Page 91 of Perfect Storm
But Levi just laughed. It was such an easy, effortless sound. Every time Aidan heard it, it felt like it sucked out just a littleof his hurt and his anxiety and his worry. Even the pain of Mo turning him down, diminishing little by little.
“What?” Aidan couldn’t believe he’d suggest it and not want to go to the bedroomnow.
“Dude, at least drink your shake.” Levi fluttered his eyelashes. They were dark and surprisingly long. “Gotta keep your energy up if you’re gonna keep up with me.”
“Fuck,” Aidan said.
Only the thought of what was waiting for them when they did finally make it to the bedroom allowed him to let go of Levi and slide the shake over.
He took a big gulp and swallowed. It was perfect. Exactly the way he liked it. He hadn’t thought Levi was paying that much attention, but his thoughtfulness—though not exactly obvious—was doing things to Aidan. Things he couldn’t define. Things he couldn’t deal with.
“You eat too?” Aidan asked, changing the subject and burying thethingsway down. He could pull them out and look at them later.Muchlater.
“Yeah, dude. You don’t gotta worry about me. Heated something up from the meal service.” Levi was still sending that twinkly-eyed look in his direction, and it was making Aidan feel unhinged.
Like go all caveman-style kind of unhinged.
Maybe Levi would even enjoy that. There was a part of Aidan that thoughthemight even enjoy it, if the tables were turned.
Aidan took another big drink of his shake. “Thanks for this, by the way.” He gestured towards the cup. “You didn’t have to.”
“Of course I didn’t, but I wanted to.” He paused. “Maybe I thought making your shake might butter you up. Might make you more likely to agree.”
“What, to agree tofuck you?” Aidan’s jaw dropped. “You thought I’d need buttering up for that?” The concept that Leviwasn’t sure he’d go wild for it, wild for it like he was already doing even though they hadn’t even started yet, was difficult to comprehend.
Levi just shrugged, like it was no big deal.
But it was a big deal to Aidan, and he wasn’t going to let that stand. Maybe he was shitty at expressing himself, but he could do this, at least.
“Listen,” Aidan said, “you don’t have to butter me up or bribe me or any of that shit. I want to. Ireallywant to. I don’t want you to think you’re pushing me into any of this.” Truthfully, it felt like most days he was holding back from everything he suddenly craved. Or was it sudden after all? Aidan wasn’t sure.
Levi shot him a knowing look. “It was a joke, bro. I know. You’re into . . .this.”
There was enough of a hesitation that Aidan thought he might have been about to sayyou’re into me, instead ofyou’re into this.
Just into the gay sex, generally, instead of being into Levi, specifically.
Before, two months ago, Aidan would’ve said he was right. He’d wanted to experiment, safely. He’d wanted to know what he was doing, before it really mattered.
But there was no way he could stand here now and say it didn’t matter at all, with Levi.
It mattered, alot.
Way more than he’d ever expected it might.
Aidan swallowed the rest of his shake. Turned to the sink to rinse it out, so he didn’t have to look at Levi when he said it.
“I am,” he said quietly. He should add on,I’m into you, too. But the words stuck in his throat. Reminding him, a little painfully, of the moment he’d told Mo how he felt.
The shock and then the sympathy on his face as he’d gently let Aidan down.I just don’t think of you like that,he’d said.
Levi liked Aidan’s body. Liked sex with him, sure. But maybe he didn’t think of Aidanthatway, either.
The one thing Aidan was sure about was that he couldn’t say it again and have it turn out the same way.
“Now that I know the truth—that you’re easy for me—see if I ever make you another protein shake again,” Levi teased. Like he knew Aidan needed to be tugged back out of his head, again. More than that—like he knew and he didn’t even mind.
“Bro,” Aidan drawled, and Levi cackled in delight before moving in closer, nudging one thigh against Aidan’s.
