Thirteen

O nce inside the shower, Jimmy blamed his endorphin-laced blood for the heightening of four of his senses while diminishing the other. Of course, a wet, soapy scientist had a lot to do with stimulating his vision. Nova let him have free rein of his sublime body, and Jimmy's eager hands explored every plane, valley, and texture. Jimmy's lips tingled from their endless kisses, and Nova's taste lingered on his tongue. The only loser in the bunch was sound. Jimmy couldn't hear a damn thing over the noise of blood rushing through his ears, not even doubts and insecurities. Those came after they turned off the water and were drying off.

As Jimmy's blood cooled, reality—or maybe it was sanity—returned. Perhaps a sixth sense cautioned him to pull back a little and guard his heart. Nova had offered to make him breakfast, but Jimmy didn't want him to feel obligated, especially after he'd shown up uninvited the previous night. Jimmy, who'd been toweling his hair, grimaced as he recalled crying in Nova's arms.

He lowered the terry cloth from his head and went to work drying his back. "Thanks for being there for me last night."

Nova paused in the middle of drying his chest and narrowed his eyes. "Are you giving me the kiss-off?"

Heat rushed to Jimmy's cheek. "Of course not. Maybe I'm a little concerned about being an imposition this morning. We agreed to no overnights, and…" His words failed him when Nova dropped his towel to the floor and grabbed the ends of Jimmy's to tug him closer.

"When I found you asleep on the couch," Nova said, "I could've gone to my own bed."

Jimmy tilted his head to the side. "Why didn't you?"

Nova took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring, before answering. "Because you weren't there."

With his pulse racing once more, Jimmy slid his hand over Nova's bare chest to feel his heartbeat. He found comfort in the physical proof that this man was equally affected by their…adventure. "Breaking the rules sets a dangerous precedent."

Nova cupped Jimmy's neck and kissed his forehead. "You're worth it." The sincerity in his fire-and-ice gaze matched the revered tone. "Maybe we should just keep one of the rules and chuck out the rest."

"Which one?" Jimmy whispered.

"Full honesty," Nova replied. "If we have that, I don't think the others matter."

Jimmy studied Nova closely as he considered the new proposal. They'd established guidelines to keep from hurting or confusing people in their close circles, but they shielded Jimmy and Nova too. The last thing Jimmy wanted was a broken heart at the end of the summer because he misread a situation. Could he let go and enjoy himself to the fullest while maintaining a hold on his heart? Probably not. Was Jimmy willing to walk away without experiencing every wonderful thing Nova was keen to show him? Hell no.

"What do you say?" Nova asked.

"On one condition."

Nova smiled wryly. "I'm almost afraid to ask."

"You have to make an adventure list too," Jimmy said. "We scratched things off mine yesterday, so today, we devote our energy to your list."

Nova narrowed his eyes, and Jimmy thought he would refuse, but a sexy grin followed his request. "I'll start on it after breakfast. How do you feel about pancakes?"

"I'm a big fan," Jimmy replied.

The two men finished drying off and pulled on shorts before heading into the kitchen. Nova started a pot of coffee, then opened a cabinet and pulled down a familiar red box.

"What's that?" Jimmy asked.

Nova looked at the box in his hand and back at him. "Pancake mix."

Jimmy tsked and shook his head. "That's what you feed yourself and your daughter?"

Nova raised a brow but returned the box to the cabinet. "Forgive me. I didn't know I was trying to impress a culinary expert."

Shaking his head, Jimmy nudged Nova out of the way and began looking through his cupboards. He found all the ingredients he needed to make pancake batter from scratch. "May I?"

"By all means," Nova said, gesturing to the stove. He rested against the counter and crossed his arms over his muscular chest. "My kitchen is your kitchen."

Jimmy asked him where he kept his measuring cups and spoons, sifter, and electric mixer. Nova set a cup of coffee on the counter next to Jimmy before retrieving the items he requested. The bean-water-to-creamer ratio looked just right, and he was touched Nova had paid such close attention during their breakfast at the diner.

"I hope I got it correct," Nova said.

Jimmy took a sip, then smiled. "Perfect. Thank you."

Nova swooped down and kissed him deep and long. "Mm-hmm," he hummed before taking a drink of his own coffee. "Electric mixer? Even I know you're not supposed to overmix the batter."

"I need it to whip egg whites," Jimmy replied. "It's how you get a fluffier pancake."

Nova held up his hands in peace as he reclaimed his spot against the counter. "I stand corrected."

Jimmy started measuring dry ingredients before running them through the wire mesh sifter.

"Don't you need to consult a recipe or something?" Nova asked.

