But Ari was already leading him to the door, because once again Jax’s navigation function had crapped out and left him with ambulation only. Figured.
“Hey, Jax,” Bokyung said when they reached the corridor. She’d replaced a researcher on his advisory committee who had moved on while Jax was away. “We’re ready for you. Come on in.”
Ari paused at the door. “Do you want us to come in?”
Jax thought about it. No matter what, he wouldn’t be alone—not really. But part of him felt like he had to stand on his own two feet for this, see it through to whatever end, just to prove to himself that he could. “No,” he said firmly, dredging up a smile. “Thank you, though.”
On legs that felt like they might melt into the floor, Jax walked into the room and faced his committee.
Marie Greenwood, his advisor, looked up from her place in the middle and smiled. Relief flooded through him so fast it almost swept him away. “Congratulations, Dr. Hall.”
Rebecca insisted on taking them all out for dinner to celebrate. Ari glanced dubiously at what Jax knew were deep and unattractive circles under his eyes, and suggested that it be an early one.
It turned out she’d made a reservation at a little place down the street from Ari’s hotel, where Jax celebrated by allowing himself to drink two and a half cocktails, since he’d woken up at five and decided he might as well take his pill.
He couldn’t have said what he ate or even what he drank or given any details of the conversation. But he came back to himself when the door to Ari’s hotel room opened and he nudged Jax into it, and Jax saw the enormous bed.
“Ari,” Jax said.
“Hmm?” Ari asked, pressing his lips to the side of Jax’s head, just over his ear.
“I really wanna have sex with you.”
Jax would’ve sworn he could feel Ari smiling against his scalp. “I’m not into somnophilia,” he said wryly.
“Yes!” Jax said. “That’s the problem!” He turned around so he could face Ari and pressed his hands to his chest as he pushed him toward the bed. “You have coffee, right?”
“Coffee you’re not supposed to drink on your medication,” Ari reminded him.
Yeah, that rule had been bent to the breaking point in the past five weeks. “But—” Jax began.
“No buts,” Ari interrupted.
Jax’s lips twitched.
“Yes, very funny. None of that type of butt either. At least not until you’ve gotten some sleep.” Jax wanted to pout, but it was difficult when Ari was gently kissing his lips, carefully removing his clothing, turning down the covers. “Go wash your face and brush your teeth, and if you can keep your eyes open for that, we’ll talk.”
Jax marched into the bathroom with renewed determination but unfortunately fell asleep standing up with the hotel toothbrush in his mouth. He stumbled back into the bedroom, all but collapsed onto the mattress, and sighed as Ari tucked him in. “Okay,” he said, admitting defeat, “but after this, sex.”
“I promise,” Ari said solemnly, and Jax let the darkness take him.
KNOWING HOWexhausted Jax was and how hard he’d been working, Ari expected him to sleep for at least twelve hours.
He should have known better than to underestimate Jax’s sex drive.
Perhaps three hours after they’d gone to bed, Ari woke to find Jax had gotten up to use the washroom. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was just after midnight. Jax would probably go right back to sleep—
“Oh good, you’re awake,” Jax said, and he swayed right back into bed and entwined his body with Ari’s.
From the slight incoordination of his movements and the heat coming off his body, Ari deduced he was probably still a little drunk. That didn’t dampen his arousal any; it had been weeks since they’d been together like this, and he’d missed….
Jax lifted his head and brushed his nose against Ari’s.
He’d missed this.
Ari kissed him, and Jax groaned into it He lifted his hand to Ari’s shoulder, then his chest, his waist, his ass. His cock was hard against the meat of Ari’s hip, and Jax rubbed against him.
They needed to be naked. Ari bit at Jax’s lower lip and tore his hands from Jax’s hair to paw at his boxers. “Take these off,” he ordered, voice rough but quiet. “Come on.”
