Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

GARRETT

I n the morning, Garrett and Drake made love slowly, sleepy hand jobs in bed and then another round of blow jobs in the shower.

“I could get very used to waking up like this,” he teased as they showered away the jizz and sweat.

“I’m in favor.” Drake leaned in for a water-soaked kiss.

As they toweled off, Garrett thought back to their lovemaking the night before. “I’m sorry that I’m not ready yet to try more new positions,” he blurted, giving voice to the worry that had been gnawing at him.

He knew he was inexperienced. Drake had been patient and hadn’t pushed, and their relationship was still very new. But how long will he wait for me to catch up? I don’t want to disappoint him, but I also don’t want to do anything I’m not comfortable doing.

Drake rested his hands on Garrett’s shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Where’s this coming from? I thought we did pretty well by each other last night—and that was one of the best showers I’ve had in my life just now.”

Garrett couldn’t help feeling self-conscious. “I just don’t want to disappoint you because we haven’t done anal.”

Drake pushed a wet strand of hair out of Garrett’s face. “You know, some people never do it, and that’s okay. Yes, it can feel amazing, giving and receiving. I’d like to share that with you. But only when you’re ready. And if it isn’t something you ever want to do…we can come up with a lot of other ways to get off and feel good.”

Garrett wanted to believe him, but he still worried. “I tried it once,” he confessed. “In college. It…didn’t go well.”

Drake cupped Garrett’s face with his hand. “That means your partner didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t prep you right. Good prep makes all the difference, and it can be arousing as hell just getting ready. If you decide you want to try it, I can make it good for you. And if you don’t—it’s not going to make me leave.”

“Promise?” Garrett felt young and vulnerable despite being a doctor in his thirties.

“Promise.”

Garrett’s medical training gave him more than enough knowledge to figure out how human anatomy worked for anal sex. He had read articles on how to do it right, without discomfort, so both partners could enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, after that early bad encounter, Garrett had used being busy as an excuse to stick with other, less fraught, ways of giving and receiving pleasure.

“I just thought I should say so up front in case it changed anything.” Garrett tried not to let his insecurities show. Despite it being early days together, he had already figured out that he was falling fast and hard.

Drake kissed him again. “It doesn’t change a thing. We have lots of options. But most of all, I just want you, any way I can have you.”

“Thank you,” Garrett said and meant I think I could love you.

It seemed far too early to say that out loud. Garrett worried that his strong feelings might seem like inexperience, and he knew he probably hadn’t done as much as Drake or most men his age. He didn’t want to scare Drake off by admitting too much, too soon. And in the back of his mind, although Garrett knew it was ridiculous, he worried a little that his secret agent boyfriend had James Bond’s experience in bed.

“I’m not a spy, and I don’t sleep with everything that moves,” Drake teased, and Garrett realized he had forgotten about his boyfriend’s psychic abilities.

“I didn’t mean?—”

Drake kissed him again and gave him an indulgent look. “Of course you did. Those movies are completely unrealistic. And even if they weren’t, that’s not me. Let’s take this one step at a time and see where we end up, huh?”

“I’m good with that,” Garrett replied.

Once they were dressed, Garrett fried eggs while Drake managed toast and the coffee maker. They worked around each other efficiently, even though it was Drake’s first time navigating Garrett’s space.

“You’re already a good influence,” Drake said as they sat down to eat. “I usually grab a toaster pastry on the way out the door.”

Garrett didn’t have to fake a shudder. “It’s a miracle you’re still alive. Good food doesn’t have to take a long time to make. If I know I’m going to be swamped, I do up a dozen hardboiled eggs, and that way, I can grab and go.”

“You’re going to help me change my ways for the better; I can already tell,” Drake joked.

After breakfast, Drake gathered his things to head out. Garrett found himself hoping that their relationship would move forward to living together so they didn’t have to say goodbye.

Don’t rush it. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen in its own time, he told himself, but found it difficult to take the advice to heart.

“Don’t forget—we have a date tonight.” Drake pulled Garrett in for a goodbye kiss.

“I’m counting on it. Can you stay over again?”

“Yes—as long as it’s okay if I leave earlier. I need to take care of some things and get an early start.”

“I am capable of using an alarm clock,” Garrett teased. “We can totally make that happen.”

Drake stole another kiss and gave Garrett’s ass a squeeze, then headed out. Garrett barely kept himself from watching out the window, deciding that was entirely too sappy, although he wanted to watch until Drake was out of sight.

