Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Again? Really?”
Driver shrugged while he chewed.
“If you wanted to try it you could have ordered one for yourself.”
“But then it wouldn’t be yours.” Logically. Half the fun was stealing from Tam. “Want a bite of mine?” He pushed the green curry forward. With a defeated huff, Tam speared a piece of green pepper and popped it into his mouth.
“Good,” Tam said approvingly. “Still like mine better though.”
They ate quietly while the host of the late-night show interviewed the latest guest about some movie that was coming to theaters soon. The trailer showed an aerial shot of Black Rock Desert where Burning Man Festival was held. It brought back some crazy memories.
“This must have been filmed last year. I remember that installation.”
Tam lifted a brow. “You’ve been to Burning Man?”
“A couple times.” He twisted to show Tam the tattoo he’d gotten on his right shoulder to commemorate his first trip. “This is the Black Rock City symbol.” Most people confused it with some meaningless tribal design, with the half-moon, lines and triangles. His was surrounded by colors and flames that covered most of his upper biceps and shoulder.
“What about this one?” Tam trailed a finger down Driver’s arm, and the fire imprinted on his skin came to life. “Is this another place you’ve traveled?”
The design in question was an artistic interpretation of mountains with the sun rising above them. The orange and reds blended seamlessly into the fire above. “Yeah, got that one after I crossed the Sierra Nevada the first time.”
Tam’s caress moved lower. “And this one?”
“After I surfed Mavericks.” The huge wave crested over Driver’s forearm. The deep blues and grays merged harmoniously with the colors of stone and ice. Every time he looked, really looked, at his full sleeve he was amazed that it wasn’t created by a single artist.
“Was it dangerous?” Tam bit his lip, fingers still tracing the angry wave.
Driver covered Tam’s hand with his own. “Danger is my middle name.” When Tam looked up, he winked.
“Driver Danger? Sounds more like a warning sign.” Tam pulled away and went back to eating.
“Maybe it is.”
Chapter Sixteen
Wednesday night, Driver picked up hot dogs from Gray’s Papaya on his way home, doing his best to guess what Tam would like. Tam didn’t even question him showing up at his door with dinner again.
The first thing he said when he opened the door was “Thank God, I’m starving.”
They ate in the living room while the food was still warm. Driver sampled everything, even going so far as to take a bite out of the dog in Tam’s hands. Of course, Tam swatted him.
“What part of starving did you not understand?” he’d said.
After dinner Driver helped Tam do another load of laundry. Apparently, Wednesdays were reserved for sheets and towels.
“You wash your sheets every week?” Driver asked as he hung a wet towel on Tam’s fold-out drying rack.
“Is that weird?”
“Depends on how dirty you get.” Driver snickered.
“Is everything about sex with you?” Tam asked with enough humor in his tone that Driver didn’t take offense.
“Who said anything about sex? I was talking about mud and sweat. What do I know? Maybe you dig ditches for fun.”
“Uh-huh.”
They finished hanging the load and Tam pushed the rack closer to the heater. “Help me make the bed.”
“Okay, bossy.”
On his way past, Tam elbowed him. Driver grunted, then quickly reached out to snag Tam around the waist and pulled him tight so his perky little ass was snug against Driver’s crotch. Tam gasped.
“Pay the toll,” Driver whispered into Tam’s ear.
Tam remained silent so Driver snaked a hand up his torso.
“What are you doing?” Tam finally asked.
“Nothing yet, but if you don’t pay the toll I’ll have to torture you.”
Now that his hand was over Tam’s heart, Driver could feel the rapid throb of it. He buried his nose in Tam’s hair and closed his eyes.
Tam’s voice was breathy when he spoke again, a mix of desire and fear that Driver had become accustomed to. Though he still hated not knowing what caused it.
“What do you want?” Tam asked.
He could ask for anything. Tam might not give it to him, but he could ask. The thing Driver wanted most was information, though. As much as he lusted, his curiosity was stronger. He let Tam go.
“What happened to you?”
Tam looked over his shoulder, a crease between his brows. “What do you mean?”
“That baggage you spoke of? I want to know what’s inside.”
Tam’s expression shuttered right before he turned his back on Driver. “No, you don’t.”
“Not knowing means I have to imagine and I’ve been coming up with insane scenarios.”
“Why do you need to think about it at all?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe ’cause I’m interested in you.”
“I’m not gonna be your newest challenge, okay? You think prying open my secrets will be a rush like surfing in California or something? It won’t.” He threw clean silk sheets onto the mattress with force.