“Want to take a shower before your nap?” Cole whispered against his hair. “You’ll sleep better.”
Gabe sighed as a tired smile formed. “Mm. Sounds good.” He raised his eyes imploringly. “Carry me?”
“Shit,” Cole laughed, shaking his head. “I can barely carry myself.”
The shower revived them a little, but short of some kissing and light fondling as they washed each other’s bodies, nothing sexual came of it. Exhaustion held on, and they returned to bed, eager for sleep. Both men went out like a light as soon as their heads hit the pillows.
Gabe awoke to Cole’s back tucked against his chest, his ass snuggled into his crotch. Now that he was well rested, his mind and body refreshed, the feel of Cole’s soft cheeks nuzzling his cock got him hard in an instant. Rather than spooning Cole as he wished to, Gabe rolled onto his back, his erection tenting the blankets. He tucked his arms under his head and looked at Cole sleeping beside him.
Gabe didn’t “sleep” with the men he fucked. He might hang out afterward and talk—as on occasions with Gino—but he neversleptwith them. It felt toointimate,too… obligatory. And he wasn’t about commitment. As afriend?Hell yes. He was as loyal and committed a friend as one could get. But otherwise? He wasn’t ready for that.
So why are you sleeping with Cole?He hadn’t even blinked at the notion of sleeping in Cole’s bed. Honestly? He’dwantedto sleep with him. Something about it felt right.Natural.And he couldn’t fucking explain it. He wasn’t “falling in love” with theman; he didn’t wantthatkind of relationship with Cole. He just wanted…
What?
He didn’t fucking know. How could he? He’d just met Coleyesterday.No matter how many times they made out since then, there was no way to know what would become of it. Maybe once they got their fill of each other, they’d become strangers again and go their own ways. Maybe this insta-attraction was purely sexual, temporary, destined to burn hot, then burn out.
Gabe stared at Cole’s sleeping form, then slid over against him and pressed his lips to the man’s warm shoulder. Maybe he didn’t wantthattype of relationship with Cole, butsomethinghad clicked between them, somethingmorethan sex.
Something that made him feel sick at the thought of someday not being in Cole’s proximity. He couldn’t begin to understand what it was, and maybe it was best not to analyze it, but rather justgo with it, see where it took them—and hope it didn’t eventually take them in opposite directions.
“What is it about you, baby?” he whispered against Cole’s warm skin. “I barely know you, but…” His head sank forward, resting on Cole’s shoulder. He pushed closer to the man’s inviting body and wrapped one arm around his waist, his palm flattening against his firm stomach, fingers lazily tracing the gentle hills and valleys of his lean abdomen.
Butwhat?
Fuck… he didn’t know.
Gabe’s body pressing against him stirred Cole from his slumber. He started to let Gabe know he was awake when Gabespoke—What is it about you, baby—and Cole remained silent instead, pretending to be asleep.
He tried to breathe calmly as Gabe wrapped his arm around him, his warm breath on his neck. It wasn’t easy, as his heart pounded wildly, and Gabe’s fingers trailed across his stomach, making his abs want to quiver and jump.
His words filled Cole with a confusing mix of anxiety and… excitement? It shouldn’t excite him that Gabe was so “into” him. What if Gabe decided he wanted more than sex? More thanfriendship?Something in Cole’s core flared in an unsettling way at the idea of getting that close to someone. He didn’t think it was something he could do, not now. Maybe never.
At the same time… he didn’t want to lose Gabe. He didn’t want to losethis…whatever it was.
Cole waited until enough time had passed so he could “wake up” without Gabe thinking he might have heard him, then shifted slightly, breathing deeply.
Gabe slid his hand back to Cole’s hip and kissed his shoulder. “You awake?” he whispered.
“Mm,” Cole mumbled. “Yeah.”
Silence lingered between them for a few moments, then Gabe spoke softly with a slight tremor in his voice, “Can we talk? There’s…” He swallowed. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Cole stiffened unintentionally, immediately regretting it as Gabe pulled back and scooted up against the headboard, clearing his throat with a nervous laugh. “Don’t worry,” he murmured. “I’m not going to sayI love youafter just meeting you yesterday. But… there is something important I want to say.”
“I wasn’t...” Cole mumbled as he sat up beside him, but let the sentence go. Hadn’t that been the first thing to come to mind?
“It’s okay,” Gabe smiled small and waved his hand casually. “Didn’t mean toscareyou,” he joked, but it landed heavy, lacking much humor.
Had he hurt his feelings somehow? Cole suddenly felt bad. “You didn’t scare me,” he laughed softly, nudging his shoulder. “I just… I mean…”
Gabe chuckled, more genuinely this time. “Forget it. I know how it sounded.”
Leaning closer, Cole rested his chin on Gabe’s shoulder. “Whatdidyou want to say?”
Gabe sighed and tilted his head, touching it against Cole’s. “I guess I…” He swallowed. “I guess I kind of wanted to apologize.”
Cole straightened and frowned. “For what?” He couldn’t think of anything Gabe should apologize for.