I’ve got it bad.

Garrett fed Bailey and took him out for a walk. “I hope you like Drake because I’m pretty smitten,” he confessed as they headed down the block.

Bailey wagged his tail and gave him a goofy look, which Garrett chose to interpret as positive. “Just think—double the petting, twice the treats, and lots of fetch.”

Garrett had been relieved when Drake took to Bailey because he knew that if they hadn’t gotten along, it would have been a deal-breaker. Thank God he’s a dog lover.

He took Bailey for a little longer walk than usual to make up for him having to share his attention with Drake. At one point, he thought a burgundy sedan followed him, but then it turned off, and he chalked his worry up to paranoia.

If I’m going to fall for a fed, I’m going to have to get used to a little more risk, for him and me. We’ll figure it out. Other agents make it work—so can we. Garrett crossed his fingers on that since all he knew about federal agents he learned from watching television.

Once they got home, Garrett made the bed, tidied up after breakfast, and changed for work. He got Bailey into his car harness and headed for the clinic, keeping a slightly paranoid eye on the rearview mirror in case the sedan showed up again.

He made it to the clinic without spotting the burgundy sedan and convinced himself that he had watched too many detective movies. Even so, he carefully scanned the parking lot before he and Bailey got out of the SUV.

From the cars that he knew didn’t belong to his staff, it looked like the morning had gotten off to a busy start.

“Everything okay?” he asked as he walked past the front desk with Bailey. He saw several people already in the waiting room.

“We had a bunch of prescription refills and nail trims,” Patty told him, “You’re booked for vaccinations and annual physicals for most of the morning. I printed your schedule, and it’s on your desk along with the charts I pulled.”

“I couldn’t survive without you,” Garrett told her, meaning every word.

Garrett changed into scrubs and looked over his appointments. The afternoon held several sick visits, a new puppy examination, and wellness checks for two senior dogs.

He checked his phone occasionally but didn’t expect to hear from Drake during the workday, especially since they had just been together and would see each other that evening. Between patients, Garrett found his mind wandering, looking forward to their date that evening.

“Something on your mind, Doc?” Kirsten asked, and Garrett realized he must have zoned out waiting for the next patient to come to the treatment room.

“Nothing wrong. Just thinking about the weekend,” he fibbed. His office staff were close, but he wasn’t ready to say anything about his relationship until things weren’t quite so new between him and Drake. While Garrett thought all the signs certainly pointed toward good luck, he tried to keep his personal life private until the point where introductions might be necessary.

Since he had basically no personal life to speak of since he started the clinic, that hadn’t been too hard.

“Doing something fun besides working?” Kirsten asked.

“Maybe. We’ll see how the weather is, but I’ve been thinking of going on some of the trails over at Grand Vue.”

The state park offered hiking trails, but it also had geocaching and disc golf. It was one of Bailey’s favorite spots, and Garrett was hoping he could introduce Drake to it as well.

“It’s nice over there,” she replied. “I haven’t been in a while—it always seems to rain on my days off—but it’s a pretty place and fairly quiet most of the time.”

Garrett realized he had no idea whether Drake liked or merely tolerated the outdoors. While he wasn’t a true wilderness enthusiast—he preferred motels to tents—Garrett found that exploring several nearby state parks was calming after a busy week at work. Bailey enjoyed the outings and they both benefited from the exercise and time in nature.

“Bailey likes doing some of the easier hikes,” Garrett said. “I think he has fun seeing all the birds and squirrels, even if he can’t chase them.”

“Smart dog. I should go to the parks more often,” Kirsten admitted. “I get busy running errands, and poof—the weekend is gone.”

The sick visits turned out to be uncomplicated, something Garrett never took for granted. He loved being able to help a pet feel better, and even after all these years, he took it nearly as hard as the owner when he had to give bad news.

“You liked the puppy, didn’t you, Bailey?” Garrett said after they finished the exam, and Pepper, a young beagle, left with her owner. “I think she’d give you a run for your money. But you’re the only dog for me.” He ruffled Bailey’s ears.

The first wellness check went fine. But on the second, Garrett had to share bad news.

“Daisy will be fine for a while,” he told Mrs. Castille, the dog’s owner, while gently petting the older dog’s head. “But be prepared for a sudden turn for the worse. She’s at that age when a number of things could go wrong out of the blue, and when that happens, it tends to trigger other weak points. They can go pretty fast.”

