Page 5 of Stick By Me

Fuck me, it was like a wet t-shirt contest for queer men. My heart pounded in my chest and my dick lengthened into the band of my joggers. “I’m sorry, shit, so sorry.”

With his eyes twinkling, a wide smile broke out over his mouth. “It was an accident. No worries.” His gaze dipped to my mouth and came back up, then he bit his bottom lip for a beat. “Let’s put this hose down, shall we?”

The dog panted and circled us, then barked.

I jumped, my gaze snapping to the dog. “Jesus, that’s a horse, not a dog.” Good thing he seemed friendly.

“Told you.” Leo slid the hose from my hands and rested it against the wall, then peeled his shirt off over his head and wrung it out over the floor.

Delores jogged down the hallway with another woman following her, then stopped, and stared at us, covering her mouth with her hands. “Oh my.”

Jonah rounded the far corner of the hallway and strode to us. “What the hell did you do, Archer?” He planted his hands on his hips and laughed, his shoulders shaking. “You wanted to see him with his shirt off that badly?”

Dropping my mouth open, I gaped at Jonah. Did he have to out me like that? My gaze wound to Leo’s bare chest, the thinpatch of hair centering his pecs and the happy trail leading all the way down into the top of his jeans. My mouth watered. God damn lick-able, that’s what he was.

Leo peered at me a moment, his gaze raking over me. “It’s okay. I can work without a shirt. It’s a nice day.”

Jonah barked out a laugh. “I’m sure?—”

“Shut it, Jonah.” I threw him a glare. Sometimes he didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. I stepped to Leo. “Hey, I have a shirt in my SUV you can wear today. It’s clean.”

“Is it an official Devils hockey shirt by any chance?” He arched a brow.

“It sure is.” I lifted the edge of my mouth. Watching him wearing it was going to be a turn on, too. Damn, I was in trouble. But what else could I do?

“Okay, let’s go get it.” Leo patted my bicep. “Be right back, Delores.” He crouched down in front of the dog and scruffed his neck. “And be right back for you, too, you behemoth.”

The dog licked Leo’s cheek, then panted with his tongue out and tail wagging.

He chuckled, stood up and faced Delores. “What’s his name?”

“Goliath.” Delores giggled. “Suits him, doesn’t it?”

“Sure does.” Leo grabbed my elbow and guided me out of the cage, then fastened the door behind us. “Lead the way.” He waved his arm out in front of him.

Glancing at Jonah, I nodded, then focused on Leo. “Yeah, sure.” Shit, how endearing could one man be? Some guys would be pretty pissed off right now. I strolled down the hallway and to the doors of the shelter.

Leo opened the door for me and motioned for me to step outside. “After you.”

“It’s the blue Honda over here.” I walked to my SUV with him following, then opened the back door and unzipped my duffle bag. I’d always kept a few things in my back seat, just in case I forgot something and needed it. I was always prepared.After finding a maroon athletic t-shirt with the gold Devil emblem on the chest, I pulled it out and handed it to Leo. “Hope it fits.”

He held the shirt up and looked it over. “I have a feeling this thing is pretty form fitting on you.” He glanced at me, then slid it over his head. “And shows off your killer physique like the shirt you have on today.” He popped his head out of the neck of the shirt and pulled the hem down over his jeans, then looked down at his chest. “What do you think?”

Sneaking my tongue out to lick my lips, I stared at him. The shirt was a little big on him, but it wasmyshirt…on him. Yeah, this was fucking with my brain right now. I’d just met him, and I wanted tobemy own shirt. I was losing my mind. “You look um, really good.” A grin played over my lips.

“Thanks.” He gave me an easy laugh, then wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “We should get back inside. We’ve got more cages to clean.”

My heart beat into my throat as I turned my head. He was so close, taller than me, but thinner. Another thing fucking with my head about him. He was built like a classic runway model.

“You don’t mind, right?” He walked me to the door.

“Mind?” I stopped and cocked my head. “Mind what?”

“My arm around you like this.” He dropped his arm. “Sorry, but my brother is very gay, and my best friend is now his boyfriend and I guess I’ve grown used to being close with guys.” With a chuckle, he shook his head.

“I don’t mind.” Had he not understood what Jonah had said? I shifted my weight, my gaze dipping to the pavement for a beat, then focusing on him. “I’m bisexual myself and so is Jonah. I’m used to it.” Would he admit it now if he were queer?

“Yeah? Cool.” He scratched the back of his head, looking off toward the parking lot for a moment. “Better get back in, I guess.” He opened the door and held it for me.

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