Page 45 of Smoky Mountain Dreams
“Absolutely. What do you like for breakfast?”
“Condoms,” Jesse said. “And lube.”
Christopher glanced around, but there wasn’t anyone closeenough to have heard Jesse’s words. “Seriously?”
“Do I seriously like blueberry muffins and bacon fromTraveler’s Cup? Yes, I’m serious.”
Christopher laughed. “You know what you said.”
“I do know, but we probably shouldn’t. Amanda sometimescomes in early.”
“You’re an awful tease.”
“So you would? There in my office? Over my desk?”
“Hell yeah.”
“I like that about you, Christopher Ryder.”
“Like I said, I’m always a little easy, but what can I say?You make me easier than easy.”
Gareth banged back into the forge area, glaring at them likethey were making his life hell by standing there together.
“Well, I should catch up with the family,” Jesse said,casting an unreadable glance Gareth’s way.
“And I should head back to get ready for the show. Will yoube there?”
Jesse grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it!”
“Oh, and blueberry muffins and bacon it is. Traveler’s Cup.Got it.”
Jesse waved and walked away. Christopher hesitated for amoment, nearly said hello to Gareth, and then simply turned on his heel.
Chapter Ten
JESSECHECKED THE CLOCK FOURTEENtimes on Tuesday morning as he tried tochoose what he should work on while he waited for Christopher to arrive withbreakfast. He’d worked a bit on the locket for Christopher’s grandmother thenight before, but was waffling on what to charge for it. It seemed strange totake money from a man he was fucking, but he knew Christopher wouldn’t take itfor free. He wondered if Christopher knew enough about the value of his work torecognize if Jesse undercharged him.
He decided to work on a pearl necklace for a longtimeclient. He was carefully drilling a hole in the nacre of a pearl when thedoorbell at the office’s back door rang. Jesse’s stomach flipped, his dick grewfatter, and anticipation flooded his veins.
“Shh,” he told himself as he strolled past the smallbathroom left over from when the house had been a residence. He dug keys out ofhis back pocket to unlock the latches on the back door near the parking lotwhere Christopher was waiting. “Not this morning. Just enjoy being with him.You don’t have to get him naked every time you see him.”
His libido screamed that the last time he’d seen Christopherhe’d had clothes on, and so getting him naked today here in his office andbending him over his desk would be perfectly reasonable and not greedy at all.He chuckled at his own urgency and want, amused and intrigued by the feeling.It’d been a long time since he’d wanted someone as much as he wantedChristopher Ryder, but even longer since he’d been willing to shove the needaside to see a guy’s smile, to hear his voice, and just be together.
Speaking of smiles, Christopher’s was sleepy but brilliantwhen Jesse opened the door and stepped aside to let him in. The invigoratingscent of coffee emanated from the paper cups in the drink holder in Christopher’shand. Jesse shut the door behind him, turning the locks and using the keys onthe deadbolt, before liberating the cardboard cup holder from Christopher’shands.
“Morning,” Christopher said, lifting up the white paper bagwith the Traveler’s Cup imprint. “Blueberry muffins like you requested.”
Jesse didn’t resist the urge to lean in and plant a kiss onChristopher’s pretty mouth. He didn’t linger, though, pulling back to witnessthe spark of joy in Christopher’s gold-flecked eyes. “Come on back.”
Christopher trailed behind him. A glance over Jesse’sshoulder proved that he was taking in the rest of the photos from his and Marcy’stravels across Europe when they were younger. It was such a relief thatChristopher had taken the news about Marcy’s condition in stride. Jesse hadn’tmuch cared if the men he’d briefly fucked in the years since the accident hadknown or not, and he sure as hell had never wanted them to meet his kids andin-laws. But his reaction to Christopher was different in so many ways. Waysthat terrified him and made him tingle down to his toes at the same time.
As Christopher examined a picture from the Cannes seaside,Jesse wondered what he’d look like in the Riviera sunshine. Like white gold,probably. His skin was pale enough that he’d probably glow and then burn andthen justshine.
Jesse didn’t make a ton of jewelry for men, but heconsidered Christopher’s hands and immediately thought of several bracelets andrings he could make for Christopher to model. He’d never made it to Crete orIsrael. Maybe Christopher could be his muse. Jesse shook the thoughts away. Toomuch, too soon. He needed to slow his heart and mind down. Everything wasfragile and new. Forever-trinkets and long-term thoughts didn’t belong here.Not yet.
Still, he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to showChristopher everything he loved. Seeing him interact with Will and Brigid onSunday had been gratifying in ways he hadn’t expected, but he had to use hishead now—carefully—because his heart (and dick) wanted to move full steamahead. He hadn’t felt so alive, so excited in years. Even his skin seemed tohave new nerves, making him hyperaware of his shirt against his own back, andthe puff of Christopher’s breath against his neck as he passed by Jesse andinto his office.
“I had a hard time sleeping last night. My brain wouldn’tshut up,” Christopher said, dropping into the seat across from Jesse’s desk andrubbing at his tired face. “Sorry if I’m out of it. I really need coffee. Stat.”
