Eleven

J immy stood in front of Nova's garage door with his arms crossed over his chest. "This is what you had in mind to burn off calories? You want me to mow your grass?"

Nova looked at the push mower beside him, then back at Jimmy. "Not even close," he said, stepping aside so Jimmy could see his master plan.

"Bikes," Jimmy said with all the enthusiasm of someone going to the dentist for a root canal.

Nova frowned. "Wasn't bike riding on your list?"

It was, but the sexy voice Nova had used back at the dealership promised him a different kind of ride. Jimmy felt like someone had snatched his ice cream cone before he'd even gotten his first lick. "I've been had."

Nova snorted. "Clearly, you haven't, or you'd know the difference."

Jimmy tried to stay irritated but couldn't pull it off. Not when Nova's blue eyes sparkled with mischief and his carefree smile made him look ten years younger. "Fine. I've been played."

"Huh-uh. We agreed on fifty-fifty, right?"

"Those four hours at the dealership have to count for more than fifty percent of nonsex activity," Jimmy argued.

He hadn't felt so tempted to throw a fit since his mother had taken away the replica sword that had come with his pirate Halloween costume. He'd been invited to his very first school party and had wanted to make a great impression. Even though the metal sword had a blunt tip, his mother had taken one look and nixed it. In retrospect, he'd been much safer with the plastic one she replaced it with because he'd been an absolute klutz. But his ten-year-old self had felt cheated and had refused to leave his room, missing the party altogether. There was no way in hell he'd make the same mistake again.

Nova walked forward and cupped Jimmy's face, tilting his head back to look down at him.

Jimmy narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to kiss the adorable pout off your lips, then we're going to practice in my front yard. Consider it a compromise."

"Practice what?" Jimmy asked. With Nova's lips so close, it was hard for him to follow the conversation thread.

"Riding…a bike," Nova told him. The last part sounded like he'd tacked it on at the last minute. "I want to check your balance before we attempt a trail."

Before Jimmy could protest, Nova silenced him with the promised kiss. Jimmy parted his lips on a gasp, but Nova made no move to deepen the embrace, though he did lightly clamp his teeth on to Jimmy's bottom lip and tug a little before releasing it.

"Buying a car wasn't on the original list, so it doesn't count toward our summer adventure." Nova slid his big hand down to Jimmy's throat, resting a thumb over his pulse. "If we go inside now, we won't have the energy to ride bikes later."

"Okay," Jimmy replied eagerly. "My list doesn't specify how long I need to ride the bike."

"Touché." Nova tilted his head. "But you wouldn't want to ruin the fun day I have planned, would you?"

"No," Jimmy replied without hesitation. He was eager to experience whatever Nova wanted to show him, even if stupid clothes were required. "But I'm expecting you to put out later."

Nova gasped and put on an affronted expression. "You make me feel so cheap."

Jimmy rolled his eyes. "Save the theatrics, and let's get on with the lesson."

Chuckling, Nova walked over to a workbench on the side of the room and grabbed two bike helmets.

"Come on," Jimmy groaned. "I'll look like a dork."

"Still better than ending up with a concussion," Nova countered.

"You sound like my m—"

Nova held up a hand to cut Jimmy off. "Don't even say it."

Jimmy bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing at the stern expression on Nova's face. Daddy, indeed . He quickly corralled his wayward thoughts because riding a bike with a hard-on didn't sound fun. "Fine. I won't worry about looking cool."

Nova shrugged. "I haven't been cool a single day of my life, and I'm perfectly fine with it."

Batting his eyelashes playfully, Jimmy cooed, "My hero."

Nova smiled wickedly. "Save the accolades for after I give you an orgasm."

"Who says you haven't already?" Jimmy asked cheekily. He had no idea where his sudden boldness had come from, but he liked it a lot. Jimmy especially liked the way Nova's eyes darkened when those daring words landed. Would it be enough to tempt the man away from the bikes and into his bedroom? Hell, Jimmy would settle for the foyer.

Nova's nostrils flared as he took a deep breath, then crossed the garage to stand in front of him. Instead of pulling Jimmy into his arms, the taller man settled a red bike helmet on top of his head. Nova adjusted the straps and snapped it securely beneath Jimmy's chin. He traced his finger along Jimmy's jawline and over his mouth. "I have big plans for these lips, so try not to damage them by falling off your bike."