“I understand,” Mrs. Castille said, cradling Daisy, a Pekingese, in her lap. “I’ve been grateful for every year we’ve had together, but I knew the clock was ticking. She’s not in pain, is she?”

Garrett shook his head, and Mrs. Castille visibly relaxed. “No. I would have told you. For now, she’s doing great. Watch for any changes in habits or behavior. Just enjoy every day. Spoil her a little. Let me know if anything changes.”

Mrs. Castille gathered the dog into her arms. “Thank you so much, Dr. Thompson. You always take such good care of my Daisy.”

Garrett managed a frozen smile until the door closed, and he passed a hand over his eyes.

“It’s not going to be long, is it?” Kirsten asked. He knew she had enough experience to see the old dog’s symptoms for what they were.

“No. And I know Daisy is in her nineties in people years, and she’s had a wonderful life. But…it’s always too soon,” Garrett said.

He took a few moments in the break room to pull himself together. Helping pets and their owners through illness and end of life was part of his job, and he approached it with the reverence of clergy. Still, it never got easier.

“Hey, boss.” Kirsten stuck her head in. “Can I get you anything?”

Garrett blinked hard and shook his head. “No. I’m okay. It’s just the part of the job I hate the most.”

“I know,” Kirsten agreed. “But look at it this way—you’ll make it as easy as you can for both Mrs. Castille and Daisy. That’s a blessing.”

“Yeah. I tell myself that. But it never gets easier.”

“I don’t think it’s supposed to when you do it right.”

He managed a watery smile. “Thanks.”

Bailey seemed to sense Garrett’s mood. He wound through the clinic’s back hallway to find him and bumped against his leg, wanting ear scratches.

“Thanks, boy.” Garrett knelt next to Bailey and wrapped his arms around the dog. “You always know what I need.” He hugged Bailey until Kirsten knocked on the doorframe to let him know the next patient had arrived.

“Extra treats tonight for being my emotional support dog,” Garrett promised Bailey, pulling a treat out of his pocket for him. “Good boy.”

Fortunately, the rest of the afternoon passed quickly. None of the sick visits were anything serious; nothing antibiotics and food changes wouldn’t fix.

As they were getting ready to close for the night, Garett dropped by the front desk. “Anything from Mr. Colletta?”

Patty shook her head. “No. Were you expecting to hear from him?”

Really hoping we never hear from him again. “Not really. I just wondered—he seemed very worried about his dog.”

“I guess even tough guys have a soft spot for someone,” Patty replied, which Garrett took to be a diplomatic way to say, “Even gangsters love their dogs . ”

Garrett tried to focus on the positives as he changed back to street clothes. The rest of the animals he had treated that day didn’t have serious conditions and would make a full recovery. They were doted upon by owners who loved them. And the pets definitely returned the affection.

Sometimes Garrett thought the owners were as much his patients as the pets since they often mentioned the things going on in their lives that affected the situation. He wasn’t qualified as a people doctor or a therapist, but he knew, beyond questioning, that the bond between pet and owner contributed greatly to good health and happiness for both of them.

“Come on, Bailey. Let’s go home and get you fed and taken care of,” he said as Bailey wagged happily on the way to the SUV.

“You’re such a good boy.” He talked to Bailey on the drive home to take his mind off the day. “What do you think of Drake? He likes you. I bet he’d bring you all kinds of treats if you’d put in a good word for him.”

Bailey yipped, and Garrett couldn’t tell whether it was a sympathetic response to his tone or he had spotted birds in the trees by the road. He chose to take it as support.

“I like him a lot,” Garrett confided. “Like, a lot a lot. Is that wrong? I know we just started seeing each other. And I wasn’t really actually looking for someone, although I’d thought it would be nice to find the right person. And then there he was.”

He glanced at Bailey in the rearview mirror. He was staring out the side window, tongue hanging out, happily grinning.

“Do you think you could get used to having him around all the time? Because I’m falling pretty hard for him. That way, you could have two papas. Would you like that?”

I’m discussing my love life with my dog. Then again, who knows me better?

Garrett let Bailey out to romp in the backyard before calling him inside and feeding him dinner. He nibbled some crackers and cheese while Bailey ate so he wouldn’t be famished when Drake arrived and tidied up the house since he was planning to bring Drake back here after their date.

After Bailey was settled, Garrett took a shower, once again cleaning down there so he was ready no matter what direction the night took.

Maybe I should look into a butt plug. That way I could get used to the feeling of being…open. It might make me less nervous when we get to the real thing.

