Page 50 of Studious
“You two are so cute,” the clerk says to Danny. “Bring your boyfriend back anytime.”
I open my mouth to correct him, but Danny gives me a look. I guess he’s right; it doesn’t matter what this clerk thinks.
When we step out onto the sidewalk, I’m almost giddy. “Makeover, huh?”
“You didn’t need too much of one. Just a few tweaks. Upgrading small things can sometimes make all the difference.” He opens up his phone and types while we walk back to the car.
“What are you doing?”
“Buying you some Armani underwear. They’re the best.”
My mouth drops open. “You don’t have to do that.”
“You’re welcome.” He stops and gazes at me, and again, I get the feeling that he wants to kiss me.
“Actually,” I say slyly, “I love those. Thank you.” I can feel my cheeks heat, but I soldier on. “I really like sexy underwear. So, I, um, have a collection. Tom Ford, CK. Even a few wild ones from Andrew Christian. Jocks, too.”
He shakes his head. “And you’re a virgin.”
“Not for lack of wanting. Just for lack of knowing, you know, what to do. For a while, I was worried something was wrong with me. Or I wasn’t really gay. Because how did I know if I was gay if I hadn’t been with a guy? But, I mean, it’s obvious what turns me on.”
Danny smiles at me. “Whoever ends up with you is going to be in for a huge treat.”
His kind words warm my heart… and other places. “I just hope I can find someone, period.”
“No,” he says. “You shouldn’t settle for anything or anyone less than what you really and truly want. You deserve the best.” He whistles and looks at me. “And no one knows that under those clothes is something… Fuck, that’s hot.” He stares at me. “Are you sure you’ve never been kissed?”
“Not a real kiss. I mean, cheek kisses from relatives.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Then, yes. I’m sure. I’ve never, ever been kissed.”
“Do you want to be?”
Is that an offer? My heart starts beating so fast I almost pass out.
CHAPTER12
Danny
Iwant to kiss Alden. I want to claim his mouth. I want to find out what he tastes like. I wanthim, with his big eyes and his inherent sweetness.
I scold myself.
Alden’s first kiss needs to be with a person he chooses. And he needs to be comfortable when it happens. I’ve pushed him far enough out of his routine for a bit. He can have a breather.
“Of course I want to be kissed,” he says.
“If you could plan your first kiss, where would it be, and who would it be with?” I ask, channeling my thoughts into something more productive than fantasizing about the “who” being me and the “where” being right here, right now.
Alden stops, dropping his shopping bags and putting one hand on his hip, raising the other to scratch the back of his neck. “I have no idea.”
“Use your imagination. Would you be on a mountaintop? In the middle of a crowded room? At a train depot saying goodbye?” I think Alden might be a romantic. And maybe I’m teasing him a little.
He thinks about it for a moment. “None of those. Or— I don’t think it really matters where, does it? I have no idea.”
“What about who?”
