Paralyzed

Chapter 14

A fter classes ended, Troy kept his word and took Nathan to the music store, which Nathan was grateful for—he didn’t relish possibly catching the same bus with the spirit of the woman on it, searching for her baby. They chatted about homework and some new music on the way. Troy stuck around for a little, hanging out near the register, and Nathan realized just how much he’d missed his friend. They joked together while Nathan put away some returns and new arrivals or helped customers find what they were looking for.

Alan made an appearance an hour after Nathan got to work. Nathan was in the middle of ringing up a shopper when he noticed him over by the window. He almost dropped the vinyl record in his hand with how hard he flinched, but he caught it before it hit the floor and apologized to the customer. Once the store was empty aside from himself and Troy, Nathan sighed and called out, “Alan.”

Turning, Alan gave him a sad look and floated a little closer. “Nathan,” he said tentatively, as though not sure of his reception.

Troy came alert at hearing Nathan say Alan’s name, his face darkening. “The ass wipe is here?”

“Enough, Troy,” Nathan said. He watched Alan come toward them. “I’m sorry, Alan.”

“Don’t apologize to him!” Troy exclaimed.

“Stop, Troy.” Nathan shook his head. He never looked away from Alan. “I promised to help you and I haven’t kept my promise. I’m sorry about that. I’ll try to help you as much as I can.”

“Are you going to tell Erik?” Alan asked, hope clear in his eyes.

Nathan bit his lip. “I can’t.”

The hope died. “I see.”

“Not yet. I’m sorry. Things… Things are different now. I…”

“You want to be with him.”

Nathan balled his hands into fists on the counter as guilt ate at his heart. “Yes.”

Alan gave him a sad smile. “I understand. I really do. He’s a great guy, and it’s obvious he wants to be with you, too.”

“What’s he saying?” Troy demanded.

He waved a hand at Troy. “Maybe if we retrace your steps before your accident, you can remember what you need to tell him. Maybe we can figure it out that way.”

Alan shrugged, his form drifting between almost solid and a slightly ethereal appearance. “I don’t know, Nate. Hell, I can’t seem to remember anything from that day or the days leading up to the accident. I just know there’s something.”

“And we’ll figure it out. We’ll find a way.”

“Maybe it would be best if I just left you alone. It’s obvious he’s happy, Nate. I… I saw him last night. The way he looked at you. When he came into the store and the way his face lit up. He used to look at me like that.”

A sadness unlike any Nathan had ever felt engulfed him, and he had to grab the counter as his knees weakened. He gasped, and his eyes watered. “Alan,” he groaned.

Alan immediately flitted away from Nathan until he was across the store, almost by the front door. “I’m sorry, Nathan. Maybe it’s not a good idea for me to be around you. I can’t stop the way I feel. I’m sorry.”

“Alan, wait!” Nathan called as Alan dissipated. It was too late. Alan was gone. “Damn it!”

“What? What is it?” Troy asked.

“He’s gone. Shit!”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“No! If I don’t help him, who will? I can’t let him wander around forever, Troy!”

“Why not? You don’t owe him anything.”

“Because I promised to help him. And because of Erik. How do you think Erik would feel if he knew I could have helped his fiancé and didn’t?”

Troy scowled. “His dead fiancé, you mean?”

“Either way! Alan doesn’t deserve to remain bound here. Obviously, something is keeping him here and we just need to figure it out.”

Nathan moved to the computer they used for special orders and opened the internet. Stuart would have a fit if he knew Nathan used it for personal browsing, but he couldn’t wait until he could stop at the library. He opened Google and searched Alan’s name. The same article regarding the accident in the ravine came up, but he scrolled past that, looking for more. There wasn’t much. He found an old Facebook profile and a blog Alan had started as a sort of personal journal.

He clicked on the link to the blog and then wished he hadn’t. The first photo on the page caused his heart to freeze in his chest. The last post Alan had made was right before Erik and Alan’s wedding, and the picture was a candid photo someone had taken of the two of them kissing. Nathan couldn’t still the arrow of jealousy jolting through him. He knew it was irrational to be jealous of a ghost, but Alan had been a big part of Erik’s life. If Alan hadn’t died, Nathan never would have met Erik, and Erik sure as hell wouldn’t be interested in Nathan like he was. The reminder once again sent doubt raging through Nathan, and he couldn’t help but think maybe he should break it off. Or tell Erik the truth and let him end it by being disgusted with Nathan.