I’m more nervous about the unknown than whether it will be uncomfortable at first. I trust Drake, even though we haven’t known each other long. I think he’d make it good for me. But that would probably be easier if I wasn’t a nervous wreck.

He appreciated Drake’s patience with moving the physical side of their relationship to the next level, and he understood that they had options for intimacy. Garrett had always imagined that he would eventually at least try anal again. Reading about it in romance books and watching explicit videos definitely were a turn-on. He hoped it would be something he could share with Drake and tried to be patient with himself.

I’m not exactly a thirty-three-year-old virgin, but sometimes I feel like it. It’s not like I was saving myself. I didn’t like how it went the time I tried, and I don’t want to have that happen again.

But Drake’s not like that. I’m sure he has more experience than I do—everyone does. I don’t like thinking about him with other partners, but we’re exclusive now, and I’ll benefit from what he’s learned.

We’ve got time. He’s not rushing me. I’ll relax as we get to know each other.

I have to believe that everything will work out.

Drake knocked on the door a few minutes before six-thirty. A rust-brown shirt brought out the color in his eyes, and Garrett liked the way Drake’s slim-cut jeans clung to his ass and thighs.

“Ready for the adventure?” Drake grinned.

“We’d better get moving because those jeans make me think of a whole different sort of adventure,” Garrett confessed.

“The good news—we can do both.”

Garrett locked the door and followed Drake to his truck. “I thought we’d catch dinner first, then round two for the escape room and mini-golf,” Drake said. “We can do billiards and bowling later—or save it for another time. Sound okay to you?”

“Sounds great. I’m starved.”

Drake pulled up in front of a diner, one that looked like an old trolley car. “I haven’t eaten here yet, but everyone told me it was really good,” he said. “It’s not fancy, but I hear the pie is amazing.”

“Your intel is spot-on. Wayside Diner is a classic,” Garrett replied. “I’ve been meaning to try it. And I heard the same thing about their milkshakes.”

“I read that the whole thing about looking like train cars was because the early diners were pre-fabricated, and making them into a railroad car made them easy to ship,” Drake said. “Now they’re nostalgic. I’ve always thought they were cool—and they do usually have amazing food.”

The interior of the diner played up its mid-century roots, with jukeboxes at each table and classic server uniforms. They found a table near the back and settled in. Garrett took a deep breath, taking in the scent of chili and burgers, and his stomach rumbled.

“Looks like we got here just in time before you expired from hunger,” Drake joked.

Garrett gave a sheepish grin. “It was a busy day. I kinda ate lunch on the run.”

The menu seemed to have a little of everything since the diner was open around the clock. Drake ordered a cheeseburger and fries with a vanilla milkshake. Garrett opted for a breakfast serving of hash browns, fried eggs, and bacon, with coffee and a slice of cherry pie.

“I might be in a food coma when we’re done,” Garrett admitted. “The portions look generous.” He nodded in the direction of the nearby tables.

“Fuel for the adventure to come,” Drake said, smiling. “How was your day?”

“Pretty good. Not very exciting. No emergencies. Everyone walked out better than when they showed up, so that’s a win in my book,” Garrett replied. “And my least favorite patient didn’t show up, so that’s something.”

“How did he get on the naughty list? Did he bite you?”

Garrett shook his head, feeling bad that he had brought up the subject since he hadn’t meant to dim the mood. “Just a jerk of an owner. The dog is fine. Dogs usually are. Sometimes people suck.”

“That’s the truth,” Drake agreed.

Heaping plates filled with steaming food appeared before they had much chance to talk.

“This smells even better than it looks, and it looks awesome,” Garrett said when the server put their meals on the table. “I might not need to eat for a week if I finish this.”

“I can think of fun ways to burn calories,” Drake said in a low voice, raising an eyebrow to get his point across. Garrett felt himself chub in his jeans.

“So can I—and I’m counting on it,” he flirted back.

Neither of them picked jukebox songs, but the tables around them kept the tunes coming. Drake nudged his knee under the table, and Garrett felt like a high schooler with a crush.

The pie and milkshake were just as good as expected, and by the time they finished eating, Garrett needed activity to avoid falling asleep.

“Since we had a good time at the arcade last time, I found a different escape room and mini golf for tonight. I thought we could hit the escape room first,” Garrett said since it had been his turn to set up the date. “And maybe next time, if the weather is good, we could try the trails at Grand Vue Park.”

“Another escape room, huh?” Drake asked.

Garrett shook his head. “It was fun last time, and this one is supposed to be more challenging.”

