Page 13

Chapter Thirteen

GRAHAM

Honestly, I’m surprised Tyler agreed to a second date.

I think we both had a good time on Monday—I know I did—but Tyler’s hard to read. Maybe he’s still torn about mixing business with pleasure? Sleeping with a client might raise a few red flags at his company. He did mention working toward a promotion. I don’t want to be the reason he’s overlooked.

The first of his texts come through on Tuesday morning.

Tyler

Can I plan this date?

Absolutely!

I say yes not only because I don’t have any ideas that can top terrarium night, but I’m also excited to see what he comes up with and learn more about his interests beyond computers and plants.

Tyler

It’s a surprise

Oh. I didn’t realize I’d be giving up that much control. Surprises are great, but I’m picturing everything from a movie to rock climbing to ballroom dancing. That’s a lot of wiggle room around how to prepare.

I’m still deep in regret on Wednesday morning when he sends me an update.

Tyler

Dress casually

That rules out ballroom dancing.

But wear comfortable shoes

But maybe not the rock climbing.

And bring a coat

I send him a quick text to let him know I’m looking forward to it. Between the suspense of figuring out what we’re doing and getting to see him again, I’m too fidgety to get any work done. Instead of continuing to stare down the budget spreadsheet, I shift my focus to volunteer applications. They’re easy enough to sort through with limited attention. Not that they don’t require care, but most people who apply receive an invitation to training. Only big red flags get a second look.

My phone buzzes on my desk.

Tyler

Casual like jeans, not casual workout clothes

At least he’s thinking about me and the date. Thirty hours feels like a lifetime. What idiot agreed to wait until Friday?

Right, I did. If this next date goes well, I’m not letting as much time pass between dates.

Whatever you wear is fine

I can’t wait!

I barely manage to hold back a laugh.

Less time also means fewer opportunities to call it off. When I left on Monday, things between us were good. Or they seemed that way. I worried that once the glow from the orgasm wore off, Tyler would start overthinking things again and pull away. The text messages are a nice reminder that he’s thinking about me. And our date.

I return to the applications, putting them into three piles: yes, maybe, and no. The majority are clear yeses. A handful end up in the maybe pile where we need more information, usually because they skipped a section of the application. The few nos are because they don’t meet minimum requirements, or they’re looking for something we can’t provide. As much as we want to say yes to everyone, an organization isn’t always a good fit. Right now, we don’t have openings for volunteers on weekday evenings. Through some sorcery, we have all those shifts covered, with several current volunteers on the list to take them over if they become available.

I’m down to the last three when my phone buzzes again. My heart races, sure Tyler’s cancelling on me. Normally, I’m not this nervous, but Tyler brings it out of me in all the best—and worst—ways. When I check, it’s from my sister.

Charlotte

Did you lock that guy down yet?

It’s clear why I don’t normally tell her things. My siblings have zero boundaries where I’m concerned. Nevermind I try to find anything out about their lives. Drawback of being the baby, I guess.

Getting closer

At least partially true.

Charlotte

Work faster. Christmas is coming.

It’s still several months away, though it’s hard to picture Tyler in the chaos of my family Christmas. We aren’t what anyone would call quiet.

Maybe I’ll go to his place.

Charlotte

You wouldn’t dare

I’m telling Mom

The favorite threat of siblings everywhere. I doubt she’ll make good on it, knowing I have years of dirt on her as a bargaining chip.

I place the applications into the appropriate folders and email the volunteer coordinator to let them know that they’re ready. My cell phone buzzes again, this time with a phone call. An actual call—not a text.

Shit. Charlotte told on me. My parents are some of the rare people who call without texting first. No matter how old I get, the fear of being in trouble with them hangs over my head. Instead, Tyler’s name lights up on my screen.

Shit, he’s canceling. “Hey, Tyler.”

“So, I wanted to run the date by you to see what you thought.” Phew. Not canceling.

“I thought it was supposed to be a surprise,” I tease, quickly closing my office door to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.

“I did, but then I started to worry you wouldn’t like it.”

It’s not possible, but I swear I can hear him chewing his bottom lip through the phone. “I’ll like anything you came up with. Except maybe ballroom dancing.”

“Why would we go ballroom dancing?”

