Chapter 20 Shaun #2
I try, I really try, but no words come. I can’t believe it. It wasn’t just him being flirty; he actually likes me. That makes things… I don’t even know what. Harder? Worse? Better than I ever could have dreamed of? Or all of the above.
Freddie seems to clock that I’ve lost the ability to speak. He edges closer, only a foot between us now.
“Okay,” he licks his lips, “just nod or shake. I think you like me too, don’t you?”
I swallow. Then, I nod my head.
Freddie’s eyes light up with joy. “Rad!”
That’s it. It’s out. No more hiding it. I’m sure the only thing stopping me from having a meltdown is the shock that he likes me too. This man, this perfect, gorgeous man, likes me! I must be dreaming.
Freddie’s electric smile subsides a little, his gaze turning soft.
“Look, I can tell this is a lot for you. After what you’ve told me today, I’m guessing you’re still freaking out a bit, right?”
A small chuckle of disbelief passes my lips. It’s like he’s reading my mind, sifting through the thousands of racing thoughts all fighting to be heard.
Somehow I find the words. “Everything I’m feeling, it's confusing. I’ve never felt… for a guy, I mean.”
“Well,” his teeth skim his lower lip. “I’m honoured.”
“But I’m your boss, Freddie!” I blurt out, at last. “I’m your boss and I hired you. It feels wrong.”
Only it doesn’t. It doesn’t feel wrong. At least, not right now.
“Is that what’s been holding you back?” Freddie asks.
I nod.
He squeezes my trembling hands. Under the pressure of his touch, my last vestiges of resistance come tumbling down.
“You’re vibrating, Shaun,” Freddie says.
“Yeah,” I gasp. “This is a lot.”
“I get that,” Freddie says, a warm air of understanding in his voice. “So, there’s no rush. I want you to take your time, but—” his eyes roam up and down my body. “—if you’ll allow me, I’d like to give you something, Shaun.”
Give me something?
Freddie edges closer still, so close I can see the tiny golden flecks in his eyes. Everything’s gone blurry. Everything but him. He lets out a gentle sigh.
“Call it a test.”
Slowly, he leans in. I feel his breath on my face. He’s so close. Oh gosh, can this be happening? I think this might be happen—
Our lips meet, and time stands still.
At his touch, lightning explodes across my skin, spreading over my whole body. Every trace of anxiety vanishes. He kisses me slowly, gently, his perfect lips barely brushing mine, but sending waves of euphoria crashing through me. I didn’t know a kiss could feel this good.
He shifts closer, his thigh pressing into mine, and adds passion to the kiss, his lips parting slightly. I mimic him and our tongues meet. Oh god. Freddie tastes like nothing I’ve ever had before. Like vanilla buttercream. Better even than coffee. I shut my eyes and savour the taste of him.
My hand finds Freddie’s back and I pull him into me. It’s an unconscious move, driven by instinct. Freddie responds with a hand on my chest, gently rubbing and squeezing the soft muscle as he kisses me harder. One of his fingers brushes my nipple and I let out an involuntary whimper.
He pulls back from the kiss and I open my eyes to find a wicked grin on his face.
“Oh? Someone’s a little sensitive, are they?”
“Yeah,” I say, stupidly.
“Interesting,” Freddie purrs as he leans in once more.
This time, his skillful fingers undo the top three buttons of my shirt as we kiss.
I feel the material being whisked away, cold air on my chest as Freddie’s fingers trail their way back to the sweet spot.
He squeezes my nipple, rolling the hard tip between his fingers, sending ripples of pleasure through me that build into waves, into tsunamis.
Unable to take it anymore, I break the kiss and let my head fall back, gasping for air.
But Freddie doesn’t stop. His fingers flick and squeeze as he starts kissing my neck.
A low moan escapes me. He’s finding all my weak spots right away, and he’s got my cock so hard it feels like it’s going to rip right through my jeans.
After a minute of sustained pleasure, in which I make noises I didn’t even know I was capable of, Freddie finally eases off. I drift back to earth like a falling leaf, resenting the pleasure coming to a stop, but filled with relief too—much more and I might have lost my mind.
I tilt my head to the side and come face-to-face with him. My blood is still racing, chest heaving with each heavy breath.
“Wow, Shaun,” he says, his eyes bright with excitement. “You were like putty in my hands.”
“Y-yeah,” I stammer. My cock twitches at that comment, as a question forms in my mind. “You said that was a test? A test for what?”
Freddie’s eyes dart sheepishly to one side. “Uh, for you. To see if you were actually as into me as I thought you were.” I scoff in disbelief—the cheeky sod. He plants a single kiss on my lips. “I think you passed, by the way.”
He can say that again.
“I think I need a cold shower,” I say.
Freddie checks his phone. “No time for that, I’m afraid. I’ve got a shift to start.”
I wheel around and check the kitchen clock. It’s twenty past twelve! I guess time flies when you’re having a big bi awakening on your living room sofa.
“It’s a five-minute drive,” I say, buttoning my shirt back up. “We can make it.”
Freddie scoops up his jacket from the armrest. “Are you scared of what Anna will do to me if I’m late?”
I shake my head. “More scared of what she’ll do to me when she finds out I’m the reason you’re late.”
Freddie snickers. “Just tell her it’s not your fault you’re irresistible.”
He heads for the door but I stay rooted to the spot, staring at him, struggling to compute heading back into the “real world” after this mind-shattering experience. As he puts on his trainers, he notices me hanging back.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, fiddling with the cuffs of my shirt. “What happens now?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean with us.”
A devilish twist to Freddie’s smile. “The ball’s in your court, handsome. Let me know if you want to play again. I’m down if you are.”
If I want to play again? There’s no doubt if Freddie threw himself at me again right now, there’s very little I wouldn’t be willing to try, even if it meant him missing the lion’s share of his shift. Anna’s wrath would be apocalyptic, but something tells me it would be worth it.
On cue, a small, sensible voice in the back of my mind tells me to quit while I’m ahead.
This will inevitably have some pretty big consequences and doing anything more before I’ve had time to process will only fuel the fire.
Plus, I’m about as capable of making sound decisions right now as I am of completing a marathon on a unicycle.
Freddie’s right: he’s made his move, now the ball’s in my court.
We shouldn’t do anything rash. Well, anything else. No matter how much I want to.
Freddie finishes grinding his heels into his trainers and beckons me over with a jerk of his head.
“Come on, Grumbles. Allons-y!”