Page 32 of Flirt
It sounded like he might be trying to talk himself into something—or maybe out of it. With Cameron, he could never be sure. However, he was pretty certain the debate had to do with sex, and he kind of felt like he should get a vote in that.
“Too rigid,” Cameron muttered on his next pass as he traced the collar of his T-shirt with his fingertips.
Asher smiled.
Cameron was fucking adorable. He didn’t think he’d ever used that word to describe someone he wanted to see naked, but it just fit the guy. His silly quirks and nervous gestures. The way he blushed when he became flustered. His insane and frustrating need to overthink every decision as if it might be his last.
Little things that would probably annoy the hell out of him with anyone else, but with Cameron, they were just pieces to a bigger puzzle he enjoyed trying to solve.
“Maybe Richard was right.” Cameron carded both hands through his hair and tugged the strands. He went quiet for a couple of passes, and then muttered, “Stupid.”
Asher didn’t know Richard, nor did he have all the details about his relationship with Cameron, but he hated the guy a little, just on principle. It wasn’t clear who or what was stupid, but Asher had a bad feeling Cameron meant himself. Either way, he’d brooded for long enough.
Standing, he took a couple of steps to place himself in Cameron’s path and waited for the collision. It happened just as he expected, and he had to laugh when Cameron grunted, stumbled back half a step, then blushed a dozen shades of red.
“Crap, sorry.”
Winding an arm around his waist, Asher pulled him close and motioned toward the barstools at the island. “Come on, sit. You can tell all about it.”
Cameron sat with only a small sigh of protest. “It’s nothing.”
“Didn’t look like nothing.”
“What are we?” he blurted. “I mean, are we boyfriends? Friends with benefits? Is this a relationship, or are we just having fun?”
Okay, not where he thought this was going, but at least they’d started with something easy. “Do we have to label it?”
Cameron kind of nodded and shook his head all at once in a jerky movement that looked more like a seizure than anything. “I guess it’s not really fair, but yeah, I think I need to label it.”
Asher didn’t answer right away. They hadn’t progressed past kissing, so while they might be friends, he couldn’t claim any extra benefits. They definitely had fun together, but Asher could have fun with anyone. He just didn’t want to anymore. Which only left him with one possible answer.
“Then I guess you have yourself a boyfriend.”
“We haven’t even slept together, and I read this article that most people don’t even consider it a relationship until at least date six.”
Asher picked at a blueberry muffin in one of the to-go containers on the counter while he tried to keep up with the conversation.
“First, you probably shouldn’t look for relationship advice from a fashion rag. Secondly, there are people who don’t have sex until after they’re married.” He shrugged, then continued mutilating the muffin. “I mean, I don’t get it, but I hear it happens.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“What? Getting married? I…uh…” Thankfully, he was saved from a full-blown panic attack when Cameron looked him in the eye and shook his head.
“That we haven’t slept together,” he clarified.
Back in familiar territory, the pressure on Asher’s chest eased, and his pulse gradually slowed to a less dangerous rhythm. “How about you start at the beginning, because I think I’m missing some crucial information.”
Sure, given the opportunity, he’d readily pound Cameron into the nearest flat surface. Was he okay with the fact that he hadn’t been presented with that opportunity yet? Surprisingly, yes. The whole discussion felt off, though, like he trailed a step behind, and he needed some context before he started dishing out answers.
Cameron’s mouth worked, but no sound emerged. When he looked to be the one in danger of panicking, Asher took pity on him and changed tactics. Sometimes, writing even a chapter felt like an insurmountable task, but it always seemed less daunting when he broke it down into scenes. Maybe the same would work for Cameron.
“You said something about cockblocking.” He bit the inside of cheek and tried not to laugh when Cameron began coughing and sputtering. “Let’s start there. What did you mean by that?”
“You really want to do this right now?”
“I don’t see why not.”
Cameron nodded slowly. “Then, I’m going to need coffee, and you’re going to want to get comfortable.”
