Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Just then, Shawn stirred, breaking Jude’s train of gloomy thoughts. He made a sleepy mmph sound and lifted his head, blinking in the light from the bedside lamp.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” Jude said quietly.
“What time’s-it?” Shawn slurred.
Jude craned his head to see the clock. Shawn could have seen it himself if he looked, but his eyes were barely focused. “Half eleven.”
“Ugh. I don’t want to move, but I need a piss.”
Jude didn’t want Shawn to move either. He wasn’t sure whether it was protectiveness or possessiveness, but he didn’t want to let Shawn out of his sight. “It’s only next door,” he said lightly. “I’m sure you can make it.”
“I ought to go and get ready for bed and then try to get back to sleep.” Shawn stretched and yawned, seeming a little more awake now. “I’ve got an early shift tomorrow. I should leave you in peace anyway. I’m sorry about earlier.” He avoided Jude’s gaze. “I feel like an idiot.”
“It was my fault. I should have been more careful.”
Shawn shook his head, his face sceptical. “Whatever. Let’s just forget about it.” He pushed himself up and climbed over Jude to get out of the bed.
Jude had the feeling that something was slipping away from him—something important. He was worried that if he let this moment of intimacy pass he’d never get it back. He sat up and grabbed Shawn’s wrist, saying quickly, “Will you come back and sleep in here tonight? You freaked me out a little earlier, and I wanna keep an eye on you.”
“I’m fine now.”
“Maybe, but will you anyway? Please?” The memory of Shawn saying please to him earlier flashed into his head.
Make me come. Please.
Now it was Jude’s turn to be vulnerable, to be honest about what he wanted. He wasn’t ready to lay it all out there, but he could ask Shawn to spend the night with him.
Shawn studied him, his brow slightly furrowed. Whatever he saw on Jude’s face must have convinced him, because he gave a curt nod. “Okay.”
Jude relaxed, trying to hold back a smile. “Good. See you in a few, then.”
While Shawn went downstairs to do what he needed on the floor below, Jude used the top floor bathroom between his room and Dev’s. He brushed his teeth and rinsed, then stared at his reflection in the mirror for a moment. He ran a hand through his dark curls and frowned. What was he doing? The way he felt about Shawn was scary. There was so much potential for heartbreak when Shawn wasn’t on the same page. But the wheels were already in motion; Jude was on this ride whether he wanted it or not, and it was too late to get off. He had to hang on and see where it took him.
Back in his room, Jude kept his T-shirt on but decided he’d be too hot sleeping in sweatpants. Still commando from earlier, he dropped his sweats and was about to step into some boxers when his door opened again.
“Oh, sorry.” Shawn stood there looking flustered, his face red as he turned away to shut the door. He was dressed in just a T-shirt and boxers, ready for sleep.
Jude chuckled. “You’ve seen it all before, mate.”
But he pulled his underwear up quickly. Everything felt different between them now. Their cam sex sessions had been structured, negotiated in advance. But this? This was new territory, and Jude felt out of his depth. “You can turn around now.”
Shawn turned with a sheepish smile. “I should have knocked.”
“Story of your life.” Jude gave a nervous chuckle.
They stared at each other for a moment.
“So… uh. What do you want to do?” Jude asked. It was like an awkward sleepover. As the host, Jude felt he needed to keep Shawn entertained. “Are you ready to sleep again, or do you want to watch something on my laptop? I’ve got Netflix.”
“Are you suggesting Netflix and chilling?” Shawn gave him a cheeky grin.
“No!” It was Jude’s turn to blush. “I mean… I would, but I didn’t think….”
There was another long pause, and Shawn’s grin melted away to be replaced by uncertainty—maybe a hint of wistfulness? Hard to tell, but there was something there that gave Jude hope and the courage to blurt out, “Do you want to? Fool around off-camera, I mean? Because I wouldn’t say no if that’s something you want to try.”
Shawn’s eyes widened and darkened, and his gaze flickered down to Jude’s lips. He looked nervous and horny all at once, and apparently that was a combination that really worked for Jude, because it sent a spike of want through him that had his heart pounding and his dick getting hard.
Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say yes.
“Okay.” It sounded like the word was forced out through a dry throat. Shawn swallowed. He still looked terrified, like an animal about to flee.