Page 23 of Exhale
Jordan kept his eyes on the horizon, but jerked when Owen crowded in at his back.
The Arizona weather in mid-July was warm, even this early in the morning, but the heat from Owen was tenfold.
What was Owen doing?
Surprise held him still, and he waited. Owen slid his arms around to the front of his waist and gripped his hands together, caging him in. With his back to Owen’s hard chest, Jordan could barely breathe.
He felt like he’d stepped into a fantasy and was dreaming.
“Did you sleep at all?” Owen’s husky voice caressed his ear and Jordan shivered again.
“Yep.” The squeak came out with the one word, but really, how in the hell did he keep that in with Owen making a huge pass at him?
And it was a pass, he was sure of it.
After that kiss and putting the brakes on things again last night, Jordan was having a hard time processing…this.
“But you were up early,” Owen murmured, resting his chin on his shoulder.
That put their faces so close that the rasp of Owen’s five o’clock shadow scratched at his own.
“Yeah…” he swallowed.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” he waited nervously.
“You’ve pretty much ignored me since my botched attempt at a pass in the pool that day. Why?”
Jordan shifted so he could turn around, fully expecting Owen to release him, but he was held firm even when he looked up into Owen’s face.
“Old tapes,” he said honestly, it was the only thing he could think of to explain his rotten past.
“And now?”
“Now…I’ve worked through some stuff.”
“Is that a green light?”
“If you want it to be.” Jordan chewed on his bottom lip.
Yeah, it had taken a lot of soul searching and several therapist appointments from a guy Dave had recommended, but he was starting to feel like he could try.
Try with Owen.
“Oh, I want it to be,” Owen croaked.
Through the very faint glow on the horizon, Jordan was able to see that Owen’s eyes were glued to his mouth.
Jordan had to glance away as his heart slammed inside his chest.
Sweet hell and all that was holy, Owen’s big muscled body pressing against him made his dick hard.
Damn it.
Was that a good thing?
His dick thought it was a grand idea, but his head wasn’t so sure.