Jimmy responded by trying to nip Nova's finger before he pulled it to safety, but he missed. Nova chuckled as he walked over to the trio of bikes. Crossing his arms over his chest, Jimmy said, "I'm not getting on the sparkly pink and purple bike with the training wheels."

Nova laughed, then pointed toward the front of it. "But it has a unicorn basket and streamers coming from the handlebars."

"I'm not amused," Jimmy quipped. "Is this payback for my remark at the dealership?"

Too-blue eyes searched his. Was he giving Jimmy's question serious consideration? Nova shook his head. "Nope. I'll be much more creative with my revenge."

Groaning, Jimmy walked to him. "Which one of these bikes do you want me to try?" One was sleek and silver and the other was navy blue. Other than the color, they appeared to be identical.

"The blue one is mine, but you can test both to see which one you like best. The difference is in the width of the tires," Nova said. He launched into why the blue bike had thinner tires and less tread than the silver one, which had much wider tires and thicker tread. Once a scientist, always a scientist. "I prefer riding on asphalt," he said, pointing to the blue bike, "and Scott prefers off-road trails."

"So the silver bike is Scott's?" Why did Nova have his ex-husband's bike, and more importantly, did the man know Jimmy might ride it? He bit back a groan as he imagined Nova telling his former husband about their arrangement.

"Was," Nova casually replied, seemingly unaware of Jimmy's inner turmoil. "He left it here when he moved out and hasn't asked about it once in two years. I think it's safe to say it's mine now."

Nodding, Jimmy strolled closer and ran his finger over the handlebars of each one. "Which bike would you recommend for someone like me who hasn't been on one for a long time?"

"Hmm?" Nova asked.

Jimmy looked up and saw that Nova appeared transfixed by the motion of his finger. Smiling, Jimmy repeated his question.

Nova straightened and met his gaze. "Um, do you want speed or stability?"

"Today, I'll go with stability."

"Good answer," Nova replied as he swept his foot out to raise the kickstand on the silver mountain bike. Then he rolled it out to the front lawn and waited for Jimmy to join him. "We don't have to do this," he said when Jimmy hadn't budged after a few moments. "We could always check off one of the other nonsex items from your list."

Jimmy perked up. "We already did."

"I thought we agreed the dealership doesn't count."

"We agreed on no such thing," Jimmy countered. "You declared it, and I just went along. I'm talking about the swim in the ocean, though. Checked that box off."

Nova narrowed his eyes as if he were considering it. Jimmy was poised to unbuckle the stupid helmet and shuck out of his clothes. Well, not on the front lawn. "It was before our agreement, so it doesn't count."

"Fine," Jimmy groused as he walked to the bike.

"Hey," Nova said gently. "I don't want to pressure you into doing something you're not ready for. Lots of people say things like ‘I'd love to go skydiving' but don't really mean it."

Nova's kindness cut through Jimmy's insecurities and self-doubt like a real pirate's sword. Smiling, Jimmy said, "I'm just having a few flashbacks to the last time I rode a bike."

"It didn't end well?" Nova asked.

"I broke my arm," Jimmy admitted, pointing to the scar on his forearm. "My mom took me to the hospital while my grandma gave the bike away to the first person who wanted it." He shook his head. "I loved that damn bike and was crushed when I came home and found it was gone."

Nova placed his hand on Jimmy's neck. The warmth and weight of his touch pulled Jimmy back to the present. "I had my share of mishaps on my bike too."

He told Jimmy about the time he gave into peer pressure and tried to perform stunts on a ramp. Jimmy cringed as he imagined young Nova pitching over the handlebars. He lifted the bottom of his shirt and pushed his waistband down a little, revealing a silver scar. Jimmy reached out on instinct and traced his finger over the jagged line.

"So maybe I worried about being cool that day," Nova confessed, sounding a little breathless.

"I bet Natalie didn't give your bike away."

Nova shook his head. "No, but she grounded me from riding it until I learned to act like I had sense."

"Our mothers have vastly different approaches to things," Jimmy said. "Mine treated the bike like it was the enemy where yours knew who the true culprit was."

