Page 36 of Dean

I sigh in acceptance as I pour myself a cup of coffee and walk to the table, sitting down to eat. Avery joins me shortly after, and his knee brushes mine when he scoots his chair in. If a little zing of pleasure slips up my leg then so be it.

It’s just that it’s been so long since I’ve been domestic with anyone. And Avery fits so perfectly into my life. It’s felt seamless adjusting to him being around.

“Sorry. It’s a small table.”

“I don’t mind it.”

He peers up at me, and then we eat in silence. It’s comfortable. Neither of us ever feels pressured to fill the void with chatter. Everything is fucking nice with him here.

Admittedly, after I invited him to live here, I grew apprehensive about my offer. I worried that perhaps I had been too rash, too quick to invite him in. Things could have gone south quickly, and I really do enjoy having him as an employee.

But in true Avery fashion, he took everything in stride, and it’s been fine.

It’s been more than fine. I quite enjoy having someone to spend time with when I get home from work and when I wake up in the mornings. And don’t get me started on the food. It’s amazing. His skills in the kitchen are something else. I’ve never eaten this well.

And to have someone to join me on my night rides is…well, it’s been really fun.

I like spending time with him far too much.

And it’s definitely excessive how much I like looking at him.

“What?” Avery asks, peering up at me through those long lashes.

“Just thinking about how we make good roommates.”

His eyes lower and his spoon drags around the bowl. “We do.” He pauses a moment and then meets my gaze again, and I can’t help it, it just slips out.

“And you should get your belly button pierced.”

His eyebrows rise and his spoon clatters noisily in the bowl. “What the fuck?”

“Just a thought I had.”

His cheeks blush, and I find myself shifting in my chair. “Well, maybe I’ll do that then.”

His pretty cheeks darken as he stares down at his bowl.

“How’s the oatmeal?” he asks.

“Fine.”

He grins and peeks up at me almost shyly. “Told you so.”

He leans back and drags that spoon across his tongue, and I force myself not to look. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable. Something shifts in my chest, and I feel a pang of something.

In my dick.

I’m just lonely, I tell myself. It’s been so long since I’ve had a real connection with someone.

The last woman I dated was fun and our evenings out were entertaining, but that’s all it was—entertainment. It was superficial.

But something about Avery is different.

I glance at him again, and he’s scrolling on his phone, his braid pulled to one side and twirled around his finger.

Hell, he makes me…feelsomething. Protective? Possessive?

I shake those thoughts away. I just need to go on a date. I need to find someone my age, someone I can connect with.

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