The bed shifted as Tyler rose up on his elbow. Jaime listened to Tyler’s steady breath and wondered what he was thinking. Then he leaned in and placed his mouth on Jaime’s. It was a tentative kiss Jaime gratefully returned and deepened it until their tongues intertwined. Jaime’s hand locked on the back of Tyler’s neck and bound them together once again. As Tyler turned over to lie on his back, Jaime rolled with him. When their lips parted, Jaime rested his head on Tyler’s chest.
“I could get used to this,” Jaime whispered through a yawn. His second workout of the evening was as exhilarating as his first. He still burned with the memory of their first kiss.
Jaime settled against Tyler’s chest. He wasn’t one to snuggle. Normally, as soon as the deed was done he was hunting for his clothes. Since this was Tyler’s first time, Jaime was in no rush to leave. Jaime lay there as Tyler ran his fingers through Jaime’s hair. Lying in bed without a word spoken, the smell of sex lingering in the air.
It wasn’t long before Jaime’s breathing grew shallow and even. Between the exertion and warmth of being so close, Jaime hadn’t realized how close he was to falling asleep until a shudder rippled him into consciousness. He sat up so quickly Tyler’s fingers caught in his hair.
“I should get going.” Jaime glanced at the alarm clock on the night table. It was getting late, but more importantly, he had nearly fallen asleep. And he never slept over. “You probably have to get up early for work.”
His eyes scanned the room for his clothes, never once looking at Tyler for more than a moment. Jaime had already stayed too long. Tyler sat in bed and watched him rush around the room gathering his belongings.
“Are you okay?” Tyler asked.
“Yes.” Jaime pulled on his pants and tried not to trip. “I’ll just grab my gi and get going.”
“But it’s still wet.” Tyler was frowning. “You can just toss it in the dryer and come back to bed.”
Jaime stopped in his tracks and stared at Tyler. None of the other guys he’d bedded ever cared much about Jaime sticking around, even out of politeness.
“You want me to stay?” Jaime stood with his fly open and his shirt in his hand. He knew he should leave, but he didn’t want to hurt Tyler’s feelings either. Tyler pulled back the covers on his bed and offered him a place.
“I sleep better with someone else in the bed.”
After an internal debate that lasted nearly a minute, Jaime dropped his shirt and walked back to the bed. His pants hit the floor as he stared at the bed. It was so much easier to get into it to have sex with a guy than it was to actually sleep with him. Tyler had shown him so much trust Jaime felt he could risk getting closer to him than he had let himself get with anyone else. Besides, it was just one night.
Tyler slipped under the covers and draped them over Jaime. Despite the queen-sized bed, Jaime curled up on the edge. He didn’t want to crowd Tyler. Then he felt Tyler’s hand along his back and lips kissing his shoulder.
“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.” Tyler sounded disappointed.
“I’ve never slept over with anyone.”
Tyler moved in closer, molding his body to Jaime’s. Instead of feeling trapped, Jaime felt comfortable. His body finally relaxed and he allowed himself to enjoy the physical contact that was more intimate to him than any sexual act.
“Never?” Tyler wrapped his arm around Jaime and linked his fingers in Jaime’s. “Why not?”
Jaime took a deep breath. His instincts had always served him well, but he wasn’t sure exactly when he had started keeping the men he slept with at a distance. “I don’t know. It always just seemed easier that way.”
As Tyler continued to stroke Jaime’s hand, Jaime nestled into the crook formed by Tyler’s body.
“When the sex is great, there’s no awkward conversation if someone decides it was a mistake.”
Jaime’s voice drifted off but he wasn’t ready to fall asleep. The last time he’d been with a guy in bed for more than just sex was a long time ago, and it hadn’t ended well. Jaime didn’t like to talk about his past or anything too personal, for that matter. Tyler had a way of making Jaime confront his fears and insecurities.
“What happened?” Tyler nuzzled Jaime’s neck and inhaled.
“When I was in high school, I got involved with a guy. I thought it was pretty serious. At least, it was serious for me. I thought I was in love with him. He wasn’t ready for anyone to know he was gay. I don’t think he really thought of himself as gay. We just fooled around and left it at that.” Jaime was surprised at the pain still lingering under the surface. He tried to sound matter of fact as he fought against the heartache. Tyler squeezed Jaime’s hand. “His brother caught us fooling around, told all our friends in our judo class that I had forced myself on his brother. I left the dojo.”
“Why didn’t you just tell the sensei what happened?”
Jaime shifted around to face Tyler.
“I wouldn’t ever out someone, especially not someone I cared about.”
“But he hung you out to dry.” Tyler propped himself up on one elbow. He looked like he was getting ready to give Jaime a sempai lecture. “Why didn’t you stand up for yourself?”
Jaime lay on his back and stared at the ceiling. “It just wasn’t worth it.”
“But you are worth it.”
Before Jaime could protest, Tyler kissed him. Tyler’s lips enveloped every inch of Jaime’s