Jimmy tapped his temple. "It's all in here."

"Ah."

Jimmy cracked the eggs and transferred the yolk back and forth between shell halves until all the egg whites fell into the bowl below. "Do you save your yolks?"

Nova shook his head. "What would I use them for?"

"My grandmother uses the yolks to wash pie crusts, danishes, or bread. It makes them golden brown and flaky."

"Will there be a test on this later?" Nova asked.

Jimmy glanced back and caught him staring at his ass. "Looks to me like your attention isn't focused on the presentation."

Nova jerked his gaze up to collide with Jimmy's. "Busted." He didn't look or sound remorseful. "I heard what you said about the flaky crust and egg washes. I've seen the technique used on cooking shows, but it's not a skill I plan to master."

"Not interested in baking pies?" Jimmy asked.

Nova shook his head. "Only eating them."

Jimmy was still smiling when he returned his attention to the egg whites in the bowl. "You know, I'm distracted this morning and forgot a step. The pancakes might not turn out as good as I'd like."

Nova quirked a brow. "Oh? What step did you leave out?"

"I like to chill my bowl in the freezer for a little bit before I add the egg whites. It helps achieve optimal stiffness quicker."

"Not sure we need the help," Nova quipped.

Jimmy snorted. "I was talking about the egg whites."

"Me too, of course." Nova's smirk said otherwise.

Jimmy shook his head, switched on the electric mixer, and went to work beating the egg whites. It took a little longer, but he managed decent peaks. Jimmy poured the milk and melted butter into his sifted dry ingredients and mixed them until he was satisfied with the consistency. "You're right about not overmixing, especially with the final step," he said.

"This is a lot of effort for pancakes," Nova said. "Surely, there's not that big a difference between the box mix and this twenty-step process."

Jimmy responded with hearty laughter. "You're going to eat your words."

"I'm just hoping to eat pancakes sometime today," Nova quipped.

"Hush, you." Jimmy carefully folded the egg whites into the batter. "This is the tricky part. If I don't use a delicate touch, I'll knock all the air out of the egg whites, and we won't get fluffy pancakes."

"I'll still eat them," Nova assured him.

Jimmy stepped back once he was satisfied. "Do you have an electric griddle, or should I make these in a skillet?"

"I have a griddle pan for the stove," Nova replied. He opened the drawer beneath the oven and removed a flat surface roughly the size of a large cookie sheet. "You turn on the front and rear burners, and the griddle is engineered to distribute heat evenly throughout the surface."

"That's nifty," Jimmy replied as he lightly coated it with nonstick spray. Once the surface was hot enough, he scooped the batter onto the griddle. "And now we wait."

Nova walked up behind him and slid his arms around Jimmy's waist, then propped his chin on Jimmy's shoulder. "They don't look very different from the box kind."

"Yet," Jimmy replied. "Watch and learn." He mentally crossed his fingers because impressing this man was suddenly too important. Jimmy didn't want to think about why or the fallacy of his feelings. He just wanted to exist in this moment where nothing mattered except fluffy pancakes and Nova's embrace.

"Oh, they are starting to rise," Nova said excitedly.

Jimmy laughed at his exuberance and said, "You should start thinking about the toppings you want to put on them."

Nova nuzzled his nose along Jimmy's neck, eliciting a full-body shiver. "What's wrong with butter and maple syrup?" Jimmy had never found those words to be erotic until Nova whispered them in his ear.

"Absolutely nothing. I just like to jazz up my pancakes with fruit and whipped cream sometimes." Jimmy tried to stay focused on his task, but his vision started to blur when Nova kissed a trail up his neck. He blinked to bring the stove back into focus, noted the bubbles in the batter, and flipped the pancakes to cook the other side.

"Is that your favorite? Fruit and whipped cream?" Nova asked.

Jimmy rested his head against the taller man's shoulder. "Peanut butter with banana is my favorite."

"What?" Nova asked. "I've never heard of anyone eating peanut butter on pancakes?"

Jimmy laughed. "I was allergic to nearly everything as a kid but not peanuts or bananas. My mother and grandmother got really creative with those two ingredients." A pang of sadness squeezed Jimmy's heart. How could two women who loved him so much lie so easily?

"Don't go there," Nova said softly.

"Where?" Jimmy asked.

"I felt you tense up," Nova replied. "And I know damn well you're thinking about the stuff you uncovered last night. Anyone in your position would. You're smarter than the average person who'd go off half-cocked and do or say something stupid, though."

Jimmy forced himself to relax in Nova's embrace. "Am I? I don't feel smarter."

