“No.” He grinned, although the smile didn’t look quite real. “I know we’re just having fun, but still, I wouldn’t sneak around on you. Consent all the way.”
“Consent? Like, do youwantother guys? I know I’m out of town a lot. I’m not going to cockblock you from a distance, if that’s what you want.”
“Huh? No, I don’t. This hot paramedic gave me his number, but I told him I wasn’t available. You’re the one with sex on tap all around the country.”
“Two countries. But I’m not interested either.”Not at all. But I shouldn’t make things too serious.I tried to lighten the mood.“I’d much rather save it for you than be on Grindr in some city, trying to decide if a stranger is lying about his abs or will sell me to the press. This here is safe, convenient, and fun for both of us, right?”
“Oh. Yeah. Sure.” He tilted his head. “Speaking of fun, you’re wearing a lot of clothes.”
“So are you.”
“There’s a fix for that.” He grabbed his sweatshirt and hauled it over his head, then shoved his pants down, leaving him in socks and bright-blue boxer-briefs that hugged his thighs. With two quick tugs, he pulled off the socks and tossed them on a chair.
I was probably drooling. But seriously, why would I even think about Grindr when I had Zeke Evans on tap.
“Your turn.” He waved at me. “Move it. There’s still lots of vacuuming to do before Jos gets home.”
“Hah. When I’m done with you, you won’t even remember what a vacuum is.”
By the time I’d blown his dick and his mind, and he’d returned the favour with strong, lube-slicked hands, we ended up sprawled on the bed, both sweaty and breathing hard. I rolled to face him and kissed his shoulder. “Hell, yeah. I should go away more often if you’re this hot for me when I get back.”
“I do like having you around.”
That reminded me about the rent question. I couldn’t exactly ask him with my dick hanging out, like some rent boy wondering what the charge would be. Or whatever. That wasn’t quite right, but it did feel squicky to talk money in bed. So I waited till we were cleaned up and dressed to ask, “Hey, I’ve been here almost two weeks. I don’t want you to think I’m a freeloader. Can I pay you some kind of rent?”
“I thought you were paying your grandfather?”
“Well, I was. I am. But I’m eating your food and sleeping in your bed.” I paused. “I mean, notyourbed. A bed you own.”
Zeke shrugged. “I inherited the house. It doesn’t cost me much more if there are two people in it or three. But if you want to chip in for utilities and food, I won’t say no.”
“Yeah. Okay. That would be good.”
“I don’t want to take away money your grandfather needs, though. And really, if you weren’t here, I’d be paying Isabelle. At ten bucks an hour, that’s over a hundred each shift. Wouldn’t take long to add up to rent.”
“Who’s Isabelle?”
“Oh, crap, yeah. You haven’t met her. A college kid Olivia knows. She covered that shift while you were flying to Pasadena. Nice girl. I think Jos has a bit of a crush.”
“Seriously?”
“Don’t tease him,” Zeke said quickly.
“I wouldn’t.” I was hurt that Zeke thought I might. “That kid has very few good things going in his life right now. I’m not going to crap on a harmless crush.”
He reached out and laid a hand on my shoulder. “You’re a good man.”
Hearing him say it fed some empty place inside me, but I just shrugged. “Tell that to my coach. He reamed me up and down for that penalty in Pasadena.”
“The one where you tripped the Python left wing? They didn’t score on the power play.”
I pointed at him. “You see? That’s what I told Coach, but he got all growly about it.” Then I realized, “Hey, you watched my game?”
“Not live, but I might’ve streamed it, yeah. Congrats on the win.”
“Thank you.” My stomach growled loud enough to wake the dead.
Zeke laughed. “That sounds like a hockey player who didn’t have lunch.”