“Never mind.”

“This pavilion on the edge of town has a big mini-golf course. I thought after we grab dinner, we could go play a round.” He pauses and takes a big breath before continuing. “I don’t remember the last time I played, but it seemed like something fun and active. I’m probably shit at it and will end up throwing my ball or something. If you want, I can find something else.”

“Tyler?” I hold back my smile, afraid he’ll be able to hear it through the phone.

“Yeah?”

“It’s perfect.”

* * *

Knowing the location and activity for tonight should make picking an outfit easy.

It doesn’t. I’m on my third shirt and second pair of jeans. The first pair made my ass look incredible, but they weren’t practical for playing mini-golf. This pair doesn’t hug my legs as nicely, but I can move freely. I don’t care so much about winning, but I’d like to make sure I can bend over to pick my ball out of the bushes as needed.

The gray button-down shirt I’m wearing is perfect, but I’m not sure I can move my arms well enough. It’s something I don’t give a lot of thought to when I purchase my shirts. Office life doesn’t require a lot of shoulder mobility. I strip the top off and throw it in the laundry, past the point of having enough patience to hang it up again. I pull a slate gray henley out of one of my drawers and throw it on. Definitely meets the definition of casual.

I glance in the mirror one last time. Good enough . I found my pair of sneakers last night and put them by the front door so they’d be ready tonight.

Five minutes to go. I do a last check of the place, making sure the bedroom and the living room are tidy. Tyler didn’t mention coming back here in his plans for the evening, but I’m hoping we end up in my bedroom. Or his, I’m not picky.

In the living room, Gulliver curls around himself on the couch, oblivious to my fashion meltdown. “What do you think?” I ask. Gulliver picks his head up to inspect me, then falls back asleep. “Not helpful.” I should expect nothing from him. He doesn’t care what I do or wear so long as his dinner’s served on time. Tonight’s his lucky night because he got fed a whole hour early, so I didn’t have to worry about it while out with Tyler.

When the doorbell rings, I nearly jump out of my skin. Gulliver opens one eye to look at me incredulously. I don’t think I’ve been this nervous for a date in… maybe ever?

“Hey,” Tyler says when I open the front door. His body sways back and forth as he digs his heel into my welcome mat.

“You look nice tonight.” He looks down at his clothes—the typical dark jeans and leather jacket look I’ve grown accustomed to. “Do you need anything before we get going?” Can he bend down to pick up a ball in those? No idea, but I bet the view is incredible when he tries.

He hesitates slightly, and I wish I could read his thoughts. That kind of superpower would be useful right now. It could have some benefits in the bedroom, too.

“Oh, I think I forgot to grab my wallet.” I make a show of giving my back pocket a few taps. “Do you mind stepping inside for a minute?” And if my wallet happens to be securely in my coat pocket, no one needs to know. Maybe whatever he’s thinking about will come to the front of his mind if he gets a chance to relax.

“Sure,” he says as he follows me inside.

Gulliver hops off the couch and trots over to brush up against Tyler’s legs. “Have you been a good boy for Graham?” Tyler coos as he runs his hand along the cat’s back.

“No, he has not.”

“Don’t listen to him. I’m sure you’re the best boy.” Tyler sinks to his knees and heaps attention onto Gulliver. This cannot be the same man who told me he didn’t like cats. The gray fluff ball flops over and shows his belly. “And so soft, too.”

“You know that’s a trap, right? He’ll attack your hands in a few seconds.” I stand in the kitchen, watching the scene in front of me unfold. Should I step in and make sure Tyler’s hands don’t turn into a bloody mess?

Tyler’s face is pure bliss. Somehow, that ridiculous cat manages to soothe something inside him. I wish I could get Gulliver to share his tricks with me, but I can’t even get him to share his hiding places. He just reappears sometimes after going missing for hours.

Tyler gives me a look of pure shock. “How dare you say such things. He’s clearly innocent.” I sense the sarcasm in his statement, but I also worry that my cat is about to destroy him. The belly is always a trap.

Except my traitor of a cat doesn’t even try to swipe at him. Gulliver simply stretches his legs out to give Tyler better access. Those two were made for each other. It’s too easy to imagine Tyler in my life—and in Gulliver’s life. It’s early, but he slots in effortlessly. Like a puzzle piece, perfectly designed to line up on all sides.

