Page 45 of Mine to Keep

Nick shrugged. “This is a great place to start, either way.”

We talked some more, and I answered a few questions he had about some of the names, pausing to throw the pants into the dryer.

By the time the clothes were done, it was late. Would asking if he wanted to stay be too forward? We’d had a heavy make-out session that I wasn’t averse to repeating…this time, naked.

I folded his pants and brought them over. “It’s late.”

Nick took his clothes with a grin. “It is.”

“If you wanted to, you could stay.”

He tossed his pants onto the couch. “On here?”

I eyed the couch and very much wanted to burn it right then, so the choice wasn’t there. “If that’s where you’re comfortable.”

He took a step forward, getting right up in my space. “Is it really all about where I’m comfortable?”

“I mean.” I cleared my throat, suddenly nervous…and hot, why was it so hot in here? “If you’d like, you can share my bed. I have only the one bedroom.”

He lifted his hand and rubbed a finger along my lower lip. “I’m good with sharing.”

“Yeah? Okay, great. So.” I turned, taking in a lungful of air. “This way, then.”

He chuckled behind me and followed me down to my room. Was he checking out my ass? I’d been looking at his. When I stepped into my room, I glanced around. Nothing was left out, and I’d changed the sheets yesterday. My room was simple, blues and grays, I had art on the walls because I found it creepy putting up pictures of people where I slept. It would be like they were watching me.

“Here we are.”

Nick’s eyes were everywhere, taking it all in. “Nice painting.”

Over my bed was an abstract painting Trinity had made me for my birthday one year. They were so talented and after we broke up, I’d refused to toss it.

“A gift.”

He nodded. “You have a nice room.”

“Nothing like yours, no tech in sight besides my television.”

Nick pressed on the mattress. “I like it.”

“So…did you want to shower or anything?”

He moved close to me; I stayed in place. When he was an inch from my face he smiled. “I think we should get more comfortable.”

I may have nodded a little too enthusiastically.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Nick

As much asI wanted to bury myself in Matt, there was a little voice in the back of my head that told me I had to take it slow with him. There was a hunger in his eyes, but what he was going through was traumatic. If I broke Matt, JJ would kick my ass.

Matt showered first, and I went after. He’d pouted slightly when I’d told him it would be best if we took them alone. Once we were in bed, I pulled him to me and kissed him until his eyes drooped.

“I want you, Nick.”

“I thought you hated me.”

“I’ve been known to make mistakes.”

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