23. Ridley
TWENTY-THREE
RIDLEY
I jog up the stairs, excited to see if Wren is really waiting in my bed for me. It took us a little longer to get out tonight after a small fight broke out between two buff dudes over who the cute twink was actually flirting with, only for the three of them to leave together.
Thankfully, everyone is just as interested as I am in getting to our own rooms. When I open the door to my suite, it’s silent.
I glance over my shoulder at Wren’s door across the hall, but it’s closed.
I guess it’s possible he got tired of waiting and went to his own room.
I’ll text him after a quick shower and see if he’s up.
Peeling off my clothes as I walk, I notice the distinct feeling of disappointment spreading through me. I guess I really wanted some alone time with him again. In my bedroom, I stumble on my own feet when I see the gorgeous man snuggled in my blankets, sound asleep.
Asleep.
He’s sleeping.
A surprised smile tugs at my lips. That’s amazing.
I creep into my bathroom, choosing to forgo the shower so I don’t wake him, and instead just brush my teeth and wash my face.
When I return to the bedroom, he’s in the same position, snoring softly.
He definitely earned some rest after today.
I bet the adrenaline needed to get through it left him drained once it was all over.
I climb into bed next to him, careful not to be disruptive, and unable to stop myself, I curl my body around his, my stomach fluttering at how perfectly he fits tucked up against me. He’s warm and smells so damn good. I nuzzle his hair and kiss the back of his neck.
“Mm.” He stirs, bumping his ass against my dick, but I can tell it’s unintentional. He’s out.
I let the fantasy take over, imagining a world where this is what we do every night, climbing into the same bed, cuddling together, being together.
When this started between us, I can’t say I expected it to last more than a few times before he found his confidence and went out looking for guys his age who wanted white picket fences, but something about Wren and me just works.
I could get used to this, but I know I shouldn’t.
If anyone’s gonna be the first to break this heart of mine, it’s Wren.
Not that I’m in love or anything. I’m somewhere past infatuation but a little more than like. I wonder what that’s called. Whatever it’s called, I kind of like it, and I really hope Wren does too.
With that thought, I close my eyes and pray the sleep gods are as kind to me as they were to him.
“Rid.”
The soft sound of my name teases me awake.
“I have coffee.”
Blinking my eyes open, I focus on the hazy smile and ginger curls hovering above me and smile.
“Morning,” Wren says. “I made coffee.”
I push myself upright, scratching my head. Wren is naked, sitting cross-legged and holding a mug of steaming liquid. I take it, inhaling the scent first, then sipping the fresh coffee.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I figured you’d want to get up since it’s a little after ten.”
“Shit. Really?”
He nods. “I’ve only been up a little longer than you.” He reaches over to the nightstand for his own mug. “Sorry about last night.”
I search my memory for a second, coming up empty. “Sorry for what?”
“Being asleep when you got home. That’s probably not what you meant when you told me to be waiting in bed for you.”
“I didn’t mind. Truth is I thought it was cool that you were sleeping so well.”
“Are you sure? It must have been kind of weird for you.”
“It wasn’t, Wren.” I rub his knee. “If you want me to be honest then I’ll tell you that I liked it. I enjoyed cuddling up next to you. It felt nice.”
His cheeks blush pink as he focuses on his mug. “I want to tell you where I went yesterday.”
“Sure.”
“I started therapy.”
I nod. Wasn’t expecting that, but cool. “Yeah? Do you want to tell me more?”
Wren stares into his mug for a second before his pretty eyes meet mine. “Obviously my last relationship did a number on me, but it’s not just that. There’s been a lot of guys like him. I cling to people who aren’t good for me, and I don’t want to anymore.”
I nod, trying not to read into his words. I hope this isn’t some roundabout way of telling me we’ve gone far enough.
“I’ve worked really hard to get where I am right now,” Wren continues. “Finally I can see the future I’ve been chasing for years. I have this amazing job and really cool bosses, who I think are becoming friends.”
I nod in answer to the question in his voice.
“I have a nice place to live and for once I’m not being dicked around by some loser guy. In fact, um…” He blows out a breath as pink blotches spread from his cheeks to his neck.
“You can say whatever you want to say to me, Wren.”
