“I’m fine. I… I didn’t look,” Newt blurted, then wished he hadn’t said anything. “I mean, I took your wet boxers off under the blanket. I didn’t touch or look, I… I wouldn’t want you to think I’d taken advantage. You were completely out of it.”
River sat on the couch.
“Do you want me to call Max?”
“No.”
Newt didn’t feel as relieved as he’d hoped.
“Are we going to talk about that kiss?”
“Not…gay.”
Newt wondered if he’d been practising saying that.Not gay. Right.
“Di…la.”
And that.
“You’re saying you have a girlfriend. Dila.”
“Yes.”
Newt desperately wanted to say—You sure about that? —But he didn’t.
He’d googled. There’d been two other girlfriends before her. And they were just the ones Google knew about. Newt couldn’t just leave it. He should have, but he didn’t. “You’re straight but you kissed me.”
River just sat there, his eyes wide.
Don’t push.But Newt couldn’t help himself. “Does your cock know you’re not gay?”
River groaned.
“Did you kiss me because you were curious?”
No response from River.
“Are you still curious?” Newt took a deep breath.
River shook his head.
Newt wished River could talk to him. Maybe the sudden lack of inhibition had something to do with the head injury. He didn’t want to lose this job. But if River was mixed up, that was Newt’s problem too. Maybe he needed to let it go. If River kissed him again, then…
Back off.
Newt plastered a smile on his face. “I found a game on my phone that helps with word recognition. Why don’t you try it while I make dinner.” He found the game and handed River his phone. “You get shown two images and you have to tap the one matching the word.”
While River was busy, Newt went back into the kitchen area. He did everything he couldnotto look at River but when he did glance across, it seemed as if River somehow knew and looked at him. The connection made the breath catch inNewt’s throat, and it crushed his lungs. That kiss wouldn’t have happened if River hadn’t been interested. But whether River was interested or not, Newt had to keep his hands off him and concentrate on what he was being employed to do. Help River get his speech back.
Maybe even secret lusting was too dangerous, too damaging. Hands offandeyes off was the best course. Just the most difficult one.
When Newt’s phone rang just as they finished eating, he swallowed hard. Apart from River, only two people had his number. He almost wanted it to be his probation officer. But no…
“Hi, Max.”
River’s head shot up.
“I’ve put you on speaker.” Newt laid the phone down between them.
