Me:Only with you.
Baby: See, massive flirt. How’s your day going?
Me:Not too bad, looking forward to coming home and seeing that pretty blush. How are you?
Baby: Me too
Baby: I mean, I’m looking forward to you coming home. I’m good
I bet he’s red in the face now.
I gnaw on my cheek, mulling over my next message. The compulsion I’ve been fighting against for weeks finally wins out.
Me: I’d like to take you on a date sometime?
The typing bubble appears and reappears multiple times. At one point, they stop for so long, I think I’ve royally fucked up and freaked him out. But then a new message pops up.
Baby: Yes.
Fucking yes!
35
GABE
I’ve just finished washing the dishes when a muffled groan comes from Noah’s room.
Curious and a little concerned, I pad down the hallway to check on him.
“Blue?” I call out. “You okay?”
There’s another groan, followed by a breathless laugh. “Barely.”
I step closer, nudge the door open and find him sprawled across the bed on his stomach, damp hair sticking to his forehead, a towel slung around his hips. His skin is flushed from the shower. Little droplets of water dot his strong back. He looks gorgeous. I swallow roughly.
“What happened?”
He rubs a hand over his face, laughing again. “I had to test out the new class formats. High-intensity interval trials. For two whole hours. I can’t feel my legs.”
I can’t help but grin, his happiness is infectious. “That bad?”
He groans dramatically, but he’s still smiling. “I may never walk again. Gabe, it’s going to be so much worse tomorrow. You’ll have to carry me everywhere.”
I take in his pouting face. He’s so playful. I love that about him—how even when he’s hurting, he’s smiling at me. I still can’t believe this man wants me.
“You’re cute,” I tell him, heat rushing to my face.
He looks absolutely delighted. “Oh yeah?”
“Yes. Very.” I lean against the doorframe, cheeks on fire as I speak. “Do you want me to help? I could… massage them. Your legs, I mean. If it helps.”
Noah lifts onto his elbows to look at me properly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You offering to take care of me, baby?”
“Um… yes,” I mumble, flushing at the term of endearment. No matter how many times he says it, it makes me feel so warm.
He shifts on the bed, the towel loosening slightly as he stretches out on his stomach. “Have at me.”
I climb onto the bed, straddling the back of his legs below his calves, and push the towel up to expose more of his thighs. They’re so thick and powerful. My mouth waters looking at the strength of him.
