Page 59 of Tinsel & Tools
We both smelled of sweat and cum, so I grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the bathroom. The shower steamed up quickly, and we stepped under it together, the hot spray washing us clean while we traded soft touches instead of words as we bathed each other. When we were finished, we dried off and headed back to the bedroom.
The sheets were a mess, so I yanked them off quickly and pulled a clean set from the closet. We made the bed together, moving easily around each other, then slid under the fresh comforter. Once again, he rested his head on my bare chest. The heater kicked on, the vent in the hall clicking before the rush of warm air filled the house. Soon Gavin’s breathing evened out, and when I let go of the worry that lived in my shoulders more than I wanted to admit, sleep took me too.
22
Gavin
My eyes opened slowly, and I saw Cole standing at the window in his long-sleeve shirt and pajama pants. His hair was adorably rumpled as he braced one hand on the frame and the other lifted the slats of the blinds so he could see outside.
He glanced over his shoulder when I sat up. “It’s coming down hard out there.” His phone buzzed on the nightstand. He checked the screen and huffed a laugh. “And Dale’s not coming. Roads are iced over, so he’s stuck at home.”
“Is everyone snowed in?”
“Sure seems that way. I guess we’re playing hooky.” He smirked.
“You might be.” I climbed out of bed. “But I’ve got a book to work on.”
“I should probably work on a few projects around here anyway. How about I make us breakfast, then we can both get started?”
I nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
He headed for the kitchen as I made my way to his bathroom. Once I was done, I followed the scent of coffee and found Cole with a mug already waiting for me, prepared just the way I liked it.
“Thanks.” I wrapped my hands around the warm cup and took a sip of the sweet, creamy, caffeine-laden goodness.
“So, am I going to be allowed to read what you’re writing?” he asked, pouring a bowl of beaten eggs into a sizzling skillet.
“One day.” I grinned. “But not until it’s finished.”
“How’s that fair?” he shot back with a smile. “You get to see my work while it’s in progress.”
“That’s totally different,” I argued. “I’ve got a whole process to go through before my words are ready for public consumption.”
“You won’t even give a little preview to the guy letting you live with him?” He grabbed a spatula from the drawer.
I leaned against the counter. “Pretty sure I’ve been paying rent in ways that don’t involve a check. But tell you what, I’ll give you a signed copy once it’s published.”
He scrambled the eggs a little faster than necessary. “In that case, I’d better finish breakfast quickly and let you get to writing. I’ve got a book to look forward to.”
We ate at the small table, and I tried not to think too hard about how what we were doing was similar to scenarios I wrote about in my books: two guys in their pajamas, enjoying breakfast together as the snow piled higher outside.
Once we cleaned up our dishes and wiped down the counters, we each got started on our own project. I settled into the corner of the couch, wrapped in a blanket, with my laptop balanced on my crossed legs.
Cole came back through the living room with a toolbox in his hands. “Is it going to bother you if I fix a couple of things in the hallway?”
I shook my head. “Nah. Even if it gets loud, I have a pair of headphones I can use to drown out the noise.”
“Okay, cool.”
For a while, I was able to concentrate on the document in front of me, but when Cole began working on the light fixture at the opening of the hallway, my eyes wandered from the screen to where he stood on a step stool, a sliver of his well-defined abs peeking out of the bottom of his shirt as he unscrewed the glass globe covering the bulb.
As if he could feel the heat of my stare, he glanced over his shoulder and arched an eyebrow. “Don’t you have fictional people to focus on?”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “But for once, I don’t have to be subtle about checking you out. Usually, when you’re working, there are other people around or someone shows up unexpectedly.”
“Good point. Here’s a better view.” He lifted his shirt a little higher and flexed.
“Now you’re just being cocky.”
