Page 18 of Paint Our Song (Cloverlily #1)

A gentle tapping on his arm wakes him and Miles opens his eyes to find Calvin peering down at him. Dazed, Miles looks around—he had fallen asleep?

“We’re leaving,” Calvin says, and Miles nods.

“What are we doing now?” Chase asks, already rejuvenated after his short nap. Miles checks his watch—it’s one p.m. He’s been out for roughly an hour.

Gil’s smacking his knuckles against his thighs as if they’ve fallen asleep. If he had let Chase lie on them the entire time, they probably are.

“Going back to the inn to shower,” Gil says. He sniffs his shirt and frowns, and Miles does the same for his. It smells bad. They’re bringing back the stream with them.

“And after?” Chase asks.

“I don’t know. Sleeping.”

Chase makes a face. “I just woke up. Miles, what are we doing after?”

“Uh,” Miles says. He’d much rather retreat to his house, but they did come all the way here from the city. “We can head downtown? There are nice shops.”

“Okay, so we take showers, then we drive downtown!”

The trek back to the inn is much more subdued, which likely has to do with everyone being exhausted, and they’re sweaty all over again when they get back to the inn. Miles is spent, but it doesn’t seem like Chase is going to let him back out, especially when he doesn’t head toward the elevator like they do, and Chase immediately notices.

“Where are you going?” Chase asks. “We’re heading out right after we shower.

“I live across the street. I’ll head back here right after.”

“Why don’t you shower in one of our rooms?” Gil asks. “You brought a change of clothes, didn’t you?”

“Well… yeah.” He does have some in his bag. “It’ll be quicker for me to go home, though.”

“How would it be quicker? You’d be going back and forth,” Chase says. “Cal, can Miles shower in your room?”

“Uh.” Calvin’s attention snaps up. “What?”

“Can Miles shower in your room?”

“Uh.”

“It’s fine, I’ll be right back!” Miles says.

Calvin snaps out of it. “I—yeah, Miles, you can use my shower.”

His voice is so quiet and hesitant. There’s tension here that Miles can see, and maybe Gil, too, because he seems perceptive about most things, but Chase doesn’t seem to notice at all.

Well. Okay, then. Miles gets in the elevator with them, and he’s quiet the whole ride up, and also as they walk toward their rooms. Chase and Gil retreat to their own rooms, and Calvin fumbles slightly with his key-card as he opens his own door.

“I can run home,” Miles says. “Chase won’t even notice.”

“It’s fine.”

Miles swallows and follows him in. Calvin’s room looks like every other room in the inn with its king-sized bed, closets, and the desk by the corner. Natural light streams in from the open curtains. Miles wants to remind Calvin to remember to keep his balcony locked because it’s ajar, and he’s not so sure how unhinged his fans can be.

He likes how this room has some unique traces of Calvin, such as the guitar leaning on the wall.

“You can go first,” Calvin says, eyes drifting to the floor. He drops his bag.

Miles doesn’t move. He stands there, awkwardly. “Forget last night.”

Startled, Calvin asks. “What?”

“You’re right. It was a mistake. Let’s both forget it and act like it didn’t happen.”

“Is that what you want?”

Fuck, no. Miles shrugs a shoulder, not giving him an actual answer. He shifts between his feet and attempts to settle his nerves. “You, um… you should shower first. It’s your room.”

“Do you actually want to forget it?” Calvin asks, softly.

“No,” he admits. “But I’m not going to ruin our friendship over that.”

Because that’s what they are at least, right? Friends?

Slowly, Calvin nods. He grabs some clothes from the closet, and Miles sits by the chair near the desk. His board shorts are mostly dry, but it would still be odd to sit on Calvin’s bed. What was he even doing here?

“I’m sorry,” Calvin murmurs. Miles’s attention snaps up. He can’t stand how miserable Calvin sounds. He should have helped him drown Chase, that would have cheered him up. “I’m overthinking. I tend to do that.”

“You’re not,” Miles sighs.

He’s still not facing Miles. His shoulders are stiff, and he makes for the bathroom, then stops right before he enters. Calvin puts a hand on the door frame and his grip tightens around it, his knuckles going white. Miles thinks he’s about to get kicked out.

“Miles.” The way he says his name is so hesitant that Miles’s chest tightens. Calvin’s gaze darts across Miles’s face, as if he’s searching for something in Miles and he has no idea what.

“What is it?”

A beat of silence passes. Calvin exhales, shoulders slacking. “Come here.”

He gives him a questioning look, wondering what this is about, and Calvin cocks his head to the shower, and just like that, Miles forgets to breathe.

