Page 81 of Ride the Lightning

No mushrooms on the pizza.Everything else is fair game,Avery wrote.

Jonah grinned. He hated mushrooms with a passion, so it wouldn’t be a problem. He’d missed bantering with Avery something fierce, so he didn’t submit easily.Deal breaker?

Yes.Avery didn’t beat around the bush.

What if we do half with mushrooms and half without?Jonah questioned.

Avery sent a thumbs-down emoji before explaining,I won’t be able to relax and enjoy my pizza if I know there’s a possibility a mushroom might be hidden beneath the cheese.

Jonah laughed.Are you allergic? Wait. That’s never stopped you.

I hate mushrooms. I. Hate. Them. I will puke if I feel one squish between my teeth. Consider yourself warned.

No mushrooms on the pizza,Jonah conceded. What are your other terms?

No horror films. I hate feeling scared,Avery wrote.

Define horror.

Jonah!

Avery’s annoyance came through loud and clear.Seriously! Sappy rom-com is scary to me. What’s scary to you?

Slashers. Monsters. Blood. Gore. Gratuitous violence.

Jonah wasn’t a big fan of those things either.Even if I’m here to save you?He’d also add war movies to his do-not-watch list. He’d seen enough of the real thing to last five lifetimes.

Not even then,Avery replied.

Do you like action films?

I love action and adventure and psychological thrillers. I just can’t handle horror.

Not a problem. What else?

Avery took a long time to respond again.We’ll play the rest by ear.

The rest? Like having sex or Avery staying overnight?

I’ve missed you, Avery.

I’ve missed you too, thundercloud. Gotta run. Can’t wait to see you.

He had to wait another six hours to see Avery. How the hell was he going to stay out of trouble for that long? The parts to turn Stella 2.0 into Marla the Magnificent had arrived earlier in the week. That would keep his mind occupied while on leave from GBI. Again.

Jonah lectured himself all afternoon about keeping his hands and lips to himself. He wanted Avery to know he meant more to Jonah than just a good fuck. Avery’s sweet smile tested his mettle right off the bat, and he wanted to taste it. Instead, Jonah tucked his hands in his back pockets.

Avery raked his gaze over Jonah’s white tank top, faded blue jeans, and bare feet. Then he looked at the living room, smiling when he noticed Jonah had moved the furniture around in the small space to spread out his comforter. He’d placed pillows at the end opposite the television so they could lie down and watch the movie after they ate. A wicker basket sat in the center of the blanket. Jonah worried it would come across as cheesy, but Avery’s expression transformed from happy to wolfish in an instant.

Jonah cleared his throat and rocked back on his heels. Why was he so damn nervous? Because Avery mattered to him. So damn much. “The pizza should be here any minute.”

Avery closed the distance between them, crashing into him. Jonah staggered back a few steps, banging into the kitchen table before finding his balance. The jarring motion rattled his brain, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to complain. Jonah must’ve winced though because Avery made a horrified gasp and started to pull back.

“Huh-uh,” Jonah said, snagging him at the waist and hauling him back against his chest. “I like you here, and I much prefer it when you whimper from pleasure instead of distress.”

“I am just so happy to see you looking better,” Avery said, nuzzling his nose against Jonah’s neck.

Jonah cupped the back of his head, and Avery looked into his eyes. “I want to kiss you.”