Page 7 of Lace

“Don’t be so bossy.”

Caleb leaned close and planted a heavy, sweet kiss on Levi’s mouth. That Levi kept him, even when he was a dick humbled him. “Pretty please,” he said as they parted, trying to convey his appreciation.

“Much better.” Levi gave his best grin as he stepped out of his crumpled jeans and padded across the room to the tiny powder room to wash his face.

“You going to get dressed?” Caleb asked as they traded places and he washed up, too.

“The day you actually take your clothes off when we have sex, I might think about getting dressed again after.”

“That makes no sense.” Caleb dropped into the desk chair, picked up the eraser with a sigh and resumed rubbing out his previous work.

“Uh-huh.” Levi placed a hand over his and stopped him. “Always assuming keeping your clothes on when you make love does make sense, of course.” He studied the spread sheet over Caleb’s shoulder as he leaned on the desk and let his free hand stray down under the front of Caleb’s T-shirt.

Under the thick cotton, Levi’s fingers found a thin strap, followed it down to the soft, satiny material of the camisole Caleb had hidden against his skin.

“Levi…”

Caleb tilted his head to one side and sighed, less heavy this time, as Levi’s hot breath wafted along the side of his neck andhis fingers drifted over his nipples through the secret second skin of satin. He closed his own hands on Levi’s, the material of his T-shirt between them, but he didn’t stop the other man’s manipulations.

“Shh. Let me take care of you, Cally,” he whispered, lips brushing like the breath of life against his skin as he spoke. “Just relax.”

The door to the room banged open making Caleb jump and reminding him there was no such thing as privacy in a student residence.

“Break it up, douchebags!”

Levi flopped, his weight falling heavy across Caleb’s shoulders as he drew his hands out of his clothing.

“Really, Angel?” he complained, lifting his voice from the husky whisper to a high-pitched whine… right in Caleb’s ear.

“Jeez!” Caleb yanked away from him and turned his annoyed attention to their friend as he swaggered in. “What do you want?” He stood, placing his own bulk between Levi and the open door as the other man hauled his jeans back on.

“Touchy!”

“You interrupted,” Levi pointed out, tone matter of fact because he was always the reasonable one.

“Considering you didn’t lock the door, that’s probably a good thing.” Angel waggled his finger between them, his gaze pointedly on Levi’s efforts to zip his pants. “Unless y’all are into exhibitions or something. You want just anyone to walk in on this shit?”

They both glared at him.

“I only bring it up because I care. There’s always that one jerk who’s going to be a dick about it.”

Caleb shot their friend an exaggerated, shocked glare. “Really? I had no idea there were assholes on campus.”

“I’m just sayin’.”

Caleb shimmied out from between his boyfriend and the desk the second Levi was once again decent. “Whatever. What do you want?”

“Oh, yeah.” Angel shrugged himself back on track and pulled a folded sheet of paper from his back pocket. “Speaking of exhibitions, check this out.” He spread the paper across Caleb’s homework and splayed a big hand over it to hold it flat.

Caleb didn’t need him to move his hand to know what the page held. Posters like it were displayed all over campus, and as soon as he saw the header—“A Different Dare Fashion Show”—he pushed hand and paper away. His stomach turned over even as Angel opened his mouth.

“You seen this kid’s designs?” He grinned. “Thought of you right away. You know he’s looking for models, right?”

Caleb shrugged. “So?”

“So?” Angel snorted and flung himself back on the futon couch across the room. “So,you’re perfect. Look at you.” He waved a hand. “Skinny, tall… Do you up right and you could pass?—”

“Shut up,” Caleb snarled.

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