CHAPTER SEVEN
Simon
“Take a leftup ahead and then it’s just a little further along.”
Simon followed Patrick’s directions, excited to take him out for a meal and happy to go wherever Patrick wanted to eat. As he rounded the corner, Simon scanned the signs on the buildings ahead. A laundromat and a gas station, a drug store, and a burger chain store. “I can’t see it. I’ve lived around here for ages and I don’t remember any nice restaurants around here. Are you sure it’s on this street?”
Patrick chuckled. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Further along the block then?”
The chuckle turned to laughter and Simon took his eyes off the road for a moment to glance at Patrick. Humor sparkled in his eyes as he pointed to the burger joint.
“Seriously? We’re celebrating by having dinner at a burger place?”
“Not exactly.” Patrick chuckled, and Simon glanced his way. He raised a brow as he met Patrick’s amused glance.
Simon put the turn signal on to turn into the driveway of the fast food joint, waiting for a break in the oncoming traffic. “Will a fancy restaurant magically appear in its place then?”
“Nope. We’re not eating out.”
Simon looked at Patrick in confusion. “I thought the whole idea was to go out and celebrate, and now you don’t want dinner?”
“Oh no, I do want dinner. But I also want to be at home. I want the best of both worlds.”
“Okay, now I’m really confused. Why am I turning in if you want to go home?”
Patrick placed his hand on Simon’s thigh, the weight warm and welcome. “I thought we could pick up some takeout and have dinner at home.” His voice dropped an octave, and he gave a gentle squeeze. “In private. Where we can celebrate properly.”
“Ahh… now that sounds like a brilliant idea,” Simon said, smiling back at Patrick, but he did want to make the night perfect, and the burger joint seemed… well, not quite right for a celebration. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather get pizza or Chinese or something a bit more special?”
“This is quicker.” Patrick’s words were accompanied by a wink and a stroke of Patrick’s hand up his leg.“Plus the celebration isn’t about the food.”Oh, Jesus.
Simon accelerated through a gap in the oncoming traffic, suddenly eager to get their meal and head back in the opposite direction. A quick loop through the drive-through, and they were back on the road. Ten minutes later they were pulling up out front of the house. Not long after, they were sitting cross-legged on the bed—their new shared bed, and the cause for celebration—their picnic of sorts spread out in front of them.
Patrick leaned forward and waved one of his french fries in front of Simon’s face, tempting Simon with the oily, salty aroma. He opened his mouth, but Patrick pulled back with a grin before teasing and making him chase the fry. Simon chuckled after another failed attempt to snatch the food from Patrick’s fingers, finding the whole game sweet, and Patrick’s joyous expression endearing. “Wow. This is romantic. I feel like I’m in a romance movie.”
“Nah. If this was a movie then I’d be feeding you from bunches of grapes dangled over your mouth, or tempting you with chocolate-dipped strawberries.”
“Now, that I could get on board with.” Simon grinned and Patrick used the opportunity to pop the fry into his mouth.
Patrick chuckled. “Next time.”
“Promises, promises.” Simon waggled his brows and gave Patrick a wink.
They fed each other from the cardboard boxes, slurping from giant cups of Coke. Burgers and fries had never tasted so good, especially when they were eaten from Patrick’s fingers—hot and salty, and so very sexy.
Simon had never felt so comfortable with anyone before. He and Patrick were friends first and foremost. They’d had months to get to know each other. They shared a lot of the same interests and enjoyed being in each other’s company. Patrick was easygoing and funny, and Simon loved spending time with him, finding his outgoing personality a good balance for Simon’s own more reserved nature. Patrick encouraged him to get out and try new things, such as the go-karting adventure—he was a great friend to have around. But at the same time, Patrick possessed a spark of something special, something that pushed all Simon’s buttons and had him fantasizing about getting him into bed. And now that Simon actually had Patrick in his bed—no, more than that, sharing a bedroom—it was like all his dreams had come true. He could hardly believe this funny, generous, wonderful man was all his.
They reached for the last fry at the same time. Well, technically it was Patrick’s french fry as it was in the greasy, nearly empty box in front of him, but Simon made a valiant effort to grab it nevertheless. But no matter how quick he was, Patrick’s reflexes were faster and he snatched up the fry. Simon grabbed him around the wrist to stop Patrick reaching his mouth with his prize.
He held Patrick’s wrist and his gaze, Patrick’s gray eyes locked to his own. The mood turned from amused to smoldering in an instant. Time stood still, and in that moment they were the only two people in the world. Simon’s heart fluttered at the expression on Patrick’s face—the desire radiating from him was tangible. His cheeks were flushed, his mouth soft, a peek of pink tongue moistening his lip. Patrick looked at him with pupils that were huge and dark, and Simon couldn’t resist the pull, the lure to bring his mouth to Patrick’s.
He couldn’t get enough of Patrick’s lips—warm and salty in flavor, and soft and supple under his assault. Patrick moaned and opened to him. Suddenly they were both on their knees, boxes and napkins crumpled under their weight as they kissed as if their lives depended on it.
Simon broke the kiss long enough to shove the remnants of their dinner to the floor, clearing the bed for the next stage of their celebrations. The mattress dipped as he knelt in front of Patrick again, stopping for another quick kiss before pushing his hands under Patrick’s T-shirt and working the cotton up and over his chest. His hands skimmed warm skin, smooth to the touch, all hard planes except for the small nubs of Patrick’s nipples. Patrick groaned and dropped his head back as the palms of Simon’s hands gently abraded his sensitive flesh. The guttural sound sent a shiver down Simon’s spine, and he moved over Patrick’s nipples again, just to see if he would make those noises again.
The joking mood from earlier in the evening had definitely been replaced with simmering sexual heat. Patrick opened his eyes and looked at Simon, his pupils blown wide. His breathing was labored and his nostrils flared as he drew in breath, and Simon studied every movement, watching as his touch drew a response from Patrick. So far he’d only touched Patrick’s chest, and he was pleased to see the reaction even that small touch elicited from his boyfriend.
