Page 10 of The Way Home

Caleb pulled his hand away. “Too much?”

“Yes—no.”Jamie shook his head, trying to get his mind under control. “I just—I’m a bit nervous. I’m a little inexperienced with this… stuff.”

Jamie cringed, silently berating himself for already blowing this. A small wrinkle appeared between Caleb’s brows, and the concern in his eyes made Jamie feel even worse. His face burned and, if he was smart, he’d grab his bike helmet and book it back to Islington right about now.

“Here.” Caleb carefully guided him over to the sofa, settling a few inches away. “Why don’t we slow down a little?”

“Okay.”

Leaning over, Caleb brushed one of Jamie’s curls from his forehead.

“Are you reading any good books right now?” he asked.

Jamie blinked, and he thought for a moment he’d misheard. “Erm… what?”

“Books. Are you reading any?”

“Oh.” Jamie looked down at his leg, pressing his hands into his thighs in an attempt to get them to stop bouncing. “Yes, actually. I’m reading one by James Cook for an exhibit at the museum we’re doing next month…”

He immediately launched into an anxiety-fueled rant about the history book. The more he chattered, the more he relaxed, and the more he noticed Caleb watching him with soft eyes and a sweet, lopsided smile.

Maybe notallmen hated talking to him.

“Have you ever done an exhibit on Ancient Greece?” Caleb asked. “I gotreallyinto reading about old artifacts when I lived in Chicago.”

“No, we haven’t, but there’s a brilliant exhibit at The British Museum,” Jamie exclaimed with a smile.

“Isn’t that where you work?”

“BritishLibrary.Different from The British Museum.”

“Oh,” Caleb’s eyes flicked to Jamie’s lips and back up. “Well, maybe we could go together. You could show me around.”

Jamie felt a tiny flutter behind his ribcage.

“Yeah, erm, sure.”

After a few more minutes of conversation, it became clear that Caleb had read more than afewof the books on his shelves. Behind the hot athletic trainer was a highly intelligent and very well-read man.

The tight ball of nerves in Jamie’s chest started to loosen, and that old, mean voice in the back of his mind quieted. The more they talked, the closer Caleb seemed to float toward Jamie. He felt his body getting hotter and hotter, anticipation buzzing hot in his veins.

It was decision time: was he really going to do this—actuallyhookup with someone, beyond a fumbling blowjob—or was it time to bail, so Caleb could take care of his (admittedly enormous-looking) erection in the privacy of his own shower?

When Caleb finally slid his hand onto Jamie’s leg, he felt his head get dizzy.

“Cuteandsmart.” Caleb’s hand slid up Jamie’s thigh, bypassed his very apparent erection, and came around to settle on his low back. With a gentle tug, he pulled Jamie into his side. “Doing okay?”

“Yes,” Jamie squeaked. “Brilliant.”

Fuck, Caleb smelled so good. Just as masculine as he looked. His hand took up a large portion of Jamie’s thigh, which was saying something because Jamie bikeda lot—

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah?”

Caleb reached forward and grabbed his beer. He took a small sip before asking, “How could someone who looks like…” He waved the bottle toward Jamie. “You,be inexperienced?”

Jamie swallowed. “Well, I’m inexperienced with men. You know the girl you met at the pub? Ellie? Well, she and I started dating when I was about sixteen.” Caleb’s eyebrows shot up. “And it wasn’t until recently that I—well, thatshe—”