Page 54 of Hyde and Seek

After I did my bathroom stuff, I put on white shorts and a pink flowing tank top. I grabbed my pink wedge sandals before heading to find my phone.

I was startled when I turned the corner into the living room and saw Jake.

Sleeping shirtless, his arms were under his head, making the definition of his chest and abs more pronounced. His height and muscular build dwarfed what I’d considered to be my massive couch, his feet even hanging off the end. The button on his jeans was undone, and a trail of light hair disappeared into what I could only assume was heaven.

I should go get the cereal and milk, and eat breakfast out of the vee of his pelvic muscles.

The sun’s rays came in through the big window behind the couch, streaming directly to him as if Mother Nature herself wanted a touch. If a heavenly chorus suddenly rang out, I don’t think I’d be surprised.

His tanned skin glowed in the light, making him look like a god.

A tattooed sex god, but still.

I tiptoed quietly into the kitchen to start coffee, wondering about the presence of the half-naked sex god in my living room. I’d woken at some point in the very early morning alone in bed. I’d assumed Jake had taken off.

I hadn’t guessed that my couch was as far as he’d gone.

Zoned out in my thoughts, I jumped when Jake wrapped his arms around me from behind. “Jake, sheesh!”

“First, Jacoby. Second, I wasn’t even being quiet.”

“Uh huh. Want some coffee?” I stretched up to grab a mug.

“Yeah, but not that cup. The other, bigger one further back.”

I stood on my toes to reach into the cupboard. “This one?” I turned my head when there was no answer and saw his eyes on my ass. “Ha ha. Very funny.”

Jake raised his gaze to mine but his smile was gone as he pulled me closer. “I thought so, too. Now I’m not laughin’. How’re you?”

“Good.”

“Hangover?”

“Nope, never.”

“Must be nice. Do you have work to do right away?”

I shook my head. “I rearranged things when I knew I was going out with the girls last night. I just have to start stuff this afternoon to stay on schedule.”

“Do you want breakfast? I could run out for something or we could go out.”

“Breakfast here would be fine.”

“Anythin’ you don’t like?” he asked as we walked through the living room.

“No, not really.”

Jake opened the door and turned back to me. Bringing his hand up to cup my face, his thumb stroked my cheek. His eyes followed the movement, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“Jake,” I began before his mouth opened. “Jacoby, what’s wrong?”

“Nothin’.”

Before I could call him on his lie, he kissed my nose and then my mouth. He turned and headed down to his bike without giving me the chance to react.

I stood in the open doorway after he’d gone, thinking about everything and nothing at once. The kiss had been a surprise, but not an unpleasant one.

“It was barely a peck,” I whispered to myself. “Totally didn’t even affect me.”

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