“Did you find something?” Troy asked, coming around the edge of the counter.

Using the mouse to scroll down the page enough to hide the photo, Nathan shook his head. “Just an old blog of Alan’s. Was hoping there’d be something here.”

There were dozens of posts, and it would take some time to read them all. Nathan figured it would be a good idea to read at least the ones in the last months before Alan’s accident. Maybe there’d be something in those posts.

“You want me to help read through them?” Troy offered.

Nathan felt weird for invading Alan’s privacy like this, but then again, the man had posted them publicly for people to read, right? “I think I should read through them so I can talk to Alan about them.”

“Uh huh,” Troy said, giving him a knowing look.

“It may be the only way to know what happened before he died!” Nathan protested. “I’ll print them out and read them later.”

Troy left the subject alone. He just showed Nathan the easiest way to print without using up too much ink. Stuart would kill him if he caught on how much Nathan had used as it was. It took about twenty minutes for all the posts to print, and Nathan immediately shoved them into his backpack. Alan didn’t show up again, and Troy left about an hour after Quinn arrived for his shift. Nathan spent the rest of the night going through the motions, lost in thought over how he could help Alan without telling Erik, but nothing seemed to come to mind. He knew if he didn’t give Alan what the spirit needed in order to move on, he’d not only feel guilty, but eventually it would bleed over into whatever he had with Erik.

A few minutes before closing time, Quinn prodded him on the shoulder. “Yo, Nate. Where’s your mind been at all night?”

“Huh?” Nathan shook himself and looked at Quinn.

Quinn grinned and propped his elbow on the counter. “Is there a certain dark-haired hottie taking up all your brain waves or something? You’ve barely been here all night. Mentally anyway.”

“Oh, sorry, Quinn.” Nathan blushed. He hadn’t really told Quinn about everything that had happened with Erik. It seemed rather embarrassing to reveal that information. “Just got a lot on my mind.”

“Come on. Spill. How’d things go with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome the other night? Did you get laid?”

“Quinn!” Nathan spluttered, his face hot. “What the hell, dude?”

Quinn burst out laughing and slung his arm around Nathan’s shoulders. “You’re so uptight, Nate. I just want to see you relax for a change. I think it would do you some good to have some fun. With the way he was drooling over you the other night, it’s obvious he wanted to tap that.”

Nathan groaned and slapped his hand over his face while shaking his head. Quinn had no shame. “You’re as bad as Troy. You know that?”

The front door of the shop opened before Quinn could keep razzing Nathan. Nathan uncovered his eyes and saw Erik standing there. A bright smile broke over Nathan’s face before he noticed a dark frown on Erik’s. Nathan’s smile dimmed, and he tilted his head a fraction, uncertainty flashing through him when he realized Erik was mad about something.

Quinn removed his arm from around Nathan’s shoulders and moved away from him. “Oops. Think lover boy’s jealous,” Quinn murmured with a laugh.

Surprise caught Nathan unaware, and his mouth opened in a rush of air. Erik strode toward the counter, shoulders tight with tension. “Almost ready to go, Nathan?” he asked.

Nathan wrinkled his nose at the hard note in Erik’s voice, but he couldn’t help the delight racing through him at knowing Erik was jealous of Quinn. “Erik, I’d like you to meet my friend Quinn,” Nathan said.

Eyeing Quinn for a moment, Erik thrust his hand out toward Quinn. “Erik Moore.”

Nathan could see Quinn working at keeping a straight face as he accepted the handshake. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

The handshake didn’t last long. Erik released Quinn almost instantly and turned back toward Nathan. “I thought we’d grab something to eat after you finish.”

“Sure,” Nathan said, unable to help the small smile he felt curving his lips. “Quinn, why don’t you take off? I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Nate. See ya tomorrow.” Quinn dashed into the back room to clock out and grab his things. He came back out in less than sixty seconds and stopped near Erik with a wink. “No need to be jealous, big guy. I prefer my partners with breasts and girly bits.”

Before Nathan could reprimand Quinn or Erik could respond, Quinn was gone. Nathan almost gave a nervous laugh but squirreled it away in his chest. His hands trembled as he started closing the register and he almost jumped out of his skin when Erik brought his hand down on top of his.

“I’m sorry,” Erik said.

Nathan glanced at Erik through his lashes. “For what?” he asked quietly.