“If you want to,” Calvin says, and Miles almost chokes on a laugh because of course he wants to. He has never wanted anything more.

“Yeah. Yeah, okay,” he manages to croak out. His legs are heavy when he stands up and walks toward Calvin. It’s pathetic how his hands shake with nerves, so he balls them into fists and tugs at the hem of his shirt.

Miles cradles his cheeks as if he’s made of glass and Calvin’s mouth parts. There’s something dark that flickers in Calvin’s eyes. His skin is warm under Miles’s fingers, and he leans in to the touch, and Miles knows if he doesn’t make his move now he might miss it forever.

He tips Calvin’s head back and presses his lips against his. It’s as mind-blowing as it was the first time around. Calvin’s lips are wet and soft, and he kisses Miles back slowly. Despite that, Miles is pretty sure this will ruin him.

It’s only a few kisses, and it’s too much; his brain’s foggy, and he can’t think. Miles kisses him deeper, and Calvin startles when his nose knocks his glasses slightly. Grinning, Miles leans away and holds them by the handles. Calvin closes his eyes as they’re pulled off.

He places the glasses on top of the shelf. Nervously, Miles puts a hand on Calvin’s nape and pulls him close. When he runs his tongue in between his lips, Calvin makes a soft sound that stirs something in him. Miles gently pushes him backward until his back is against the door frame, and Calvin inhales sharply when Miles does it again—runs his tongue against his lips until Calvin parts them.

Miles groans against Calvin’s mouth.

Calvin grasps the side of his shirt, pulling him even closer, and he’s so warm—so incredibly warm and he smells so good it makes Miles dizzy. It’s unfair how good he smells, when Miles is pretty sure he himself smells like sweat and dirt. He trails his hand from Calvin’s nape, to his chest, downward, and Calvin buckles when Miles palms him through his shorts.

“Come on,” Calvin hisses. He sounds so breathless, so amazing, and Miles kisses him as he traces the outline of his already hard dick with a thumb. “Shower.”

When Calvin pulls away, Miles chases after his lips. He frowns, already missing the contact.

There’s a hand on his elbow, and Calvin leads him to the bathroom that’s honestly too small to fit two grown men. Somehow, they make it work.

Calvin opens the glass door to the shower and fiddles with the knobs, adjusting it to the right temperature while Miles catches his own reflection in the mirror. His hair’s messier than it ever has been and cheeks are flushed red.

He’s already ruined, and he’s only got Calvin to blame for it.

“Miles.”

“Yes, hi,” Miles says, beaming too brightly. He gets all up in Calvin’s space, and in a moment of clarity, he holds Calvin’s still damp shirt and pulls it over his head. Miles pulls his off, as well, and there’s something to be said for the way his heart leaps when Calvin eyes his torso.

They pull their shorts off, too, boxers and all, and Miles’s breath hitches with what he sees. Calvin’s body is out of this world, and Miles’s mouth waters when he sees his dick hard against his taut stomach. He wants to put his mouth all over him.

Calvin self-consciously rubs his nose and looks down, and Miles won’t have that. He steps closer to him and kisses him, puts a hand on his hip and grips it tightly, leading him backward to the water.

They make out in the shower, and Miles wants to make a joke about how this will be great for the inn’s water bill. He snickers at his own internal joke, and it earns him a confused look from Calvin, which Miles kisses away.

Calvin squeezes shampoo on his head and runs his hands through Miles’s hair, washing it, and it’s so incredibly domestic. He finally gets a look at the bottle of vanilla body wash that Calvin uses, and that small detail makes him smile.

Miles makes humming sounds and closes his eyes. He likes Calvin’s fingers in his hair, gently scraping his scalp with his nails. He returns the favor, doing the same for Calvin, kissing him the entire time. Some suds get into his eyes, and Calvin wipes them away with a wet hand. Then they’re washing each other with soap, running their hands over each other’s skin, and Miles almost stumbles when Calvin wraps his fingers around his cock.

“This okay?” Calvin asks.

Miles grits his teeth and nods, knocking their foreheads together. Calvin strokes his cock slowly, grips it at the base and pumps it, and Miles curses under his breath. It feels so good, and he plants a hand on the tile behind Calvin’s head for balance. Calvin’s other hand is on Miles’s hip, gripping tightly and steadying him. “Didn’t think you’d be so quiet.”

Miles grins. He’s thought of this, huh? “Didn’t think you’d talk so much.”

He reaches between them as well. Miles puts his hand around Calvin’s cock and listens to how his breath hitches. He might lose his balance, so Miles gently crowds Calvin against the wall, pressing his back against the cool tile.

