Nothing. Jeff rested his head again Craig’s chest, over his heart, but said nothing.
“Sam said you feel something for me too. I’m paraphrasing, but he basically told me I was a blind jerk, and you’d been in love with me for a while. I came home to find out for myself. With all the boyfriends you’ve had, it never dawned on me that you were just biding time, waiting for me to grow up and get a clue.”
Jeff’s gripped the hem of Craig’s shirt. “Sam’s right.”
“Fuck. Am I really that blind?”
“Yes.” It was just a whisper, but Jeff’s answer resonated loud and clear.
For the first time that evening Craig allowed himself to smile. “Can you look at me? I want to make sure you’re okay.”
Jeff slowly lifted his chin, his eyes still bloodshot and moist. “I’m okay. You got here in time. I prayed you would. Somewhere deep down, I knew you would.”
Overwhelmed by Jeff’s faith in him, Craig bravely asked, “Do you?” Craig bit his lip. “Do you really feel something more for me than friendship?”
“I love you.” Jeff’s voice was still flat, but Craig could hear the truth in his words. “I’ve been in love with you for years. Probably since our track team days.”
There it was. Courageously laid out in the open. Craig had been a fool, but maybe he had needed time to grow up, to become a man before he could own up to his own feelings too. “If what I’m feeling isn’t love, then I don’t know what to call it, because it’s pretty damn powerful.” He stroked Jeff’s sweat-matted hair, unable to stop touching him, needing to assure himself he was all right. “I want you in my life, Jeff. I want to take care of you, keep you safe, and—”
The edges of his lips curling upward, Jeff’s eyes widened. “And what, Craig?”
Taking a deep breath, Craig tenderly brushed his lips against Jeff’s. “And I want to make love to you. I know it sounds insane coming from me, but it wouldn’t be just sex with you, with us.”
“I want that too. But not tonight. Not after he was here.”
Understanding, Craig took Jeff’s hand in his own. “I need a shower. I feel pretty disgusting. You can join me.”
Jeff narrowed his eyes but grinned as well.
“No funny stuff. Let’s send all the filth down the drain, together.”
Nodding, Jeff sat up, and the two made their way to a G-rated shower.
After they each toweled off separately, Jeff found his voice again. “He knocked over all the accounting and bookkeeping I was working on finalizing for our business.”
“I guess we’ll just have to put our partnership to work tomorrow to fix everything.”
Both men knew Craig wasn’t only referring to the Excel files for The Male Room.
Chapter 9
WAKING up, Craig felt a warm weight on his chest. He began to gently run his fingers through Jeff’s hair, hoping not to wake him, but needing to know he was there and he was all right. Craig relished the contact, the closeness, in a way he never had before.
Looking down at Jeff, he was mesmerized by those beautiful, red lips. He shuddered thinking of how Derek had nearly—No! He wasn’t going there, not now, not when he had Jeff safely tucked in his embrace. Craig didn’t care if he didn’t move the entire day, despite knowing at some point they’d both have to face each other, and it would be time for them to talk, really talk. He’d spent way too long avoiding the truth and Jeff deserved it. He deserved it all.
Curling in closer, Jeff inched a leg over Craig’s. Oh God. Craig took a deep breath. The touch was too much, and yet not enough. His body reacted immediately, betraying Craig’s intention to hold back and let Jeff take the lead at his own pace. Closing his eyes, Craig laid his head back on the pillow and breathed slowly, actions proving to be a vain attempt to regain composure. Giving in to his unstoppable desire, Craig kept one arm wrapped around Jeff and let the other hand make its way toward his lengthening cock.
Shit! He had no self-control. The more Jeff moved in his sleep, the more Craig wanted him. His need became overwhelming. Craig began to stroke himself through his briefs. This wasn’t his typical reaction to any random hottie; this was all about Jeff, his Jeff. The man he hadn’t known he needed, wanted, until it was almost too late.
Sensing Jeff beginning to wake, Craig tried to halt his hand, but he couldn’t bring himself to completely cease touching himself. Looking up into Craig’s eyes, Jeff blinked. Startled, he tried to jerk away, but Craig kept a supportive arm around him. “You’re with me. You’re safe.”
“Craig?”
“Yes?” Craig stilled his hand, but the evidence of his desire couldn’t be missed.
“Did you?”
Not following Jeff’s line of questioning, Craig made a random stab at an answer. “He’s gone. I got rid of him. Derek’s out of your life, our lives, for good. I promise.”
Shaking his head against Craig’s chest, Jeff licked his dry lips, deepening their fiery color. “Did you tell me you—?” Jeff stopped speaking and tried to turn away, but Craig was determined. The time for hiding his feelings was over. He wasn’t going to keep making the same mistake over and over.
“Stay. Please stay.” Taking another deep breath, Craig knew he had to step up and be honest in the light of day. “Yes. I said all those things and I meant them.” He wanted to be careful with Jeff, but Craig sensed an urgency that demanded he show him how he felt. Words were empty after the near disaster from the previous night.
Rolling Jeff onto his back, Craig slowly followed, aligned his body with that of the man he had never, for all those wasted years,
