Page 31 of New Neighbor

“Force? Not hardly.” He paused, taking another bite. “I can’t remember the last time I had someone to take care of me. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”

Benji smiled.

“Especially with it being you.”

Benji met Mac’s stare.

Mac lifted a hand and caressed Benji’s cheek. “I’d kiss you, but iron constitution or not, I’m not kissing you sick.”

Benji felt the disappointment within. He didn’t care one lick. He’d been obsessed with getting that kiss. Instead of just going for it, he grabbed Mac’s tray and took the dishes into the kitchen. By the time he’d cleaned up and put the leftover soup away, Mac was passed out again.

Benji changed into his pajamas and crawled in beside Mac.

Who quickly and sleepily pulled him closer.

He almost sighed, his head resting on Mac’s chest—two big arms wrapped around him.

* * * *

The Plague, Act II

Early that next morning, Benji awoke. The sun was only a gray light in the sky. Mac was still asleep—but covered in sweat. He lifted a hand to the man’s forehead.No fever.

A smile crossed his lips.

“It was the chicken soup,” Mac whispered, his eyes still closed.

Those eyes opened, and he smiled up at Benji.

“Let’s get you in the shower,” he said.

“You joining me?” Mac asked.

“I don’t think you’re quite ready for that yet,” Benji answered.

Mac chuckled. “Give me at least one more day.”

After Mac was in the shower, Benji changed the sheets as quickly as he could. The water was still running when he was done… and he realized he wanted a shower, too.

Peeling off his pajamas, he strolled into the bathroom, trying not to feel ashamed of his lack of muscle.

“I didn’t mean to use up all your hot water. It just felt so good.” Mac turned, his stare going wide.

“Got room in there for me?”

Mac opened the glass door and grabbed Benji’s hand, yanking into the shower and under the spray. He wrapped those big, strong arms around Benji. “Glad you changed your mind.”

“I changed the sheets. I didn’t want to crawl back in dirty.”

“Good idea,” Mac said before pressing a kiss to his earlobe.

It wasn’t the one on the lips he desperately wanted, but it was better than nothing. He closed his eyes, loving both the relaxing warm water and the heat from Mac’s naked body against him. He reached for the body wash and poured some into his hand before turning in Mac’s arms and soaping the man’s chest.

Mac sighed, stepping back a little to give Benji more room. He moved up from the chest to Mac’s shoulders, neck and arms before turning the man and scrubbing from the shoulders down to that perfect ass.

He massaged both globes, loving the feel of the strong, firm flesh there. “You’ve got a bit of a bubble butt.”

Mac chuckled. “Is that a problem?”

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