CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
C al
TESSA AND I HAVE JUST finished washing dishes in my apartment, when my phone pings. Jason’s name appears on the screen.
Miss you. Want to come over?
My heart does that stupid fluttering thing it always does when I hear from him.
I stand and pocket my phone. “I’m going to crash with a friend tonight. The bedroom’s all yours.”
Tessa’s eyes narrow. “Cal—”
“What?”
“Is this about a certain ridiculously handsome hockey player you’ve been pining over for a decade?”
“What?” My voice goes shaky. I hope she doesn’t notice. I’m sure she does.
“You kissed him when you were teenagers. You told me you kissed your friend Jason. I looked him up. He went to that camp. It’s the same guy!”
“You’re not supposed to look those things up. Privacy is important.”
“Says the journalist.”
I tense. “Everyone knows Jason is straight.” My voice wobbles. I don’t want to lie about this. Because in my fantasies, I’m inviting Jason over for New Year’s Eve in Nashville.
Still, I’m not going to betray Jason’s confidence. I promised him.
I raise my chin. “I’m on apps.”
“Have you opened an app in the last year?”
I look away. She’s heard me rant about them.
“Cal, honey, please be careful. You think Jason Larvik is going to hold your hand at events? Introduce you to his family? Come out publicly and risk his entire career?”
I grab my coat, but she follows me.
“You deserve someone who’s proud to be with you,” Tessa says. “Someone who doesn’t hide you away like you’re something to be ashamed of.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” But my voice sounds hollow even to me.
“Be careful, okay? Whatever this is, whoever this is, make sure he’s worth it.”
I grab my coat and overnight bag. “I will.”
But as I head for the door, Tessa’s words echo in my mind.
The walk to Seaport from the North End is colder than normal.
The North End in Boston is a lively Italian neighborhood with cobblestone streets that, based on the number of couples holding hands as they stroll from bustling restaurants to charming cafes for cannoli, is used as the city’s premier dating spot.
It’s not an experience Jason and I will have, and I try not to dwell on Tessa’s words.
Once in Seaport, I press the buzzer for his apartment and wait.
A second later, the buzzer sounds, and I enter his apartment building. A woman in high heels nods to me. I wonder if Jason will worry his neighbors might figure out there’s something between us.
Jason’s apartment door is already open when I reach his floor. He’s leaning against the doorframe in gray sweatpants and a Blizzards t-shirt, hair mussed like he’s been running his hands through it.
“Hey.” His smile is wide and genuine.
“Hey.”
He pulls me into a crushing hug the moment I’m close enough, lifting me slightly off my feet.
“Jesus, I missed you so much,” he murmurs against my neck. “I know it’s only been since this morning, but today was...” He pulls back to look at me, hands cupping my face. “Terrible. Absolutely terrible.”
“What happened?”
“Dinner with Tanaka.”
“The billionaire?” My jaw drops. Tanaka is on the covers of magazines. He’s a huge deal. There’s a reason why the Blizzards have the nicest arena in the country.
And Jason had dinner with him?
“Like a team thing?” I ask.
“What?” He shakes his head. “No way. That man has serious regrets about investing in a sports team. It was just me and his family.”
“Oh.” I grin. “Just you and his family.”
“Uh-huh.” Jason’s expression darkens. “I’ll tell you about it later. But first—” His face lights up again. “I have a surprise.” He takes my hand and practically drags me toward the kitchen. “Look what I brought back.”
On the counter sits an elegant white box tied with ribbon, the kind that screams expensive bakery.
“Desserts from Tanaka’s dinner,” Jason explains, already untying the ribbon with eager fingers. “They probably didn’t think I’d accept the offer to bring them back, but I did.” His grin turns mischievous. “Actually, I told them they were for my significant other.”
My heart skips. “You said what?”
Jason’s cheeks flush pink.
“Jason...” I stare at him, warmth spreading through my chest.
“Is that correct?” he asks hopefully. “You are, right? Fuck, this will be embarrassing, if...”
I take him into my arms and kiss him hard. I pull back, and his eyes are dazed. “Yes, Jason, I’m your significant other.”
His eyes soften, and my body melts.
I kiss him again.
Tessa still has a point. I know damn well Tanaka thought Jason was talking about a girlfriend. Still... My heart is a gooey mess.
“So, these fancy desserts are for your significant other?” I tease.
“They are.” He opens the box with a flourish. “And I can’t eat them anyway because of my diet, but I want to watch you enjoy every single bite.”
Inside are perfect little works of art—delicate pastries with gold leaf, that wouldn’t look out of place in a museum.
“You’re going to feed me fancy desserts?”
“I’m going to feed you fancy desserts in bed while we watch hockey,” he corrects, already picking up the box. “Come on, significant other.”
I laugh and follow him to the bedroom, Tessa’s warnings forgotten. Because Jason called me his significant other—to another person, out loud—and that must count for something.
We settle onto his king-sized bed, the dessert box between us and the Montreal versus New York game on his massive TV. Jason carefully selects a small cake topped with what looks like marzipan and holds it out to me.
“Open up, significant other.”
“If you keep saying that, I’m going to get a complex,” I say, but I’m grinning as I take the bite.
“Good complex or bad complex?”
“Amazingly good.”
Jason grins so wide, I don’t know how I ever thought him grumpy.
And after I’ve eaten only some of the desserts, because Jason has a refrigerator and I’m planning on coming to his place again, I flip him over, fueled by sugar and spices, and have my way with him.
JASON
I wake up snuggled against Cal’s chest, his arms clasped around me. The world is warm and wonderful, and I play my fingers against the scattering of hair on his broad chest.
His eyes flick open, and he gives me a sleepy smile; I give him a sheepish one.
“Were you watching me sleep, Larvik?” Cal asks.
“What?” I feign innocence, then duck beneath the covers where dark, knowing, smirking eyes can’t see me.
It’s extra warm here, and I head for Cal’s bulge. I feel my way around the covers, until I find his briefs and fumble my way around.
“Jason,” Cal says, voice soft and strained. I slide his briefs down, then swallow his head. “Fuck.”
I grin as Cal curses, then focus again on Cal’s cock. I suck and lick. I fondle his balls. I hum and suck harder.
And when Cal bucks and comes, hot seed spurting in my mouth, I swallow everything. Cal pulls me from the covers, his eyes fond, and wipes the cum from my lips with wonder, then kisses me.
“Good morning, significant other,” I say.
Cal chuckles and pulls me to the shower, and then there’s much making out, then Cal shows me his prowess with his tongue and throat.