14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Tage
I sit across from Lane at the apartment-sized table that came in earlier this week.
I almost put off putting it together, but now I’m glad I didn’t.
I’d feel like a fool if I ordered food and we had nowhere to sit and eat—though there is the couch.
It’s not broken in yet, so it’s still stiff, but it’s better than the floor.
The photos made it look like I’d fall into it and it’d hug me, but it kind of feels like it’s filled with boulders.
I guess that’s what I get for ordering furniture online.
Lane doesn’t comment on anything in my apartment other than the toilet, though I see him looking around.
There is nothing judgmental in his gaze, just curiosity.
Maybe like he was hoping for more—a deeper look into me.
He isn’t going to get that from here—at least not now.
Maybe when I’ve been living here a few years and have been able to collect things I like.
He fixed the toilet—for now. He said to threaten the office with a lawyer, and they’ll be up here to fix it again for good. I appreciate him not coming in here with a whole new toilet—that feels very him.
This… feels like he’s respecting me a little more.
“Thank you for fixing the toilet,” I say as I grab my second slice of pizza.
“It’s no problem.”
“I didn’t think you were capable of fixing things.”
“That’s offensive,” he says, narrowing his eyes.
“Is it?” I ask, not believing him.
“A little.”
“Oh—sorry.”
He shrugs. “I guess I can only blame myself. If that’s the impression I gave you…”
“You didn’t, I just—uh—”
“Have a problem with people who have money? I gathered that.”
“It’s not that, it’s just—”
He folds his hands in front of him on the table, his plate pushed aside. He only had one slice, and I can’t tell if it’s because he lied about liking pizza, doesn’t like this kind, or has an issue eating in my apartment.
“Uh,” I say when I can’t think of what to say. “I guess I do.”
“Why is that?” he questions, tilting his head to the side.
“It’s a long story.”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, you can just say that.”
“Okay. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Why not?”
I groan. “Seriously?”
“I just want to know what happened to make you hate me before you got to know me.”
“I didn’t hate you.”
“You disliked me.”
“I just… have known too many people like you, that’s all.”
“Like me or what you thought I was like?” he asks with a bit of sadness in his eyes.
“I guess the second one,” I mutter.
“So, I’m different than what you expected?”
“Can we talk about something else?” I say, lifting up my pizza to take a bite. Maybe if my mouth is full, he won’t talk to me. I know that’s not true. Nothing will stop this man from talking to me.
“Sure. Have you ever thought of getting married?”
“Oh, my God!” I drop the slice of pizza on the plate and glare at him as he smiles. “Why do you enjoy teasing me so much?”
“Because it’s so easy.”
He smiles playfully, and I can’t help but smile back.
It’s weird seeing him here, in my half-furnished apartment, but I don’t hate it.
I was surprised when he showed up, annoyed when he pushed himself inside and helped himself to my toilet, but now?
This is nice. Seeing him like this in a normal setting.
Having him here, talking to me, eating together. I like it.
He takes a sip of his beer, then reaches for another slice, which has me relieved. We eat in silence, and when we’re done, I put the leftovers away in the fridge. I’ll bring it for lunch tomorrow. Cold pizza is delicious.
When I turn, he’s just standing there, far too close.
“So, do I get a tour?” he asks, looking down at me.
“You already saw the entire apartment.”
“I think there’s one room I didn’t see.”
My chest gets all warm, and I’m suddenly very aware of my dick, of how it was in his mouth not too long ago.
“Are you asking if you can fuck me again?” I say, my voice low.
“If that’s what I was asking, you’d know it.”
Disappointment floods me, but there’s something in his gaze that tells me there’s still a chance.
Which is when I realize that I do want to sleep with him.
When did that happen?
Sure, I wanted it when we did it, but when did I ever want it preemptively like this? Never. Not until right now. After the man barged in and fixed my toilet. He’s so annoying.
“The bedroom is kind of boring.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. Show me,” he says, taking a step closer.
I can smell his cologne. See the barest hint of a five o’clock shadow on his jaw. He’s so close, I could just lean in and—
“Tage?”
“Huh?” I blink and he comes into focus.
“Everything okay?” he asks with a knowing smirk.
“Perfectly.” I clear my throat and carefully step around him. I expect him to block me, shove me against the counter, then flip me around and pull my pants down.
Maybe that’s just wishful thinking and not something he would do.
I’d let him though.
I’m a mess. Lord, I am a mess.
Lane follows me down the hall and into the bedroom. I lift my arms and gesture around.
“This is it. See? Boring.”
He looks around the room as if he’s in a museum, taking in all the extravagant pieces of art, nodding at each thing like he’s never seen a lamp or dresser before.
“Okay, yeah.” His gaze meets mine. “It’s boring.”
I huff out a laugh.
“But… now that we’re here…” He closes the distance between us again, putting his hand on my hip. My lips part and my skin breaks out into goosebumps. “How about letting me fuck you again?”
Fuck, this man is… he knows exactly what he’s doing.
No pops into my head, of course. Because I always have to give him shit. But my body… it’s saying the complete opposite. And it only takes a little convincing, a little recalling of when we were in the hotel together, to convince my brain to go along with what my body wants.
“You’ll have to be careful,” I say.
His brow furrows. “Are you sore or something?”
I smirk. “No, I just don’t think I put my bed together correctly.”
His smile is slow, and then it turns into a rough laugh.
“Well, it’s a good thing I had a different idea for tonight…”
“Different? I hope you don’t mean—”
“No,” he cuts in. “Sorry, but I bottomed once in my life and have never wanted to do it again.”
“Trust me, that’s fine, because I don’t like topping. It feels awkward.”
His arm tightens around me. “Just another reason we’re perfect for each other, Tage.”
“Another?” I question, not recalling him pointing out any others. Though he probably has some crazy long list in his brain.
“I’m sure there are others.”
Now I laugh.
“What’s your idea?” I ask, reaching for his belt.
“I was thinking you could ride me.”
“Just now, or have you thought about it before?”
“I jerked off thinking about it last night.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, flicking my gaze up to his. My fingers start to tremble as they work at his belt. “That’s so hot. Thinking about you touching yourself.”
“I’ll show you sometime.”
I grasp the back of his neck and pull him down to kiss him. It’s messy and rough and everything I want.