“I know.” He nods, nibbling his bottom lip for a second before clearing his throat. “I like you, Ridley. I like the way we spend time together. I like that there’s not a lot of expectations or demands around it. I’m scared of messing it up.”
Oh. “How would you mess it up?”
“I don’t know, but I always mess it up. You’re not like any guy I’ve messed around with before so it’s new territory. I want to go with the flow, the way we said we would, but I’m not really sure I know how. It’s fine now, but what about in a month or three or six?”
“Or twelve.”
His eyes widen for a second. “Or twenty-four.”
I set my mug down and scoot closer to him so our legs are touching. “I like you too, Wren, and I like the way we are too. I know it’s only words, but I’m not gonna push you to move any faster or slower than you’re ready for. I’m scared too.”
“Of what?”
“The day you wake up and decide you want a guy who’s ten years younger and ready to put a ring on it.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not gonna do that.
Our age difference isn’t noticeable to me, and as far as commitment goes, I don’t have a clue what I want anymore, but I know I still want this.
I want to wait in your room for you to get home.
I want to steal kisses at work when no one’s looking.
Mostly, I want to get my head straight so I can enjoy this without fear. ”
“I’m here to support you however I can.”
“I know. That’s why I wanted to tell you. Can you promise something though?”
“What?”
“If you change your mind and this isn’t it anymore, just tell me. I’ll deal with it.”
“I promise, but…” I hold back for a second, unsure whether I’ll freak him out, but he’s being honest with me so it’s only right that I return the favor. “You should probably be more prepared for me sticking around.”
A smile tugs at his lips. “That wouldn’t be so bad.”
“No.”
“After coffee, could I interest you in a steamy shower and a slow blow job before work?”
“You know the way to my heart, rabbit.”
I power through my coffee, way more interested in getting wet and soapy with Wren than my caffeine intake.
These slow mornings are quickly becoming addictive, and now there’s a glimmer of hope in me that they might not have to stop, but then what?
Do we hang out in this undefined space and just see what happens?
I’ve never been in a situation like this.
Most of my relationships—using the term loosely—don’t last more than a week or two, or it’s just a series of hookups spread out until one of us moves on to someone new. This isn’t that. It has… potential.
My eyes linger on Wren where he’s bent over the sink brushing his teeth, his soft ass tempting me to drag him back to bed.
His eyes meet mine in the reflection and he grins before leaning down to rinse his mouth.
I force myself to turn the shower on, then brush my own teeth while Wren steps under the steamy spray.
I join him, excited to get my hands on him again. He smiles at me, searching my face almost like he’s seeing me for the first time.
“Can I tell you a secret?” Wren asks as he opens the bodywash and squirts some on his hands.
“Of course.”
“I was nervous when I came in for the interview at Moby’s. Obviously.”
I nod, smiling as he rubs his soapy hands over my chest.
“But there was this moment when I looked at you and you had the most comforting, encouraging smile on your face, like you wanted me to succeed even though you didn’t know shit about me at the time.”
“To be fair, it’s because I was stumbling over myself.”
Wren chuckles, shaking his head. “I didn’t think it was that. I thought you seemed nice. That look on your face weirdly gave me confidence. I told myself my food was worthy and if I pulled it off, I could work for a guy like you. I never expected it would be anything else.”
“Your food could’ve been shit and I still would’ve been rooting for you.”
“Thank fuck it didn’t come to that.”
“Thank fuck.” I soap up my hands too, running them down his back. “Did you think anything about me other than that?”
“Did I think you were hot?” He laughs. “Of course. Truth be told, I thought all of you were incredible looking, but you stood out. I have a thing for tattoos.”
“I thought you didn’t see me at all.”
“Honestly, I would look at you sometimes, but I felt guilty because I was still dealing with Trent.”
“Yeah.”
“I guess it worked out though.”
“Sure did, rabbit.”
Wren leans in, nibbling my bottom lip before a sexy smile spreads across his lips and he sinks to his knees. I gaze down, dragging my hand through my hair to get it out of my face so I don’t miss a thing.
Wren dives in, swallowing me easily. I stumble backward, leaning against the tiled wall while steamy water washes down over us.
“Fuck, you look pretty like that,” I mumble, twisting my fingers in his hair.
“Use me,” he says, clinging to my thighs. “Fuck my mouth, Ridley.”