“For running your friend off. I was… jealous, as he so rightly picked up on.” A small intake of breath was Nathan’s only reply. He finally lifted his head to look at Erik directly. Erik leaned in until there was nothing but a scant inch between them. “Do you forgive me?”

Nathan couldn’t do anything except nod. Erik closed the distance and pressed his lips to Nathan’s. It wasn’t a passionate or hard kiss. It was tender and sweet. Meant to be nothing but a greeting, a hello after a long day away from one another. Nathan sighed and opened his mouth, bringing his hand out from beneath Erik’s to touch the side of Erik’s neck. He felt the throb of his pulse and almost moaned when it leaped at the caress of his fingers over the sensitive skin there. It was the first time Nathan had initiated contact with him. He’d done it unconsciously, needing to feel the warmth of Erik’s skin.

Erik slid his tongue over Nathan’s bottom lip, tracing the full outline before breaking the kiss. “I missed you,” Erik rasped.

A pleased smile slid over Nathan’s features, and he ducked his head, flushing. “Me, too,” he mumbled.

“Hurry and close up,” Erik whispered close to Nathan’s ear, nuzzling the tender flesh briefly.

Nathan almost dropped something several times under Erik’s watchful gaze, but he still finished balancing the register and creating the nightly deposit in half the time he normally did. He dropped the bag into the safe and went to get his things from the stockroom.

Erik grabbed his hand the moment Nathan exited the back. He never let go, even as Nathan locked the store. Not until Nathan slid into the truck’s passenger seat did Erik let go, but it was only a brief separation. The moment the truck merged into traffic, Erik entwined their fingers once more for the short ride to the diner. Nathan couldn’t stop the butterflies fluttering in his stomach or the way his pulse raced as Erik’s thumb stroked over his inner wrist. He knew Erik couldn’t miss the hard beat of it against his skin and he felt embarrassed at how easy it must be for Erik to read his reaction to the older man.

They didn’t speak during the five-minute trip to the diner—the silence was too comfortable to break with idle chitchat. Erik pulled the truck into a spot in front and turned off the engine. He brought Nathan’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it before setting Nathan free, an act which caused Nathan to blush in the cab’s darkness. “If you keep looking like that, I’m going to forget you didn’t eat dinner,” Erik growled.

Nathan could feel his cheeks get hotter and he tipped his head forward, hiding behind his hair. Nathan gasped as a calloused hand slid over the back of his neck before he found himself yanked partway over the middle console. Then a pair of demanding lips crashed down onto his.

Fire rolled over Nathan, and he moaned. The blaze fanned higher as Erik plunged his tongue into Nathan’s mouth, gliding over his tongue and teeth, exploring deep. Nathan instinctively gripped Erik’s shirt, tangling his fingers in the folds and holding on for dear life. The stubble lining Erik’s jaw scraped over the sensitive skin of Nathan’s chin, and he whimpered at the assault of so many sensations. Erik stroked the fingers of his free hand through Nathan’s hair and along his throat. He seemed intent on devouring Nathan right there in the diner parking lot, uncaring of anyone who saw. Nathan debated whether or not to crawl over the console and into Erik’s lap, his cock harder than nails at the moment and dying to be touched.

Then suddenly Erik pulled away, and Nathan made a noise of protest. He opened his eyes, unaware he’d even closed them, chest panting as he sucked in air to fill his lungs. Erik appeared as affected as he was. With ruddy cheeks and glazed eyes, Erik fixed his gaze on Nathan. Nathan tried to restart the kiss, but Erik stopped him, his hand cupping Nathan’s cheek. Shame flooded Nathan, and he jerked back into the passenger seat, hurt at Erik’s rejection. His fears from earlier resurfaced. Had his kiss been too inexperienced? Had he turned Erik off?

“Nathan,” Erik said softly into the dimness, “we won’t have our first time be in the front seat of my truck in the parking lot of a restaurant, and we won’t rush it. I want us to take the time you deserve. Understand?”

Nathan raised his gaze to Erik. Honesty shone in his eyes, and Nathan bit his lip as he nodded. Erik gave him a tender smile as he brushed the backs of his fingers over Nathan’s cheek. “Let’s eat, okay?”

“Okay,” Nathan whispered. His hard-on had wilted, thankfully, and he could get out of the truck without embarrassing himself further. Though he noticed a sizeable bulge in Erik’s jeans when Erik met him on the sidewalk in front of the diner. The blush returned to his cheeks, and Erik chuckled as he took Nathan’s hand and tugged him to his side.