Nova chuckled. "Our mothers are two separate women with different life experiences." Leaning forward, he said, "Which is good since I plan to do a lot of this…" Nova pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

The sooner Jimmy mastered the bike, the quicker he'd get more kisses. That's the incentive he imagined anyway. It had the desired effect because Jimmy grabbed the handlebars and mounted the bike. He kept one foot on a pedal and the other firmly on the ground. The seat was a little tall for his height, but he could manage. "Hopefully the old adage about riding a bike is true."

"How do you want me to—"

Jimmy shoved off with his plant foot and quickly lifted it to the empty pedal. The handlebars wobbled, but he managed to straighten them and maintain his balance as he pushed the pedals faster.

"The brakes are on the handlebar," Nova shouted behind him.

Jimmy gave them a squeeze to test them out, and the bike jerked to a stop. He slid off the end of the seat and repositioned himself again before pushing off once more. Jimmy gained more confidence with each rotation of the wheels, and he balanced well as long as he didn't think about it.

"Looking good," Nova called out. "Try some turns. Make a big circle."

"I feel ridiculous," Jimmy replied as he followed Nova's recommendation. "Please tell me your neighbors aren't watching this spectacle."

"Only a few."

Jimmy snapped his head to the left and right, looking to see if Nova was telling the truth or teasing him, nearly toppling over in the process. His heart pounded with exhilaration and confidence when he avoided a spill. Jimmy rode back to where Nova stood and braked. "Pretty sure I got this."

Nova smiled and cupped the back of Jimmy's neck before lowering his head for another brief kiss. "Yeah, you do." Then he lowered his hand and headed toward the garage.

Jimmy pushed off again and pedaled behind him. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to mount the bike rack you finagled out of Derek onto your hitch so we can get going. Big plans, remember?" Nova asked.

Jimmy lowered his kickstand and helped Nova install the rack and load the bikes. "Don't forget your helmet."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Nova replied. He made one last trip to the garage to retrieve the helmet and a backpack before pushing a code into the keypad mounted on the side of the garage. Seconds later, the door rolled down, and Nova headed for him.

Jimmy suddenly remembered he still wore his helmet and quickly removed it and stowed it in the back seat next to his own backpack. He wasn't sure what Nova had planned for the day, so he'd packed a little of everything. Sunscreen, a ball cap, lube, and condoms.

"Ready?" Nova asked.

Jimmy nodded. "Where to?" he asked once they were inside his vehicle. The reality of owning his first new vehicle hadn't hit him yet. He was still enthralled with the new-car smell and high on his newfound negotiating skills.

"Tiedman Park," Nova replied.

Jimmy remembered it well from field trips when he was in school. It would be a scenic place to ride their bikes. A new wave of nervousness swept over him when he saw the sheer volume of cars. "Even if those vehicles brought just one person, it would still mean a big crowd to witness me making a fool of myself."

"If that were true, I'd be more concerned about the carbon footprint these people were leaving behind. Hasn't anyone heard of carpooling?" Nova placed his hand on Jimmy's shoulder and said, "There's some kind of festival going on today and a concert in the pavilion later. Everyone's focus will be there, not on an adorable guy zooming by on a bike."

Maybe Jimmy should've been annoyed Nova thought of him as adorable. Baby otters were adorable after all. The way Nova said it made him feel like the man had paid him the highest compliment instead of a placation. "I think of you more as sexy than adorable," Jimmy told Nova.

Nova's eyes darkened once more, and Jimmy got his hopes up again that he'd call off the planned bike ride in favor of something more intimate. "I wasn't talking about myself, but I think you know it. Thank you for the boost to my ego."

It was hard to imagine someone as brilliant and handsome as Nova would need an ego boost, but there was no mistaking the genuine warmth in his blue eyes. Jimmy didn't want to linger on thoughts of what they might get up to after the bike ride, so he cleared his throat and said, "I learned something valuable while riding around in circles on your lawn."

"Yeah?"

Jimmy nodded. "I can balance fine as long as I don't think about it. The minute I do, the handlebars wobble, and I tip to the left or right."

"How can I help?"

"Distract my brain with a conversation," Jimmy replied.

Nova smiled. "Piece of cake." He unbuckled his seat belt and pushed open the door.

Jimmy sighed and did the same, meeting him at the car's rear, backpack and helmet in hand. For as crowded as the park was, there wasn't a soul anywhere near them. Nova set his bag down before whipping his T-shirt off over his head. Holy fuck. Jimmy had seen him stripped down to his underwear already, but it had been dark outside.

