Chapter Fifty-Two
They sat in Mike’s truck for a few moments, the sound of the engine tinging as it cooled. “I—” they both started at once. “You first,” Mike said.
“I really enjoyed it. Thank you for asking me.”
“Even though the food was bad?” Mike chuckled.
“It wasn’t exactly bad. It just wasn’t very good.”
“I’ll take your shrimp and grits over anyone’s,” Mike said, smiling. “That was the best ever.”
“Thank you, kind sir.” Jamie nodded and smiled. “Now... I guess I need to go and see what mischief Joesph has gotten into.”
Jamie opened the heavy door of Mike’s truck and tried to slip down to the ground as gracefully as he could. When he got both feet on the ground, Mike was already there.
“You don’t... have to like walk me to the door or anything.”
Mike laughed. “Didn’t think I needed to.” He took a step closer. “But I was hoping for a good night kiss.”
Jamie closed the distance between them. Mike leaned down and kissed Jamie softly, tenderly, and it grew like a slow, steady flame. The heat became intense. They were both breathing heavily when their lips parted.
“Wow.” Jamie leaned against the door of the truck. “You... really know how to get a guy going.”
Mike blinked a few times. “You’re not too bad yourself.” He pulled Jamie close against his body and looked intently into his eyes.
Jamie could feel the hardness of what Mike was packing in his pants. There was no doubt that Mike could also feel Jamie’s arousal. They stood a moment more before Mike lowered his face to Jamie’s, their lips melding together.
“Okay, that’s... enough.” Jamie pushed Mike gently back. “Whew. I need to catch my breath.”
“I want you,” Mike said, his voice low and husky. Jamie felt his chest rumble, his body still against Mike’s.
Jamie couldn’t help it, but his body seemed to have a mind of its own. He pushed his hips against Mike’s leg. Jamie wasn’t short, exactly, but Mike still towered over him.
“Nope.” Jamie pulled free from Mike’s arms. “Not... now. I can’t.” He looked at Mike. “I hope you understand, but... it’s too soon. It’s not you, it’s me.”
“Okay.” Mike shoved his hands into his pockets.
“And that sounded like the worst cliché ever.” Jamie sighed. “There’s just so much going on in my head and... I don’t want to rush into anything and then regret it. Does that make any sense? I just can’t right now.”
Mike’s expression changed, his eyes softened, and the hardness in his jaw slackened. “Alright. I get that.” He drew a little closer. “I can wait.”
“What. Wait?”
“I’m a patient man. I don’t mind waiting for what I want.”
“Do you now?”
“Yes.” Mike stood up to his full height. “And I want you. I want to kiss you all the time. I want to kiss you everywhere. I think of you all the time.” He smiled slightly. “And I am prepared to wait.”
Jamie was dumbfounded. He didn’t know what to say. “Um... good night?”
Mike smiled, his eyes boring into Jamie’s. “If I walk you to the steps, may I have another kiss?”
“Haven’t you had enough for one night?” Jamie took a step away from the truck.
“Never,” Mike answered as Jamie started to walk around him.
Jamie stopped and looked a Mike, his broad shoulders blocking the view of the garage apartment. His very broad shoulders, Jamie noticed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think I may have had enough of your kisses tonight. I may not be able to resist you if I kissed you again.”
Mike laughed heartily. “Now, that’s the best compliment I’ve had in a long time.”
Jamie chuckled. “It was meant as a compliment.” He looked at Mike and smiled. “Good night.”
“Good night.” Jamie could feel Mike’s eyes on him as he walked towards the stairs. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Mike said.
As Jamie climbed the stairs, he could hear the radio on, the music soft, not like when they were all sitting around the table drinking.
This is nice and damn, how that man can kiss.
He is dangerous, and if I’m totally honest, he makes me so hot it wouldn’t take much for me to jump right into bed with him.
“I’m home,” he announced as he opened the screen door. Joesph got up from the old sofa, setting his computer on the floor.
