Page 47 of Sin Deep
“So we can have it for breakfast. Or a midnight snack. In bed.” Winter’s fingers slid over him, just a light, affectionate touch.
“Mmhmm. Anything you want, lover.” He hummed, as satisfied as if it had been his own birthday.
“Right now I have everything I want. I don’t think it will be possible to top this night.”
“I’ll have to work hard.” And he was more than willing.
Winter was worth it.
13
Winter had intended to have a little cat nap, then get up and try some of Harley’s cake. They didn’t nap as much as sleep, and the sun was fully up when he opened his eyes again.
Small wonder. Harley had worked all day in his strenuous job and then was up late with him. And Winter hadn’t a workout like that in quite some time. Add some wine to that and a heavy dinner, and sleep was inevitable.
He smiled at the way Harley was curled into him, not just staying close but holding on. He understood. He needed some reassurance too. Some comfort. And to know his lover was safe.
Harley was lovely like this—well-fucked and sleeping, the day’s stubble on his jaw.
He knew how he wanted to spend their day, if Harley agreed, of course. He wanted to use his new brushes and make Harley up, take him to the club to dance and let it smudge and melt with sweat, then kiss him and make love again until it was all over him too.
But he was in no hurry, and he thought perhaps they could go out first; he just wasn’t sure where. Brunch and a walk, shopping, sightseeing, whatever his beautiful boy wanted to do.
Harley smiled in his sleep, stretching up tall, muscles rippling. So pretty. So strong and cut and in his bed.
He slipped away, covering Harley with his fluffy down comforter so the boy wouldn’t get cold. The bathroom tile was chilly under his bare feet as he did his business and washed his hands.You’re a lucky man, Winter Love,he thought, looking at himself in the mirror. Forty wasn’t old, but it wasn’t young either. Still, this was decidedly the most energetic he’d felt in quite some time.
He shaved and wrapped himself up in a robe, and went to make himself a cup of coffee, enjoy his morning. The flowers and the balloons were there, as were his presents, and it made his home festive.
He and Harley had only known each other a handful of weeks, but the boy was a solid presence already. There were constant traces of the boy everywhere now. Leftovers in the refrigerator, a jacket over a chair, a toothbrush in the bathroom. Even when Harley slept at his own apartment, there were things left behind, and now he had birthday mementos. And presents!
And this was starting to move into familiar territory. How familiar remained to be seen, and he wanted so much to give the boy the benefit of the doubt. If he sat here and thought about it too much he would eventually talk himself out of all of it before either of them got hurt; he could do that, but should he? Did he need to?
He didn’t want to.
What he needed was perspective, and he wasn’t going to get it watching his coffee brew and thinking himself into a corner. He pulled out his phone, hoping it wasn’t too early for Clint. Surely his old friend had seen everything in the years he’d been running the club. At the very least Clint knew him well and would have something to say to him. Hopefully something helpful.
He hit call and waited, sure that if Clint didn’t want to be disturbed, he wouldn’t answer.
“Good morning, Winter Love. How are you this bright day?”
“I am officially forty, there’s cake in my refrigerator and a beautiful boy in my bed, so I have no complaints.” He smiled. Quite the opposite, he could only brag.
“Congratulations! You survived another birthday, very nice. Is this the young man that’s living with Oliver now? I’ve heard decent things.”
“Harley, yes. He’s lovely. He thoroughly celebrated me last night with dinner and presents. I feel absolutely spoiled.” Stunned and spoiled. Harley had gone to such trouble and all for him.
Clint chuckled softly, the sound warm and happy. “Oh, goodness. Did you go anywhere I need to be terribly jealous about?”
“Wolfgang’s. We had potatoes. Harley asked if I thought it would be excusable not to have a vegetable, which was the most adorable thing. He let me pick the wine…” He sighed. “Oh, I like this one, Clint. He sees me.”
“I couldn’t be more pleased, dear friend. Oliver has very good things to say about him too.”
“We’re coming to the club tonight. I’d like you to meet him. I feel like I need… I’m very…” He sighed. “These young men can be hard to hold onto.”
“I’d love to. Would you like a seat at my table? I’ll invite Thomas and his boy.”
He smiled at that. “Oh, that would be wonderful. Harley is a Texan, so he might appreciate Sam, and he certainly could use some friends.” Although even as he said it, he part of him protested, wanting to keep Harley to himself and away from all the people that could capture the boy’s interest.
