Page 18 of New Neighbor

Mac smiled, the taxi driving off behind him. “Lightweight, hmm?”

Benji’s smile faded. He’d been a lightweight all his life. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Come on, let’s get inside. My bed’s screaming for me.”

Benji trailed just behind Mac into the building. They mounted the stairs and turned toward their own doors once down the hall. Benji searched for his keys, his mind searching for something to say in parting.

He hadn’t really gotten what he’d been hoping for… some sign that Mac really was interested. But then, he didn’t get that Mac wasn’t interested, either, so he’d have to hold on to that.

Suddenly Mac landed on the wall beside his door.

“You okay?” Benji asked, turning to see Mac leaning against the hallway wall.

“Just tired,” Mac said before sighing. He lifted his stare, taking a step closer. “Thanks for showing me around town a little tonight. I appreciate it.”

Benji tensed a little. Mac was in his personal space… which was exactly where he wanted the guy, but he wasn’t sure if it was interest or Mac being tipsy. “No problem. Maybe we can do it again soon. You know… without the drama to start.”

Mac leaned in just a tiny bit closer. “Sounds good to me.” He looked away and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Ugh, I hope my head doesn’t pay me back for this in the morning.”

Benji was thoughtful a moment, something hitting his mind. “How’s your water?”

Mac frowned. “Water?”

“Yeah, the landlord was coming to fix it. Did he get it working?”

Mac nodded. “Oh yeah, my water. It’s working fine now. No problems.”

“Oh,” Benji said. “I was just checking… you might have needed some coffee in the morning.”

“Coffee… shit, I ground the last of my beans this morning and didn’t go get any. Damn.”

“You’re welcome to come have a cup tomorrow morning,” Benji said.Why not stay the night with me so we can make it in the morning together?

“That’s nice of you to offer. I just might take you up on it,” Mac said. “Especially since I missed out on the last chance for coffee.”

Ask him in… ask him in!Benji fiddled with his keys, looking for the right one. Which was hard. His hands shook with a mixture of terror and excitement.

Mac stared down at him, silent.

“I better get to bed,” Benji mumbled, backing away.

Mac said, propelling himself off the wall and toward his door. “Thanks again, Ben. I might come knocking tomorrow morning for that coffee.”

Ask him in!Benji thrust the key into the lock and turned, just as Mac did the same. “No problem. See you tomorrow.”

Mac sent a wave over one shoulder and disappeared into his apartment. The door shut behind him, leaving Benji alone.

Fucking chicken shit.

Benji leaned against the back of the door, wishing his liquid courage had been strong enough to do what he’d really wanted to do.

There’s no way he wants me.

Stop reading so much into things.

A little later, as he lay in bed, images of Mac played like a movie in his mind. Nearly naked, his muscled body on display. Benji grew hard imagining them in bed together.

Him pinned under Mac’s big, strong body.

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