Page 19 of The Question of Us
He snorted. “Just saying.”
We’d no sooner entered the hallway when the lock on the studio door whirred and Gazza stepped into the hall. He froze the second he saw us, flushed bright crimson, and disappeared back into the studio lickety-split. I would’ve laughed if I weren’t too busy hauling Nick through the bedroom door. I kicked the door shut and shoved him backwards onto the bed.
CHAPTER FIVE
Madigan
“Stay there,”I ordered. “I’m not done. Clearing-the-air conversation, part two.” I put my hands on my hips. “Where’s your head at in relation to sex? No bullshit and no long-winded convoluted explanations. Single syllables will do just nicely. I’m still down with the go-slow thing, although if you light a match anywhere near my dick right now, I’m gonna blow like Krakatoa.”
Nick blinked and shuffled into a sit. “Oh... ah... well...” His cheeks puffed as he blew out a breath. “Still yes to the go-slow. I’m not quite there yet.”
I frowned and flicked my fingers. “I’ll need more than that.”
He sighed. “Okay. Okay. I’m worried I’ll fuck it up.”
My head fell back. “Give me strength.” Then I looked at him again, wary now. “Is it amething? Can I do something to help?”
Nick flushed bright pink, something rarely seen on the man. “No, no. It’s not that. Ugh, hear me out.” He wriggled back against the bedhead. “I haven’t been with a man other than Davis since we met.”
I sat on the mattress beside him and did the math. Fifteen years, give or take. The thought of being the one to break that fast was admittedly somewhat daunting. “And you think you’ve forgotten how to, is that it?”
Nick rolled his eyes. “No, arsehole. I’m scared I might freak out and do something stupid like say his name instead of yours, you know, from habit.” His gaze skittered off my face. “I wouldn’t mean it, just because there hasn’t been anyone else. It’s possible, right? And I don’t want to screw this up just because I can’t keep my fucking head straight, which you have to admit, all things considered, is a valid concern.”
I paused, considering what my reaction would be if the name thing actually happened. “Yeah, okay. Point taken. But just so you know, I won’t freak out if you say Davis’s name instead of mine a couple of times as we start down this path. If you’re still doing it in a month’s time, then yeah, maybe we’ll need a conversation. To be honest, I’m kind of hoping the two of us aren’tthatsimilar in bed.”
Nick seemed to find that amusing. “Yeah, I’m not expecting that either.”
I arched a brow. “I’d like to revisit this particular subject in more detail one day, if you’re up to it.”
He laughed. “We can do that.”
“Good, because I’m not some insecure kid, Nick. I get this whole business is tricky, for both of us, but Icanactually hold several complicated thoughts and emotions in my head at the same time.”
He chuckled, as I intended. “Yeah, I had noticed that about you.” He tucked a lock of hair behind my ears and cupped my face. “I want this with you, Mads. I want you.”
A slow smile spread over my face. “Well, you’re in luck then, because I happen to want you back. But I want to be really clear about one thing. I can’t handle any more of this back-and-forthgame you’ve been doing. We’re doing this together or we’re not doing it at all. No more shutting me out, got it?”
Nick’s expression softened and filled with affection. “Got it.”
“Excellent.” I stood and unbuttoned my jeans, letting them fall in a puddle to the floor, quickly joined by my briefs. Nick’s eyes widened in uncertainty, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down like he was readying to bolt. I almost laughed.
“Ah... Mads?” Nick swallowed hard, his gaze locked on my thickening dick. “I’m not sure I’m quite ready—” A guttural sound rumbled up his throat as I tugged on my cock.
“Now, I know we agreed to go slow—” I continued to play with my dick as Nick watched, eyes boggling. “—but there’s a continuum of unexplored options between simply making out and fucking each other through the mattress. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Nick swallowed and nodded without lifting his eyes.
I grinned. “Use your words, baby.”
“Yes.” He answered like he’d swallowed a can of rocks.
“Good boy.” I threaded my fingers through his hair. “Then I believe it’s time we ticked off a few of those, just for research purposes. Switch up a gear, so to speak. Nothing too fancy. Just a bit of voyeurism. Win-win, right?”
His eyes finally lifted to mine and a slow sexy smile spread over his face. “Just for research purposes.”
“Exactly.” I pulled my T-shirt over my head and goosebumps lit up over my skin as Nick’s heated gaze roamed over my naked body. “So, I’m going to take a shower.”
“A shower,” he repeated vaguely, licking his lips at the sight of my hardening cock.
