Page 66 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

“You’re kinda just hugging my legs, Joey-roo. You need a cuddle?”

I stand up, wrapping my arms around Brad’s shoulders and taking him down to the couch. He laughs under me, his arms coming around me tight as I tuck my face against his neck.

“I like this, you know,” he says. “You on top of me. Smothering me. Feels good.”

Fuuuck.

I rub my nose over his skin, breathe him in, nip gently.

“Oh, shit,” Brad whispers. “There’s Greg again, huh?”

I pause, my lips on his neck. “Did you name my dick Greg? As in…gregarious?”

“Yeah?”

“Of course you did,” I mutter, unable to stop my laughter. I pull back enough to see Brad’s face. He’s grinning up at me, looking so damn happy my chest swells like a balloon. “I’m gonna kiss you again. Sound good?”

“I think I can handle that,” he says, lips quirking.

I lean down, catch those lips, soak up his moan.

Slow. I can definitely take things slow. I have a month to prove to Brad he should be mine.

For tonight, I’ll prove I can learn his mouth as well as I know the man himself.

“Let me get this straight,” my cousin says. “Or not so straight, as it were. Bros…with benefits.”

“That’s right,” I answer.

The sound of the miter saw puts a temporary halt to our conversation, but I can feel Iggy’s gaze on me as he waits. Once I hand him the piece of trim I cut, he says, “But you’re half in love with the guy already.”

“So?”

“So, seems kinda risky, don’t you think? How are you supposed to…cash inon your benefits without feelings getting involved?”

I grab the rest of the boards we cut to size, and the two of us head back into the house we’re remodeling. Even though no one on our crew has an issue with my sexuality, I still lower my voice.

“I don’t expect my feelings to stay out of it,” I tell my cousin. “Not in the least. But there’s no world in which I pass up what Brad is offering. Do you know what kind of courage it takes to come out to someone? He askedmeto kiss him, Iggy. No wasn’t an option.”

“Look,” he says softly. “I like the guy. I do. And frankly, he was all over you at the barbecue, so I’m not doubting that his intentions are sincere. I just worry…”

“That he’ll experiment with me and move on?”

“Well, yeah,” Iggy says.

I nod, bending down and lining up one of the trim pieces before hammering it into place. “It’s a risk I’m willing to take. This is brand new for him. It’s a lot to take in and come to terms with. The last thing I want to do is scare him off by asking for forever. You know what he told me?”

“What?” my cousin asks, squatting down next to me.

“He said he didn’t want anyone else, Iggy. Just me. So this means something to him, too. I’m sure of it. The very least I can do is give him a minute to adjust. The rest will come.”

“You sound so sure about him,” he says, the beginnings of a smile forming.

“I am,” I admit. “If there’s one thing I’m sure about, it’s him.”

Iggy shakes his head, but he doesn’t look upset. “I’m not going to say I get it, but I’ll support you. And if Brad breaks your heart, well… Let’s just say he won’t be invited to the next family barbecue.”

I huff a laugh. “How utterly vicious of you.”

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