They picked a different haunted mansion setting, and since this was date night, Garrett had reserved a time for just the two of them instead of having to be part of a larger group. The guide explained the rules, made sure they understood the time limit, and sent them into the themed room.

Drake caught his eye, turned his back to the camera that let the game-runners watch the participants, and partially withdrew a small leather case from the inside pocket of his jacket.

“Is that—?” Garrett thought he recognized a lock pick kit from a show he’d watched.

Drake nodded, and Garrett remembered in time that the rooms had mics and cameras to help the players and also make sure nothing inappropriate happened.

“I guess that’s a bit of insurance.”

“We’re starting out conscious and not tied up, so I’m counting that as a win.”

Maybe bringing a federal agent to an escape room wasn’t the best idea.

Drake grinned. “It’s pretend, just like going to a scary movie. I like it much better this way.”

A stoic man in a formal butler’s uniform introduced himself as their guide and ushered them to the antechamber.

“Welcome to Harbinger Hall,” the man intoned. “Tonight, you have been invited as guests of the Duke of Harbinger for a dinner party. But when you arrive at the mansion, you find it deserted. Where have the guests gone? Is this a prank, or something much more nefarious? What about the Duke? Is he in on the joke, or has he also been spirited away?”

Their guide paused. “And speaking of spirits…do they really haunt the halls of this old mansion? Are they trying to warn you—or trying to stop you from solving the Haunting of Harbinger Hall? You have sixty minutes to find the clues, solve the mystery, and unlock the door to free you from the adventure,” he continued, no longer as dramatic.

“We can see and hear you. If you have questions, speak up. Don’t damage any of the props. Things you are meant to find will be findable without harming the room or the items. The door is not locked, but leaving ends the adventure. Please keep your phones turned off and out of sight. That’s it! Have fun—and may you get the best of the Haunting of Harbinger Hall . ”

With that, their guide opened the door, ushered them inside, and closed it behind them.

“Wow.” Garrett took in the elaborate Victorian parlor. “This looks like something out of Scooby-Doo.”

“I was thinking Clue , the movie, but okay,” Drake agreed.

Garrett and Drake each took a side of the room to search. Garrett quickly realized that while Drake gamely played along and seemed to be having fun, he didn’t seem to be concentrating very hard and let Garrett take the lead.

“It never occurred to me that this might be a lot like your day job,” Garrett said after they successfully swept the first room and found both a key and a note, directing them to the locked inner chamber.

Drake put a finger over his lips, and Garrett got the message— Don’t spill the beans about the secret agent stuff.

“Hey—they’ve done a great job with the set and the plot,” Drake pointed out . “It’s not smelly and rat-infested or lousy with asbestos. Those are all definite improvements. I wish everything was like this.”

Drake hung back and let Garrett take the lead, chiming in when Garrett asked for help and occasionally nudging him toward well-hidden clues.

Working together felt comfortable, even if Drake wasn’t putting in his full effort. Garrett appreciated that Drake played along and let him enjoy the adventure. When they solved the mystery in forty-five minutes instead of the allotted sixty, they won a gift certificate, and each got a button reading “Escape Artist.”

They walked out, and Garrett turned to Drake. “You figured it out early.”

“Finding the answer wasn’t really the point,” Drake said. “It was the process that was supposed to be fun.”

“Thanks for not spoiling it.” Garrett was impressed. Lots of guys would have used the chance to show off, even when they weren’t a government agent.

“Hey, it’s a lot more fun when no one’s really trying to kill you.” Drake held out his wrists. “No rope burn. No headache from getting pistol-whipped. And no real ghosts. Those are all big pluses in my book.”

“I hope you weren’t bored.” Garrett worried that Drake didn’t have a good time.

Drake reached over and gave his hand a quick squeeze. “I’m with you. Of course I enjoyed it. And remember—a script has to make sense. What I deal with might have a certain logic to the perpetrator, but that doesn’t always add up for someone who isn’t?—”

“Bonkers,” Garrett supplied.

“Effectively—yes. Although that’s not a textbook term,” Drake agreed with a grin. “I thought the room was very creative—and a lot more fun than the real thing.”

“I’m glad because we’ve got a gift certificate, and Bailey only works for dog treats,” Garrett joked. “Still up for mini-golf?”

“Sure. The evening’s still young,” Drake agreed. “We can play golf—and go back to your place for a hole-in-one.” He gave an exaggerated leer.