This is good, too. The water isn’t falling above their heads, instead it falls against Miles’s back, and he can get a better view of him this way. He can watch the way his eyes flicker shut when he tightens his grip around the base of his dick.

When he strokes harder, faster, Calvin’s mouth parts. He’s making all these soft sounds. Miles memorizes each of his expressions, finds out how fast and hard he likes to be held, and hears his sharp inhale when Miles sucks his neck.

“Good?” Miles asks.

“Yes.” Calvin’s voice is shaky.

“What have you thought about?”

Calvin’s eyes snap to his, bewildered. “What?”

“What have you thought about?” Miles asks again, running a tongue against Calvin’s lower lip and then nibbling on it. “Because I’ve definitely thought of you—like this. All naked and wet in my hands.”

“Fuck…”

He puts his hand in Calvin’s hair, grips it tightly and guides him into another mind-numbing kiss. Then he kisses the spot below Calvin’s ear, then his collarbone, and brushes his lips down his sternum. “Tried really, really hard not to. Did everything to distract myself, but you drive me insane, with your stupidly cute glasses and tattoos. And your voice. God, your voice. Always wondered what you’d sound like saying my name when you came. ”

“So, now you’re talkative again?” Despite his complaint, his cock twitches in Miles’s hand.

“Tell me what you’ve thought about.” He stops stroking him to make a point, and Calvin makes a disgruntled noise and weakly thrusts into his hand.

Calvin looks as if he’s in distress, glaring at him, and his mouth parted. “Move your hand,” he demands.

Fine, he doesn’t want to share—Miles gives him a wide grin and kisses him instead. He pushes him against the wet tile and flicks a thumb over the head of his dick, earning him a whimper.

Calvin’s coming undone, and he’s sure he’s not any better. Their cocks are hard and wet, trapped between them, and they’ve got their hands on each other. They match each other’s pace, and Miles curses under his breath as the warmth pools in his gut.

“Going to come,” Calvin exhales.

Miles nods, picks up the pace further. He rubs the tip of Calvin’s cock with his thumb, squeezes his dick, and strokes him faster and tighter. It’s difficult with Calvin doing the same for him. It’s hard to concentrate, his hands moving more erratically as his legs shake.

Calvin’s mouth goes slack underneath Miles’s. His head tips back, and he gasps as he comes all over their hands. Miles works him through it, continuing to stroke him until Calvin’s a writhing mess. Suddenly, Calvin grasps his wrist, makes a sound that suspiciously sounds like a whine, and Miles finally lets go.

His cheeks flushed red, Calvin puts a hand in Miles’s hair and tugs him in for a kiss. The way he was stroking Miles had slowed down when he came, and he mutters an apology in Miles’s lips and picks up the pace again. Miles gasps, and he puts both his hands on the wall now, caging Calvin in. Groaning, Miles tells him he’s already there; he’s so close.

Calvin squeezes his dick, kisses him hard and pulls at his hair. Miles comes with a loud gasp.

He comes down from his high slowly. Miles closes his eyes and pants, and Calvin kisses him once on the temple before letting go of him. Calvin’s incredible, and he can’t believe this actually happened. His heart feels as if it’s ready to give up on him, and his mind is going in so many directions.

Calvin cleans them both off. He washes the suds and sticky cum off them, and runs his hand through Miles’s hair once to make sure it’s completely rinsed. Miles is still out of it. It’s unfair how Calvin has so easily recomposed himself.

They both laugh as they struggle to get out of the too-small shower, and they towel themselves dry. Miles stares too long at the ink on Calvin’s hipbone, pouting when he pulls on his clothes. Miles grabs his clothes from his bag as well, and when he’s put them on, he hears a soft sound behind him. Turning around, he sees that Calvin’s plopped down on his bed and has a dazed and sleepy expression.

Oh, so Calvin’s the type to pass out after sex. Interesting.

“You can stay.” Calvin points at the empty space on the mattress beside him—and there’s no universe out there where Miles wouldn’t take him up on that offer. He lunges at the bed and buries his face in Calvin’s pillow. It smells nice. It smells like him.

“Your friends are going to want to go soon,” Miles reminds him.

“I don’t want to. ”

He peeks at Calvin, whose eyes are already closed, and Miles wants to reach and brush the hair out of his eyes. So he does. Calvin makes a soft sound.

There are loud knocks on the door, and Miles sits up abruptly.

“Ignore them,” Calvin says. “They’ll leave.”

“Heeey! Cal! Miles!” The knocking continues. It stops for a moment as they talk, their voices muffled. Baffled, Miles gapes between the door and at Calvin, who puts a hand up to his mouth and yawns. The knocking resumes, Chase yells for them, and Calvin only sighs in exasperation. Soon enough, just like Calvin said, they leave.