“Do you want to give him a treat before we go?” Gulliver sits up straight at his favorite word.

“Can I?” Tyler stands and rubs his hands on his pants. We’ll both end up wearing cat fur on our date this evening. It’s a hazard of having a long-haired cat. Somehow, no matter what I do, there’s fur everywhere.

“Of course.” I grab the treat bag from the kitchen drawer, pull out a few small treats, offering them to Tyler. Right before he grabs them, I snap my hand shut. “I do require payment, though.”

He raises an eyebrow at me.

“I need at least three kisses in exchange for these.”

“Is that the going rate for cat treats these days?” Tyler steps in front of me, and I grab hold of his hips and pull him closer.

“Pretty sure that’s wholesale cost.” I pull him a little closer, loving the way he leans into me. “I’m giving you a discount.”

“I’d hate to know what you had to do to get the bag.” Tyler tilts his head up, his deep blue eyes staring into mine.

“I can show you later.” Tyler’s muscles tense for a second. Did I push too far? He relaxes a second later, rising on his toes to give me the most chaste kiss I’ve ever received. His lips barely brush over mine before pulling away. The slight touch still manages to electrify my body.

“How’s that?”

“I was hoping for a little more.” Before I can say anything else, he leans in and captures my lips. This time, he doesn’t pull away immediately. His lips move over mine slowly before his tongue tentatively traces over the seam of my lips. When I open to him, he tangles our tongues together briefly before pulling away. I instantly feel the loss. I could spend the whole night getting to know all the ways he can kiss me. Everything from the chaste kiss he gave me a second ago to the desperate kisses I’ve gotten when he’s on the brink of orgasm.

“Better?” Tyler asks.

I’m still gasping for breath. My body anticipated more with that kiss, leaving it waiting and wanting. “Much.”

“I think I still owe you one more.”

Thank God for that because I’m not ready to be done with him—not right now and certainly not for the night. “You do. Better make it good.” Hell, I’m fine with skipping mini-golf. I know going on dates and talking is an important part of a relationship, but right now, all I want is to get him in my bed.

A bed would be a nice change for us. Then I can take my time with him. Take him apart completely before putting him back together.

He captures my lips again, diving into the kiss with his whole body. I take a step back, needing to steady myself. His hand strokes my cheek and chin, encouraging me to open to him. We’ve only kissed in the heat of the moment before, so having him like this, with no rush to get anywhere, is new.

I pull him closer to me, digging my fingers into his hips until his hard cock presses into my thigh.

Tyler seems to take that as his cue to take control of the situation, and it’s all I can do to hold on as his tongue explores every inch of my mouth, stroking against my tongue in ways that I hope are a prelude to the main event.

I don’t think I’ve ever loved kissing this much. It’s always been great, but this feels different. It’s not that I don’t want to turn this into something more; it’s that I’m content to stay like this. Fully clothed, bodies touching and kissing until we can’t stand it anymore.

At least, I feel that way until Tyler backs me up against the kitchen island and pulls away. He doesn’t stop, though. Instead, he tilts his head to the side and peppers kisses along my jawline. My body starts to settle until he licks a path from my ear down to my collarbone. I can’t hold back the moan that he drags out of me.

“Do you like that?”

“Fuck mini-golf.” It’s the best answer I have.

I reach for the hem of his shirt, but something bumps my forehead. I turn and find Gulliver sitting on the counter—where he’s not allowed—holding up a paw.

Tyler looks over and breaks into laughter. “You still have his treats in your hand.”

“You’re a menace,” I say to Gulliver. Cockblocked by my own cat. He doesn’t deserve the treats.

“Ah, poor kitty. Give him the treats.”

Poor kitty? Poor Graham. My cock is hard as steel. I want my hands working to get Tyler off, not placating the furry beast.

“Can I still give him one?” Oh, right. That’s how this whole thing started. I can’t resist Tyler’s puppy dog face.

“Of course. I think you sufficiently paid for these.” I hand over the treats and watch Tyler feed them to Gulliver one at a time. Each time the cat takes one, Tyler showers him with praise and affection.

“So…” Tyler says as he gives away the last treat. “What were you saying about mini-golf?”

