Chapter 16 #2
I let myself back in since there wasn’t a way to lock the door. I dropped my stuff on the floor in the living room and headed back upstairs to find Jim awkwardly sitting up, “You came back.”
I looked at him in confusion, “I told you I would be back. Did you see my note?” I leaned down, partially on the bed to lean across, and pecked a kiss on his lips, which I think took him by surprise.
But I couldn’t stop with that one. Without being too aggressive with it, I moved my lips open a little on the second kiss and bravely used my tongue to lick the seam of his lips.
The feeling it gave me even if there was worry or stress coursing through me, is indescribable. Like all other emotions were in a losing battle to the excitement of our affection. I felt my dick start to plump in the thrill of it all, but Jim pulled away before I could get totally carried away.
After catching his breath, he said, “Yes, I saw your note, but…,” he twitched his mouth and nose in a cute way like he was thinking, “I guess I was expecting you to get held up by your father.”
“Well, my dad doesn’t control me even though he wishes he could,” I said flatly, stepping away.
“I have a feeling no one could control you at this point. Even me,” he stated with a slight tone of irritation, making me want to apologize again. If I had listened or if he had been able to control me, this wouldn’t have happened.
“Umm, I brought a bag of belongings,” I said instead, clearing my throat nervously, getting off the bed and taking a step back towards the door, biting my bottom lip.
“It’s downstairs,” pointing down like he didn’t know which direction down is.
“I won’t stay if you don’t want me to, but I just thought you might need help until you can move easier, and I have spare time now that Tom doesn’t want me at the mine until he handles things and I promise I’ll leave you be unless you need something,” I added for good measure, hoping that will help him agree to let me stay.
“You ramble when you get worked up, it’s adorable,” giving me a small smile. “And what if I don’t want you to let me be?” His expression was completely relaxed, and soft.
I stood solid, hoping that meant what I think he meant. He reached out his hand gently in my direction and moved his fingers in a come here motion. I took the two steps to the right side of the bed, since he had taken residence on the left, and sat down sideways on the edge, facing him.
“First, I am glad you are not going back down into the mine. I respect Tom’s decision and hope you do too.
” When I nodded, he continued, “Let’s put to bed our conversation about us, okay?
I want to make sure we are on the same page before you get hurt,” he said, always thinking of me.
“And I’m going to make it really simple and plainly stated, with all the facts.
I like men, which I think we may have covered now, a couple of times,” sarcasm leaking from the sentence making me laugh, “but more importantly, I really like you,” he said, threading his fingers into mine, clasping them together, shutting me right up.
My brain was fizzy from the straightforward honesty.
Obviously, there is attraction there or we wouldn’t be kissing but…
Why me? I was no one. I was just a– ugh, I hated that I was thinking it but– a kid.
With no experience and very little understanding of the world we live in from being sequestered in the middle of nowhere my entire life.
And Jim was nothing like me. For one, he was older. And he’s not just quiet, he’s private. I think if the possibility of him moving where I came from was presented, he wouldn’t think twice about it since he seemed content on a reclusive lifestyle.
I must have been staring into space for too long because Jim let go of my hand and reached up and touched my face with his palm bringing me back to him. “Are you panicking?”
“Yes.” The word came out so fast, it made him laugh with a glow I am quickly becoming addicted to seeing. It’s faint, but it’s bright enough to know that there is a light inside him that he keeps covered. Then he closed his eyes and grimaced, losing it just as fast. “What’s wrong?”
“You made me laugh. I shouldn’t do that, it made me vibrate so much that it hurt my back.
” He took some light breaths, then opened his eyes again, with a state of calmness, continuing the conversation.
“I don’t want you to panic. If you don’t fully like me in that way, I will respect that.
Some men only use that attraction for physical means.
We never really stated otherwise. Plus, you and your father are very good at talking around a topic without ever saying it out loud.
It’s like a whirlpool of words and I have to put them in the right order to understand the hidden message. ”
I lightly dragged my hand down my face, “We really do that, don’t we?”
“Yes, but we will talk about talking more openly later. Let’s stay on topic,” he diverted me back to what he had said before.
“I like you, Charlie. There is something about you that just makes me want to touch you, hold you. I have never felt this strongly about anyone before and normally it’s for not, for obvious reasons,” he transitioned back to holding my hand.
“But I need a response. A verbal one. Because I don’t want to dwell on these feelings if it’s not going to be reciprocated.
I’d rather bury them as soon as possible and move on than put either of us in an uncomfortable position. ”
After a moment, I laid down in his bed with him, facing each other, I looked into his eyes.
I could see he was trying to read mine, like the color they hold will tell him the secrets of the universe like a crystal ball.
I leaned in close, shut my eyes and fully pressed my lips with his, while keeping it soft and light.
My lips didn’t move once they landed as I became weightless, like a cloud floating in the atmosphere.
When I pulled back, and opened my eyes, he was looking back at me like that kiss changed everything he thought his world was.
I leaned my forehead against him for a moment.
I released the breath I had been holding out of nervous fear.
“Please be patient with me, because I don’t know what I am doing. ”
He went to lean in for another kiss in a wordless response when the door downstairs slammed closed, making me jump and jostling Jim, making him clench.
“Jim!”
Fuck Me.
I popped up off the bed before David barged in on us.
Before we even had eyes on him, he was talking in the hallway, “Who’s stuff is in the living room?
If you hired an in-home nurse, I hope she’s smokin'.” He walked in and saw me standing there, and his mood changed instantaneously.
“Hell no,” turning to Jim. “You can’t be serious? ”
“Hi David, thanks for coming for a visit. I appreciate it,” I heard with sarcasm knowing it was going to piss David off, before Jim put him in his place for being an asshole.
“What is going on, Jim,” holding his arms open and out in my direction. “Why is he here?”
“Because he offered to stay to assist me and keep me company while I recover,” Jim stated, matter of factly.
“He is the reason why you are recovering in the first place!” I felt like I wanted to disappear again. The guilt was so thick within me already. I didn’t need extra piled on.
“HEY,” Jim yelled, shutting David right up, but it made the pillow behind him slip from the force.
As he was trying to place it back where it needed to be, I walked around the bed giving David a wide berth and helped.
“Thanks, Charlie,” giving me a small smile.
“Why don’t you go get your belongings and make yourself at home in my other bedroom.
It will give us a moment to talk,” looking back at David, his tone turning more serious. “Best friend to best friend.”
“Yeah, okay. Sure.” I turned to walk out the door with David’s eyes trying to burrow a hole into me.
“Oh Charlie,” I turned around to look at him again when he didn’t continue. “Help yourself to any of the books in there while you’re at it,” giving me a lopsided smirk like he knew this was going to piss David off even more.
Reading between the lines of that sentence I piled on my parting jab at the both of them with a big ass smile, “Thanks, Jimmy.”
Then I dashed out the door, leaving Jim laughing and groaning at the same time that David said, “You fucking let him call you Jimmy!”
“Knock it off, David. Now you listen–,” but I missed the rest of what was said heading down the stairs.