Page 32 of Nothing To Lose
"Later I'll let you dry hump me until we're both in tears if you like. But right now we need food, a walk to cool down, and space to talk it out first. In that order."
His nose scrunches adorably. I tap it before smacking his ass to get him moving towards the bathroom. "Don't bother showering just yet," I call. "I'm putting you to work today!"
The grin he gives me when he looks over his shoulder is playful and excited. What I wouldn't give to have him look at me like that every single day for the rest of my life.
Slow down, Isaac. You just met the guy.
He is kind of perfect, though.
9
TYLER
Who knew a hardware store could be so much fun?
It's afternoon by the time we're done getting dressed and eating the huge servings of bacon and eggs Isaac made us. I protested at the amount of food, reminding him that I only need about half as much food as he does, but ate a lot more than I thought I'd be able to. He finished my plate for me, and then we took his truck to the hardware store. It's only a five-minute drive. Isaac said he normally walks when he needs to pick something up, but we're picking up several five-gallon pails of paint today.
When we arrived, the guy behind the counter broke out into a huge gap-toothed grin, clearly ecstatic to see Isaac. He came around the counter to greet him with a one-armed man hug, then introduced himself to me. Reggie, the owner of "Reggie's Home Improvement", not only owns the store, but runs a side business as a handyman. He's hired Isaac for a bunch of small renovation jobs, and was apparently the one to suggest the corner building because he knew Isaac would be able to handle the work that needs to be done.
I wandered off when they started chatting about something to do with drywall studs, and have managed to fill the small hand cart with all manner of things I might not even need. I started with a list of painting supplies that I turned my phone on to find, picking up random stuff as I made my way through the store.
Isaac finds me contemplating overalls.I'm not sure I can pull them off like Reggie does, but I immediately decide I want some. Besides, if I'm going to help Isaac, I'll need something more appropriate to wear than chinos and cashmere sweaters. My shoes are already ruined from the other night, so getting paint or whatever else on them won't matter.
"What's all this?"
"Supplies."He pulls out a roll of rainbow tie dye duct tape hidden amongst the rolls of painter’s tape and holds it up."What? It's pretty."
"We really don't need all this," he says, looking in the cart with a raised eyebrow. He picks up a small tool belt.
It's less heavy duty than the one he wears, with fewer compartments, but I'm sure it'll be useful. "I'm living out my handyman fantasies. Don't judge me." He laughs, but he looks hot as fuck wearing his tool belt. I’m not sure me wearing one would have the same effect, but I still want to at least look the part, damnit.
"This is cute," he says, holding the beginner's basics tool kit I found. It's bright aqua blue, which wouldn't have been my first choice, but it was either that or pink and yellow paisley. And while I don't give a fuck about gender norms, I can be a bit sensitive about being compared to a woman. It was always my father's chosen insult when I didn't fit into his idea of masculinity.
"You're built like a twelve-year-old girl…"
"Tyler?"
"Hmm?"
"I said I have extras of most of this. You don't need to buy so much stuff."
"Sometimes I like buying random shit to throw my father off," I admit. "I know he tracks what I spend and where. It's fun to keep him guessing."
I put the tool kit back, but keep the overalls. When Isaac turns his back, I put all the paint and supplies on my purchase, and rent some giant fans. He's not happy about it, and grouches all the way home. But when I come out of the bathroom to show off my new overalls, he can't hold back his smile. They're a bit big, but they're actually really comfortable. I stole one of Isaac's tank tops to wear under it, because my polo shirt looked stupid, but it's too long.
Isaac bites his lip and beckons me over, signaling for me to turn in a circle so he can see it from all angles. He notices the tank top and pulls me closer to him. Without a word, he flips open a pocket knife and cuts a slit in the shirt, reaching between the openings of the top of the overalls to tear the shirt in half. It doesn't rip completely straight, and ends up quite a bit shorter than I think he originally intended, but he doesn't mind.
"Damn," he rasps, fingering the exposed skin at the sides of my waist. "That's a good look for you."
Still a little verklempt over having him rip clothes off my body, I jump on Isaac to get my mouth on his. He lifts me easily, and I wrap my legs around him. He's careful not to grip me where my stitches are, but I don't even care. If anything, the bite of pain when the area stretches or gets bumped is keeping me present. While I don't have the same worries about moving too fast that Isaac has, I understand what he means by getting lost to it. I want to remember everything, even if parts of it might be painful.
I might be inexperienced, but I'm not an idiot. I understand the mechanics of what goes where, and that it might hurt at first. I've experimented with my finger and it mostly just felt uncomfortable, like I needed to go to the bathroom. For the longest time, I've wondered why people even bother. But here, with Isaac, I get it.Every kiss feels like it’s building up to something bigger.Even if it hurts or is weird, I want it. I want everything with him. I want to give him everything.
Isaac moans into my mouth before extricating himself. "Behave." He laughs at my frown. "Let's get a first coat up, and then we'll see what's next."
"Your self-restraint and unwillingness to be distracted are disappointing."
* * *