“Can’t help it, angel. Seems to be a constant thing since I met you,” Erik said as he held the door open for Nathan.

Nathan almost swallowed his tongue at the endearment and the admission of Erik’s physical reaction to him. He made a beeline for his and Troy’s usual booth with his head down. God, he felt like a teenager in high school! What the hell did he know about an adult relationship?

Erik slipped into the booth across from him. “Did you have a good day?”

Nathan shrugged and toyed with the silverware the servers laid out after a table was cleared from previous customers. “It was okay.”

“Anything exciting happen?” Erik asked.

“Not really. Troy hung out at work with me for a bit. He was understandably upset that I forgot to call him this morning and let him know I didn’t need a ride.”

“I think you should call him and tell him I’ll be taking you to school in the morning again,” Erik replied.

Nathan looked at Erik, eyebrows raised. “Awful presumptuous, Mr. Moore.”

Erik smirked and lifted one broad shoulder. “Hopeful.”

Unable to help a smile, Nathan opened his mouth to reply but stopped, stiffening when he felt a wave of icy death rush over him. He didn’t look around, didn’t identify the source. He attempted to ignore it while Erik gave him a concerned glance.

“You okay, Nate?”

“Fine,” Nathan managed.

“Are you sure? You went as white as a sheet.” Erik turned and waved to catch the server’s eye.

Harriet rushed over with a smile. “What can I get you boys?”

“I’ll have a BLT with a cup of coffee. Nate?”

“Nothing for me,” Nathan bit out through clenched teeth. He could feel a bead of sweat trickling down his temple and fought the urge to swipe it away.

Erik gave him a grim expression. “Get him a cheeseburger with fries and a cup of coffee as well, please, Harriet.”

“Sure thing, sweetie. Be back in a second with the coffee. Food should be right out.” Harriet bustled off to get their drinks.

“What is going on, Nathan?” Erik demanded the moment Harriet was out of earshot.

Nathan shook his head and shoved out of the booth. “I’ll be right back.”

He darted for the restroom at the back of the diner, discreetly seeking the source of the decay. An old man was perched on a stool at the end of the counter, his clothing nothing but rags. His skin hung from his bones, brittle and paper thin, and his scalp was practically bald, with only thin wisps of white hair trickling down from it. Half of his face appeared crushed, caved in, and Nathan could clearly see the back of his skull. The scent of sulfur and dead flesh emanated from the man and Nathan almost gagged on the smell. It was obvious the spirit had been dead for quite some time, and Nathan could only imagine how he had died.

Nathan shoved open the bathroom door and dashed into one stall, slamming the door and locking it behind him. He leaned back against it, breathing deep and even to stem the rising tide of bile pushing at his throat. Not now. Not when he was with Erik. He couldn’t do this now.

There’d never been a spirit in the diner before. Nathan had always considered this cozy little restaurant his safe space. Why now? He wanted to rage, to rail at the old man and scream for him to leave, but Nathan knew he couldn’t. He swallowed again and again, trying to force away the urge to throw up.

“Nathan?” Erik’s deep voice bounced off the tiled floor and walls.

Closing his eyes, Nathan stifled a sob. Why couldn’t he be normal? He stuffed his fist in his mouth and bit down on his knuckles.

“Nate? Are you okay?”

Tears burned behind his eyelids.

“Nate?” The worry deepened in Erik’s voice.

Nathan yanked his hand from his lips and struggled to speak normally. “I’m fine,” he replied, his voice shaky.

“Open the door, Nate.”

“I-I need a minute.”

“Open the door.”

The determination in Erik’s tone sent a shudder down Nathan’s spine. He rubbed at his eyes, praying they weren’t red-rimmed, and then took a deep breath before sliding the lock free and stepping out of the stall. Erik yanked him into a tight embrace immediately, surprising Nathan, his eyes widening. Nathan kept his arms at his sides for a moment, but when it seemed Erik didn’t intend to let him go, Nathan capitulated and hesitantly wrapped his arms around Erik’s waist. The feel of Erik’s firm chest against him, the heat of his body, sank into Nathan, and he closed his eyes, resting his cheek over Erik’s heart, listening to the steady thrum of it beneath his ear. He dug his fingers into the material of Erik’s shirt at the waistband of his jeans and held on tight.