In broad daylight, nothing hid Nova's well-toned torso from his hungry gaze. And behind his sunglasses, Jimmy could ogle him all he wanted.

"Let me," Jimmy said when Nova pulled out a bottle of sunscreen.

"Do you want to start with my back or my front?"

"Yes," he replied, eliciting a wicked smile from Nova, who handed him the bottle. Jimmy squirted a generous amount of lotion in one palm, rubbed his two hands together, and placed them on a perfect pair of pecs. The taller man reached out and shoved Jimmy's sunglasses to the top of his head.

"I want to look into your gorgeous eyes as you feel me up."

Jimmy glanced up and caught the wicked gleam in Nova's eyes but didn't allow his gaze to linger. He wanted to watch the trajectory of his hands as they moved over Nova's chest and shoulders before dropping lower to smear the lotion over his stomach. Jimmy relished the play of muscles beneath Nova's flesh and darted a glance at his face once more. Nova had tensed his jaw, but Jimmy instinctively knew it had nothing to do with anger or stress. Their eyes met and held.

"Payback is hell," Nova warned, then sucked in a sharp breath.

"What? I'm just making sure you don't get sunburned."

"My nipples are definitely protected, then," he said.

Jimmy looked down and realized he'd moved his hands back up to Nova's chest and was circling his nipples. "Does that feel good?"

Nova tilted his head. "You've never played with your own when touching yourself?"

Jimmy darted gazes to the left and right to make sure they were still alone. "No. I didn't think boys were into playing with nipples."

"I guess sensitivity varies," Nova told him. "Mine happen to be very responsive, and I love it. Just maybe not in public." Jimmy snatched back his hands as if they'd caught fire. Nova captured his wrists and placed Jimmy's hands back on his chest. "Maybe just steer away from R-rated activities."

Jimmy retrieved the bottle of lotion from his bumper and squirted another generous amount. "What about PG-13?"

"Deal."

Jimmy managed to keep things innocent while he finished smearing the lotion on Nova's strong back and muscular arms. "You must work out a lot," he said, returning the bottle to Nova.

"It helps with tension and anxiety," Nova replied. "Your turn." He'd packed his own sunblock, but it was the kind that sprayed on. There was no way in hell he was missing out on having Nova's hands on his body. Jimmy held up his right arm. "Not going to whip off your shirt?"

"My pale skin would blind everyone," Jimmy said with a wry smile. "And maybe I'm a little intimidated next to you."

"I think you have a beautiful body—lean and limber. Do you want me to put my shirt on? The last thing I want to do is make you feel uncomfortable."

"No," Jimmy said in a rush. He'd hate for his insecurity to rob him of viewing incredible eye candy. "Do you mean it, though?"

"Yes," Nova replied, his voice as thick as molasses. "I appreciated the way you looked in the moonlight but love the feel of you in my arms even more."

"Wow," Jimmy said. "How are you still single?"

"How are you still a virgin?" The matching awe in his voice inspired Jimmy to reach for the hem of his shirt. Nova placed his hand on Jimmy's forearm to stop him. "Don't feel pressured to take your shirt off here. We can find out later if your nipples are as sensitive as mine."

Jimmy took a deep breath, steeling his nerves, then removed his shirt and dropped it on the bumper. Nova didn't bother to disguise his perusal, and Jimmy felt every nerve ending come alive as he waited for the man to touch him. A wicked smile curved Nova's delicious mouth as he squirted sunscreen into his palm. Like Jimmy, he rubbed his hands together before placing them on his shoulders.

Body heat seeped into Jimmy through their connection and spread downward, pooling in his groin. His flesh felt both hot and cold simultaneously, sort of like when a fever breaks. Nova slowly smeared the lotion down Jimmy's arms and back up again, taking his time to massage the sunscreen into his skin. Once he reached Jimmy's shoulders, Nova released him to squirt out more lotion.

"You're very thorough," Jimmy whispered huskily.

"Yes, I am." Nova set the bottle back down again and checked their surroundings once more. "And very patient," he added. Jimmy did the same because getting arrested for lewd behavior in public wasn't on his summer agenda. They were still blissfully alone, so Nova placed his hands on Jimmy's upper chest, then skimmed them down and over, rubbing the lotion between and under Jimmy's pecs.

