Page 37 of One-Time Shot

We stared at each other for a long moment. For the record, I was buck-ass naked in the middle of my living room, Malcolm was fully clothed, and neither of us had a fucking clue how to exit this scene with grace.

He broke eye contact, rescuing his computer bag and his jacket on his way to the door. “I should go and you should…ice your knee.”

I followed him. Yep…still naked. “Come back tomorrow.”

“I don’t know if that’s wise.”

“We should talk, right? Talking is wise.”

Malcolm’s lips twitched; then his gaze roamed my body and all trace of humor disappeared. He wanted me. He really fucking wanted me. But he was a lot smarter than I was. Maybe he knew it was a bad idea, and that this was a good place to say good-bye.

I held my breath and hoped for the best.

He pushed at his glasses and nodded. “Okay. Tomorrow.”

I held the door open, rubbing my stubbled jaw in a mix of disbelief and…well, we’d stick with disbelief for now. Seriously. I was in a state of shock.

Malcolm Maloney liked me.

Or…he liked my body. Same difference, right? I was going with yes, ’cause my knee was throbbing and my ego needed the boost. And I felt like I’d won the fuckin’ lottery.

I just hoped he wouldn’t change his mind about me.

CHAPTER11

MALCOLM

Oh.My. Oh. My.

I had an intense conversation with myself all the way home. It went something like,What were you thinking? How could you?andThat was incredible. And blowjobs are kind of great, and making out was fun…and he liked it.

Me too.

Me too.

But that didn’t mean it should happen again. Today’s visit was supposed to have been a good-bye, a fare-thee-well, anadios,au revoir, but by some strange magic, it had become something else. My head was spinning.

Jett Erickson was bisexual,andhe was attracted to…me.

I didn’t know what to do with that information. It was a lot to ponder. I’d been nursing a crush for weeks, prolonging our association to spend time in his orbit. I’d learned hockey rules, for Pete’s sake. There was no rhyme or reason for me to know the rules of a darn face-off, but I did. It was useless trivia in my circles, but I’d hung on Jett’s every word because under his gruff persona, he was funny and charming, and I was smitten.

It didn’t seem possible that he felt the same.

Reality check, Malcolm…he doesn’t. No. Not likely.

It was more likely that Jett viewed me as a friend who happened to be gay and might be interested in a feel-good sexual exchange. The real question was…did I want another meaningless sexual encounter with a man I was dangerously infatuated with or should I do the sensible thing and sever ties to avoid future foibles on my part?

My indecision was a sure sign that my brain and body were working on different frequencies. If I’d been in my right mind, I would have set us both straight, pun intended, and steered us toward safer waters. But that ship had sailed the second we’d kissed. Or was it the second I’d rubbed against his huge erection and?—

No. Stop. Cease and desist.

The answer was clear as day. Nothing good would come of this. I had to stay away from Jett Erickson. Far, far away.

That was my intention, but then he texted and I lost focus again.

What time are you done with class?

Four p.m., I replied.