Sunshine and rain-wet earth filled his nostrils, erasing the smell of death and decay as Nathan breathed in the heady scent of Erik, and for the first time in over six years, Nathan felt safe. No matter how many times Troy had helped him, saved him, Nathan had never experienced the same sense of rightness as he did right there, right then, in Erik’s arms. And it scared him. It terrified him to his very bones. Because he knew he could lose it. He could lose Erik. The moment Erik found out about his terrible gift he would turn away from him. Nathan clenched his fingers deeper into the fabric of Erik’s shirt and swore he’d never tell him. He could never reveal the truth of his ability. Ever.

“Better?” Erik finally asked, chest rumbling beneath Nathan’s ear.

Reluctantly, Nathan untangled his fingers from Erik’s shirt, and without lifting his head, he nodded. “Thank you,” he whispered.

Erik cupped Nathan’s chin and tilted his head back, forcing him to meet his gaze. He searched Nathan’s face for several seconds, then smiled gently. “Someday you’ll be ready to share your secrets with me, angel, and when that day comes, I’ll be here.”

Nathan bit his lip to stop the tremble he could feel beginning. The door of the restroom opening gave Nathan a reprieve from having to respond and he stepped away from Erik, giving himself some space. The man who entered gave the two of them a suspicious look, eyeing them as he moved to the urinal. He then seemed to think twice and walked into a stall instead, closing the door firmly.

“Would you rather we get our food to go?” Erik asked.

Nathan nodded. “Please?”

Erik smiled. “Of course.”

He trailed after Erik as they exited the bathroom, skirting away from the counter as far as he could. The spirit stared at the two of them, the one good eye observing them, and Nathan knew the ghost sensed something but couldn’t tell which one of them knew he was there.

Erik asked Harriet to pack up their dinner, and Nathan went out front to wait near the truck, studiously keeping his gaze averted from the large glass window of the diner. Erik joined him a few moments later, and the tension in Nathan eased the moment they were on the road toward Erik’s house. He pulled the hood of his jacket up and rested his temple on the passenger door, gazing out at the passing houses, hands stuffed in his pockets.

“You sure you’re okay now?”

Nathan grunted.

“You want to talk about it?”

“I’m fine,” Nathan said.

Erik didn’t push for more and Nathan couldn’t have been more grateful. He didn’t want to have to lie to him. They didn’t speak again until they arrived at Erik’s and Nathan tried to refuse to eat the burger Erik had ordered for him.

“You need to eat something, Nathan.” Erik gestured at the plate he’d set out and placed the burger with the fries on it. Nathan hadn’t sat down. He stood just inside the doorway of the dining area, staring at Erik.

“I’m not really hungry.”

Erik scowled. “At least try. Please.”

If Erik hadn’t added the please onto the end, Nathan may have gotten frustrated. Sighing, he moved to the table and slouched into the chair. He snatched a fry and stuffed it into his mouth. He barely tasted it. If it had been Troy, he’d have told Troy to fuck off even if he had said please.

The realization of how quickly he was becoming attached to Erik and how much he was changing because of him twisted in his stomach like a sharp knife. The fry became ash on his tongue and Nathan almost choked. He toyed with the next one, staring at the limp lettuce hanging off the almost cold burger.

It wasn’t as though he hadn’t already known how close they were becoming, but facing the reality head-on seemed daunting. If he felt this way now, after only a little over a week of knowing the man, how the hell would he feel in two weeks? A month? Six months?

Nathan thought back to Troy’s words from earlier in the day and his chest tightened. Was he falling in love with Erik? Was this throat crushing, heart clenching, gut twisting, all-consuming need to never disappoint Erik the emotion everyone called love? He almost whimpered aloud at just how terrifying the idea was. He hadn’t had so much to lose in such a long time.

A sigh rattled him free from his thoughts, and Nathan looked up to find Erik watching him. Nathan realized Erik had finished eating, and he hadn’t eaten anything more than the first French fry since he’d sat down. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

“If you’re really not hungry, I can put it away for later,” Erik said.

Nathan shrugged. “I’m really not.”

“I’ll put it away then.” Erik stood and took their plates into the kitchen.

Nathan listened as Erik moved around, packing his leftovers and then washing their dishes. He folded his arms on the table and rested his head on them, closing his eyes. He really was useless at knowing what to do with others. The concept of him being in a relationship seemed so far-fetched that he considered laughing and telling Erik they’d made a mistake and then leaving. What the hell did he know about being with someone? Hell, he felt selfish as fuck right then. Aside from not telling Erik the truth about himself and being able to see Alan, he also had no clue how to be open with someone else, how to give that part of himself to someone else.

