Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
He stopped, turned, and crossed his arms. “Teddy?”
“Yeah, I said you’re a teddy bear, remember?”
“You’re not calling me that.”
“You don’t know me at all, do you?”
He shook his head as if unsure what to do with me. He’d be doing that a lot. “I’m gonna change and go for a run. Figure out your mover situation, or I’ll do it for you.”
I decided to let that slide and, while he walked away, shouted, “Need to burn off all that pent-up energy from how much you want to fuck me?”
“You wish,” he called back, but I knew I was right.
Chapter Seven
Marcus
I worked even more than usual over the next few days. I also went for a lot of extra jogs and jerked off like I’d just found out what my dick could do. It was fucking torture living with Kai. He made me feel out of control, which was not something I was used to experiencing. He’d been right when he said I was avoiding him, that I wanted him too much, and the little shit made it obvious when we did happen to be at home together. The way he smirked, walked, stretched, bent over, fucking breathed. Everything he did got me hard.
It was annoying as hell.
“How’s it going with Kai?” Corbin asked while we were getting changed at the gym to work out. We’d met here after work like we did sometimes. I grunted in reply, which did nothing except make my friend laugh. “That good, huh?”
“He’s even more annoying than you.”
“Hey—none of that. You want to fuck him, that’s fine, but he doesn’t get to annoy you more than me. That’ll always be my job.”
I smiled, tugged him close, and kissed his temple. “You’ll always be my number one, kid.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“That’s not something to be happy about.”
“It’s part of my charm,” he responded playfully.
We finished getting dressed and headed out of the locker room. Not only did I enjoy exercise, but I tried to go with Corbin as much as I could because he wouldn’t overdo it with me there.
When we weren’t talking, I was usually thinking about Kai. I was the kind of person who liked answers, who needed to understand the why of things. I liked things sorted into the correct boxes inside my head, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t pin Kai down or why I wanted to so much. The power of my reaction to him didn’t make sense, but if I could figure it out, then I’d know how to control it better.
Once we’d finished our workout, showered, and gotten dressed, I told Corb, “Let’s go grab some dinner.”
He nodded without arguing. There was a hibachi place within walking distance, so we headed there. When we were sitting with a plate of rice, chicken, and vegetables in front of us, Corb said, “Really, though, how’s it going with Kai?”
“Fine. It’s only been a few days. He’s got a big-ass saltwater fish tank that’s his baby. We got it delivered and set up yesterday. He fusses over them like they’re his fucking kids. It’s weird.”
“God forbid someone have a pet they love.”
“They’re fish,” I countered.
“Still living, breathing things, you jackass.” Corbin laughed.
I popped a piece of grilled zucchini into my mouth. “He’s close to his family. He talks to one of them on the phone every day.”
“Wow, now that is weird. A family that’s not dysfunctional?”
“Eh. I’m sure they are in their own way. Everyone is.” My parents loved their work more than anything and were more like business partners than lovers. Corbin’s parents loved the shit out of him but still believed he was going to hell for being queer. I didn’t believe there was a family out there who wasn’t fucked up in some ways. That’s why I’d stick with Corbin, Parker, and Declan. “He does yoga in the living room,” I added, surprising myself with how much I was talking about Kai.
“Damn. I love bendy men.”
“You and me both, kid. Too bad I can’t fuck him.”
“Well, actually, you could. You’re just a stubborn son of a bitch. You know what else you can do?”
Here we go. I should have known this was coming. “No, but I’m sure you’ll enlighten me.”
“Of course I will. It’s why you love me.” He leaned over the table as if he had to get close for what he had to say. “You could really get to know him if you wanted… You could date him. You’re allowed to like him, in case you didn’t know.”
I groaned because it wasn’t surprising he would say shit like that. I was lucky Parker wasn’t here too. He’d definitely jump in on this. “I don’t even know him. How could I like him?”
“Hence the whole getting-to-know-him thing.”
So we could eventually end up miserable together? Living together but separate lives because we didn’t like change? So we could let each other down time and time again? Fuck that. I was good without all that headache. “Eat your food.”