I let go and collapse beside him on the bed. We're both sweaty and sticky and breathing hard. The room smells like sex and lube and cum and neither of us cares at all.
"Fucking hell," Ivan says after a long moment. "What an intense way to start the day."
He turns his head to look at me, a lazy satisfied smile spreading across his flushed face. "Did I tell you good morning, already?"
I laugh. "Good morning yourself. Best wake-up call ever, getting my ass eaten and fingered to heaven."
We lie there for a while, catching our breath, letting our heart rates return to normal. Ivan reaches over and takes my hand, threading our fingers together like he always does.
"I love Saturday mornings," he says softly. "I love waking up with you, and starting the day by making you come like a porn star."
"Me too. Especially when they start filthy like this."
"We should shower. We're covered in cum. There's lube on the sheets."
"In a minute. I'm not ready to move yet. I'm still feeling your tongue in my ass."
"Okay, let's just stay here. I'm really happy right now."
I squeeze his hand, bringing it to my lips, kissing his knuckles. "Me too."
Chapter 43: Jay
We shower together, which takes significantly longer than it should because Ivan keeps pressing me against the cold tile wall and kissing me until the water runs lukewarm and then cold. By the time we finally get dressed and head to Betty's for breakfast, the sun is high in the sky and it's almost noon.
Betty raises an eyebrow when we walk in together, hand in hand. Her eyes track from our faces to our joined hands and back again, and a knowing smile curves her lips. "Late night?"
"Late morning," Ivan says, grinning.
She shakes her head but she's smiling warmly as she pours our coffee. "The usual for both of you?"
"Please. Extra bacon if you have it."
We slide into our usual booth by the window. Ivan's foot finds mine under the table almost immediately, hooking around my ankle.
"So," he says, wrapping both hands around his coffee mug. "What do you want to do? With your life, I mean. Long-term. Five years from now, ten years from now. What does that look like in your head?"
I stir my coffee slowly, watching the cream swirl, not meeting his eyes. The question makes me anxious. "I don't really think about it. I've never let myself think that far ahead."
"Why not?"
"Because thinking about the future feels like jinxing myself." I shrug, trying to make it sound casual. "I've learned to focus on getting through today. Tomorrow can take care of itself."
"But you're good at what you do, Jay. You're talented with bikes." Ivan leans forward, his eyes intense. "Mick wouldn't have hired you and kept you on if you weren't."
"Mick hired me because I was desperate and willing to work for cash under the table for almost nothing."
"Maybe that's why he hired you initially. But he kept you and gave you more responsibility. He trusts you with custom work now because you're talented. I've seen you talk about engines. Your whole face lightsup. You understand machines in a way most people don't. That's not something you can fake."
I don't know what to say to that. No one has ever talked about my work like it matters.
"Working for Mick is fine," I finally manage. "It's steady. He's good to me. I know what's expected every day."
"But it's not a career or a future you can build on. You're making less than minimum wage in cash. No benefits, no health insurance, no security. What happens if you get hurt on the job? What happens if Mick decides to retire or close up shop?"
"I'd figure something out. I always do."
"What if you didn't have to figure it out alone? What if there was a better option?"