“How was dinner?” Joesph asked.
“Well, the food was... very average. I think I’ve had a better steak at the Waffle House.”
“And?” Joesph had that sly cat look on his face. “What else?”
Jamie stood there thinking. “That man sure can kiss.”
Joesph clapped his hands and did a little jump. “Excellent.” He looked around Jamie. “Where is he?”
“I guess he’s going home.”
“What?” Joesph scowled. “You let him go home?”
“Well, yeah.” Jamie went to his bedroom. “What did you think he was going to do?”
“To fuck you senseless,” Joesph said as he followed Jamie.
Jamie turned to face Joesph. “That wasn’t going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“Because”—Jamie removed his belt and kicked off his shoes— “I’m not like that, and you know it. Not to mention that I still have doubts about getting too involved with him.”
“But you do like him... in that way?” Joesph leaned against the door frame. “So why not just live on the wild side a little? You don’t have to marry the man.”
“And you know full well that I don’t just go sleeping around. This isn’t like Atlanta. Columbus is still a small town and... I...” Jamie’s voice fell away as he unbuttoned his shirt.
Joesph sighed. “Okay. I won’t push, but I would still like you to think about it.” Joesph stepped forward and took one of Jamie’s hands in both of his. “I think Mike is sincere and wants to spend time with you. Get to know you.”
“I’ve got too much going on in my life as it is without adding more to it.” Jamie hung up the shirt.
“Do you know if he’ll be back tomorrow?”
Jamie slid his pants off, standing there in nothing but his boxer briefs, socks, and undershirt. “He said he would be.”
“Good. I have a few more questions for him.” Joesph turned to go back into the living area.
“Like what?” Jamie asked after peeling his socks off.
“Just some odds and ends. Nothing much.”
“Why do I have the feeling it’s a lot more than that?” Jamie was now standing in the doorway to his bedroom.
“I think that is your guilty conscious,” Joesph replied as he lay back down on the sofa. “Now, I’m going back to my show and then I’m going to bed.”
“Okay. I’m not going to pursue it then. I’m too tired. I’m going to bed. Good night.”
“Good night.” Joesph gave a half-hearted wave, his eyes focused on his laptop. “I hope you have nasty, dirty, wet dreams... of Mike.”
“Sometimes... you’re just... disgusting.”
Joesph only laughed, waving, his attention already back to whatever he was watching on his computer.
Jamie climbed into bed, turned off the light, and lay there.
The ceiling fan was pushing the air down on his body.
Can I trust Mike? That’s the big question.
Yeah, he’s hot, nice and... gorgeous. He turned on his side, looking out the window.
Can I just have sex with him and not... fall for him?
Jamie sighed heavily. That’s a question I don’t want to answer. I’ll think about it later.
* * * * *
The sun was starting to peek its head over the distant horizon as Jamie opened his eyes.
He could hear birds chirping off in the distance, the slight whump, whump, whump from the ceiling fan, but nothing else.
He didn’t smell coffee, which meant that Joesph wasn’t up yet.
He considered trying to go back to sleep but knew it probably wouldn’t happen, so he planted his feet on the floor.
He stretched as he went into the bathroom.
As he brushed his teeth, he again noticed how sad and dilapidated the bathroom looked and how small it was. Was it always so small? Or was it me who was small?
Finishing up in the bathroom, he went to make some coffee. As the machine did its thing, he got his laptop and sat to read his email. A couple of head-hunter offers but nothing out of the ordinary. Some junk mail and an email from Christine.
Jamie,
It was so good to hear from you. Sorry about your grandparents.
About the job offer, I’d be very interested.
As you know, the Four Seasons is a full-time job with hours that were unreal before little Justin arrived, and I don’t know how I’m going to handle it when I get off maternity leave.
I had thought about trying to get an au pair, but I don’t know that I could afford that, and my mom still has her job, so that’s not an option either.
Can I perhaps come down and see the place? I’ve never been to Columbus.
Thank you for thinking of me,
Christine.