Page 25 of Rising Storm

Gareth just grunted and grabbed his hips, sucking him hard enough to scramble Helix’s brain. He tilted his head back and let out a long breath as his orgasm barreled through him like a fucking tidal wave. Gareth moaned around him as he came.

When Gareth stood, they leaned on each other, breathing hard.

“Well, I didn’t expect that when I came in here,” Gareth said as he panted.

“Disappointed?”

“Hell no. Mind is officially blown.”

He couldn’t deny the chemistry between them and it kind of freaked him out a little. He stepped away and turned to grab them a couple of towels. Gareth watched him as he dried off his body and wrapped the towel around his waist.

“My clothes are toast. Guess I have to watch how many questions I ask you.”

The corner of Helix’s mouth went up. “I know how to shut you up now.”

“You can shut me up like that any time.” Gareth stepped in close and placed his hand on Helix’s chest. He traced over the line of Helix’s phoenix tattoo. “Do your tats have special meanings?”

The phoenix sort of did, but he didn’t want to go into how silly he’d been at that age—how he’d thought he’d be able to get away from Hayrick Letsen and start over. “Nah, I just liked them. I got that one when I was eighteen. It was the first one.”

“I like them.” Gareth traced the line that went up to his neck and cupped his jaw. He leaned forward and kissed Helix. “What are we doing here?”

“Does it have to be anything serious? Why not just have fun?”

“I’m not one for casual sex. I told you that.”

“Well, that’s all this is, so I guess you are.”

“We’ll see.”

A cell phone rang in his Gareth’s jeans and Gareth cursed.

“Shit, I forgot that was in there. Hope it’s okay.” He fished out his phone and key card and stared at Helix as he said, “I should take this. I’m going to run back to my room for dry clothes.”

“I’ve got things to do anyway.” He didn’t, but he was ready for Gareth to leave so he could think about what they’d just done.

He watched as Gareth held the towel securely in one fist and darted out of the bathroom. He couldn’t help but feel he’d just made a horrible mistake. Gareth wasn’t for casual sex and Helix wasn’t interested in anything more than that.

Or was he?

He couldn’t help but pay attention to the way his heart beat a hard rhythm at the thought of trying for something more. He thought of that kiss on his forehead. Gareth would be a fantastic boyfriend, of that he had no doubt. Helix had never had a boyfriend before.

He looked in the mirror and frowned. What the Hell was he thinking? He didn’t plan to stick around the Maine house forever and he doubted Gareth would either. So whether the man liked it or not, whatever they did together had to be casual.

* * *

Gareth duckedout of the room in a towel and hurried into his own room as he answered his phone.

“Hey,” Isaac said. “I’m off today so I thought we could do lunch.”

“Sure. Why don’t you swing by and pick me up?”

“Why do you sound out of breath?”

“I had to dash to get my phone.” The other reason was none of Isaac’s business. Though, Isaac was a good friend and he knew Gareth well. It might help him to talk about his feelings with someone who cared. “Give me five minutes.”

“It’ll take me fifteen to get there.” Isaac chuckled and hung up.

The whole time Gareth got dressed, he thought about how hot the blowjobs had been. He knew Helix was still thinking in hookup terms, but Gareth wasn’t. He was intrigued by the man and yeah, a part of that had to do with how hard a time he’d had in his life. Gareth couldn’t help but want to show him affection because he knew that had been something completely lacking in the man’s life. He yanked on a white button-down shirt and swiped his hand through his wet hair, then grabbed his room key card just as a honk sounded outside.

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