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CHAPTER THREE

CAMERON

Cameron sighed, again, as he stared at the ceiling, watching the lights from passing cars that came by every few minutes, wondering why he felt so on edge at almost four in the morning.

When they arrived at his place, Cameron was still riding the high that Rylan trusted him enough to come home with him, and he’d taken the opportunity and shown him the house. He had neglected to mention how considerable it was because he hadn’t wanted to scare Rylan away when he invited him to stay. But Rylan knew, based on the car he drove, Cameron had more than an extra room.

Cameron unlocked the door and entered the six-digit alarm code, before he stepped aside and let Rylan enter. He smiled at Ry’s reaction before shutting the door behind him, locking it, and rearming the alarm. He threw his keys on the side table overflowing with unopened mail and other stuff he would have to sort through and throw away sometime. Cameron took a glance around and noted half-empty glasses and coffee cups scattered around the living room and flinched. He should have cleaned up.

Rylan pulled Cameron’s attention away from his lack of cleaning skills when he huffed out a breath. “Are you kidding me?”

Cameron blinked at Rylan, confused. “You don’t… like it?”

Rylan reached over and slapped his arm as he shot him an incredulous look. Cameron captured his hand and linked their fingers together, sensing everything occurring tonight overwhelmed Ry.

“Well, considering how messy it is right now…” Cameron smiled at Rylan before he continued. “One bedroom is for my parents when they visit, and sometimes my friends crash here, so there are four other rooms to choose from. Three bedrooms upstairs and one down here. There’s also a sunroom in the back you can use for your projects or you can use an extra bedroom.”

Rylan chuckled. “You know you’re insane for inviting a complete stranger into your house.”

Without responding, Cameron laughed and pulled Ry upstairs. Cameron led him to his room and let go of his hand as he stepped up to his dresser. He grabbed a tee and sweats that Rylan could sleep in, and when he turned around, he found Rylan searching through his other dresser. The sight made Cameron smile, and he hoped, for the first time in his life, that he wouldn’t scare Rylan away.

“I don’t have kinky sex toys or a porn stash hidden anywhere, if that’s what you’re looking for.”

Cameron laughed at his own joke but Rylan’s brow drew down as he pulled out a wadded bunch of material that Cameron hadn’t bothered with after he’d done laundry. He noticed the look of horror on Rylan’s face as he took in the wrinkled clothing and underwear dumped across the bottom of his bed.

“Don’t you fold anything after you wash them?”

Cameron shrugged. “No. I hate to do laundry, but as long as it’s clean, I’ll wear it.”

Instead of chastising him, Rylan snatched the first pair of boxer briefs off the bed and folded them in a neat little square. He watched in awe as Rylan continued with his underwear before he moved on to the tees, folding them in a way he’d only seen in stores before. But it was Rylan’s long, skinny fingers that drew his eyes more often than not, and he wondered how they would feel sliding down his chest, losing himself to his first fantasy.

Clearing his throat, Cameron noticed that Rylan had gone through his entire two dressers in ten minutes and had folded everything before putting them back in the drawers. And all his clothes were now color coded.

“Holy shit.”

Rylan’s face lit up and when he glanced at Cameron’s face, he laughed. The sound, light and without restraint, had him smiling at the man.

“I’m a clean freak and I love everything aligned and color coded. But don’t worry, I’m mostly fussy about clothes.”

Cameron realized, as a blush stained his cheeks, someone had criticized Rylan for his organization skills, as though it was a bad thing.

“No. I’m embarrassed because I couldn’t fold my underwear to save my life. What you did there was amazing and when I open it tomorrow, I’ll mess everything up again.”

Rylan beamed at him as he leaned forward and rose on his toes. He placed a kiss on Cameron’s cheek that radiated sensation throughout the rest of his body. He wanted to hold his hand against his skin when Rylan pulled back, to capture the sensation for a while longer.

“I can always refold them.” Rylan yawned into his hand.

“Where would you like to sleep tonight? You can always pick another room tomorrow.”

Rylan blushed, but this time, Cameron didn’t understand if he said something wrong, but his thoughts fled when Rylan yawned again and spoke. “The closest one to you is fine.”

Cameron nodded and reached for the clothes he’d given to Rylan and pressed his hand to the small of Rylan’s back and ushered him next door.

“Each room has an en suite bathroom and there are new toothbrushes in the medicine cabinet.”

With reluctance, Cameron handed over the clothes. “I’ll be next door if you need anything.”

Rylan nodded and he could see his body sag from exhaustion. And with great reluctance, Cameron leaned toward Rylan and kissed him on his forehead. It had taken every ounce of his willpower to walk toward the door and even then he delayed at the threshold by turning back.