Page 62 of Something Like Summer
“About anhour.”
They moved to the couch,which faced a large window. City lights sparkled, the neighborhoodBen had found sinister now tranquil from above. Once Jace wasseated, Samson claimed his lap, closing his eyes and purring asJace scratched his ears. Ben set his glass on the coffee table,pushing paper fortunes out of the way to do so.
“You sure like Chinesefood!”
“Not really.” Jace lookedembarrassed. “I justreallylike fortune cookies. There’s a restaurant downthe road that sells me full shipping boxes. I know it soundsinsane, but they’re my absolute favorite treat.”
Ben laughed and shook hishead. Every time Jace opened his mouth, another eccentricity wasrevealed. Maybe it was this strangeness that scared potentialboyfriends away. After all, Jace was attractive, intelligent, andfunny, and he had a steady job. What else could anyone want in aneligible bachelor?
“So explain to me how itis that you’re still single?” Ben pried.
“I could ask you the samequestion.”
“Well, I wasn’t until aweek ago.” Ben took a good swig from his champagne.
“Right, right. Theburgling boyfriend. Have you heard from him since?”
“Nope, and don’t changethe subject. Are you the kind of guy who can’t settledown?”
Jace looked pained. “Quitethe opposite. I’ve had my share of boyfriends. It’s just the jobthat gets in the way.”
“What do youmean?”
“The hours suck. I’m gonefor days at a time, and until I have more seniority, my schedule isconstantly shifting. So I can’t promise anyone when I’ll be home,or if I’ll even be there at all. Something about sleeping in ahotel every night gives people ideas, so if it isn’t the hours,it’s the jealousy.”
Ben chewed his lipthoughtfully. “I don’t know. It doesn’t sound all that bad to me.Being apart and not seeing each other every day would keep thingsfresh. I think I could deal with that.”
“That’s what they all sayat the beginning. Not that I’m trying to discourage you. I’d lovefor you to prove me wrong. Speaking of which, I fly to Chicago allthe time.”
“What are you suggesting?”Ben smiled.
“That I like you and thatI want more than to just sleep with you.” Jace studied Ben’s faceas he spoke. “I know we’re moving fast, that we don’t know eachother very well, but what I’ve seen so far is a charming,considerate, and surprisingly mature college student who is on hisway to becoming someone great.”
“Thanks,” Ben grinned. “Ithink you’re the bee’s knees too.”
Jace laughed. “What I’dlike to know is how serious you and your prince of thieves were.Are you coming out of a relationship of years? How long beforethings turned sour?”
“Just a few weeks. He wasnothing. Really.” Ben paused. None of them had been. Not a singleguy had made his heart beat to a funky fresh rhythm, not since hisjunior year of high school, but Ben thought Jace was the first tohave that potential. “What about you? Any emotional baggage I needto know about?”
“There was, but theairline lost it all,” Jace said. “Typical really.”
The silence that followedwas heavy. Both of them were done with talking, and Ben couldn’thelp but look to the loft bed above, causing Jace tochuckle.
Samson leapt instinctivelyto the floor before Jace stood. Before Ben knew what was happening,Jace had slid an arm under his back and another under his legs. Hescooped Ben up effortlessly and carried him toward the ladderleading up to the bed. Jace paused in puzzlement once he reachedit, before tossing Ben over his shoulders in a fireman’scarry.
“Put me down!” Ben said,but Jace had already begun to climb.
“This is like a hot, gayversion of King Kong,” Jace gasped as they reached the top. Heleaned over, allowing Ben to fall into bed first before climbingthe rest of the way up.
“Airline pillows!” Bencomplained when he saw the pile of them. He tossed a couple at Jacein protest.
“You won’t be sleepingmuch tonight,” Jace promised as he climbed on top ofhim.
Ben fumbled at the buttonsof Jace’s shirt, but Jace moved his hands away and kissed himinstead. Ben wanted to tear his clothes off, but each time hetried, Jace restrained him. Only after Jace was satisfied withkissing was Ben allowed to proceed.
So far, Ben had only seenJace in his work uniform and in winter clothes, never gleaning aclear impression of his physique. As he peeled back the dressshirt, a lean but toned torso was revealed. Ben ran his hand alongthe lightly haired chest and followed the happy trail down to thewaist of his pants.
“Nuh-uh,” Jace said,taking control again. He pulled Ben’s shirt off next, and begankissing his neck and touching his nipples. Jace stroked his fingerslightly over Ben’s skin, moving tantalizingly south before pullinghis hand away again. Ben felt like he was about to explode and theyhadn’t even started!
