Kyle’s first instinct was to say no, but it wasverylate. “I can sleep in the guest room if you’d rather—”
“Stay,” Eric interrupted. “Here. Please.” He held Kyle’s gaze, even though his eyes looked uneasy.
“Okay,” Kyle said. It was a terrible idea. The worst idea. Tomorrow Eric would regret this lapse of discipline, and Kyle knew it would be harder to be rejected after he’d spent a night in Eric’s arms.
They got cleaned up and Eric put underwear on, which seemed like an arbitrary bit of modesty, but Kyle did the same. For the first minute back in bed together, both men were silent and staring awkwardly up at the ceiling. Then Eric broke the silence by huffing out a laugh.
“What?” Kyle asked, grinning.
“Nothing. I don’t know why this is so weird.”
They both rolled on their sides, facing each other. “Does sex make you uncomfortable?”
Eric seemed to consider the question for a moment. “Maybe. Usually. I’m not used to—” He bit his lip, as if blocking the words from escaping.
“Not used to what?”
“I usually have more control over my...desires. Libido. I don’t know what’s been happening to me lately.”
Kyle waggled his eyebrows. “I’vebeen happening to you, sexy.” Eric laughed, but it sounded forced. Kyle dialed it back. “Maybe it’s just from, y’know, not having sex for so long.”
“Maybe.”
“And having sex with men is new and exciting.”
Eric nodded. “That might be it.”
Kyle swatted his chest playfully. “You’re supposed to tell me it’s totally because of me.”
Eric’s laugh sounded genuine this time. Then his face grew serious, and Kyle realized he was about to say those exact words and possibly mean them, which couldn’t happen if Kyle was going to maintain any control over his stupid heart.
So he cut him off by yawning. “That was incredible, but now I’m exhausted.”
“It’s late,” Eric agreed, but neither man moved. They both kept gazing at each other until suddenly they were kissing again. Eric placed a palm on Kyle’s cheek, and Kyle heard himself make a needy, breathy sound as Eric’s tongue caressed his own.
Was there even a chance Eric felt the same way Kyle did? Not that Kyle even knew for sure how he felt himself, but was Eric also confused? Did his heart race when he saw Kyle? Did he think of him all the time? Was it possible Eric wanted more than whatever this was?
Kyle wanted to ask, but he also didn’t want to ruin this moment. When they finally broke apart, Eric ducked his head shyly, but he couldn’t hide his adorable smile.
“What?” Kyle asked.
Eric shook his head and gazed up at him through his dark lashes. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep.”
“Did I not do enough to wear you out?” Kyle teased.
“I can’t stop looking at you.” Eric’s eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe he’d just said that.
Kyle froze. This was definitely leaving the no-strings sex zone, and he shouldn’t encourage it. “You can look all you like.”
Eric brushed a thumb over Kyle’s cheek. “I’m glad you said yes. To staying.”
Kyle closed his eyes, unable to bear the tenderness in Eric’s expression. Eric was glad now, but what would the morning bring? Kyle could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he’d just gone home after the orgasms were over. Now he had to deal with his damn feelings.
“We should sleep,” he murmured.
“Okay.”
Kyle rolled on his side, his back to Eric’s chest, and Eric wrapped an arm around him. His bicep was heavy and warm, and Kyle couldn’t help snuggling back against Eric. He could pretend, for one night, that this was real.