Every time Garrett didn’t think he could fall harder, Drake did something unexpectedly wonderful that just made him even more smitten.

I never thought I could feel so much, so fast. Taking this slow is going to be rough.

Two black-light-themed mini-golf courses presented a choice—Alien Encounter or Killer in the Cornfield.

“I vote for aliens,” Drake said. “At least I don’t deal with them at work. That’s another department.”

Garrett looked at him, trying to decide whether Drake was joking.

“You’re kidding, right?”

Drake shrugged. “The truth is out there.”

“Very X-Files .” And managing not to confirm or deny.

The glowing course wound through flying saucers, little green men, pyramids, crop circles, and strange statues with alien hieroglyphics. Everything glowed under the black lights, including their clothing.

“Someone put a lot into this course.” Drake gestured to the blinking lights and props. “I like it.”

Garrett pointed toward the ceiling, where a cow statue was being lifted by a glowing tractor beam into a silver spaceship.

“That’s what no one talks about,” Drake joked. “Alien cow tipping. Pretty sure I saw it on one of those ancient astronaut shows.”

Garrett was pleased that they were more evenly matched at golf, and he didn’t feel like Drake was holding back. Neither of them was likely to make the pro circuit, but they had a good time laughing at the elaborate decorations that recreated iconic sci-fi movie scenes.

“Tied—and not in a bad way,” Garrett proclaimed as they sank the last hole.

“Personally, I prefer handcuffs,” Drake said with a naughty wink that sent heat low in Garrett’s belly.

“I’ll remember that.” He was no longer sure when Drake was teasing and felt his cheeks heat.

They did well enough to score half-off coupons for a return visit. “Next time, I’d like to do the Ancient Pyramids course,” Garrett said. “It looked fun.”

“So did the Voodoo Bayou course,” Drake said. “And there’s still billiards and bowling. I guess this means more dates, huh?”

“Are you in it just for the mini-golf?” Garrett joked.

“If I said it was because of your great ass, would you hold it against me?”

“Absolutely not.” Garrett was glad he’d chosen this pair of jeans because they definitely showed his assets off to advantage.

Garrett noticed that Drake seemed wary crossing the parking lot and glanced in the rearview mirror often as he drove. Maybe being over-cautious just goes with the job. “Are you worried about something?”

Drake smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes, and he still had what Garrett thought of as his on duty look.

“I’m in town on a case. I don’t know how much the bad guys know or whether they realize I’m on their tail. I don’t want to put you in any danger.”

Garrett sensed Drake’s strong protective streak and didn’t want to have him decide that he needed to walk away for Garrett’s sake.

“Hey. I appreciate caution, but I’m a grown-ass man, and I get a say in the risks I take,” Garrett said. “I like you a lot. I know you have to go back to Wheeling when you’re done with the case, but I’ve already figured out the best routes to visit. Which means that working around the dangers of your job is going to be part of making this thing between us last.”

“I don’t want to put you on the radar of bad people who might want to hurt you to get to me.” Drake didn’t look away from the road as he spoke, but Garrett got the feeling he had already given the risk too much thought.

“I know people whose partners are cops and soldiers and firefighters,” Garrett countered. “All dangerous professions. But that doesn’t stop people from falling in love and making relationships work. It can be done—if we want it badly enough.”

Drake didn’t take his eyes off the road. “I already know that I want this.”

Garrett’s heart soared, but he dug in his heels. “Then we have to figure out how to fight for it. Because I’m not afraid.”

Drake reached over and took his hand. “That’s okay—I’ll worry enough for both of us.”

When they got to Garrett’s house, Drake volunteered to take Bailey out. Garrett figured that gave Drake an opportunity to make sure no one was lurking while Bailey got to do business.

Garrett turned on music as he fixed a snack tray of salami, cheese, crackers, and olives and poured them both glasses of wine. After the party atmosphere of the escape room and mini-golf, he needed a chance to shift to romance.

He chided himself for overthinking like a high schooler on a first date. Earlier, he stashed a tube of lube in the drawer of the end table by the couch and made sure lube and condoms were in the nightstand.

All evening the sexual tension fairly crackled between them. Garrett had been half-hard since dinner from proximity and in anticipation of where the evening might go. But most importantly, even if they didn’t end up doing more than making out, he’d had a great time just being together, which counted for a lot.

One of the reasons Garrett had shied away from dating was how strained those evenings often felt. Either it seemed like they were rushing through dinner and a movie expecting to end up in bed, or the chemistry just wasn’t present.

