“Mmhmm.”
“I am. The only differences between us… That’s all just stuff and money.” He ran his fingertips along my jaw. “Take all that shit out of the equation, and we’re two guys who happen to be perfectly compatible.”
My humor faded, and I held his gaze because I couldn’t look anywhere else. “Yeah, we are perfectly compatible. Which still kind of blows my mind.”
“Mine too.” He traced the edge of my jaw again. “Mostly because I was starting to think I’d have to settle for someone a lot less compatible.” He pressed his lips to mine. “And no amount of money could change that either way. It either works or it doesn’t.”
“Well, I’m glad it does.”
“Me too.” The corners of his mouth rose slightly. “Maybe we should send a thank-you card to the people who made Leathr.”
I laughed. “You’re probably onto something.” Drawing him in again, I brushed my lips across his. “You were right in front of me, and without that app, I probably never would’ve found you.”
“God bless technology.”
“Damn right.” I slid my hand into his hair and claimed his mouth again. I didn’t pull back. He didn’t pull back.
Holy fuck. I hadn’t made out like this since I was a teenager. Hell, even that didn’t compare. Teenage me never kissed anyone who was as gentle and unhurried as Rick. This wasn’t frantic groping and gasping in the back of a movie theater or the front of a car, getting as hot as we could without going farther than we were ready. This was kissing for its own sake. Languid kissing, as tender as it was erotic, with no need to move forward. Sex and submission could wait.
Even that heavy fatigue that had been dragging me down all day couldn’t distract me from the taste of his mouth, the warmth of his body, or his cool breath rushing across my skin. Top drop was a bitch, and nothing would revive me completely except for time and rest, but Rick’s touch was soothing and arousing at the same time. Not a magic cure, but one hell of a painkiller.
I pulled his head back and kissed his neck. He pushed out a breath and tilted his head even more, as if to bare as much flesh as possible. I barely heard him curse, but his voice thrummed against my lips and damn near turned me inside out. No surprise there—tired or not, it was almost impossible not to get turned on in Rick’s arms.
It was also almost impossible to get comfortable while I was this hard.
I shifted as much as I could, still exploring Rick’s neck with my lips as he dug his fingers into my shoulders. We were both breathing hard now, my heart going ninety miles a minute.
Fuck being tired. I wanted him. I needed him. Fully clothed on the couch, wrapped up in limbs and a blanket—that just wasn’t enough.
Maybe I still had some energy tonight after all.
I ran my hand up the inside of his thigh. “We should go upstairs.”
“Thought…thought you weren’t—”
“Turns out I am.”
Rick shivered. “Upstairs?”
“Upstairs.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Someone’s in a good mood.” Teagan eyed me suspiciously as I strolled into the NSFW Zone.
“What makes you say that?” Oh, who was I kidding? I could feel my own damned grin.
“He’s smiling,” Steve said to Bianca in a stage whisper. “I’m scared.”
Cal pointed sharply at me. “Don’t say it, McNeill. Don’t even say it.”
“Say what?” I showed my palms. “I have no—”
“You know exactly what I mean.” He stabbed his finger at me again.
I snickered. “Relax. I’m not going to say anything.”
“Yeah, Cal. Calm down.” Teagan shook her head as she picked up her coffee from beside her model. “He has to leave some things for you to hear over Thanksgiving dinner.”
The whole crew—Cal aside—roared with laughter.
Yes, this was going to be a good day. The banter was already starting, and Teagan was right—I was definitely in a good mood. My body still ached from fucking Rick twice, and my neck was stiff from falling asleep on his shoulder during an episode of Golden Girls, and I felt spectacular. Even the lingering top drop—that heavy fatigue deepening the ache in my muscles and slowing my brain down—was no match for this rejuvenated, nearly giddy feeling after waking up beside Rick this morning.
I took off my jacket and got to work. Today would be more time spent with my arch nemeses—uncooperative miniature windowpanes, each needing to be cut into unforgivably precise dimensions and coaxed into weirdly angled slots. Fine by me. As fiddly as these little bastards were, I could shape and place them in my sleep, which meant my brain was free to wander back to last night.
Top drop notwithstanding, I decided I wouldn’t mind more nights like that. Lying back on Rick’s bed while he sucked my cock. Fucking him until I didn’t even care if I came anymore because it felt amazing just like that. A shower that led to more sex before we finally made it downstairs for TV and pizza. Rick was amazing company. We really needed to spend more nights like—