrian turns to smile at me, and the warmth in his expression finally relaxes that on-edge feeling I couldn’t shake. “It was gorgeous though. I really hope you get it.”
“Wait, you went on the tour?” Ollie cuts in, and I nod before Adrian can say anything. “And you guys think I’m the one who’sgoing to start rumors about you two?” He laughs. “Look in the mirror.”
“Apparently, Hudson trusts his realtor.”
“I do,” I insist. They both look at me skeptically, but Adrian moves onto describing the house in detail. Ollie seems interested enough, and we all spend another hour or so talking about Adrian’s plans for it if they accept my offer. They should, it was well above asking. I wasn’t about to risk not getting it after how much Adrian and I both loved it so much.
Adrian yawns for the third time, and I decide enough’s enough. “Alright, Prince, time to get you home for your beauty sleep.”
He mockingly glares at me. “I don’t need beauty sleep. I always look amazing.”
“That’s true.” I hold up my hands in surrender, he probably thinks I’m joking, but I mean it. “Even your bedhead looks better than my styled hair.”
“Why do you know what his bedhead looks like?” Ollie whines. “How do you not see how much you two act like a couple?”
I laugh, shrugging, and Adrian rolls his eyes. “I am pretty tired though. Are you staying out?” he checks, and Ollie nods so we exchange quick goodbyes.
I want to take Adrian’s hand again, but now that I’m less distracted by irrational jealousy, I realize that’s probably not the smartest move as I leave a crowded public place with him. Still, I walk with him all the way to his car. “See you at home.” I wave as he gets into it, waiting until he shuts his door to turn around and walk back toward the bar since I parked in the opposite direction.
“Did you seriously walk me to my car for no reason again?” he calls out of his open window.
“Wantingyou to be safe is a pretty good reason,” I call back over my shoulder with a laugh as I hear him groan.
I assume he heads home after that, so I jump a little at his voice as his big SUV pulls up next to me on the street. “I am perfectly capable of keeping myself safe.”
I nod. “I know you are. But that doesn’t mean you should have to do it on your own.”
He grumbles something as he rolls up his window, and I can’t quite hear what it is over the sounds of the city, but it makes me laugh again. Even when he’s frustrated, it’s so cute.
Ugh.Everything he does is cute. How does he have such a strong hold on me when I went years without thinking about him or even any other man this way? But there’s no denying he does. I wouldn't say I’m suddenly really attracted to all men in general. Looking back, maybe there were some men that I was drawn to more than others, and I assumed it was in a “we’d get along well as friends” kind of way, but now that I’ve opened the door to my—would it be called a crush?—there’s no stopping it. I’m drawn to who Adrian is as a person, and because of that, I think I’m noticing things about him physically that I wouldn’t normally. I spend the walk to my car thinking about his smile, and I spend the drive home remembering how he lit up each room on the tour today. How he made the house feel like a home.
When I get back to his place, Adrian is waiting with a cup of water for me before he says goodnight and disappears into his room.
I want to follow him.
My room is before his in the hall, and I stand there, staring at the gap of his door that isn’t shut all the way for longer than I’d care to admit. My imagination runs wild. What if he left it open on purpose? What if he wanted me to follow him? Would I even need to say anything, or would Adrian immediately know whyI’m there, taking my entering his space as permission to cross that line of more than friends my mind has been stuck on?
My body heats as I picture it: Adrian letting out a relieved “Finally.” I’m too tall for him to kiss, but maybe he’d push me until the backs of my knees hit his bed. He couldn’t actually push me around, but I’d go willingly, falling back so that he could climb into my lap, straddling me before he’d grab my face and bring our mouths together in a desperate kiss.
Fuck, that’s hot.My cock is already aching, and I finally force myself to leave the hallway where I’m standing like a creep with an erection staring at his room. As I enter mine, I can’t bring myself to shut the door all the way, leaving it open a couple inches, just like his was. Striping out of my clothes, I leave the lights off and give my hard dick a couple of lazy strokes, groaning at how amazing even that feels with how turned on I am right now. It’s been so long since I’ve been with anyone, even just picturing Adrian has me far more desperate than it probably should. I grab lube from my nightstand before I climb onto the bed, not bothering to get under the duvet as I lay back and prop up on some of Adrian’s endless pillows.
It’s almost like I’m surrounded by him. The luxurious blanket, the comfortable bed, the mountain of decorative pillows, it all reminds me of Adrian. As if I need the reminder when he’s all I seem to be able to think about tonight. I can’t look away from that sliver of light coming from the hall, and I coat my hand in lube before returning it to my erection.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I was this hard, this desperate for release, but I still take my time, using long, slow strokes as I stare into the hall where I know his door is also open. Logically, I know he’s probably asleep by now with how tired he was. I’ve never heard a sound from his room, and he could have a noise machine or something that would prevent himfrom hearing me. But still, my cock leaks as I think about the possibility that he could hear the unmistakable sound of me jerking off.
I shouldn’t be doing this. Not so openly with him on the other side of the wall, both of our doors open. But I can’t stop. It only sends a jolt of pleasure down my spine as I wonder how he’d react. Back to daydreaming now, I imagine him being just as turned on as I am. That he’d want to investigate and would take the open door as the invitation that it is.
I might not be ready to make a move with him. But if the situation came up without me really making that decision…