With Drake, Garrett felt red-hot attraction, but he could still enjoy having an evening out without feeling like it was all just a prelude to sex.

That’s got to be a good sign, right? We can’t stay in bed forever.

He had seen other couples who seemed utterly combustible together flame out after a few months because all they had was sexual attraction. Garrett had always hoped he would find someone with a mix of sex appeal and shared interests so they could go the distance. Deep inside, he wanted to find his forever man—and the more he was around Drake, the more Garrett hoped he had already found what he was looking for.

They’d had a busy evening, but since they started early it wasn’t as late as Garrett originally thought, which meant time for hijinks and still getting enough sleep to function in the morning.

“Bailey has thoroughly checked your yard and found it squirrel-free,” Drake reported when he and Bailey came inside. “You can rest easy.”

Bailey bounded up to Garrett, who ruffled his fur and ears. “Bailey’s a good boy, aren’t you?”

He looked up to see Drake looking fondly at Bailey. “I always wanted a dog,” he admitted. “But my mom was allergic, and then I had jobs that didn’t lend themselves to being home enough. So I appreciate being able to borrow Bailey.”

If you decide to keep me, you get Bailey as a bonus.

“I think he’s smitten with you,” Garrett said. And so am I.

Drake moved in close and took Garrett in his arms. “He’s not the only one who’s smitten.” His voice dropped into that lower register that made Garrett even hornier.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Uh-huh.” Drake kissed Garrett, long and slow, tangling one hand in his hair and gripping his ass with the other.

“Maybe we should do something about that,” Garrett replied, already a little breathless.

“Oh, we definitely should.” He jerked his head toward the charcuterie. “Why don’t you put that in the fridge for later. Bailey might seize the moment while I’ve got you distracted.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” Garrett disentangled himself and put the tray in the refrigerator. He gave a yelp when Drake came up behind him and nibbled on his ear.

“You taste good. Can I snack on you?”

Several risqué replies came to mind, but his brain short-circuited before he could say them out loud as Drake’s tongue traced the shell of his ear.

Garrett managed to close the fridge door and turn in Drake’s arms. Before he could react, Drake picked him up and put him on the counter making up for the height difference between them. “Nice to see eye to eye.”

God, that’s hot.

“I think you liked that.” Drake’s lips were close to his ear as one hand slid between Garrett’s legs. “Pretty sure, actually.”

“Bedroom,” Garrett managed, but when he moved to slide off the counter, Drake gripped his ass and pulled him forward. Garrett wrapped his legs around Drake’s waist to keep from falling and found himself lifted and on the move.

“This okay?” Drake asked as he reached the bedroom and laid Garrett on the bed.

“Fuck, yes,” Garrett replied, breathless.

“That’s the general idea.” Drake wore a sexy grin and reached for the hem of Garrett’s T-shirt.

They shed clothes quickly until they lay naked together on the cool sheets, blankets, and comforter pushed aside. Garrett loved exploring Drake’s body, tonguing his sensitive nipples, and mouthing at the hollow of his throat.

Drake’s hands moved over him in a mixture of confidence and reverence. Garrett knew Drake had more experience than he did, but the careful way Drake touched him, even when they were both very aroused, reassured Garrett that there was more than just lust between him.

“I have an idea, something to try that isn’t exactly anal but gets us a step closer,” Drake said. “Are you up for it?”

Garrett couldn’t help snickering since his member was obviously, painfully up. “Talk fast before I die from blue balls.”

“Ever done dry humping? Technically, it’s intercrural sex, but that doesn’t sound spicy enough.”

“Thigh sex? I think I read something about monks in the Middle Ages claiming it didn’t count.”

“Whatever gets you off counts,” Drake assured him. “It isn’t the same as anal, and it’s not going to hit your prostate, but there’s a lot to be said for getting some full body feels.”

“Okay,” Garrett said. “I’m in.”

They took their time removing clothing, doing plenty of touching and kissing between layers. Garrett’s previous encounters—he couldn’t really call them lovers—had been about getting to the good stuff as fast as possible.

Drake’s rock-hard cock assured Garrett that he wanted to get off. But he also took his time to make sure Garrett felt loved and wanted, to see his pleasure as a priority and not an afterthought. And, instead of being impatient with Garrett’s inexperience, Drake looked for ways to pleasure them both without pressure, minding Garrett’s boundaries.

Garrett never realized respect was so sexy.

