Page 18 of The Long Game

Before he could ask, Jack slipped into bed and hid his gorgeous legs beneath the comforter. Grady shook himself and went to the bathroom—this wasnotthe time to creep on Jack’s body art.

He found a brand-new toothbrush and a clean cup laid out for him next to the toothpaste. Somehow it made perfect sense that Jack was such a good host. He liked to fix things for people. He liked to help.

When Grady returned to the bedroom, he was nonchalant as fuck as he walked around the bed to what was, apparently, his side. Inside he was absolutely freaking out at the idea of getting into bed with Jack, but on the outside he was going to be the steady and supportive friend Jack needed, even if it killed him a little.

It was more like a full-scale homicide when Jack lifted the covers to invite Grady into his bed.

Grady smiled and climbed in. “I promise to stay on my side.” His smile faded when Jack’s expression became uncertain. “Or…”

Honest to fucking god, he had no idea what he should offer.

“If it’s okay…” Jack began hesitantly.

“Whatever you need, Jack. Anything.” Grady hoped it wasn’t obvious how very much he meant it.

When Jack scooted toward the middle of the bed, Grady did the same, his arm coming up out of instinct or in response to some cue from Jack that he couldn’t put a name to. As soon as he settled on the mattress, Jack put his head on Grady’s shoulder.

It felt like the most natural thing in the world to curl his arm around Jack’s back. Their bodies slid together until Jack pressed the length of Grady’s side, his hand on Grady’s sternum, his head tucked under Grady’s chin, and his knee almost-but-not-quite sliding over Grady’s thigh.

Jack let out a long, low breath, tension still thrumming in his taut back muscles.

“This okay?” Grady asked.

“Yeah,” Jack said with a little nod. “If it’s okay with you.”

“Absolutely.”

Jack let out another breath and some of that tension leaked away. Grady ached to press his lips to the top of Jack’s head, to hold him tight and tell him it was going to be okay. That he would do whatever was required to see Jack was happy and safe.

But that wasn’t his job. Not really. So instead he cherished the first and possibly only chance he’d ever have to hold Jack, letting their breaths fall into sync and the warmth of Jack’s body lull him into sleep.

3

Jack woke slowly, his muscles warm and lax and his brain muzzy. He was often a light sleeper and would wake up periodically, but not last night. Last night he’d slept like a rock.

He lay still, eyes barely open, trying to convince himself to get up. The window blinds glowed from the sun hitting them directly, so at least he hadn’t overslept. He had a ton he wanted to accomplish before going to the arena to double-check everything one more time and set up for the clinic.

He wriggled against the sheets and his body protested. His low groan choked off when a strong arm tightened around his waist, hauling him back against a long, hot body.

Jack’s eyes snapped open.

Holy shit.

His last memory of the night before was Grady holding him while he took shameless advantage of his friend’s kindness and clung to him like a barnacle. And that was fine. It was hard to be embarrassed about much of anything after how well he’d slept.

He just hadn’t expected to wake up still cuddled together.

He leaned back a little, letting himself settle into the cradle of Grady’s hips and against his chest. Not for the first time, Jack was surprised by just how muchmuscle Grady was hiding under his clothes. It would have been like snuggling with a brick if he wasn’t so warm and all that strength wasn’t holding him close, a steady and reassuring presence.

He knew the moment Grady woke up. The muscles pressed to Jack’s back and along the backs of his thighs went taut and the arm around his waist loosened, then tightened up again, then went lax once more while Grady tried to figure out what the hell to do.

The potential for awkwardness was massive, so Jack took the coward’s way out, closing his eyes and taking long, slow breaths. Grady probably wouldn’t read too much into a sleeping Jack cuddling against him, right? Perfectly innocent.

Less innocent was the iron bar poking Jack’s left ass cheek.

Staying still was quite possibly the hardest thing Jack had ever done. He prayed Grady didn’t notice the goosebumps crawling up his neck and over his arms. Holy hell,what would it be like to push back and reallyfeelthat erection?

It was that delightful morning wood that finally forced Grady into action, his arm lifting from Jack’s waist as he put space between their lower bodies. When Grady rolled away, Jack opened his eyes in what he hoped was a believably sleepy way.

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