Page 39 of Love and History

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to be specific. I don’t want to take a chance on any misunderstandings or—”

“I’m gonna be just fine, Holden. Don’t worry about me. I promise nothing will change between us.”

“You mean you’re still going to steal my yogurt?”

“Probably. I love that blueberry flavor you always buy.”

“I should buy strawberry.”

“Good call.” Ezra laughed, then picked me up and tossed me into the middle of a cloud of duvet. He kicked off his shoes as he unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his shorts. “Take your clothes off, Shakespeare.”

I couldn’t move, let alone obey. Sure, Ezra stripping to his boxer briefs was hardly news. He did so often and didn’t care who witnessed. But this was different. It was personal and so was his obvious erection. One small tug and he’d pop out and yes…the thought alone would have brought me to my knees if I wasn’t already on my back.

Problem…it was much easier to banter about yogurt than to get naked for Ezra. I knew my limitations. I wasn’t buff, hunky, or physically gifted in any way. I was thin and lanky. I didn’t have cool tattoos or body piercings, and while I used Tommy’s hand weights more often than he did, my muscles were a fraction of the size of Ezra’s.

If we did this—and trust me, I wanted to—I’d have to move to another city tomorrow. Or get him to move. I’d never look at him the same again…and vice versa. This would change everything.

“Ezra…”

He cocked his head thoughtfully and moved to the bed, lying beside me with his head propped on his hands. He was so close, I could feel his body heat, but he didn’t touch me.

“You’re freaking out, huh?”

I nodded. “A little. Okay. A lot.”

“Okay, then we don’t have to do anything. We can just…talk.”

“Talk? About what?”

Ezra shrugged. “Whatever you want.”

“I can’t lie here and just talk to you. Are you nuts?”

He chuckled as he rolled on top of me, covering me like a yummy blanket. “There’s that smart mouth.”

“Mmm.” I whimpered when he rocked his hips, sliding his erection alongside mine. I’d never forgive myself if I came in my khakis. I’d avoided it by the skin of my teeth last time. I couldn’t do it again.

“You’re thinking too hard. This isn’t science. It’s two horny guys who recognize that they’re kind of attracted to each other. Or maybe thatisscience. And if it is…don’t fucking ruin this by giving me a lecture about accelerated testosterone levels.”

I gave a half laugh. “I believe you’re referring to pheromones and—”

This time when Ezra kissed me, I didn’t argue or attempt to push him away. I slipped my fingers under the elastic of his boxer briefs and rested my splayed hands on his bare ass, twisting my tongue with his in lazy circles. When I squeezed his cheeks, he rocked his hips…just a little at first. But that slight bit of friction built in a hurry.

Unthinking, I lowered his boxer briefs and wrapped my legs around him. The friction wasn’t so slight anymore. It was an urgent grind that mimicked our frenetic tongue action. I had to get these khakis off ASAP or I’d combust. The shirt too. Everything had to go.

I moved my hands and squeezed them between our tightly compressed bodies to deal with my belt and zipper. Ezra sat on his heels and helped, unzipping and pulling the fabric off while I tugged my shirt over my head. He licked his lips as if getting ready for the main course of a buffet, then dove for me.

We rolled across his gigantic bed like a couple of sex-starved teens, gyrating manically with fused lips and roving hands. I threaded my fingers through his hair, raked my nails down his back, kneaded his firm butt, and kissed him as if my life depended on it. It wasn’t until he slipped his thumb under my elastic that my internal alarm system blared a warning.

Ezra alert!

He must have sensed my misgivings. He went still before shifting to his side to face me, and gripped himself through his boxer briefs.

“We can slow down if you want, but I gotta tell you, I’m dying here. As in…I might pass out from ‘concentrated blood to the dick’ syndrome. I’m not sure I’m gonna survive this. Can I at least release the beast?”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or whimper, so I did what passed for a combination of both. “Okay.”

“You too,” he urged.