Page 32 of String Theory


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“Mm-hmm,” Jax agreed.

He was so comfortable.

Ari was gone for a moment, and Jax drifted into a haze of post-orgasmic bliss. The next thing he knew, something soft and warm was between his legs, wiping over his chest and stomach.

Then Ari climbed into bed and curled an arm over Jax’s waist, and wasn’t that nice.

It wassonice.

Jax slept.

Chapter Seven

ARI WASsix pages deep in the music of the third track, playing the electric keyboard with the volume down low, when the door to his apartment swung open.

“Ari? Are you home? I heard music….” A pause. “It smells like a bordello in here.”

Lifting his head, Ari scrambled for his phone. What time was it? Why hadn’t he heard the knock? What was she doing here? Oh God, was it really almost ten?

“What the hell have you been up to? You better not be naked.”

“I’m—” He cut himself off. He’d put pajama pants on, at least, because having your balls stuck to the piano bench was never a good time. “Please be quiet,” he said resignedly instead.

Afra paused in the act of taking off her shoes and actually looked at him. Her eyebrows rose and her mouth opened. She stood on one foot for a handful of seconds and then finally recovered. “Shit, shit, I knew I should have called first. Is this a bad time?”

On the contrary. It was a very good time. Emphasis onwas. But if Afra was here without warning, obviously something was up.

Ari stood up and crossed to the bedroom door. Jax was passed out in the bed, half tangled in blankets, chest rising and falling steadily. Ari had never seen him so still.

Reluctantly, he closed the door and gestured Afra to the couch. “What’s going on?”

“I could ask you the same question.”

He ignored her. “Did we have an appointment I forgot about?” It wouldn’t have been the first time.

Her face shuttered. “Not exactly. I mean,youdon’t have an appointment.” She sat, shoving her hands between her knees in an obvious tell.

Okay, now he knew it was serious, if she wasn’t asking about who he had in the bedroom. Though who was he kidding—she obviously knew it was Jax. Time to make a shitty decision. “You want to get coffee?”

He watched in horror as her eyes filled with tears, though thankfully they didn’t overflow. “Yeah,” she said, her voice cracking. “That would actually be great.”

Okay. So he needed to get dressed… and wake Jax and let him know he was leaving. Not how Ari wanted the morning to go, but Afra wasn’t a crier by nature. Whatever was going on with her was serious.

“Just… give me a minute.”

Jax was stirring when Ari went into the bedroom. Afra was right—it did reek of sex.

Ari sat on the bed next to him and wondered what was appropriate, considering Jax probably wasn’t for messy entanglements. Jax had stayed last night, for Ari, which was thoughtful. Would it be pushing things too much to stroke his cheek to wake him up?

“Ari?” Jax groaned and stretched. His lashes fluttered, and he gazed sleepily up at Ari. “Morning.”

“Good morning.” Ari licked his lips and took in Jax’s bare torso, which boasted more than one bruise from last night. He would have to remember that Jax bruised so easily. “I had hoped to feed you this morning and see what else we could get up to in bed”—Jax grinned and wriggled his hips—“but I will have to ask for a rain check. My sister is here, and I don’t know why she’s upset but—”

“Say no more.” Jax sat up. “Family comes first. I think I legit kicked a guy outside in his underwear once for my sister’s sake.” He gave a shy grin. “So, do you want me to grab my stuff and go? Or am I hiding until your sister leaves?”

Impulsively, Ari said, “Neither. My sister and I are about to leave for coffee”—he glanced down at himself—“once I’m dressed. Take your time cleaning up. I’ll leave you a key to lock up behind you.” He licked his lips. “I’m not attempting to hide you from my sister, but I’m guessing you don’t want to meet her again in this state.”

His eyes flicked down once again to the many bruises—hickeys—on Jax’s torso.