The warmth of a hand on his nape startled Nathan, and he jumped but settled quickly. It wasn’t as if anyone was in the house except the two of them. “You okay?” Erik asked.

“I’m good,” Nathan mumbled into his folded arms.

“Look at me, Nate,” Erik said. Nathan lifted his head, dislodging Erik’s hand. Erik stood over him, a compassionate expression on his features. “Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m here to listen.”

“I’m fine,” Nathan insisted.

Erik took Nathan’s hand and tugged. At first, Nathan resisted, but when Erik pulled again, he gave in and stood from the chair, Erik instantly bringing him in close. “Stay here tonight?” Erik asked.

“Yeah,” Nathan replied without hesitation, despite knowing he shouldn’t.

His arms tightened around Nathan for a brief second before releasing him. “Head into the bedroom while I lock up, okay?”

Nathan couldn’t bring himself to look at Erik as he walked out of the dining room. Once in the bedroom, he shed his T-shirt and jeans and laid them over a nearby chair, leaving his boxers on. As he pulled the comforter back, it dawned on Nathan how he’d completely forgotten to be embarrassed about exposing the scars on his legs and chest to Erik. He became motionless and gazed at the cream-colored sheets, shocked by his own actions.

The sound of Erik’s footsteps coming down the hallway disturbed Nathan from his musings and he quickly slid between the sheets. He covered his legs and then pulled his knees to his chest, looping his arms around them and resting his chin on top. Erik came in and shut the door behind him.

“I’ll set the alarm early enough to take you back to your apartment for a change of clothes,” Erik said as he started unbuttoning the shirt he wore.

Unable to help it, Nathan watched each button slide free from its hole, captivated. He swallowed hard as more of Erik’s tanned skin appeared. Twisting the sheet between his fingers, he realized he hadn’t really thought it through when Erik had asked him to stay. Did Erik intend on having sex with him tonight? Was he ready for that?

Nathan almost moaned when Erik shrugged his shirt off, hard muscles rippling in the soft glow of the bedside lamps. He felt his cock harden, and he squirmed a bit, coughing slightly to cover the rustling of the bedding.

Erik didn’t even seem to be aware of the effect he had on Nathan while he continued to strip down to a pair of black briefs, which hugged every single inch of Erik’s groin and buttocks like a loving second skin. If the bulge in the front was any sign, Erik’s girth matched his physique to a T, and Nathan tried to imagine just how big it would get when hard. Then he had to work to force those thoughts from his mind when his cock got even harder, throbbing at the idea of seeing Erik completely naked, aroused and ready to take Nathan in the very bed he lay in.

Erik approached the bed and pulled the sheets back. “I have a late dinner meeting with a potential client tomorrow night. Do you think Troy could pick you up from work?” he asked as he climbed onto the bed.

Nathan had to blink several times and shake his head. “What?” he finally asked.

“Would Troy be able to pick you up from work tomorrow night? I have a late dinner meeting with a potential client, and it may run long,” Erik repeated, a knowing sparkle dancing in the depths of his hazel eyes.

Nathan flushed. “Oh. I can get home on my own.”

Erik frowned. “I’d rather you not. You’ve already had the unfortunate experience of being mugged once.”

“I can take care of myself,” Nathan said, scowling at Erik.

“I know you can, angel, but for my sake, please let Troy take you home. There’s no way I can concentrate tomorrow night if I don’t know you’re safe.”

Nathan glared a hole into the sheet covering his knees. Damn. Why did Erik have to go there? He finally nodded. “Fine,” he grumbled.

“Thank you,” Erik said, giving a relieved smile.

The bed shifted and Erik leaned over, causing Nathan to stiffen, but all Erik did was kiss his cheek. Then he flicked off the lamp on his side of the bed before he settled back down to his pillow. “Good night, angel. See you in the morning.”

Nathan’s mouth dropped open in shock as he stared at Erik, who had already shut his eyes and appeared to be asleep. Disappointment warred with relief. What the hell? He couldn’t believe Erik hadn’t even given him a proper kiss. Nathan snapped off the lamp next to him but didn’t lay down right away. Instead, he remained leaning against the headboard, staring into the murky darkness that was broken only by the soft light fanning in around the edges of the curtains on the windows. Somehow, he hadn’t expected Erik to not want to at least kiss him for a little while. What had he done wrong?