Page 121 of Out of the Storm

After letting Jeff sleep for alittlebit longer, it was almost time for the morning radio show, and so, Gary pretended to toss and turn a bit, enough to rouse his companion.

When Jeff’s eyes fluttered open, a smile stretched across his face, and even though everything was still out of focus, he knew it had to be one of the most beautiful sights he’d ever seen.

“Morning already?” he mumbled in a low, raspy voice.

“Yeah,” Gary said softly. “Sorry.”

“When’s your show?”

“Eh, not for an hour, but I need to start prepping soon.”

“’Kay,” Jeff said, closing his eyes again.

“Jeff...” Gary lifted his hand and paused. “Can I hold you?”

“Of course.”

“I was worried I’d startle you.”

Jeff let out a low chuckle, his voice still rumbly from sleep, and it made Gary’s chest feel warm and tingly.

“Radio man, you startle me every night,” he said.

Gary’s face fell. “Oh, God. Really?”

“All night. Every night.” Jeff was still laughing, but the warmth in Gary’s chest had faded. He couldn’t see what was so funny about it. “Gare, I’m exaggerating. But, really, every couple of hours, you pull me close to you like I’m a stuffed animal.”

Cringing, Gary said, “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Jeff let out a happy-sounding hum, and his eyes fluttered back open. “I love it.”

“But it startles you.”

“Not as much as it used to. Now only sometimes.”

Jeff reached for Gary’s hand and tried to pull it around his midsection, but Gary instinctively resisted, his stomach now churning uneasily. He hated knowing that he’d been intermittently scaring his boyfriend every time they’d slept together. No wonder Jeff always seemed to need so many cups of coffee.

“Baby, come on,” Jeff said, his voice still thick from sleep. “Cuddle me.”

“Gosh, I feel so terrible. I should buy a second bed or something.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s romantic.”

Jeff tugged on Gary’s hand again. Gary finally relented.

“See how nice this is?” Jeff said. “Don’t punish me for being honest with you.”

“It’s not fair to you that I sleep soundly while you’re intermittently waking up in terror.”

“It’s notthatbad.” Jeff hooked a leg over Gary’s torso, towing their hips together. He shifted, and Gary felt something hardagainst his thigh. Jeff rocked his hips a couple more times. “Fuck, Gare, I want you.”

Gary swallowed thickly as a streak of arousal shot through him, making his half-hard cock stiffen some more.

“Hey, yeah, I want you too, Jeffrey, but can we talk for a minute?”

Jeff groaned. “Fine.”

“I’m really sorry I’ve been clinging to you when we’re asleep,” Gary started. “I knew I liked holding you close, but I hadn’t realized I’d been continuously upsetting you.”

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