Page 34 of Turning Tides
“What time should I expect you tomorrow?” I stepped out of Shane’s grasp or I’d be there all night. It reminded me of being a teenager who’d discovered how much fun you could have leaning against a wall and making out.
“Noon? I’m not much of an early riser. I’ll send you a text before I come up.”
“Sounds good. Uh … I had fun tonight.”
The smile Shane gave me was bright enough to light up the universe. “So did I.”
I pried myself away from him before I made an ass of myself. Already I was in deep and sooner or later Shane would decide it was too risky to keep fucking his tenant.
We said goodnight and I stood there until Shane reluctantly pulled the door shut. Once the lock engaged, I walked climbed the stairs and went straight to the bedroom. I stripped out of my clothes and dropped them into the laundry basket. I didn’t used to be as tidy as I was now, but I blamed living on Cyrus and Marshall’s couch. If I hadn’t put my shit away, it would have cluttered up their clean and tidy existence and I was already imposing on them.
Crawling beneath the sheets, I tried not to think of Shane. I failed, of course. I could feel his presence downstairs. It was comforting to know he’d be there for a little longer.
Chapter 17
Shane
Normally, I didn’t hategoing home alone. Even after a hookup I was fine to do my own thing. Tonight my house seemed emptier than usual. With the lingering effects of Archer’s touch on my skin, I should have been fine. Scratch that. I was fine.
It didn’t matter that I’d started to miss him the minute he went upstairs. He’d clearly stayed up to see me. Letting him go to bed without a fuss seemed the least I could do.
I hung my keys on the keyring by the door and toed out of my shoes. The last thing I wanted to do was to wash the vestiges of him off my body. But I was aware that I smelled like sex. Maybe one day soon I could convince him to come back here for the night.
That train of thought only made me want to kick my own ass. I already had no business fooling around with Archer, and I shouldn’t make it worse by doing shit like bringing him home. But the fantasy was already taking shape in my head. Of course, there’d be the incredibly hot sex we’d have. But after, I could hold him and sleep next to him. It had been a long time since I’d woken up next to anyone.
I told myself that the odd ache in my chest was heartburn. Acid reflux caused by the mere thought of sharing my bed with someone else. And not a foolish man wanting more than he should. I’d already been given so many good things by life and luck. Asking for one morefelt obscene.
Stepping into my bathroom, I turned the water on and adjusted it so that it was hot, but wouldn’t peel the skin off my bones. The bathroom filled with steam as I stripped out of my clothes. I laid my suspenders on the counter and my stupid dick twitched at the sight of them.
Scrubbing my hand down my face, I let out a groan. “I suppose I’m going to get a hard-on now every time I see fucking suspenders.”
As if to prove my point, my dick rose to half-mast. I ignored him. He’d done fine without any attention earlier; he could suffer.
I stepped into the shower and closed the door. Bracing my hands against the wall, I tipped my head forward and let the spray beat against my back. Hot showers were usually where I had some of my best ideas, but all I could think about was getting back in my truck, driving across town, and crawling into bed with Archer.
Having him sit at the bar and talk to me earlier was nice. Comfortable. He was naturally courteous of the fact that I was at work, and though he sought my attention, he didn’t demand it. Mickey probably guessed that something was going on between us, but he wasn’t the type to stick his nose in other people’s business. But I didn’t want to put him in a position where he’d have to lie to Cyrus. Cyrus had taken to Mickey like a duck to water. I still thought it was because Mickey thrived when people fussed over him, whereas Archer bristled.
Archer liked being the one calling the shots. Case in point, the tattoo he’d won earlier that night. I had no fear that he’d put something on my body that I’d hate. I trusted him, probably too much for someone I’d only recently met, but I couldn’t help myself when it came to Archer Kinsman.
Water was wet. The sky was blue. And I trusted Archer with my body. The things he made me feel, the freedom he gave me, it was all more than I’d ever hoped to find. I hadn’t been kidding when I saidpeople thought I was a top just because I was tall and could sprout a five o’clock shadow by ten in the morning.
Some men had accepted it, but we hadn’t been a good fit. Or they told me they were fine with it, only to turn around a few weeks later and try to convince me to top. Just this once. The old anger was enough to kill my boner and I spent the rest of the shower scrubbing my body. I hated feeling like I was washing Archer’s touch off my body.
Maybe we could get tested and go bare, and then I could keep something of him inside me. I reached back and gently prodded my rim. It was tender, but not in a bad way. It felt used, but Archer had been good with his hands and generous with the lube, and even with the punishing pace he’d fucked my ass with, he’d been careful not to harm me.
I turned the water off and got out of the shower. While I dried off, I tried to think of the best way to ask him about going bare.
Hey, so your art is amazing. I can’t wait for you to tattoo me. How about we ditch the condoms so you can fill my ass because if I can’t take all of you home, at least I could take some of you home.
Yeah, that wasn’t weird at all.
I climbed into bed naked and sprawled out in the center like I always did. If Archer stayed over, I’d have to choose a side of the bed. Or not … it was a big bed. There was room for me to sleep in the middle and Archer to take either side.
Sentimental was a stupid look on me, so I rolled over and let sleep come for me. I was one of those gross people who could lie down and fall asleep as if on command. My brothers hated me for it and growing up it hadn’t seemed like much of a talent when you were always the first one conked out at sleepovers.
The morning brought only sunshine, but no glowing moment of clarity. My feelings for Archer were still muddled with my need to be loyal to Cyrus and our friendship. Sleeping on it hadn’t given me any answers, only a burning need to see Archer. I still wanted him despite knowing I shouldn’t. That didn’t matter to me. My brain and my body were both full steam ahead when it came to Archer.
Though I showered the night before, I had another. I also trimmed the scruff on my face down to a manageable length. I rarely took it off completely. I wasn’t primping for Archer. If I were, I’d have worn another pair of suspenders. I splashed on some cologne my little brother Brodie sent me while on one of his travels and headed out the door. I had enough time to stop and grab coffee and breakfast for us before I texted Archer that I was on my way up.
