Page 52 of A Much Younger Man
“Mm.” He opened, letting me slip between straight teeth that seemed too perfect and white for someone living rough. I imagined his family faced with the cost of orthodontia on top of what must have been massive medical bills and wondered again how anyone who nurtured a child—educated him and straightened his teeth—could let him walk away.
In the corner, Rico fluffed his feathers loudly and chittered as he settled in for the night. Callie dozed peacefully at our feet.
I wrapped my hands around Beck’s hips as if I could pull him closer when there wasn’t space for a mote of dust between us.
He shifted, rubbing his cock deliberately against mine.
“Okay if we take this to the bedroom?” I asked hoarsely.
His smile widened. “I thought you’d never ask.”
I probably wouldn’t have if the entire evening hadn’t felt like a fever dream, if it wasn’t exactly what I’d wanted since I’d first seen Beck on the beach.
He lifted off me, and there was no hiding his arousal. His hilariously tented sweats were soaked with precum. Mine were in no better shape. My spine popped audibly when I rose to my feet.
Beck grabbed hold of the strings of my hoodie and pulled me to him. “Where?”
“This way. Let me cover Rico.”
“I should take Callie out before bed.” He went to the door where he’d hung her leash.
“My yard’s fenced. Just let her outside.”
“Her majesty won’t get her feet wet unless I go.” He tapped his thigh and she followed him to the back door. She was laughably reluctant to leave. It took both of us walking her out and waiting, shivering in the rain while she did her business.
“C’mon.” I ran back inside and grabbed towels from the laundry room. He followed inside with Callie, who lashed us with icy water when she shook. We had to get more towels.
I thought about leaving our damp clothes there, but I wasn’t ready to parade around naked in front of Beck. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready, but he dropped his sweatshirt. The luster of him astounded me all over again. I lifted my arm, he fit himself underneath it, and we walked to my bedroom together, followed by the silent, amiable Callie.
At the foot of my bed, I turned to him. “I could still take you back to Cooper’s place if you’d rather. They’re probably home by now.”
“I don’t want to go,” he whispered. “But I should probably call, huh?”
“Yeah, they might be worried.” I took my phone off the charger and unlocked it. “Here. I’ll give you a minute.”
What am I doing?
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have second thoughts as I washed up and brushed my teeth. Even then, I could tell Beck was no hookup for me. I had no precedent for what he made me feel, but I had a pretty good idea what it meant.
But I had no idea what he wanted it to mean.
I came back out to find my phone on its charger and Beck stripped all the way down.
He wasn’t the hairless boy I’d imagined, thank God, but he was too thin and very pale. His chest and arms were covered in gooseflesh. I needed to keep the room warmer for him.
I used my phone to adjust the thermostat—first time since December.
“You need anything?” Again, I stalled. “Want a bottle of water?”
He shook his head. “You?”
He was laughing at me, but not unkindly.
“What?”
“You need anything?”
Oh God, yeah. My God, I did.
