Page 15 of Feels Like Home

“God.” Jace covered his face. “It’s just that…”

“What?” Ian propped himself up on one arm and rolled Jace onto his back. His black hair was disheveled, and his hazel eyes had that just-awoken appearance. I could wake to this every morning.

“My grandma.” Jace let out a groan, a sensual noise that Ian knew was unintentional. “She’s very inquisitive…and…” He pursed his lips, as if reluctant to say the last part. “Very protective of me.”

“So, you’re basically telling me I’m about to get grilled.”

Jace threw an arm over his eyes. “I know how that sounds. I’m an adult who shouldn’t need my grandma to protect me.”

“You’re very fortunate.” Ian would have killed for any kind of family in his life. While others took that for granted, he could only imagine what it would feel like to have family in his corner. Just one family member would have made all the difference to him. “I think it’s sweet.”

“You do?” He looked disbelieving at Ian. “You don’t think…”

“I think you’re a very lucky guy.” He patted Jace’s hip. “Let’s go downstairs.” He motioned to his hair. “Could I borrow a brush to tidy up my appearance, or should I meet your family looking like a wild man?”

Jace got up and went to his dresser, returning with a paddle brush. “I’m going to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

“Can you bring me some mouthwash?” Ian climbed out of bed. “I want to knock them off their feet, not kill them with my morning breath.”

“So needy.” Jace beamed, then his brows knitted together before he hurried from the room.

Ian grinned at his mate’s playfulness, though it seemed he lacked the confidence to fully embrace his sassiness.

Starting from the ends and working his way up, Ian detangled the mess. When he was done, he cleaned the brush. Jace returned, but he didn’t have a bottle of mouthwash with him. “I think you should rinse your mouth in the bathroom so you can use the sink to spit.”

“Smart.” Ian also needed to empty his bladder. “Show me the way.”

He caught the yearning look in Jace’s eyes as his mate stared at his hair. Instead of asking if he wanted to touch it, Ian took Jace’s wrist and guided his hand to his hair.

A look of wonder replaced the yearning in Jace’s eyes as his fingers glided through the strands. “It’s so soft. Did you have it professionally cut, or are the layers natural?”

“Natural.” The more Jace stroked his hair, the harder Ian became. It was like the strands were attached to his cock. It was getting tougher not to purr in fucking delight.

Ian’s phone began to ring. Jace yanked his hand away and blinked rapidly, as though coming out of a trance. He took a step back and cleared his throat like he’d been doing something wrong. “Let me know when you’re ready to go to the bathroom.”

With an aggravated grunt, Ian pulled his phone from his pocket as Jace walked swiftly from the room.

“What?” he snarled without looking to see who was calling him.

“I heard smalltown life was good for people, but your snarl makes me wonder if that’s true,” Nolan Toolie said. “Should I even ask how you’ve been?”

“I’m doing fine.” Ian frowned. “Why are you calling me?”

Nolan’s voice threw Ian. He’d never expected to hear it again. It wasn’t as if they’d been friends back in their competitive days. More like frenemies.

“I’ve been doing a little traveling.” Nolan laughed in a deep, jovial way. “From what I’ve heard, you settled in some place called Midnight Falls. I’ll be passing by the town tomorrow and thought maybe we could catch up.”

Ian’s frown deepened. “I wish I could, but I have a ton of things I have to get done.”

Not true, but Nolan calling him out of the blue didn’t feel right. They had nothing to catch up on.

“Yeah, I get it,” Nolan said. “Maybe some other time. It was good talking to you.” He hung up.

How had Nolan even gotten his phone number? He tucked his phone into his back pocket and walked into the hallway. Jace stood there with his hands in his front pockets, staring at a picture on the wall.

A picture of a fruit basket.

“Bathroom?” Ian said.

---