Page 31 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

“If I honored her, I’d use the name she gave me.”

“Which was…?”He was killing me.

“Fritz.”

I nearly burst out laughing.I held it in, though, but it was a near thing.

His expression told me that I wasn’t fooling anyone.

“She loved Swiss Family Robinson.”He pushed some rice around on his plate.“I watch the film now, and I see how the natives were treated, and I think about colonialism.”He cleared his throat.“But as a kid, I remember watching the movie with Mom and loving it.I thought it was cool to be named after a character in a book.Until I got to school and all the kids made fun of me.Mom tried to soothe the hurt, but between that and the fact I couldn’t read…well, school was hell for me.After mom died, I quit trying.I did the minimum it took to pass each grade, and the day I graduated I came out to my dad.As I expected, he booted me out.At least he gave me a couple hundred and enough time to pack a suitcase.I came down here and made a life for myself.”

So much to unpack.Was now the time?I should’ve been more prudent in asking him his name.Still, how was I supposed to know what a can of worms I might open?

He waved again.“No big deal, okay?”He met my gaze directly.“I don’t regret anything in my life because it brought me to this point, and I’m fucking happy here.”

I spotted no prevarication.No wavering.Nothing to indicate he was anything but sincere.I’d have to take him at his word.

“Did you order dessert?”

Having just consumed a massive amount of food, I didn’t have room for dessert.And I hadn’t thought to order anything.“Uh, no.”

He clapped his hands together.“Great.I clean up, you…do whatever you need to do…and we meet in my bedroom in five minutes.”His grin slipped.“Oh, what about your cat?”

“Sunshine took Aristotle home tonight.Just in case you needed me to stay with you.”

“I love your diligent employee, and I definitely need you to stay with me tonight.”His grin was wicked.

Well, that was blunt.But I loved that about him.He said what was on his mind.I needed to do that more often.

Love?Strong word.I loved he was blunt, but did I love him?Had enough time passed for that?Maybe not.Whatever this was, though, I wanted more.

I rose, nodded, and wordlessly headed to the bathroom.I’d showered this morning and, despite all the stress, hadn’t sweated much today.I pissed, washed my hands, then grabbed the toothpaste and put a bit on my finger.Okay, so this was so tacky, but I wanted our second kiss to be nice.I didn’t want to worry about bad breath.

Were we even going to kiss?We’d fucked.Hard.And we’d had a clashing of the mouths, but that hadn’t really been a kiss.Nothing like leisurely exploration.Nothing like agetting to know youkiss.What if he just wanted me to pound into him again?I mean, he seemed up to the exertions.He certainly appeared to carry no lingering effects from his earlier episode.Was I overthinking this?I had a tendency to do that.

Once my teeth were clean, I washed my hands again, sniffed my pits, straightened my shirt, and headed into Spike’s bedroom.

Fritz’sbedroom.

Surprisingly, the name fit him.Yes, he wasn’t a blue-eyed blond.He was dark and broody.Yet, Fritz was far more suitable than Spike.

Whatever his name was, he lay on his bed.He’d pulled the comforter back, and he lay on the top sheet.Buck naked.Stroking his erect cock.“How do you want me?”

Any way I can get you.

A worthy sentiment, but unnecessary to speak aloud.Actions spoke louder than words anyway, right?So as I unbuttoned my shirt, I held his gaze—telegraphing my intention.

He spread his legs open and flexed his hips.Oh yeah, he understood.

I laid the shirt on the chair I’d sat in earlier.Then I unbuckled my belt.I lowered my zipper and removed my pants and underwear in one quick motion.

Still, I held his gaze.

I balanced myself on the back of the chair while removing my socks.

“Feet are so fucking sexy.”

Uh…so not going to go there.If he found my feet sexy, I guess that was all right.

---