The door clicks shut,and I wince. I’m not usually self-conscious, but this isn’t how I imagined him seeing me naked forthe first time. Tonight, I feel exposed and vulnerable. I’d rather him picture me a little bit more in control and sexier than I felt at the moment. At least he probably couldn’t see anything between the frosted glass door and steam.
The hot water runs over my skin, washing away the day’s stress. My skin is a bright shade of pink that’s quickly drifting into tomato red. Everything is fixable. I’ll be back at my place tomorrow, and everything will be fine.
Tonight’s a stark reminder that I’m in a new city without the support system to handle even a mild inconvenience.Fuck. My dad was right. Of course I had no plans of ever telling him.
Reluctantly, I turn off the water and step out of the shower, grabbing the towel. This bathroom screams luxury. Nathan even has a giant bathtub big enough for at least two people. My mind conjures images of Nathan and me surrounded by bubbles, hands wandering over slick skin. My cock chubs up at the idea. I groan and do my best to ignore it. The last thing I need right now is for him to walk in on my jerking off in his bathroom. Not a great first impression as a house guest.
I put on the clothes Nathan left for me and chuckle at the fuzzy socks. I remember him having lots of these when we were kids, but I always assumed they came from his mom’s obsession with cutesy things. I thought his sock choice would be more bland once he moved out and gained control of his wardrobe. I was wrong. The sweats hang loosely off my body, even after I roll the waistband a few times to shorten them, but they are comfortable. I pull the shirt up and inhale the scent. The fresh scent of his laundry detergent hits my nose, and I smile. At least for a night, I’ll smell like Nathan.
Once clothed, I scrunch my hair a few times. I didn’t have anything with me, so the odds of being able to tame my curls were minuscule. I wrap a few around my fingers, hoping to getsome shape. Eventually, I admit defeat and return to the living room.
Nathan’s sitting cross-legged on the couch, scrolling through something on his phone. I clear my throat. “Thanks. The shower helped. I didn’t realize how cold I was.”
“No worries. I set some food out on the counter. It’s not much, but I figure you didn’t eat dinner.” I follow his gaze to a plate with a sandwich and some raw vegetables.
“This looks like an attempt at getting me to eat healthy.” It looks much better than the frozen pizza—even the pre-pile of soot version. I’d completely forgotten my hunger during the ordeal, but now it raged back into my system. I walk over and sit down on one of the bar stools. My stomach growls, and I dig in quickly.
“If you prefer, I can order a pizza or something.”
“Nah, this is perfect.” I’m not sure how it’s possible for something so simple to be amazing, but it comforts me after this long day. Though, I think that might all be Nathan. His presence calms me like it always has. I eat silently, trying to come up with something interesting to say. First, I drag him out in the rain, then eat all his food and take over his house. The least I could offer is good conversation. My mind is blank, though.
“Do you need me to make you something else?”
I look down at my now empty plate. “Nah, I’m good. I think I want some sleep. If you’ve got a blanket, the couch looks perfect.” He scoffs at the suggestion.
“No couch for you tonight. I have a real guest room with a bed and everything. I changed the sheets while you were in the shower, so everything’s clean. The mattress is pretty comfortable, too.” He gets up and nods his head toward the stairs. I stick my plate in the sink and remind myself to wash it in the morning.
“Help yourself to anything you can find here. Extra blankets are in the closet, and a reading lamp is on the side table. I stuck a phone charger there, too. There isn’t a TV here, but you can always go to the living room if you can’t sleep. Nothing wakes me up, so don’t worry about the noise.” The room looks perfect. It’s simple but cozy. There’s a bookshelf in one corner piled high with books.
He opens the next door. “Bathroom is here. I put a new toothbrush and some toothpaste on the counter, but the drawers have other stuff in them if you need anything.” It’s smaller than the en-suite bathroom but functional. Why didn’t he have me use this one?
“You didn’t have to do all that, but thank you. I appreciate it more than I can tell you.”
He waves me off again. “Get some rest. Come grab me if you need anything. Sleep tight.” He pauses and opens his mouth, then closes it. After a second, he left, and I heard his door close a second later.
After brushing my teeth and caring for my other bedtime needs, I crawl between the sheets. After today, it feels good to be horizontal and relaxed. I worry I won’t be able to turn my brain off to fall asleep, but exhaustion takes over, and I’m out in no time.
Chapter Five
COLT
I rollover and pull the pillow close to my chest. The warm bedspread wrapped around me urges me to fall back asleep. Something’s off, though. It takes my brain a moment to catch up. This isn’t my bed. The sheets are too soft and silky.
Yesterday comes rushing back into my mind. The call with my dad. Locking myself out. Nathan rescuing me. I groan. Now, I wish I could roll over, fall back asleep, and ignore all this a little longer.
I pull the covers over my head, knowing there’s zero chance I can go back to sleep. If I pretend enough, it might be true, though. It’s too early for logic.
A waft of coffee and maybe cinnamon hit me. A cup of coffee would help. Plus, whatever else Nathan has in the kitchen.
I force myself out of bed and do my best to make myself presentable. It’s not much, given the oversized pajamas and lack of stuff in general, but it’ll work. My hair, in particular, won’t behave after letting it dry pressed against the pillowcase. Afterducking in the bathroom to empty my bladder and brush my teeth, I find my way out to the kitchen.
Nathan dances along to whatever’s playing in his headphones while he hums. He moves easily around the kitchen, his hips sashaying in rhythm. The edge of his tongue slips out of his mouth as he concentrates on something on the stovetop. It’s so Nathan. The years have changed him so much, but moments like this remind me he’s still the same person I knew all those years ago. His kindhearted nature never changed; he’s still the guy who would pick someone up in the middle of the night and make them welcome in his home.
I feel like a stalker staring at him, so I clear my throat several times. He doesn’t hear me over the music playing, so I step forward and put a hand on his shoulder.
He jumps and lets out a small scream. The spatula in his hand flies through the air before landing on the ground. He pulls his headphones down around his neck. “Shit. You scared me.”
“Sorry, I tried to get your attention, but you didn’t hear me.”
