Page 49 of Chasing You

He knew there had been a moment on the ferry. He knew Kash understood what Adele was offering, and he’d accepted. He could only pray now that Kash didn’t change his mind when they got in. His heart was in his throat as he turned the car onto their street, and as he slowed to a stop at the stop sign, he reached out and ran fingers overKash’s cheek.

He twitched.

“We’re almost at the house,” Adele said softly.

Lately, Kash had been jolting awake like he was being chased by a chainsaw murderer, but this time, he groaned, and his eyes fluttered open. He licked his lips, then sat up and turned to face Adele as he started driving forward.

“Shit. I slept the whole way?”

Adele chuckled as he pulled into the driveway and put the car in park. “Yeah. You obviously needed it.”

Kash rubbed his eyes, then offered him a sheepish look. “Sorry.”

Adele raised a brow at him before turning the engine off and getting out. He didn’t bother with their things. He could unpack later. Right now, he wanted to get Kash inside and get that bath going. He wanted more than a long soak, but he also knew Kash needed the warm water.

His legs were moving a little easier, but Adele could see the effort it was taking to put one foot in front of the other. He slid his arm around Kash’s waist and took some of his weight.

“I’m okay.”

“Indulge me,” Adele murmured as he got the door open and helped Kash over the lip. He’d need to even that out soon. And they’d need a ramp for the back deck. And he’d need to figure out more than a shower stool for Kash.

There was a lot to be done, but at least it gave his mind something to focus on other than his desperate desire to get Kash naked, hard, and panting beneath him. Though he wasn’t giving up on that goal anytime soon.

“Let me get the water started,” Adele said as he stopped at Kash’s room. “You can soak while I fix us somethingto eat.”

“I—” Kash said like he was going to protest, but his stomach interrupted with a loud rumble.

Adele grinned at him. “You were saying?”

“Shut up,” Kash said, shoving at him.

Adele burst into laughter, his heart warm in his chest. He swayed in close and kept his voice low. “You know me better than that.”

Kash let out a long, slow breath. “Yeah. I guess I do.”

Reaching up, Adele cupped his cheek, stroking his thumb along some of the freckles dotting Kash’s skin. There was another moment of almost—then two. He could have crossed the line there. He could have kissed him.

But the time wasn’t right.

Pulling back, he ignored the swooping feeling in his stomach when he swore he saw disappointment flood Kash’s gaze. Still, he didn’t want to get his hopes up before he was sure. “Get undressed. I’m going to get the water going so the salts can dissolve.”

Kash opened his mouth like he was going to protest, then closed it and nodded.

Adele took that as a victory, turning away before he did something like ruin it all by pinning Kash to the wall and drawing an orgasm out of him with long, lush pulls of his hand down the front of Kash’s pants.

His own cock twitched at the thought, but he ignored it as he walked into his bedroom, grimaced at the mess, then decided he didn’t give a shit enough to do anything about it. His tub was sparkling clean from the last time Gage was trying to use chores to weasel money out of him for a date, so he turned the water on, then rummaged around in his cupboard for his bag of Epsom salts.

He had plain, and he had lavender. He had a feeling Kash would like the ones with the soothing scent. Heneeded to relax more than anything, so Adele set the plug, then dumped in several generous handfuls. The water immediately began to cloud, and he added one of his unused bath bombs to the mix.

The room began to warm up with the water, and he took a deep breath before turning, and he froze in his tracks when he saw Kash there in nothing but his robe. The neck was open in a wide V, and the front was tented with his erection. Adele’s mouth went dry.

How was he supposed to focus on anything else besides him?

Adele cleared his throat and stepped closer to Kash, offering his hand. Kash took it, leaning on him hard as he made his way toward the tub. His feet and calves were obviously stiff but not as bad as they had been right after his fall.

Progress, Adele supposed. Or maybe it wasn’t. He didn’t know nearly enough about what Kash was going through, and he was determined to change that too.

“Thanks.” Kash’s voice was small and soft and so unlike him. But Adele wasn’t sure that was a bad thing. Not with the way Kash was looking at him. “Do you want to get in now? I can worry about food later.”

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