Page 24 of Approved

Two sleeps before our date! I’m very excited.

I hope you had a great night.

TYLER

Are you always this excitable?

I thought for a few minutes before I replied because he didn’t know me well, but I was excited and at a loss for proper words. Fuck it. He might as well see the real me, and I have made it clear how I feel about him.

WEST

Only when I have a date with a hot guy.

I am determined to get your approval.

TYLER

I know I’ve made it difficult. I’m sorry.

I ignored his apology, since there was no reason for it. He had his reasons for being guarded, and I knew he would share those reasons when the time came.

WEST

I’ve got a date now, that’s all that matters.

We texted back and forth about random topics for a few more hours. He told me more about Jamie and how she was his best friend, then told me more about Earl, with stories included about the two of them together. I made a note to bring something for his beloved friends when I picked him up. There didn’t seem to be anybody else in his life, which made me wonder about his family and where they were, but any time the conversation shifted that way, he would redirect it. Frequently, I would laugh aloud and then smile like a dope at something he said. I was tempted to call him once we had been texting, but I took his lead, wanting him to feel comfortable.

TYLER

It’s getting late. I need to get some sleep.

I was disappointed but understood, my sleep schedule was not typical.

WEST

Okay, beautiful. Sweet dreams.

I’ll text you more tomorrow if that’s okay.

TYLER

Of course. I would like that. Good night, West.

After I got ready for bed, I closed my eyes, and my mind drifted to Tyler, like it did every night since I met him. I knew he was probably tucked into bed, Earl on the pillow next to him, and Larry on his chest. I thought about him lying in bed; I bet he was adorable when he slept. Without any intention, my thoughts drifted to him naked, wrapped in only a sheet, and the image made me groan. Since I’d hugged him and felt his body, I knew he was lean muscle, and the memory of how he felt in my arms made my cock perk up. It was easy to conjure up how he fit so perfectly against me, and then when we kissed, his lips were so warm and soft, the most perfect kiss I ever had.

I wanted to do it more, tangle our tongues together, delve deep into his mouth, and let him feel what he does to me. The idea of kissing him—holding him—made me steel hard. Men have turned me on before, but this was bone deep, it was an ache, a desire, most certainly a need. Those other guys were fine; they were fun to get off with, but I wanted much more with Tyler. It scared me, but it excited me more.

I ran my hand over my throbbing cock a few times, thoughts about being with this man took over every free thought I had. I didn’t mind, but I hoped that the next time I climaxed, it wouldbe with Tyler. It might be wishful thinking, but I resisted my need for the moment, choosing to wait until we were together.

Going to sleep with thoughts of Tyler’s hard body against mine was normal for me now. Sleeping when you are hard was difficult enough, and my brain couldn’t stop thinking about Tyler’s smile, laugh, and body. Ultimately, I embraced my fantasies and let dreams take me through the things my body needed.

When I woke up early, I was a little disappointed there were no messages from Tyler, but I knew he had gone to bed when I did and then went straight to his shop. It was almost 7:00 a.m., and I started some coffee. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to eat when I checked the fridge. Last night I hadn’t eaten much, even though East was here. I was excited about Tyler agreeing to go out with me, and my stomach grumbled, confirming that I needed some fuel.

With a toasted bagel slathered in cream cheese and a mug of coffee, I headed to my back patio. This time of year, the weather would be around sixty degrees, which meant it would be another beautiful day on Friday when we went to the festival. It was before noon, so the hoodie I had pulled on was enough to sit outside in one of my Adirondack chairs. One of the things I liked about my backyard was that it was set back in the woods. It allowed for privacy, and if you stood on the railing, the nearest house could barely be seen through the trees. I enjoyed my bagel. Sitting out here was a luxury I rarely indulged in—I vowed to do this more often.

“Meowwwrrrawwwwwwwwwww” It wasn’t loud, but it was insistent.

“What the hell was that?” I knew nobody could hear me, but that was a terrifying sound, and certainly didn’t sound natural.

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