"Tease."

"Am I?" Nova swiped his thumbs upward, grazing them over Jimmy's hardened discs.

Just that simple caress felt like someone had clamped jumper cables to his nipples and sparked something to life deep within him. Jimmy sucked in a sharp breath. "Yesssss," he hissed.

"What are you saying yes to?" Nova asked as he moved closer and lowered his head to Jimmy's ear. "Yes, I'm a tease? Yes, your nipples are sensitive? Yes, you want more?"

Jimmy closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "Just yes."

Nova nuzzled his nose against the sensitive spot just beneath Jimmy's ear, then kissed a path along his jawline, not stopping until he reached his mouth. Pressing his mouth to Jimmy's, Nova pinched and twisted his nipples, capturing Jimmy's gasp when it rushed from his parted lips. Lust and want zinged through him, pushing him into uncomfortable territory. Jimmy wrapped his hands around Nova's wrists to still him and pull back from the kiss.

"It doesn't feel good?" Nova asked.

"Too good." Jimmy guided the skillful hands lower onto his abdomen. "Bikes and boners don't sound like fun."

Nova chuckled. "Fair enough." He made quick work of smearing the sunscreen into Jimmy's lower abdomen. "Now turn around so I can get your back."

Jimmy pivoted around to face his car and caught sight of his reflection in the hatchback glass. He hardly recognized himself. His eyes looked ravenous and wild, matching his pounding pulse. His mouth hung open as if in a frozen gasp, reminding him of the expressions the bottoming porn star made when the top entered him. Jimmy had seen his reflection many times and had never been tempted to do a double take at what he saw. For a mere moment, he understood what Nova saw when he looked at him. Jimmy felt sexy and desired for the first time. He closed his eyes to savor the emotion, then nearly jumped when he felt the weight of Nova's hands on his body once more.

He started with the back of his shoulders and worked quickly and efficiently downward until he reached the waistband of Jimmy's shorts. Nova dipped the tip of his finger underneath the band and teased the top of Jimmy's ass crack.

"I don't think the sun will reach me there," Jimmy whispered.

"Maybe not today," Nova countered. "Skinny-dipping with you is going on my list, though." He dropped his hands and stepped back. Jimmy missed his touch immediately but admired his commitment to seeing their mission through. Like he'd said, the man was thorough. The wicked smile on Nova's face told Jimmy that he would dedicate the same determination to all their summertime activities. "I have another treat planned after this."

"I just bet you do."

Nova unhooked the bikes, put reusable water bottles in their holders, and returned the backpacks to the vehicle. They donned their helmets and headed off toward the trails. Jimmy was so hung up on how silly he potentially looked that his handlebars wobbled for the first ten or twenty feet. Then Nova engaged him in conversation, and he forgot to be self-conscious and just enjoyed the company of a sexy, intelligent man and the feel of the sun on his skin.

There were several people on the trails, but most of the gatherers were attending the festival, so they zipped along without a hitch. Conversation flowed easily between them, and they covered a vast array of subjects, ranging from childhood horror stories to their current work projects.

"I have a confession," Jimmy said when they stopped under a shade tree to cool down and hydrate. He loved watching Nova's throat working as he took a long drink.

The sexy man recapped his bottle and quirked a brow. "I'm all ears."

"I had so many thoughts going on in my head during the press event that I zoned in and out during your presentation." Jimmy grimaced as he waited for a reaction.

Nova surprised him by chuckling before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. "Same. I'd rehearsed the speech so many times that I delivered it on autopilot. There's no telling what I really said."

Relief swelled in Jimmy's chest. "I really am interested in hearing about your big telescope."

"I want to tell you all about it. Soon, I should be able to give you a hands-on demonstration."

"Oh yeah." Jimmy tilted his head. "Wait. Are we still talking about the observatory?"

"I was," Nova replied with an innocent expression on his face.

"Uh-huh. So tell me about it now."

Nova looked at the sky and pointed at the gray clouds off in the distance. "Let's get back on the trail so we can finish before the rain arrives."

Jimmy had no complaints. He enjoyed bike riding more than he ever dreamed possible but knew it had more to do with the company than the actual exercise.

Once they set off again, Nova started talking about the BFT. "It stands for Big Fucking Telescope."

