Jumping out of his arms I stand in front of his large bulk and without missing a beat I just carry on singing right at him.
“I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it's trueeee.” I wiggle my eyebrows then retrieve the broom from the floor adding a shake to my hips with every step as I move around my big sexy bear. Gavin simply folds his arms over his barrel chest and stands there as I serenade him. His face is back to that impassive expression but I see the twinkle in his eyes. He wants to have fun with me.
Sliding across the floor I get louder and probably more off-key. “I’m walking on sunshine woahhhh and don’t it feel good!” Shaking his head at me now, I watch in utter amazement as a smile graces his handsome face and it’s directed at me. I did that, I made him smile. His incredible blue eyes track my movements across the floor, never leaving me until the song ends and I bow dramatically.
“You’re ridiculous,” he huffs and I just smile wider as I pant slightly to catch my breath.
“Why, yes I am. I think you could use a little more ridiculous in your life, Mr. Savenger.” How I’m managing to flirt right now while still trying to catch my breath I don’t know, but I’m not going to look away or back down. Not when I finally have his attention. Risking a step closer, I reach out and run one finger down his large bicep, lightly tracing the ink there.
“I thought everybody had left for the day, I have keys to lock up. Why are you still here?” I ask him, tilting my head to the side and looking up through my dark lashes as I take half a step closer. I’m terrified I’m going to spook the big bear and he’ll run back to his cave.
GAVIN
It’s late, everyone has already left for the day. I should be working on timesheets but instead I stare blankly at my computer screen thinking about a certain person that refuses to leave my mind.
Every day of the last week felt like a battle. A battle that I think I’m going to lose. I had thought of myself as a strong-willed person. I mean, I’ve been sober for ten years. I should have the strength to stay away from Pete. Right? How can all that strength be crumbling just because I can’t stop thinking about his mouth?
Today I witnessed him applying lip balm. The way he puckered up and slowly glided the shiny balm across those pillowy lips? Hot damn. I needed to excuse myself to rearrange my dick in my jeans.
I hear the sound of music coming from the shop. What the fuck?
I was supposed to be alone. The last thing I expect to see when I walk out is Pete shaking his perfect little body right outside my office door. He literally takes my breath away until he trips over his own feet and almost kisses the floor. I move to catch him without thinking about it, and bring him close to my chest. He fits so perfectly against me. I don’t want to let him go, but I can’t hold on too tight or he will know where my mind has been going the last few days. Shimmying out of my hold, he continues unashamedly dancing and singing. He’s so carefree, his smile is contagious and the next thing I know I’m smiling back at him and fighting the overwhelming urge to sweep him up and smash my lips against his. His perfect fucking lips.
He stands in front of me, chest rising and falling as he catches his breath from putting all of his energy into dancing, like he just threw all of himself into a moment of happiness with no fear of embarrassment. How long has it been since I have felt that free? Or had a moment of pure unadulterated happiness where all of my thoughts were gone and I could just dance around a room? He’s right, I really could use some ridiculousness in my life.
If Adam could see me now, see what my life has become I could guess what he would say, what he would tell me to do. And of course that’s exactly what I hear in my head.
What the fuck are you waiting for Gavin? He’s super cute. Stop being so fucking sensible and live a little, I’m the one that’s dead, babe, not you. It’s time you start to actually live and not just exist. This one is special.
“I thought everybody had left for the day, I have keys to lock up. Why are you still here?” Pete’s words pull me out of my thoughts of Adam and I realize then how close we are, and that he’s touching me. Nobody ever just touches me but here is this little twink, ballsy as ever, running his finger up and down my arm.
“I was working,” I manage to croak out, my throat tight from the emotional whiplash I just had thinking of Adam.
Clearly undeterred Pete continues to step closer to me, his eyes have darkened with lust making his intent in this moment clear. He wants to kiss me. I suppose he has made that intention very clear from the second I met him and I have made it abundantly clear that isn’t going to happen. Yet I can feel my neck bending and my hand rising up to rest on the side of his fragile neck. I can feel his skin still damp with sweat. The flush of his cheeks and the parting of his lips is my undoing. Throwing caution to the wind I use the slight grip I have on the side of his neck to tilt his head back as I close the gap between us. This is my moment of unadulterated happiness, my version of dancing around a room.
All thoughts leave my mind as I press my lips against his for the barest of touches and I swear a Fourth of July fireworks display starts going off in my nervous system. I hear his sharp gasp of surprise as the only warning before he’s crushing his body against mine, trying to fuse us together but before I can give in to my newest obsession, there is a loudknock knock knockon the window of the shop which has my body jolting back in surprise.
Running a hand through my hair and pushing the longer top strands back out of my eyes I swing my eyes from the window to Pete and back again. I can see a guy standing there waving manically.
“Ignore him, he’s probably homeless, he will go away,” Pete rushes to say as he presses his palms against my chest, but the banging continues.
“Friend of yours, Jellybean?” I ask, the nickname slipping out without me realizing it. I’ve been calling him that in my head, ever since I spotted those colorful jelly bean boxer briefs of his the other day. With a long groan he drops his forehead to my chest which is as high as he goes on me making me want to kiss him all over again. Fuck, he feels so good against me.
“That’s my soon-to-be ex best friend. He’s here to pick me up since my car died a watery death,” he whines and I chuckle because he sounds as disappointed as I feel to have this moment broken. “Wait, Jellybean?” he asks with a cock of his brow and a pop of his hip that has my semihard cock standing to full attention.
Running a hand down his narrow waist I tap lightly on the top of his ass as I nod. “I saw those colorful jelly bean boxers you wore the other day,” I whisper as I lean down and brush another kiss on his cheek before stepping back fully. “Go home, Jellybean, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Standing alone in my silent tattoo shop, I watch Pete be driven away. It feels like somebody just took my sun, a total eclipse just passed over me. What the fuck did I think I was doing kissing him.
Living.
Adam’s voice announces loudly in my head and I sigh because he’s right isn’t he? That imaginary voice in my mind that sounds just like my dead ex is giving me dating and life advice… I seriously need a therapist. Between my addiction rearing its ugly head and now Adam giving sage advice from the grave, I can no longer hear my own thoughts clearly. My life and my head is a shit show.
CHAPTER 7
PETE
“I am going to fucking kill you, as slowly and painfully as possible. I am going to tie you up by the hair on your balls and force you to listen to the ‘Macarena’ on repeat.” I’m seething with rage and throwing out idle threats of violence toward my best friend as he drives us to the Mexican restaurant in town. So far none of my creative death scenarios have scared him because he laughs harder with every one. Well he won’t be fucking laughing when I pour hot sauce all over his tacos and he’s pissing out of his asshole later tonight. “I can’t believe you kept fucking knocking.” I don’t think I have dropped this many F-bombs in my whole life but this situation calls for it.
