10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Jesse

I unlock the front door, my body still humming with excitement from our trip. Martin follows close behind, his presence a warm comfort at my back. As we step inside, the familiar scent of home wraps around us, grounding us back in reality.

"That was an amazing weekend, Jesse," Martin says, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Yeah," I agree, unable to find the right words myself. The past couple of days feel like a dream, and I'm not quite ready to wake up.

I take our bags upstairs, not even hesitating before placing his bags in my room instead of the guest bedroom. I don't know exactly where things are going to go between us, but I know for sure I want him in my bed and close to me for as long as he wants to be there.

After I get back down to the kitchen, we fall into an easy rhythm as we start preparing dinner. It's as if we've been doing this for years, not just a few weeks. Martin chops vegetables while I season the chicken, stealing glances at him when I think he's not looking.

I reach across to grab the paprika from the cabinet on the other side of where he's standing. My arm brushes against his back, and he leans into my touch, so I linger for a moment longer than necessary.

When I pull back, Martin turns to face me, his pupils blown. Goddamn. For someone in his mid-fifties, he's insatiable. I fucking love it. We're standing close, so instead of thinking too hard about it, I lean in to capture his mouth with mine. He lets out a groan, and his cock hardens against my thigh.

The timer on the oven beeps, startling us both. We both laugh and jump apart, the sexual tension broken, but in its place is a comfortable intimacy.

After we eat, I stack the last plate in the dishwasher and turn to Martin, who's wiping down the counter. The setting sun fills the kitchen with soft, golden light, and I'm struck by how right this feels.

"Hey, I'm feeling a bit lazy tonight. What do you say we skip our walk and watch Star Wars instead?"

Martin's eyes light up. "Sounds perfect. Which one?"

"How about A New Hope ? Can't go wrong with the classic."

He nods, a grin spreading across his face. "I'll make the popcorn."

While Martin busies himself in the kitchen, I head to the living room and cue up the movie. I settle into the corner of the couch, stretching an arm and a leg along the back.

He joins me a few minutes later, a large bowl of popcorn in his hands. Without hesitation, he sits right between my legs and nestles into me, his back resting against my chest.

As the iconic opening crawl begins, I can't help but marvel at how comfortable I am with all of this. It's only been a few weeks since Martin moved in, but it's like he's always been here. The weight of his body against mine, the scent of his shampoo, the warmth of his skin—it just feels… perfect.

We watch in companionable silence, occasionally reaching for popcorn or commenting on our favorite scenes. When Martin laughs at Han's quips, I feel the vibration in my own chest.

Halfway through the movie, I realize I've been absentmindedly running my fingers through Martin's hair. He lets out a contented sigh, nestling closer.

"This feels nice," he murmurs, his eyes still fixed on the screen.

I hum in agreement, not wanting to break the spell with words. The domesticity of the moment washes over me—us on the couch, Star Wars on the TV, the remains of our shared dinner in the kitchen. It's everything I thought I'd lost the chance at having after my divorce.

As the movie ends, Martin yawns before getting up off the couch. He leans back in a decadent-looking stretch, and I can't stop my cock from twitching when he lets out a groan of pleasure.

"Come on," I say, getting to my own feet and extending my hand to him. "Bedtime."

By some unspoken agreement, he follows me into my room instead of heading across the hall to the guest bedroom. Which is exactly what I was hoping for.

We brush our teeth standing side by side, and I'm struck again by how normal this all feels.

I slip into bed, relishing the warmth of his body next to mine. He settles in, his back pressed against my chest, and I drape an arm over his waist. The contentment I feel is almost overwhelming.

Just as I'm about to reach over and turn out the light, my phone buzzes on the nightstand. I groan, reluctant to move, but curiosity gets the better of me.

"Everything okay?" Martin murmurs, his voice already thick with impending sleep.

"Yeah, just a text. Probably Jeff," I reply, grabbing my phone.

Sure enough, it's from my brother. I scan the message quickly, my brow furrowing. "Hmm, looks like I need to head to San Francisco later this week for a meeting with the governor on one of our initiatives."

"Mmph. How long will you be away?" Martin mumbles, pressing even closer into me.

"Just a couple of nights," I say, tossing my phone aside and pressing my body against his.

"Good," he murmurs. "Don't want to be away from you long," he says, and I'm pretty sure he's already asleep when the next words leave his mouth, but they make me feel warm and happy all the same. "You belong with me."