Jimmy laughed. "Even as distracted as I was, I would've heard you say that name during your presentation."

"It's just what we call it privately at the planetarium. We'll have to come up with a name we can use in public."

"What does the BFT do?" Jimmy asked.

"It has two objectives. The first is adapting to changes in climate to allow optimal observation of outer space."

"That's cool," Jimmy said. "What's the second?"

"The BFT also measures and records temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and water vapor content. I'll be joining forces with climate researchers, atmosphere scientists, and meteorologists from all over the world."

"Wow," Jimmy said. "What an amazing opportunity."

"It's fascinating." Jimmy could hear the excitement in Nova's voice. "We'll pinpoint atmospheric parameters to determine the quality of space observations. And in doing so, we can identify long-term trends that will impact climate change."

"The Big Fucking Telescope is a big fucking deal," Jimmy replied.

"I think so. Earning this grant to partner with NASA is the pinnacle of my career, and I'm hoping it will help me achieve tenure at the university."

Jimmy glanced over at him. "And you're still so young. Think of all the big things left for you to accomplish in the future." Nova met his gaze and smiled.

A woman let out a high-pitched shriek from somewhere in the park, scaring Jimmy so badly that he nearly toppled from his bike.

Nova stopped and looked around. "Where's that coming from?"

"Oh my God. It's probably a jogger who found a dead body. So many forensic shows start off with a jogger or a hunter stumbling across one."

"Help!" the woman cried. "He's going to eat Sparky." Her plea was followed by a yippy dog raising hell with something.

Jimmy recalled the signs throughout the park warning of alligator risks, especially near the water areas. The big beasts were known for sunning themselves on the banks, and they'd just passed a pretty pond a moment ago. Without thinking, Jimmy turned his bike and pedaled as fast as he could toward the pond. He cleared the copse of trees and saw a panic-stricken woman trying to coax her little Yorkie away from the hissing gator. Her pup was dragging a leash, which meant the dog had pulled free of its owner's grasp to charge the reptile.

"Sparky, no!" the woman yelled.

The dog continued barking and bounced closer to the pissed-off reptile. Jimmy pedaled faster, hoping like hell he could reach the dog before it was too late. Nova shouted his name, and he could hear the worry in his voice. If Jimmy stopped to debate with Nova, the dog would become the gator's snack. He couldn't let that happen, so he pushed harder and focused his attention on the bouncing dog and angry reptile.

Sizing up the situation, Jimmy realized he had one shot at a rescue attempt. He aimed his bike for the quickly narrowing gap between the dog and gator. As Jimmy approached, he swooped down and grabbed the dog's harness, snatching him out of harm's way. The alligator lunged and snapped its jaws at Jimmy's rear tire, but he'd managed to evade him.

Clutching the squirming dog to his chest and steering the bike with one hand was more of a challenge than Jimmy had anticipated, but he didn't dare stop pedaling until he reached a safe enough distance from the gator. They were surprisingly fast, and if the reptile was determined to eat the dog, he would pursue them.

"Jimmy!" Nova yelled.

"Sparky!" the woman cried.

Jimmy didn't stop until he reached the copse of trees, and only then did he risk a glance over his shoulder. The alligator was half-submerged in the pond, and Jimmy let out a sigh of relief. His heart was pounding so hard he didn't hear the woman approach until she snagged Sparky from his grasp.

She held the wiggling pup against her chest and sobbed. The woman launched herself at Jimmy, hugging him and sobbing even louder. He patted her back until she calmed down. After she stepped back, the woman introduced herself as Trish, and thanked Jimmy repeatedly while Sparky licked her face. "That was so brave."

"And a little stupid," Nova added as he joined them. He sounded more worried than mad, so Jimmy let it go. If the situation were reversed, he would've been just as concerned. "Don't do it again," Nova said fiercely.

"I won't," Jimmy agreed. He would if he had to, though.

Nova narrowed his eyes as if he could read his mind. The dog barked and squirmed to gain his attention. "You don't do it again either, Sparky," Nova told the little dog.

Trish laughed. "I doubt very much he's learned his lesson, but I sure did." She threw her arms around Jimmy's neck once more. "Thank you again." She turned to Nova and said, "Your little brother is brave." When Nova just blinked at her, she must've realized her mistake. "Oh, sorry."

"At least you didn't call him my dad," Jimmy quipped. "That one really gets him riled up."

