Chapter Seventeen
Greg patted the bed beside him. “Sit here, there’s plenty of space.
” It took him a moment to realize he was nervous.
When they arrived home after the trip to the lights, he’d wanted to take Micah aside and talk to him, only the timing wasn’t right.
For one thing, he was conscious of Naomi’s scrutiny, not to mention Joshua’s glances.
Greg had so many questions he wanted to ask, but he guessed they’d have to wait for a more opportune time.
He hadn’t figured on Micah taking matters into his own hands.
Micah came around the bed, but instead of sitting, he stretched out on his side, his head propped up on his hand, his gaze focused on Greg, the sprig of mistletoe on the bed between them.
Greg had had more than enough scrutiny for one night. “So, were you right? Was this whole evening part of some scheme of Naomi’s?”
Micah laughed, nodding. “She involved my dad too.”
Greg blinked. “No kidding.”
“Yeah. We talked just now in the kitchen. Dad made me realize you and I have some talking to do of our own.”
That was the opening Greg was looking for. “How about we start with that kiss?” His heartbeat sped up at the memory of Micah’s lips pressed against his. “Was that an out-of-the-blue thing, or had you been thinking about it for a while? Because you sure took me by surprise.”
Micah sighed. “I didn’t plan it, but… yeah, I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
“You… you have?”
“I guess I held back, because… you were hurting, there was so much going on….” Micah smiled. “I’m assuming you didn’t mind.”
“Wasn’t it obvious?” Greg took a deep breath. “You’ve set the bar very high, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“That was my first kiss from a guy.”
Micah’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Greg nodded. “It’ll take a lot to beat that.” Not that he wanted anyone else, but Micah didn’t need to hear that right then. There was no way Greg was going to scare him like that.
“I had no idea.”
Greg chuckled. “I only came out at Thanksgiving, remember?”
Micah nodded slowly. “Your epiphany. You did say you’d tell me. Well, now is as good a time as any.”
Greg had had the same thought. “It only struck me a few weeks ago that my dad and I weren’t so different.
We were both loners. And I never really had girlfriends to speak of, but it never bothered me.
I always assumed I’d know when I met the right person.
So there I was, in the last year of my MBA, and I was finally dating someone.
Her name was Caroline. She was a sweet girl, intelligent, and good company.
We were… comfortable with each other, I guess. ”
“What happened to change that?”
“We were at her place, and we were kissing on her couch. Well, after five minutes or so, Caroline just… stopped. I did too, thinking something was wrong. I mean, I’d never made out with anyone before, but I didn’t think I’d overstepped any boundaries.
Anyhow, she stared at me for a minute or so, and then she said the oddest thing.
” He could still hear her words in his head.
“She smiled and said, ‘You’re not really into this, are you?’ I wasn’t sure whether I should be insulted or relieved.
She was right, of course. I didn’t feel…
anything, and I was horrified that it had been that obvious. ”
Micah laid a hand on his chest, and Greg welcomed its warmth, the connection between them.
“Then she peered at me and said, ‘Do you think you might be gay?’ I guess my jaw dropped, because she smiled and said, ‘Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But maybe you’re more attracted to men than women.’”
“You’d never considered it before then?” Micah asked.
Greg shook his head. “Like I said, I kept to myself. I had a few friends, sure, but I wasn’t attracted to any of them.
But once she’d said that, it got me thinking.
Was she right? Was I gay? I spent the following weeks analyzing every look I got, every time I noticed a guy.
I had to admit in the end that it was a possibility.
Not that I took any steps to prove that theory, one way or another. ”
“Then what happened?”
Greg smiled. “Nothing. No guys suddenly crawled out of the woodwork. I didn’t fall hopelessly in love with anyone.
I wasn’t even remotely attracted to anyone.
I got on with my life. I finished my studies, and that was when I learned about my dad’s diagnosis.
I packed a suitcase, and told my mom I was going to stay with him.
No way was I going to let him be alone. Job hunting could wait.
” It hadn’t been an easy time, but he’d shared enough heartache with Micah: he wasn’t about to share even more.
“I think that was awesome,” Micah said softly. “What did your dad die from?”
“Pancreatic cancer.” Greg swallowed. He’d been in so much pain.
“When he’d gone, I stayed for a month in his house.
