I turn to the hallway off the living room, then hang his stuff on the hook. “A book?”
Joey rubs the back of his head. “Just in case.”
It takes a second, but then our conversation at Double Cake comes back. “Oh! In case we want to read together?” We’d joked about it, but I hadn’t taken that for a real plan.
Joey waves his hand, dismissing it, but I’m so thrilled I laugh and give him another hug. “I love that.”
I suck my lips in when that word slips out. But actually, if Joey’s going to go and bring his book so we can read together, then how am I not supposed to use words like that?
“So, beer?” I ask.
For the next while, I walk him around the house and chat. Joey seems sincerely curious about the place, like the old botanical illustrations I have framed on the wall, Horatio’s collection of metal records, and the massively difficult puzzle that Ayla and I have currently in progress on half the dining room table. As usual, he doesn’t offer much about himself, but it turns out showing him more of my life feels really nice and rewarding, so I’m satisfied just with the tour.
I’ve always been good at smiling and focusing on the positive, so it’s especially easy with Joey giving me so much to smile about.
The second we hit my room in the basement, we go full flirty. I kind of dance around Joey until we’re standing at the bed, then sitting together. The walls are painted teal, and there are piles of books everywhere and plants on all the windowsills, which are small and horizontal by the ceiling.
Somehow, Joey looks perfect here, like he belongs.
I rub my foot against his. “I’m glad you’re here,” I say.
Joey pushes the sleeves of his sweater up, showing the hairy backs of his arms. “Yeah, thanks for having me.”
It’s so clear that we’re about to have sex, but this time, that feeling doesn’t overwhelm me. It’s not like it’s any less strong. The charge between us is just as powerful as ever, and heat thrums through me while we look at each other. I inhale Joey’s scent, obsessed with the fact that he’s here in my bedroom. But instead of rushing through the tension to throw myself at him, I sink into the pleasure as it builds.
It’s fun to feel desired like this. It helps me stay in my body, present with every breath and touch and flash of heat.
“Some of my friends have an art opening this week,” I tell him, then drag my foot up against his ankle. “If you’re looking for something to do.”
Joey looks down at our legs. “Uh, I don’t know…” he defers, then takes a swig from his beer bottle, looking away.
I’m disappointed, but I smile at him anyway. “I didn’t really think you’d come,” I say, although I had hoped, then rub up against his leg again.
Joey looks a little hurt. “It’s nothing about you,” he says. “Anyway, I don’t think I’d be comfortable at something like that.”
I arch my eyebrow to him. “An art opening? But you’re literally an artist.”
Joey chuckles, then pushes his foot against my leg. “Something like that.”
“An artist,” I say, then rub my hand across my tattoo. “I got proof.”
Joey reaches out and grabs my arm, dragging his strong fingers over my bicep. “Working on you makes it easy,” he tells me.
My heart melts, and his scent washes over me, and a second later, Joey and I are kissing. I kiss at his neck and his cheek as I crawl on top of him, then push my hands up under his soft sweater. Joey chuckles and rolls me to the side. He’s above me, blocking the light, and he quickly and efficiently starts unbuttoning my shirt.
I gasp and rut up against him, and my hard cock throbs against Joey’s thigh. He pushes his lips to my ear, and I feel the stubble on his cheeks. “Can’t wait to fuck you again,” he whispers. “You want that, beautiful?”
My breath catches. I love when he calls me that.
“Yes,” I answer, voice trembling. “Please.” Joey’s hands lands on my hips, groping, but I grab his wrists to stop him. “Wait, one second.”
His body tenses as he sits up. “What do you need?”
I smile, relaxed again by his eagerness to take care of me. “It’s nothing. Just—I thought I should tell you. The sex was amazing the other night, but I don’t actually have much experience with anal.”
The words sit in the air for a second. I wasn’t sure if I would say them or not, but Matty and Ayla both encouraged me that I should share with Joey what I was feeling, even if we were only doing a casual thing.
Still, as I try to read the steady look on Joey’s face, I kind of wish I had just shut up and brought it up later, after he’d touched those parts of me I didn’t know how to touch myself.