"I bet," Trish said, taking two steps backward. "Well, Sparky and I have had enough excitement for the day. You guys enjoy the rest of your afternoon."

"Take care, Trish and Sparky," Jimmy said.

She waved and headed away from them on the trail, still clutching the dog to her chest. Jimmy couldn't hear what she was saying to the little guy, but he could tell she was admonishing him.

"I've never in my life had a penchant for a Daddy lifestyle, but I'm sorely tempted to bend you over my knee and spank your ass," Nova growled.

"Or you could just bend me over."

Nova pointed down the trail. "It's time to go."

Instead of baiting him more, Jimmy pushed off and headed in the direction of the parking lot. Nova rode up alongside him a moment later. The energy radiating off him wasn't anger; it was something much more potent and desirable. They rode in silence back to Jimmy's car and didn't speak again until after they'd loaded the bikes and driven away.

"Where to?" Jimmy asked.

Nova rattled off the name of an ice cream parlor near his house. "The hero deserves an ice cream cone."

"I can think of a better reward," Jimmy said.

Nova smirked. "In due time."

They said very little after they ordered their cones, but their heated glances spurred Jimmy to eat his cookies and cream ice cream before it melted. He'd never been a fan of cherry cordial, but it sure looked enticing on Nova's tongue.

They didn't linger beneath the umbrella-shaded table once they finished, and he drove to Nova's house without asking. "Thank you for today."

"I had a lot of fun," Nova replied. "Except for the alligator thing."

"Same." He'd probably have nightmares with alternate endings later. He pulled into Nova's driveway a few minutes later and put his car in park. Jimmy reached out to turn off the ignition, but a hand shot out to stop him. Jimmy's heart pounded when he looked at the intense expression on Nova's face. Had he blown it today? Or were the Daddy and older brother comments the culprit? "You don't want me to come in?"

Nova's irises looked like twin blue flames burning hot…for him. Anger wasn't the reason for his clenched jaw and tense posture. It was unbridled lust. This, Jimmy could work with.

"I want you too much," Nova said.

Jimmy shook his head. "No such thing."

Nova let go of his hand to cup Jimmy's face. "There is when one of us is a virgin, and the other is hanging on to his control by a thread."

Butterflies took flight in Jimmy's stomach as he pressed against his caress.

Nova took another deep breath. "You stir up something in me I've never felt before, and it feels too precious to rush. You deserve so much more than I would give you tonight."

Jimmy narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure you're not getting even for the Daddy remark?"

Chuckling, Nova pulled him closer until their lips were a hairbreadth apart. "Maybe."

Before he could protest, apologize, or beg, Nova kissed him. Jimmy slid his hands into Nova's hair, holding him close and loving the way the cool, damp strands felt as they sifted through his fingers. Nova formed an O around Jimmy's tongue and sucked, eliciting a guttural groan from him. Just when Jimmy was prepared to climb the center console to get closer, Nova broke the kiss and sat back in his seat with a smug smile.

"Is this what they call edging?" Jimmy asked.

Nova laughed. "Not even close. What are you doing tomorrow?"

"You," Jimmy boldly proclaimed.

Nova opened his car door and said, "I'll call you in the morning."

Jimmy started to get out to help unload the bikes, but Nova waved him off.

"Still hanging by a thread," Nova said.

Jimmy watched him in the rearview mirror as he unloaded the bikes and stowed the rack in the back. He would soon learn every inch of Nova's magnificent body. The euphoria stayed with Jimmy even after he waved goodbye, backed down the driveway, and drove home. The emotion amplified when he took a shower to wash away the day's sweat because his overactive imagination replayed an alternate ending to Nova's goodbye.

He'd jerked off enough to last three lifetimes, but this time felt different because the promise of more was on the horizon. The combination of sunshine, mounting sexual tension, and a powerful orgasm made Jimmy feel like a limp noodle. He sprawled on his couch, turned on the television, and chose his favorite sitcom but was fast asleep before the first commercial break.