“I’ll do whatever you want, but I’m not against taking a rain check on those plans and staying here tonight.”

Tyler bites at his lower lip while he considers my suggestion. “What would we do if we stayed here?”

I’m not sure he’s ready to hear the depth of my fantasies on this one. “What would you say to popcorn and a movie?”

TYLER

After hours of planning a mini-golf outing, I’m watching a Marvel movie on Graham’s couch. I forget which one we agreed on, and now I haven’t been paying enough attention to be sure. It’s one of the ones with The Avengers , but that doesn’t narrow it down much.

It’s only slightly less awkward than I thought it might be. The first minute or two were rough, figuring out how close to him I should sit, but after a few deep breaths, I let him lead. He’s got a sixth sense for knowing when something’s stressing me out. And then he magically fixes it. Obviously, that’s not always an option. But tonight? The way he gave me a minute at the front door? Or how he shifted on the couch to make sure we were touching? If knights in shining armor existed, he’d be mine.

I jump when something explodes on the screen. Oops . I guess my lack of attention is no longer a secret. Graham smiles and pulls me closer. He smells incredible, that same combination of citrus and spice from our first night. I can’t help nuzzling up to him, resting my head against his shoulder.

“You okay?” he asks as his thumb strokes the back of my hand.

“Yeah.” I’m comfortable. Actually comfortable. Not because the couch cushions are soft, but because Graham is so inviting and sweet. It shouldn’t be possible for one person to be this wonderful. I asked around a bit at Sprouting Joy, expecting to hear that he’s a monster to work with or that he yells at volunteers. Nothing but nice comments. Not a single person could find something bad to say about him. Worse? Half of them admitted to lusting after him.

If someone asked me last week if I was the jealous type, I would’ve said no. Now? The green-eyed monster has me considering taking days off work so that I can follow him around and make sure no one flirts with him.

That sort of power shouldn’t exist. It’s hard to argue, though, especially when he leans in and kisses me softly, his hand coming up behind my head and gently pulling me toward him.

Even harder when he deepens the kiss, brushing his thumb over my jaw to encourage me to open to him. His mouth tastes of buttery popcorn and chocolate. It’s all Graham, a perfect mix of sweet and sensual that I can’t get enough of. My body contorts to get more of him, needing to feel him all over. Despite my best efforts, I can’t ignore the aching in my neck.

What’s a guy to do but to crawl onto his date’s lap? Being short has its advantages, and I intend to make full use of them tonight. My knees on either side of Graham, I can finally get the contact I crave. He moans when I press my hard cock against him, encouraging me to thrust against him. Fuck that feels good.

It’s tempting to crawl off so I can get his cock in my mouth again, but that means breaking away from his kisses. I groan against his mouth when he grabs my ass and pulls me in closer. Guess that answers the question about what he wants. Nope, not breaking away anytime soon.

Graham’s must have a different plan. One second, I’m rubbing up against him, and the next, he’s pinning me to the couch. Not that I’m complaining.

“This okay?” he says, panting.

“Fuck, yes.” Being trapped usually makes me anxious, but Graham holding me down like this only makes me feel safe.

Until his erection rubs against mine. Then my brain short circuits.

So good.

Not enough.

My mind bounces between the two options. Our stupid jeans are the in the way, and my cock is pressing uncomfortably against the zipper. We need less clothes. Now .

Graham must have the same idea because we reach for the waistband of my pants at the same time. Between us, it doesn’t take long to get our clothes off, letting the jeans, briefs, and shirts fall to the floor next to the couch. Not the sexy strip tease I’ve been thinking about all week, but it gets the job done.

It’s sinful the way he thrusts against me when we reset. Without the annoying clothing in the way, our slick cocks easily glide against one another.

“Oh. Fuck.”

“Yeah. This okay?”

“Yes. Fuck.” I break away long enough to look down to see where our bodies meet. Heat pools in my belly. It’s too good. I close my eyes and gather my self-control. I don’t want this to end, but I’m dangerously close to the edge. “Keep going.”

Graham must sense my rising orgasm. His hips slow, but he more than makes up for it with the way he kisses. I never spent much time kissing my hook-ups. It’s too weird. This is what I’ve been missing out on. The way his tongue strokes mine, the vibrations that shoot through me each time he moans. His kisses demand answers, and I’m all too happy to obey.

