“I can see your boner from here—stop looking at me like you want to eat me,” Tanner chastised mockingly.
“Just focus on the goddamned road,” Lance replied, clearing his throat and looking away. Tanner snorted and reclaimed Lance’s hand, gently interlacing their fingers again.
Chapter 12
It was almost 5:00 by the time they made it back to Lance’s place. Tanner stopped his truck in the driveway and turned off the engine.
“Come in?” Lance invited with a smile. “I can dig something out of the freezer. Pop open a few beers. We can make out on the couch,” he suggested, counting off each one, like he was making a list of things to do around the house. Tanner shook his head, biting the inside of his lip to keep from laughing.
“You’re a real pain in my ass, you know that?” Tanner asked, knowing damned well he had no intentions of turning down any offers from Lance.
“That’s a bit more advanced than I was thinking of for tonight’s activities,” Lance said teasingly, because Tanner had set himself up for that one. “Seriously, though, I’d like you to come in. No pressure. I promise. I just need—please come in. At least let me fix you some dinner and maybe watch some TV. Hey, I’ve got some of that Belgian beer you like. Or you can just have a soft drink or water or lemonade . . .” His voice trailed off as he ran out of suggestions.
Tanner loved funny Lance. Loved how easygoing the guy was. But he also loved this version of him. It was younger, and far more self-conscious than the version he’d first met at his condo. He wasn’t quite as intimidating as the accountant with his own house and business. It was—refreshing, and reassuring, when he stumbled over his words and rambled nervously.
“The Belgian beer sounds nice, but you sold me with the making out part,” Tanner replied with a knowing smirk.
Lance laughed with delight, reaching over to capture Tanner’s jaw to kiss him enthusiastically.
“That is still unexpectedly amazing,” Lance said, as he lifted his mouth from Tanner’s.
Tanner wished there was a word to describe the expression on Lance’s face. Like a sunflower turned towards the sun. Lance smiled with his entire body. All of him, from his shoulders to the angle of his head, to the width of his smile, seemed to radiate his emotions, and it attracted Tanner in a way nothing else could. He’d give anything—do anything—to keep Lance smiling like that. And wasn’t that just the weirdest fucking thing? How you could go from barely caring about yourself, to being perfectly willing to burn down the world for someone else?
Yeah, Tanner was a dramatic motherfucker. He was all too aware.
Tanner was waiting for it. The awkwardness, the weirdness, he was waiting to wake up and realize he didn’t want this, that he’d somehow inhaled some weird shit, and that his new and sudden interest in cock was just a phase, but—it never came.
He’d grabbed two beers from the fridge, and leaned against the counter, while Lance went through the contents of his freezer.
“How does two-year-old pot roast sound?”
“Like food poisoning,” Tanner replied with a snort.
“Hardy, har, har!” Lance resumed digging.
From his vantage point, Tanner had a perfect view of Lance’s ass, and he was reminded of how much of his life had been turned upside down within a very short time. He stared at that very muscular,maleass, and contemplated the possibility of walking away before he’d even given his attraction to it a chance to take hold. He could—the door was right there. It would be easy to—limp his way out of Lance’s life and pretend this little walk on the wild gay side was just a freaky, whacked outdream. It would be simple. So fucking simple. Tanner was good at walking away and pretending everything was fine. He’d had lots of experience doing exactly that. He was a pro! He just—he didn’twantto. He wanted to hold onto this little slice of heaven, even if he didn’t believe he deserved it, or that it would last. He wanted to hold onto it with both hands, for as long as possible, regardless of the outcome. He had a feeling it would be worth it in the end. Fuck the world and its rules. So what if he’d gone from drooling over tits, to gawking at a man’s ass? It was his choice, dammit, and he was going to go after what he wanted, for however long he wanted it. And based on the strength of his hard on, he doubted he'd ever get over it.
“How about—frozen pancakes my mother made last Christmas?” Lance asked, not bothering to wait for Tanner’s response before continuing to excavate his freezer. It must have been a rhetorical question since the package did not get tossed out onto the counter for defrosting. Tanner was beginning to wonder if there was anything in there that was dated this year.
In the meantime, he reached the conclusion that Lance had the world’s greatest ass. Round and plump, it filled out his jeans perfectly. The urge to squeeze those incredible globes was intensely powerful, and Tanner couldn’t think of a single reason not to indulge himself. Placing his beer on the counter, he walked up behind Lance. He wrapped his arms around Lance’s waist and pressed flush against him, aware that Lance could feel how hard he was.
Lance groaned softly and pressed back. Tanner smiled and kissed the back of Lance’s neck.
“What brought this on?” Lance asked.
“I was admiring your ass,” Tanner admitted. He’d never said anything of the kind to anyone. Ever. But Lance made him feel so open about expressing himself. It was wonderfully freeing.
“Glad to know you approve,” he responded. Spinning around quickly in Tanner’s arms, he winked and smiled. “Food, Tanner. Food, then—everything else!” Right on cue his stomach growled.
Tanner burst out laughing. Reaching over Lance’s shoulder, he grabbed a bag of edamame from the freezer and dropped it on the counter. Then he kissed Lance once more before releasing him and gathering supplies to fix dinner.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Lance asked with a mocking smile.
“You said food before sex. So, I’m making you food,” Tanner explained with a shrug. Pulling soy sauce from the cupboard, he turned to see Lance’s mouth drop open.
“Don’t look so shocked! Hey, I know how to make the basics.”
“So, you’re cooking for me?” Lance asked, arms crossed, gaze teasing, as he leaned back against the refrigerator.