Sometime later, canned laughter from a different show woke him from a sound sleep. He sat up and looked around him, noting the house was completely dark except for the glow from the television. He glanced at the cable box and saw it was ten o'clock already. Jimmy flopped back down on the couch, and that's when he noticed how tight his skin felt. It was like it had shrunk three sizes while he'd napped. Jimmy hadn't checked the SPF on Nova's sunscreen and suspected it hadn't been high enough for him. Forcing himself up off the couch, he lumbered to his mother's suite where she kept aloe lotion. Jimmy's stomach grumbled the entire way, but he ignored it in favor of soothing his irritated flesh.

When he flipped on her bedroom light, he noticed her accordion file sitting in the center of her bedroom. She kept all her important documents there, even though Jimmy recommended a fire-resistant safe or a bank safe-deposit box. There'd been no reason for him to enter his mother's room since she'd left, and there was no sign of a break-in, which meant she'd left it out after removing her passport. It wasn't like her to leave anything out of place, but it was the first time she'd traveled since before he was born.

Jimmy headed into her bathroom and flipped on the light. After checking his appearance in the mirror, he retrieved the aloe lotion from the linen closet. His skin was a light pink and would probably return to its usual shade of Casper in the morning. He'd gotten lucky and would remember to pay closer attention. Jimmy had suffered a case of sun poisoning once in his life and wasn't eager to repeat it.

After applying the lotion, Jimmy returned the bottle to the closet and shut off the light. He'd planned to leave the file on his mother's bed but couldn't do it. Jimmy was surprised she hadn't sensed a shift in the atmosphere after leaving something out of place and mentioned it in her brief daily emails. Crossing the room, Jimmy picked the file up and carried it to the closet. He hadn't intended to pry or even look at what his mother had written on the tabs. Two words caught Jimmy's attention when he started to slide the portfolio into the designated spot on her closet shelf. Jack Alsop.

Jimmy knew little about his father beyond the fact he was a bit of a daredevil who died in a motorcycle accident when he was an infant. He'd tried to instigate conversations about his dad over the years but quickly backed off when they upset his mother. Jimmy still felt the ripples of his father's death whenever his mother's overprotective streak reared its suffocating head. He ran his fingers over his father's neatly printed name. Who would Jimmy hurt if he took a quick peek and satisfied his curiosity about Jack Alsop? Not his mother because she wouldn't know.

A rush of adrenaline raced through Jimmy's blood, chasing away the residual sleep fog from his nap. He had a right to know the kind of man his father was. This was Jimmy's opportunity to get the answers to the questions he'd had since realizing his dad was absent from his life. Though he knew snooping was wrong, Jimmy returned to his mom's bed with the portfolio and sat down.

He didn't reach inside the slot right away. The meek, respectful person Georgie Harris-Alsop raised him to be still had a firm grip on Jimmy's conscience. Shattering his mother's trust was nowhere on his summer to-do list, but the more daring version of him spoke louder and overrode Jimmy's ingrained caution. Maybe the full day in the sun had fried something critical in his brain, or perhaps Jimmy was still high from defeating the alligator and saving Sparky. Regardless of the why, an elicit thrill raced through Jimmy when he stuck his trembling hand inside the accordion file.

Disappointment flooded his system when he saw the meager number of documents and photos his mother had tucked away. Jimmy had seen the pictures of his smiling parents on their wedding day as well as a candid shot of his dad napping on the couch with newborn Jimmy sleeping on his chest. There were a few snapshots that were new to him, though. His dad was working on a motorcycle in one and sunbathing at a lake in another. Jimmy smiled as he noted how much he looked like his father, even though he'd inherited most of his coloring from his mother. The photos were fun to look at but hadn't offered any new insight on the man, so he tucked them back into the file slot.

Jimmy's thoughts shifted to wondering what his life would've been like if his dad hadn't died so young. Would his father have stepped in when his mother went overboard trying to protect him from everything ranging from dust to kidnappers? Then again, Jack's early death was the likely catalyst for his mom's caution. The first few documents in the file were the ones you'd expect—a marriage certificate, a life insurance policy, and a newspaper clipping about his father's motorcycle accident. A sense of sadness washed over Jimmy as he looked over the latter. The words used were sterile and cold as they stated when and how Jack Alsop died. The final document in the stack shook Jimmy to his core. A divorce decree? The order was signed after his father's death. How was that possible?

Jimmy picked up the newspaper clipping again and experienced a full-body chill when he saw the date beneath the headline. His heart sank to his churning stomach as the form slipped from his hand. Jimmy had his answer about who his snooping would hurt. Himself.