It seems impossible with how close our bodies are, but Graham snakes a hand between us and wraps it around our cocks. I groan at the sensations as his grip tightens. Somewhere, my brain screams at me to slow down, but I don’t listen, thrusting into his fists faster. I’m nearly there when he pulls away again. When I whimper, he nibbles along my neck and laughs. “Not yet, sweetheart.”

When he moves again, his cock drags over my hip, the way eased by the mix of our precum. His fingers graze over my cock before pressing against my thigh, urging me to spread my legs a little more. My brain is hazy, and it takes a second for me to register to move. He cups my ass and traces a line down my crack.

“Okay?” Graham asks.

My mouth goes drier than the desert. I try to make a noise, but nothing comes out. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This is why I tell people ahead of time.

“Tyler?” Graham pulls his hand back, but I swear I can still feel the ghost of it on my body.

I don’t want to ruin the evening, so I catch his wrist and pull his hand away. I try to shimmy down, kissing along his happy trail. It’s a distraction technique I’m hoping he won’t notice. Except Graham is way too smart for that. He catches me and pulls me back up, kissing me forcefully.

“Not tonight, sweetheart. I’m desperate to taste you. If you’ll let me.” Fuck . It’s hard to argue with that. I can see him searching my face, trying to get a handle on the situation.

“Yes. Please.” My voice might be a little overenthusiastic, but I’m trying to make up for my moment of panic. I want Graham; there’s no question in mind about that. And the chance to have his mouth on me? No way am I saying no to that.

My cock flagged a little in my panic, but as Graham positions himself between my thighs, my erection returns. I’m still a bundle of nerves, but my unease moves to the back of my mind when his tongue glides up the underside of my cock.

And fuck, I’ve been missing out this whole time. Graham’s mouth is heaven, and he knows exactly how to use it. He wraps one hand around the base of my cock and slides the other one up my stomach. Seeing and feeling his hands, knowing exactly where they are—and where they’re not—give me that ability to relax that last little bit. Enough to start to feel my orgasm building.

I’m not ready for this to end. Neither is Graham, apparently. He pops off of my cock and uses his tongue to lick around the head like a lollipop, lapping up the precum that bubbles up from my slit. “How’s this?”

As if he needs to ask. The way my body responds to him leaves nothing to the imagination. I want—no, need him to suck me again. He’s clearly not going to, though, until he gets a real response. “So, fucking good. Please, don’t stop.” I manage to pant out the words, picking my head up in time to watch him swallow my cock again. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. Full stop.

“Oh, fuck. I’m gonna come.” I manage to warn him only a second before my orgasm races through me. I shout his name as I shoot down his throat. He swallows every drop before coming up for air.

“Fuck, Graham. That was incredible.” I’m boneless, absolutely spent from the orgasm. I will myself to make a move, grab hold of Graham, and get him off. Before I can reach for him, he’s back on top of me, kissing me, the taste of my cum on his lips.

His cock presses against my hip. The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. He’s not hard. Fuck, I knew I screwed things up with my mini freak out. Graham’s kind, so he wouldn’t say anything, but it clearly killed the mood for him. I’m mentally kicking myself when he pulls away.

“What’s wrong? Am I crushing you?”

I think for a second, trying to figure out what to say. “I didn’t get you off.”

Graham turns a shade of pink I’ve never seen on him before. Shit . It’s even worse than I thought. “Sorry. I came when you did.”

“What?” I can’t quite process what he said. I run it through my brain several times before it starts to make sense.

“Sorry. I’ve been fantasizing about doing that for a while, and the real thing was even hotter.” He glanced down toward where our hips are pressed together. “We should probably clean up the couch.” He chuckles and rolls off of me.

His words finally sink in. “You really came from giving me a blow job?” I’m not trying to embarrass him, but I’m still in shock. Not wanting him to feel bad, I sit up and lean in to kiss him. “That’s hot.”

We both look toward the wet spot on the couch.

“How about I grab something to clean that up with, then we move this to the shower?”

“That’s your second-best idea tonight.” Graham cocks his head to one side. “The best one was skipping mini-golf.”