Page 21 of Wrapped in Red

Chapter Six

Carson

That was not the answerI expected to hear. As Ezra continued to keep his face buried against my skin, fear and anxiety began to niggle its way into my brain. Was what we did a horrible thing? Friends with benefits was a sure-fire way to ruin any friendship. We had already tried it once and look what happened. My heart began to beat so fast in my chest I thought it might explode.

“CC, I can feel you starting to freak out.” Ezra’s lips brushed my skin. “Are you having second thoughts?”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I felt like I was on some sort of carnival ride I couldn’t get off. “I think so,” I finally admitted.

Ezra pulled back to stare at me. “Really?”

“I...I just wanted to see that video, and then we...I wasn’t...this...holy fuck.”

Ezra’s hands brushed over my face as he soothed the hair back. “Breathe, boo.” His voice was calm. “We’re good, rock solid.”

My eyes closed as I listened to him try to assure me this time that we hadn’t ruined everything.

“You wanted to see the video, I showed it to you, and you were curious about the toy—which we never got to. Maybe next time I can show you.”

“Next time?” My eyes shot back open. “There’s going to be a next time?”

Ezra chuckled softly. “Gotcha.” He leaned forward to press a soft kiss against my nose. “No, boo, no next time.” But for a split second, I saw sadness in those big chestnut eyes. “I should go wash up again before the cum gets itchy.”

I reluctantly let him up and heard the sound of the shower as he took another one. I sat up, found my shirt on the floor where I’d tossed it and dragged a hand through my hair. That was... Wow... that was definitely the hottest thing I had ever done when it came to sex. I wouldn’t mind a next time, but since Ez had said there wouldn’t be one, I pushed the thought to the back of my mind before I remembered I had told him we would put up his Christmas decorations. Obviously, the shopping was out of the question, but I could still help him with that.

I went into the spare room where Ezra kept his decorations, hoping that they were still there, and dug around until I found them. Then I brought out each box into the living room one by one. I heard his voice calling me as I stood staring at the giant mess I had created.

“There you are.” I turned to find Ezra looking a little more than relieved. “What are you—Are those my Christmas decorations?”

I nodded. “I told you we’d put them up, right?”

He rushed over to wrap his arms around my waist, and I couldn’t help but hug him tight. “Thank you.” Ezra rested his chin on my sternum as he looked up at me.

“What do you want to do first? The tree?” I rubbed a thumb over his cheek lightly before I could stop myself and watched the desire that flashed in his dark orbs. My dick instantly took notice.

“Sure,” Ezra murmured as he gazed up at me.

I chuckled. “Sure?”

“We need Christmas music.” He untangled himself from my arms and rushed back into the bedroom only to come back out with his cellphone in his hands, skipping happily. A few seconds later,Mr. Heatmiserby Big Bad Voodoo Daddy started playing, and I shook my head.

“It’s basically breaking the law if we don’t listen to it,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “Basically.”

“Oh, what would you rather listen to? Something boring, like country or classic rock?”

“Are you saying I’m boring?”

Ezra giggled. “Not you, just the music you enjoy.”

I held out a hand. “Come here.” When he took it, I pulled him flush against my body and started to move in a circle as the song changed to something slower that I didn’t recognize.

“Are you willingly dancing with me?” Ezra murmured softly.

I tucked a piece of hair behind his ear. “It looks like I might be.”

Neither one of us spoke as we danced, just listened to the sound of the music, and I couldn’t help but feel like something had shifted between us. It was obvious the change between us that night at the club when Ezra kissed me, but today, here, in his apartment...