I didn’t do a great deal, mainly sleeping and reading.
I knew I’d have to return to reality at some point.
The funeral had taken place, but I was in no hurry to go home.
As for the letter…” He sighed. “I could have stuck it in a mailbox. Much simpler that way. After all, I’d found your dad’s address.
But something inside kept gnawing away at me, and I decided to deliver it in person.
By that point, I’d just about run out of money, so hitchhiking was the only option.
I wasn’t that concerned: Wright was only nine or ten hours away. And the rest you already know.”
“Not quite.” Micah stroked his chest. “I told you I’d been wanting to kiss you a while ago. But when I kissed you tonight… you wanted it too, didn’t you?”
Greg nodded. It was a relief to be able to say what had been on his heart these last few weeks. “It didn’t take me long to realize I had a crush on you, so I guess I finally had my answer. Then when you kissed me…” He smiled. “That was all the proof I needed.”
Micah grinned. “Yup. Definitely gay.”
Greg picked up the mistletoe. “I suppose we should see if this works. I mean, it might be defective.” His heart hammered, and his breathing sped up.
“Absolutely.” Micah took it from him and held it above their heads. “So how does this work again?” He was smiling.
“Something like this.” Greg cupped the back of Micah’s head and pulled him down into a kiss, not bothering to hold back from the pleasure he now knew was to be found when those lips met his.
Micah shifted closer, his chest on Greg’s, the mistletoe dropping onto the bed as he explored Greg’s mouth, his tongue pushing deep inside.
Greg moaned softly and stroked Micah’s back, cursing his inability to move the way he wanted.
And then he had to go and yawn. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. That wasn’t a comment on your technique, honest.” Who the hell yawns mid-kiss?
“That’s a relief.” Micah chuckled and pulled back. “It’s okay, really. I think the trip wore you out. And it is getting late. Maybe we should postpone this until we’ve both had some sleep.”
Greg had no problem with that whatsoever. It wasn’t that he didn’t want things to move on apace, but he had to admit he was nervous about the prospect. “Sounds good to me.” He kept his voice even.
Micah widened his eyes. “Oh my God. It’s only just sunk in.”
“What?”
He smiled, his eyes kind. “What you were saying, about dating… You’re a virgin.”
Greg swallowed. “And is that a problem?”
Micah moved slowly, like molasses in winter, until his lips were inches from Greg’s. “Not for me. And I’m in no hurry, all right?”
Something eased inside Greg, and he shuddered out a breath. “Thank you.” He knew he needn’t have worried: he trusted Micah. And then he gave himself up to a slow, tender kiss that made his toes curl and sent warmth surging through his body.
“Good night,” Micah murmured against his lips, before finally pulling back and climbing off the bed. “Sleep well.” He smiled. “And sweet dreams.” Micah walked toward the door.
“Only if you’re in them,” Greg flung back at him.
Micah paused and turned to look at him. “Then I’ll have to see what I can do about that.” He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Greg stared at it, still processing the night’s events. He kissed me. He’s interested in me. He fucking wants me. That last part was a bit of a leap, but the implication was certainly there, especially after his comment about Greg’s virginity not being a problem.
Greg suddenly knew exactly what he wanted to dream about. The only drawback was the lack of lube. A licked palm wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing.
I think I need to go shopping.
Greg put the phone down and sat back in Joshua’s chair, smiling. “Well, it looks like I’ll be in the black again soon.”
From the couch, Joshua glanced up. “It all sounded very straightforward.”
Greg nodded. The lawyer had been expecting his call, just like Dad had explained in his letter.
“He’s emailing me a document to sign, then the funds will be deposited in my bank account by the end of next week.
And he says the deeds to the house are already in my name: Dad saw to that before he died. ”
Joshua smiled. “A man of property. What will you do with it? Will you live in it, or sell it?”
Greg gazed at him. “If I’m honest? Right now, I have no idea. I can’t think beyond getting this cast off my leg. I know I need to think about job applications, but it’s not as if I’m going to attend any interviews like this, right?” He gestured to his leg.
“I’d also guess you have no idea where you’ll end up,” Joshua added. “I mean, you could go back to California, right?” He leaned forward. “If you wanted to, of course. I don’t know, maybe there are other factors to consider.”