My breath caught in my chest. I didn’t want to breathe too hard in case I scared him away, in case thisstopped.
This? This was exactly like seeing that deer in the woods.
“Thank you,” Carter said, sighing and then relaxing against me, letting me take more of his weight.
I hadn’t been sure where we stood when he left, except for the vague impression that he maybe wanted more.
That impression wasn’t so vague now.
“For?” I asked, shifting as well, turning my shoulders so he had more space to lean against me, squeezing his fingers to let him know it was okay.
“Everything, I guess.” Carter laughed softly. “Coming here with me. Forcing me to stand up to my mom for once in my life. Helping me get closer to my dad.”
“You’re welcome,” I said, pausing, and then kissing the top of his head. If that wasn’t what he wanted, he could ask me to stop, but I got the feeling itwas.
Carter wasn’t the most assertive man in the world, for all that his crisp shirts might’ve fooled people into thinking he was.
“Can I touch your sweater?” I asked, remembering how badly I’d wanted to earlier.
“Uh. Sure? Why?”
“Soft,” I explained, reaching out to run my fingers over the fabric. I would’ve liked it anyway, but I liked it even more because Carter was wearing it, because when I touched it I couldn’t help touching him.
Carter laughed again, warm and happy, leaning into my hand, encouraging me.
“I guess I’m buying sweaters for softness now,” Carter murmured, and when I met his eyes the gray had been almost swallowed up by the black, his lips gently parted.
He was socutewhen he was turned on.
How did people not see that? How could they possibly have the chance to see him like this and not want to make him the happiest, most sexually satisfied man in the world?
“You’re allowed to kiss me, remember?”
“I remember,” Carter said. “Just working up the courage.”
I smiled at him, moving again and encouraging him to come with me so we were taking up the length of the couch, Carter lying half on top of me, tucked between my body and the back cushions.
I was starting to understand why it was so huge.
Carter kept looking at me, like he could hardly believe I was real, and despite wanting him to be comfortable, Ilikedthat. No one had ever been in awe of me like he was.
His hair was still impossibly soft when I reached out to stroke it, happy to give him all the time in the world but wanting to reassure him, wanting more contact for myself.
“I’m gonna fall asleep if you keep that up,” he murmured, eyes already falling closed.
“That’s fine.” I smiled at him. “I’ll have the bed all to myself.”
“Do you want that? Because I really can sleep here.”
“No,” I said, twirling a loose curl around my finger and watching it spring back into shape once I let go. “Much rather share the bed with you.”
I wasn’t sure how to bring up the fact that I’d gone out and gotten the necessary supplies to experiment, if he wanted to. It hadn’t occurred to me to pack them, but now that I knew there was achanceof getting laid…
Couldn’t hurt to make like a boy scout and be prepared.
Carter’s eyes opened again, so warm and hopeful.
I leaned in, nudging his nose with my own, bringing my lips close to his, so close, but I wasn’t going to kiss him unless he kissed me first.
