Page 86 of Untether

And what a sight. I immediately forget about the op-ed that had me so engrossed, because Cal, dressed in only a pair of tighty-whity Calvins and bearing a heavily laden breakfast tray, is a sight to behold. He’s so fucking gorgeous, still tan and buff as hell, that inked serpent winding down his side. He’s ridiculous, and right now he looks good enough to eat.

‘Well, hello there,’ I say, throwing my phone onto the comforter and staring hard. ‘What’s all this?’

‘This’—he moves around the bed towards me—‘is a little breakfast for my beautiful guest.’

I pull my legs up to my body and hug my knees so he has a flat surface for the tray. When he lays it down, arm and chest muscles flexing, it’s clear he’s been a busy boy.

There are two huge cups of coffee with hearts drawn onto their perfect crema. I start salivating on the spot. There’s also a fruit platter, the thin slices of strawberry and kiwi and cantaloupe arranged just so in sweet little fans,smoked salmon and lemon wedges, and buttered sourdough toast in all its craggy, holey glory.

I know the latter is for me because my living god right here doesn’t let grains pass those gorgeous lips of his.

He places the tray toward the foot of the bed and climbs back into his spot next to me. I lean over and kiss him lightly on the lips.

‘This is more than a little treat. This doesn’t happen when you’re a mom, so… thank you.’

‘You’re welcome. You deserve to be spoilt. Besides.’ He pulls away and clears his throat. ‘It’s all part of my audition process.’

I laugh a little at the earnest look on his face. ‘What audition process?’

He doesn’t break eye contact. ‘To be your boyfriend.’

56

AIDA

Ithink he just broke my brain.

I stare at him blankly, because for all the filth and jokes and ridiculous songs that come out of his mouth, the B-word wasnotone I was expecting.

Not at all.

He chuckles awkwardly and covers my hand with his. ‘Abject panic. Just the reaction a guy hopes for.’

‘No—of course not,.’ I stumble over my words. ‘I’m—where did that come from?’

He lets go of my hand and leans forward so he can lift a coffee mug from the tray and pass it to me. He doesn’t speak again until he’s grabbed his mug and is sitting back against his pillows. ‘Is it a total surprise to you that this is where I’m going with us?’

‘Um—yeah. It is,’ I say flatly. ‘I thought you were just—’

Humouring me.I mentally censor myself before I can say the words, because I know they’ll piss him off. ‘Having fun,’ I finish lamely.

‘I am having fun. I’m having more fun than I’ve ever had.Which is why I’d like to have more and more fun with you while we give this a proper shot. Wouldn’t you?’

‘Sweetie.’ I search in my unusually resistant brain for the right words. I blame all those orgasms. My basic powers of articulation haven’t really recovered from last night, it seems.

Or maybe it’s because the sweetest, hottest, funniest guy I’ve ever known is proposing something that sounds an awful lot like commitment.

‘Absolutely nothing about my reticence has to do with what I want,’ is what I settle on. I’m back in the field, processing in real time as I attempt to disseminate complexity into clarity.

‘Go on,’ he says, his voice gentle. He rests the hand holding his coffee mug on the comforter as he raises the other to stroke my cheek. ‘You can say anything to me. I’m just sorry I blindsided you.’

‘No.’ I shake my head, feeling a little teary. ‘This is the best blindsiding I’ve ever gotten, believe me.’

‘So shoot. Vomit it all out. Process out loud.’

‘You sure about that?’ I ask with a shaky laugh.

‘I’m sure. I just told you I wanted to be your boyfriend, didn’t I? Even I know that involves listening and supporting as much as it involves bending you over my dining table. Come here.’

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