Page 51 of Stray for You

“My nipples could cut glass.”

I can’t help chuckling. “Put on some damn clothes. You can put the apron back on and cook in it later if you want to, but it’s not going to do you any good if you freeze first.”

“But you’re surprised right?” Julian says, even as he slips off the apron and I get a glimpse of his bare chest and abs before he covers them in a sweater. “Like, good surprised?”

“Yes, I can definitely say I’m surprised.”

I cross the living room and set my guitar on its stand. Julianfollows, and the moment I turn, he has his hands on my hips and he’s leaning in for a kiss. I indulge him, and myself, and let him tip toward me. We stand by the window making out until I finally push him away.

“Doesn’t seem like you’re thinking about dinner,” I say.

“It’s like you said, it’s only four o’clock.” His eyes flicker down, though I’m dressed normally. “We’ve got plenty of time if we want to.”

Nerves batter my stomach. It’s now or never. He’s given me the perfect opening, and if I don’t take it, I probably won’t get a second chance tonight.

“Let me at least shower first,” I say. “I left this morning without doing that becausesomeonedidn’t let me get out of bed.”

“Did your band comment on you smelling like hot, sweaty sex?”

“No,” I drawl. “And I didn’t.”

“I could fix that, you know. When’s the next practice?”

“Not for a few days,” I say.

“Then I guess I have time to work my magic.”

I can’t believe I’m laughing at this corny shit. Maybe it’s the nerves. Julian lays it on thick, wagging his eyebrows at me.

I turn us around and set him down on the sofa. He sits under me, his eyes flickering to my crotch, which is now at eye-level.

“Can you relax and let me shower?” I say. “I won’t be that long.”

“Is there any point when I’m going to mess it up as soon as possible?” he says.

“Yes, there is.”

He isn’t listening to me. He leans forward, nuzzling at my crotch through my jeans, and it takes all of my willpower to push him away and step out of range. I know he’d suck me off right there without a word of complaint, but that will derail my plansfor the evening, and I’m not letting anything come between me and what might be my only shot at this.

“Stay there, Julian,” I say. “I’m going to shower. It’ll be worth it, I promise.”

“I don’t care what you smell like,” he says.

“Well, I do. Do you want me to be distracted because I’m thinking about how badly I wish I’d taken a shower?”

He huffs, but flops back on the couch. “Fine, but I’m telling you, it’s going to be pointless. I’m going to ruin it the second you’re out of the water. On second thought, can I come with you?” He perks right back up.

“No,” I say sternly. “A man needs ten minutes alone once in a while.”

His pout returns, fiercer than ever before. He crosses his arms as he sinks back on the couch. “You’re a cruel man, Cam.”

“Only because you like it so much.”

That shuts him up. His lips flap, but after last night, he doesn’t have a good way to refute that.

I turn away while I have a chance and stalk into my bedroom. I don’t take much into the bathroom with me, hopping into the shower while my resolve holds. Damn, but it was hard to walk away from him when he was looking at me like that. This hold he has on me better fade by the end of the week or I’ll be in serious trouble when he leaves. I can’t spend the rest of my life pining after a guy who lives three thousand miles away, a guy I feel I need to keep secret from my mother. What kind of pathetic life would that be?

Hopefully, what I have in mind for tonight will help get him out of my system once and for all.

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