“So—I was thinking, if this is okay with you, we could try it with you doing me,” Drake said, with the lube in hand. “So we slick me up, thighs and ass crack, and you ride me. That way, you get some of the experience, and you know for sure no lines will get crossed.”

Which is a very nice way to acknowledge that I’ve got trust issues after the last time I tried something like this. I want to keep this man forever. He gets me.

“Okay. What do I do?”

Drake gave him a rakish grin. “You fuck between my legs like you’re riding a racehorse.”

“But what about?—”

“I promise you that I will get off,” Drake assured him. “Just thinking about it has me revved. So let’s give this a try.”

They tossed the last pieces of clothing on the floor. Garrett watched, painfully hard, as Drake made a show of slicking his upper thighs and crack with plenty of lube and then wiping what remained on Garrett’s very stiff prick.

“How—”

“Probably easiest from behind.” Drake got onto his knees and elbows, presenting his very fine ass to be fucked. “Ride me, cowboy.”

Garrett moved into position and ran his tongue down Drake’s spine, pleased to get a shiver in return. He reached around and gave a few tugs on Drake’s cock, keeping him hard.

“C’mon, Garrett. Fuck me like you mean it,” Drake growled.

Garrett took Drake by the hips and slid between his thighs. Even with the slick, friction nearly undid him right away, and he caught his breath, freezing to keep from coming too fast. He slid forward and back again, setting up a rhythm.

“Yeah, just like that,” Drake moaned.

Garrett leaned forward, blanketing Drake with his body. The heady smell of sweat, sex, and lube filled the air. Garrett licked, kissed, and sucked Drake’s skin, loving the slide of his cock between strong thighs, appreciating the way Drake’s muscular back rippled with the tension of holding them up.

“Oh, yeah,” Drake said. “So good, Garrett. Keep it up. Want to feel you come. Want to feel you spill all over me.”

Garrett let his cock slip between Drake’s firm ass cheeks, recognizing the trust involved that he wouldn’t suddenly change his mind and penetrate without warning or prep. That’s why he wanted me to do him first. Trust.

Garrett felt such a mix of love and lust that he thought he would lose it right there, but he managed to keep going a while longer. He tried to reach around with one hand for Drake’s cock, but Drake batted him away.

“I’ve got it covered. Get yourself off on my body, Garrett. Fuck me good.”

Garrett felt his climax rise from deep inside, tightening his balls and making his cock painfully hard before he began to shoot, covering Drake’s thighs, his ass, and the bedspread with his come.

Drake went rigid beneath him and cried out, trembling with the force of his orgasm. They collapsed together, tangled up in a slick, sticky mess and too blissed out to care.

He rolled to one side with a groan, and his oversensitive cock slipped from between Drake’s legs. Drake brought his hand up to stroke the side of Garrett’s face with his fingertips.

“Guess you enjoyed that?” he teased with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“Looks like you did too.”

“Feel good?”

“You have to ask?”

“Really good. Was it okay for you? I feel like I got all the fun.”

“Oh, yeah.”

For a few minutes, they were quiet, just touching and grounding themselves in each other.

“I get it. Why you wanted me to go first. The trust,” Garrett murmured.

“I thought it would be easier to show you than tell you.”

Garrett nuzzled close, and Drake wrapped an arm around him, drawing him near. “Thank you.” He buried his face against Drake’s chest. “For understanding.”

Drake raised a hand to stroke Garrett’s hair. “Of course. I care about you.”

Garrett caught the stammer, the quick change of wording, and smiled, feeling warmth bloom in his chest. “I care about you too,” he said, willing to dance around the L word but sure of it all the same.

“We should shower, or we’ll be stuck together in the morning,” Drake pointed out. “And the comforter is going to need laundered.”

“Okay.” Garrett pressed a kiss to Drake’s shoulder and rolled away with a sigh. “Why don’t you get the water at the right temperature, and I’ll strip the top layer off the bed. I’ll join you in a couple of minutes.”

As Drake ran the shower, Garrett bundled up the soiled comforter and shoved it into the closet with the dirty laundry basket.

He felt fluttery and excited like he hadn’t felt since his teenage years but with a more grounded, sensual tether than in those early days. The romance novels talked about mate bonds, and Garrett wondered if Drake, as a psychic, had sensed Garrett’s feelings even without words.

There’s so much left to explore, so many ways to make each other feel good and loved. If I wasn’t over the moon already, I am now.

I’ll pretend we’re still taking it slowly, for Drake’s sake, but I’m all in. I hope he will be too.