Page 38 of Nightmare For Hire
“It’s okay. I still don’t understand it all. I did a bunch of research. I might be demisexual. All I know is getting to know you changed my brain. Before, I thought you were beautiful, and I just wanted to get to know you. Now, I find myself wanting to know what you look like naked. What your skin tastes like. What other parts of you smell like. It’s weird for me. I never used to think about all this sex stuff.” He smooths his hand down his cock. “My penis keeps getting hard whenever I think about you.”
It’s like he’s a horny teenager just discovering the delights of his body. My skin heats all over. I’ve been fighting my sexual desires, needing everything to be slow. But Nox is safe. He’s never going to knowingly make me do something I don’t want to do. He’s gorgeous and fun. And I’d love to see him explore every inch of me while I return the favor. I lick my lips. But no. Not right now. Especially not in public.
“Let’s get our popcorn,” Nox says. “And make sure it’s drenched in butter.”
“That’s the only way to eat it.”
We get through the concession stand, each carrying huge popcorn buckets. As we walk toward our theater, Nox dips his tongue into the popcorn to munch on his snack. His cheeks puff out like a chipmunk. I do the same, making him snort.
It’s a small theater and we sit about halfway back. Surprisingly, the floor isn’t sticky and the seats look freshly reupholstered. They squeak when we pull the seats down to sit, but they seem sturdy enough.
“I come to the movies a lot. Most of the time as a shadow, though. Both leads are monsters in this movie. There aren’t many humans. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, it’s going to be great. I look forward to expanding my entertainment horizons.”
Nox beams at me and licks up more popcorn. Soon the lights go out, the ads start, and my eyes droop. Hopefully, I can push through and stay awake, but it had been an exhausting night at work.
I make it about halfway through the movie before my head nods and I almost drop the popcorn. I’m not bored, just that damn tired.
“Cy?”
“Sorry. I didn’t realize how tired I was.”
“We can go.” Nox’s tub of popcorn is already gone. He eyes mine and I pass it over.
“No. I’ll do better.”
“Better? If you’re tired, we should go someplace you’ll be comfortable. We can cuddle.” His eyes go wide. “With clothes on. I don’t mean anything intimate. Just sleep for you and I can watch over your dreams.”
“Because you don’t sleep.”
“Exactly. I can cuddle you and count the freckles on your nose.” He sighs as if that’s a dream of his to count my freckles. Thank goodness no one else is in the theater, otherwise our talking would annoy them.
“Actually, that sounds nice. If you don’t mind missing the rest of the movie.”
“Seen it dozens of times. My place or yours?” He taps his bottom lip. “On second thought. Yours is best because you have a bed.”
“Good call.” I yawn and stretch as I stand. Damn, I really am tired.
We both munch on popcorn as we walk to my place.
“Maybe I should buy a bed so you can spend the night at my place?” Nox nods. “Yes. I’m going to buy—” He tips his head. “What’s the biggest bed? You’re so tall you need something that’ll fit you.”
“Never change, Nox.” We’re at my apartment building. I turn to unlock the door and lead him up the stairs. They creak under our weight, but not in the scary way, just that no one has walked over them in a few hours kind of way.
Nox bounces behind me and watches over my shoulder the best he can. When I open the door, he rushes inside and spins. Then darts through all the rooms before I can even be embarrassed about anything. Not that I really have anything to be embarrassed about. Just seems like Lisa Frank took a paintbrush and threw colors everywhere.
“Love it. I could float around here for hours just discovering everything.”
“Maybe after I fall asleep.”
“I can do it while you sleep. Let my shadows investigate.” Nox wiggles his brows. “BuuuuutI won’t. Promise. Scoot’s honor.” He makes the sign of the cross and it takes everything in me not to burst out laughing.
“Do you mean Scout’s honor?”
He tips his head. “Do I? I have no idea. I pick up all kinds of things and forget the order or origin. Probably is Scout’s honor. Who would be Scoot?”
“Dunno. And—” A yawn steals my words.
