Page 19 of Melting the Ice

Dean, leaning towards him on the couch, those crystal clear green eyes so amused. So open. Surprised, even, like he hadn’t expected to laugh with Brody and he liked it anyway.

Brody didn’t want to think about why it was that he was so hyper-fixated on the guy. Or why the memories he kept catching on were these particular ones.

He wasn’t stupid.

Clearly, maybe Ramsey was right and ithadbeen too long since he’d had sex, if hisverymale roommate was able to turn him on.

“You’re being quiet,” Dean said.

“Pot, kettle,” Brody said.

Dean chuckled. “That’s fair.”

“Just thinking I haven’t seen much of you around,” Brody said. Maybe if he saw more of Dean. Saw more of Dean’s potentially bad habits and got to know him a little better, he’d snap out of this.

“Been busy. Told you I’d be a good roommate. Best roommates are absent roommates, right?”

“I guess,” Brody said. “I just don’t want you to think you have to avoid being at home, just because . . .uh . . .we weren’t always going to be roommates.”

“Nah.”

“’Cause I like you just fine. Maybe even more than Ramsey.” He knew Ramsey better, that was for sure. But could he likeDean more? Well, if his uncooperative mind—and dick—were any indication, he sure could. Because he’d never, not in a million years, ever been tempted sexually by Ramsey.

“Aw, that’s sweet, pretty boy,” Dean teased.

Brody tried to tame his flush. “Just the truth.”

“I like you just fine, too. You’re better than anything else I’d end up with by accident or necessity,” Dean admitted. “And that’s not just because of that crazy fancy blender your mom bought.”

They turned down Clackamas and there on the corner was frat row, people already spilling out of the houses onto the ragged front lawns, noise echoing in the night from at least half the houses on the block.

“It’s this one,” Brody said, gesturing at one of the houses in the middle with the front door open, multi-colored lights and music pouring out of the gap.

“You really sure about this?” Dean asked skeptically.

Brody got it. He didn’t really want to go to this party, but what was the alternative? Sitting at home, alone? Going over one of his lab reports? He was a college student.Somefun should come with the territory.

“No, but we’re going in anyway,” Brody said with determination.

“Alright then. Lead the way, pretty boy.”

Brody flashed him a hard look and Dean flashed him back an easy grin.

“That’s annoying,” Brody told him as they walked up to the front porch.

“But true,” Dean retorted.

And yeah, as they entered the house, packed with people, they were all staring at the pair of them with the kind of hungry gazes that weren’t so hard to interpret.

“You want to hook up with any of those . . .” Dean scratched his neck, looking vaguely uncomfortable with the attention as they headed towards the back of the house, where Brody knew the bar was. “Puck bunnies? That what they call them?”

“Yes andno,” Brody said.

“Me either. I’m not into being wanted for my accomplishments.”

“Just your hot body?” Brody said it before he could even think about it, could dream of taking it back. Of leaving it unsaid.

Because Deandidhave a hot body. Straight or not, that much was kind of a certifiable fact.

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