Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
A soft knock on the door startled me, and I realized I’d left Skylar hanging. Even before the kiss, he’d made me pancakes, which was sweet and thoughtful—despite the inevitable mess in the kitchen. He’d thought I’d hooked up with someone last night, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he seemed anxious about it and then relieved when I admitted I was only helping out a coworker. Or maybe it was him being protective? Hell, I had no idea. Skylar was always so easygoing about everything, it was hard to figure out this side of him.
I swung open the door, and Skylar said in a rush, “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair to you.” He seemed remorseful now, and that was so not him. His vibe was usually positive, and I didn’t want to bring him any stress over a stupid kiss. “I know how much you value stuff…”
“Value what?” I asked just to see what he might say, because my thoughts were all over the place.
He stepped toward my bed while I sat down on the edge and pulled on socks. “Like monogamy for one, and intimate stuff means more to you.”
“Than it does to you?” I made a frustrated sound. “So you’re worried I don’t know how to be casual about a kiss that was probably just fun and pure sensation to you?”
He glanced awkwardly at his feet, and I tried not to stare at the bulge that was still prevalent through his pajama bottoms. “Well, yeah. I just went for it, and normally that’s not a big deal, but you’re my friend, and I love hanging out with you, and… Oh God, that was so not a good idea.”
“Hey, that’s my line.” I stood and slid my arms through the sleeves of my shirt. “I said it first.”
His expression turned serious. “You did. You were right to break away.”
I motioned in the direction of my dresser, where I’d set my phone. “A work call came in, and I had to take it.”
“Are you saying you would’ve kept going if your cell didn’t ring?” Skylar bit his lip in this shy way I hadn’t seen before, and it was adorable.
My fingers faltered on my buttons as my pulse ticked up. “I mean, you made my brain all fuzzy, and I wasn’t thinking properly.”
“Tell me about it,” he said with a smirk, then stepped forward and began helping me button my shirt, as if to give his hands something to do. But now he was close to me again, and I couldn’t help focusing on his long eyelashes as they brushed his cheeks, and then lower to his swollen lips. I did that to him.
“I really am sorry.” Skylar’s eyes snagged on mine. “First I suggested jacking off together, and then this…”
My whole face heated, but I didn’t look away. “I enjoyed the jacking off too.”
I heard his barely restrained gasp, but I wanted to be as honest with him as he was with me. And besides, a good friendship needed communication. If we couldn’t talk about this, then we were going to have problems, and we were only starting to get to know each other again. And yeah, we’d thrown a wrench into the mix. Two wrenches.
“You did?” he asked in a husky voice that made me want to kiss him again.
“Yeah.” I looked away because I was going to combust in another second. My shirt was all buttoned now, yet he didn’t step back, and I found I liked the closeness. Between the jerking off, kissing, and sleeping in the same bed, we’d had quite a bit of it. “And I…well, I’d be okay with doing that again sometime.”
A sexy grin slid onto his face, and I had to swallow several times to get my pulse under control.
“But if you kiss me like that again, I might…well…it’s just not a good idea.”
Skylar arched an eyebrow. “That good, huh?”
“You cocky bastard.” I stepped away and reached for my pants. Thankfully, my dick started behaving, so the drive wouldn’t be too uncomfortable.
When he grew quiet again, I turned and found him looking uncertain again. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just… I really am sorry.” He sighed. “I looked you up on social media, and then the first time we meet, my apartment catches fire. Then I have to crash at your place and mess up your life.”
“Mess it up? Nah. Maybe shake it up,” I replied, and he winced. “But I like it. I like having you back in my life, and I don’t want to mess anything up either.” I blew out a breath when a smile stretched his cheeks. My chest felt funny when he was bummed, and I definitely didn’t want him to be bummed because of me. “So let’s agree to communicate and not mess stuff up.”
“Does jacking off mess stuff up?” Skylar asked.