Page 33 of Finding Michael

Chapter Nine

Michael rolled over and collided with a solid wall of person.Tristan.He opened his eyes. Tristan was beside him and still asleep. Michael had known the previous night wasn’t a dream, but seeing Tristan there reassured him.

Tristan personified prettiness while he slept. His thick lashes lay against his cheek and pale freckles showed. The beginnings of lines formed at the corners of his eyes, but they gave him a sexy weathered look. Day-old scruff showed on his chin and along his jaw. Michael smoothed his hand over his cock. He could jerk off to the vision of Tristan. Hell, he just might.

“You’re staring at me,” Tristan murmured.

If his lips hadn’t moved, Michael would’ve sworn he heard Tristan speak in his mind. “Sorry.” He paused. “You’re awake?”

“I’ve got a hot guy beside me. It’s been hard to sleep.” Tristan blinked. “I don’t mind you watching me…but I hope you like what you see.”

“I do.” Embarrassment washed over him. He shouldn’t have been staring.

“Good. I hate when I don’t measure up.” Tristan patted Michael’s hip. “You’ve got to work today, don’t you?”

“I have to be there by ten and it only takes me fifteen minutes by foot or ten by bike.” He’d have to check the weather radar, but biking would be good for his soul this morning. He needed the extra exercise to wear him out. Maybe if he were tired, he wouldn’t think about Tristan all day.

“The idea of you on a bike is so sexy.” Tristan moved the sheet, tangled their legs together and brushed his chest against Michael’s. “I should write or sort stuff…but first… Shower with me?”

“Sure.” Like he would say no?

Tristan laughed. “Listen to us. We’re being so polite.” He grasped Michael’s hand.

“What else should we be?” Tristan’s question confused him. He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“We should be horny bastards. Should be scrambling to fuck again and leaving a trail of sheets everywhere. Not asking and using niceties. Just raw passion.” Tristan dragged Michael flush to him. “Or am I missing something?”

Michael paused. He wasn’t sure what to say, but he had to be honest. “I’m not good at this.”

“At what? Sex?” Tristan laughed again. “You were fantastic last night.”

“I meant relationships. This is new and it’s not guaranteed, but I’m bad.” No, he was out of practice, scared and nervous.

“You’re not bad.” Tristan frowned. “You blew my mind.”

“I’m jumping the gun.” Trying to define what they were to each other before they were anything was crazy. Yet, he wanted a label.

“I’ve been trying to hook up with you since I got to town. I’ve practically begged you for a relationship.” Tristan grinned. “Stop worrying so much. We’ve got now and it’s better than I ever imagined. You’re who I want.”

He stared at Tristan. He wasn’tthatgreat. Average, maybe, but not fantastic.

“Stop worrying.” Tristan kissed him. “You’re so churned up that you’re going to explode.”

He didn’t answer and wasn’t sure what to say again.

“Come shower with me. I’ll scrub your back and front.” Tristan snuggled up to Michael. “You can tell me all about you…like, where you grew up.”

“What?”

“I’m trying to lighten the mood.” Tristan let go, then sat up. “Come shower with me.” He tugged Michael to his feet.

Michael followed him into the bathroom. His head swam. Tristan changed topics so fast and had him right on the edge. No one had cared about his past. Even Ian, the man he’d lived with for six years, hadn’t asked.

Tristan turned the water on. “Towels?”

“Here.” He fumbled in the cabinet, then placed two thick towels on the toilet seat.

“So?” Tristan shoved the curtain out of the way. “Did you grow up in Sullavan?”

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