After a moment of silence, Miles asks, “So, you really aren’t going to tell me your deep, dark fantasies?”

“Shut it.”

Miles snickers. He watches Calvin stare at the ceiling with narrow eyes, and he chews on his cheek as if he’s hesitating.

“I’ve thought of your mouth,” Calvin admits, voice quiet, and Miles’s thoughts come to a screeching halt. “Watching you deep-throat a lollipop was torture.”

“You—what? What? ” Miles can’t help but wheeze. “Really? Since then?”

“We can talk about something else now.”

“I’m so glad we can finally acknowledge your dirty mind.” He teasingly knocks on the side of Calvin’s head.

“I’m already regretting this.”

Miles asks, “Telling me about the deep-throating? Fooling around?”

“All of the above. ”

“You don’t regret any of that.”

A pause, then Calvin lets out a huff. “No, I don’t.”

“Aww, I love it when you’re real with me.” Miles puts his hands up to his mouth to hide the giddy grin he has on.

“You are actually so insufferable,” Calvin mumbles, then he goes quiet.

Miles takes a moment too, mostly to calm his still racing heart.

They lie in silence for a good while until Calvin shifts to his side and meets his gaze. Calvin’s chest rises and falls slowly and he says, smiling, “You want real? I’m glad I met you.”

Miles’s heart leaps. It’s ridiculous what Calvin does to him. He doesn’t say anything because if he did, he might say something truly stupid—like the fact that he thinks he might have wanted him before they even met. Needed him, even.

Now that he thinks about it, that’s the most transparent thing Calvin’s ever told him. So, Calvin gets sleepy and honest after sex. He makes a mental note of that, and a thought occurs to Miles. This is his chance to get a proper answer to what’s been bugging him since day one.

“Calvin,” Miles says. “Calvin, hey. You listening?”

“What?”

“Did you leave the note on my car, those weeks ago?”

“Wha…” Calvin’s face blooms red, and his mouth hangs open. He stammers in disbelief, then he scowls. “You’re annoying,” Calvin says, pulling his pillow from underneath his head and smacking Miles with it, which breaks his usual poise and also the comfortable silence they had going on .

Miles grabs the pillows from him and hugs it tightly. He tackles Calvin back into the mattress, throwing himself over his chest and nosing at his neck. Calvin shivers under him.

He smells so good; it’s ridiculous, and Miles isn’t subtle about how he inhales his scent.

“Are you sniffing me?”

“No,” he lies, and before Calvin can call him out again, he rests his chin on Calvin’s bare chest and meets his eyes. “Tell me about the new song you’re writing.”

“Huh?”

“The new song you’re letting literally everyone but me listen to. I want to know about it.”

Calvin runs his hand through his hair. “No.”

“Seriously? No fair.” He rolls his eyes and flicks Calvin’s ear. “You’d think I’d get some privileges after what we did, but no.”

“You can ask me anything except that,” Calvin says. Then he furrows his eyebrows and adds, “You also can’t bring up the stupid note.”

He racks his brain. Even with all the time they’ve been spending together, Miles’s list of things to learn about him is still way too long. “Okay, how about… what’s your favorite thing about your job?”

Smiling, Calvin’s gaze flickers. He seems to think about it for a good moment, continuing to play with Miles’s hair. When he runs his fingers across his nape lightly, Miles closes his eyes and lies his cheek against Calvin. It’s soothing and he can’t complain.

“I like making songs,” he says. “I told you before how I do most of the lyrics, but the band does a little of everything because we all have our own strengths, and I like listening to the final product and seeing how everything snaps into place.”

“What about when you play onstage?” Miles asks. “Do you like that, too?”

The fingers threading through his hair pauses. “Yeah. I like performing, too. It’s probably my second favorite thing about the job. Some people think I’m not into it as much as I should be and that it shows—that I owe more to the crowd—but I actually do enjoy it a lot. Hearing hundreds of people enjoy what we’ve made is exhilarating. I guess… Yeah, I just need to work on how I act onstage and how I talk to our fans.”

“You don’t look like you’re not into it. You always seem at ease and completely in love with what you’re doing. It’s addictive to watch.”

Calvin exhales, and next thing Miles knows, he’s being tugged up for a long, deep kiss. He’s stunned, but then he relaxes into it and kisses him back.

“Thank you. Needed to hear that,” Calvin murmurs against his lips, and Miles promises himself that he needs to keep telling Calvin about how perfect he is, because, for some reason, Calvin keeps forgetting.