Page 29 of The Guy in the Alley

All right, new plan. I gestured for him to follow me to the kitchen, where I found both items in my snack cupboard.

“Did I just see four jars of Nutella in there?” he asked.

“I had a coupon.” I shrugged and ripped the gold foil off the Nutella. Then I opened a new bag of pretzel sticks, dragged one gently through the chocolaty goodness, and offered it to him.

He eyed it skeptically but didn’t stall or anything. He stuck it into his mouth and chewed.

It was a funny sight. And sexy, but that went without saying. His expression changed, the skepticism morphing into mild disbelief, then softening into a “Huh.” But he wasn’t done. His gaze found mine, and I saw the stubbornness coming from a mile away. Jaw set, eyes narrowed, he headed for the doorway.

“You’re a fuckin’ terrible influence, Trace,” he muttered. Still not done. He came to an abrupt stop while I was failing to withhold my laughter, and he came back. “I’d like one more.”

You can have as many as you want, honey.

I dragged two of them through the Nutella and extended them to him, and then he was gone, stalking toward the bathroom.

“Just admit I’m right!” I called, following him. I treated myself to a couple dipped pretzel sticks on the way, thinking about Ben’s stick and how I could get that dipped too.

He’d left the bathroom door open. “I’ve discovered that every time I say something nice to you, you use it against me. So congrats. You’re forever a jackass, kid.”

I love the way we banter. We should keep doing it.

I came to a stop when I spotted him shedding his clothes in front of the shower. There was no forgetting his immodesty last night, but this time…I didn’t look away. I forced myself to remain casual; this was nothing weird. We were just shooting the shit as he got ready to shower. He couldn’t be too bothered if he left the door open. We might as well be in the showers at a gym. Right?

“Every time?” I questioned. “You subtly imply I’m a bright spot. I only figured that out because I’m a genius. Have you said anything else?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “A genius would know.”

I sucked my teeth.

And then…he dropped his boxer briefs, so I dropped my vocabulary.

What were words?

Just like yesterday, he was completely unfazed. He stepped into the shower and didn’t even wait for the water to warm up properly. Which…could have something to do with his being used to communal showers.

I ducked my gaze for a moment, feeling like a moron, just not enough to leave. Instead, I hopped up to sit on the long counter and eat pretzel sticks.

Well…I kinda forgot about the eating part when he began soaping up.

I had to do something, say something, unless I wanted to be the perv who just stared.

What a perfect fucking ass, though. His whole body. His thighs. The man had calf game too. He was stocky in the hottest way. Plain solid.

“So, uh…” Do you wanna fuck? “Are you looking forward to baseball season?”

Only two months and change to go!

I was so smooth.

He glanced at me over his shoulder for a second, before he closed his eyes and soaped up his face too. “Sure. More twins to hate.”

“And tigers,” I pointed out.

“And the Indians,” he muttered.

“We say Native Americans today, you know.” Last I’d heard, the team was changing their name.

He laughed and stepped under the spray.

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