"You are." Nova kissed his cheek, then dropped his hands and stepped back. "I'll get the plates and silverware and check to see what kind of toppings I can put together. You mentioned you were allergic to a lot of things as a kid. Does that mean you outgrew some of them?"

"Pretty much. I still battle with pollen and pet dander, but nothing too severe. I could own a pet now, but I never could have as a kid."

Nova handed Jimmy a platter for the pancakes. "Allergies are weird. I know some adults who developed them in their thirties or forties."

"Yep. Luckily, none of mine were life-threatening," Jimmy said. "I just always looked like I had the plague. Watery eyes, a runny nose, and a scratchy throat that made me cough all the time." Jimmy transferred the pancakes onto the platter and turned off the stove. "It's no wonder I didn't have friends and rarely got invited to the birthday parties. No one was cruel or mean to me, but it was like they didn't even see me. I think being a living ghost is just as bad as being bullied." He turned around with the pancakes in his hand and smiled when he saw Nova slicing a banana. "Did your Tourette's impact your social life at school?"

"Oh yeah," Nova said. "I was bullied mercilessly. One particular boy would mock me anytime a teacher had their back turned to the class. Honestly, the kid made my life a living hell until Scott's family moved to Savannah when I was in the fifth grade." Nova's hand stilled as he stared off into space. "I'd drive my knees in the guy's balls if I saw him today."

"What's his name?" Jimmy asked. "I bet I could dig up dirt on him."

Nova chuckled and shook his head. "No way. I'm not giving him that kind of power over me." He gestured to the platter of sliced fruit and berries. "Is this enough?"

"It's perfect."

Nova walked to a cabinet on the other side of the room and grabbed a jar of peanut butter and a new bottle of syrup. They took everything to the table and sat down to eat.

"I want to give this peanut butter-and-banana thing a try," Nova said. He watched Jimmy slather a layer on two pancakes, top with banana slices, and finish with a generous drizzle of syrup, then repeated the steps. His eyes widened in surprise after he took his first bite and he mumbled something that sounded like "Holy fuck."

"I know," Jimmy said before forking a bite into his mouth.

Nova took a sip of coffee. "I never want to eat pancakes from a premade mix again."

They continued eating in silence for a few moments before Jimmy spoke. "You told me that your tics became less pronounced with age. How old were you when you noticed a difference?" Jimmy cringed when he realized he sounded like a reporter. "My afterglow chat needs some work."

Nova chuckled. "I think your curiosity is refreshing, and I think your afterglow activities are flawless." He saluted Jimmy with his fork before shoving the food into his mouth. Nova's smile lingered on his face, and his posture remained relaxed, assuring Jimmy he hadn't overstepped or ruined their morning.

"Neurological disorders are tricky as hell because they don't manifest the same way in every kid. There's this huge spectrum you can land in, and my tics were relatively mild from the offset. My teenage years were the worst due to all those rampant hormones wreaking havoc on my nervous system. The more agitated I got, the worse my tics became."

"And the teenage brain isn't mature enough to see past the impermanence of the situation," Jimmy said softly. "Everything feels so dire."

Nova nodded. "My problems seemed so much bigger than what they were, and picturing a world where I wasn't viewed as a freak felt impossible to me. My mother never let me lose sight of what I could have, though. We had our evening strolls along the beach, and I'd see just how small I really was in the grand scheme of the universe." Nova took another drink of coffee before continuing. "It made me feel calm, and in doing so, I noticed my tics were less severe. They hadn't gone away, but I could go to this calm space in my head and manage them better. I think I was sixteen or seventeen when Mom started taking me to yoga and meditation classes with her."

"And they helped?"

"It wasn't immediate because again, stubborn teenaged me took some time to commit to the process. I was the only male and the only person under the age of thirty-five." Nova shook his head and smiled ruefully. "Even after I'd showed noticeable improvement, it was too late for my classmates to give me any slack. I viewed college as a fresh start in a place where no one other than Scott knew me."

Jimmy propped his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his palm. "I bet you flourished."

"More so than high school, yes, but the threat of my tics always taunted me. It still severely impacted my ability to make friends. I came across as cold and aloof when, really, I was just terrified of regressing. You see, even positive stimulation could evoke a strong reaction, which made me terrified to date."

"You and Scott weren't a couple by then?"

Nova shook his head. "That came when we returned home after our college graduation. He'd been nursing a broken heart, and I wanted to comfort him. We fell into a relationship because it was safe. Scott knew I'd never hurt him, and I knew he'd never make fun of me if I started having tics during sex."

It wasn't pity that made Jimmy reach out for Nova. They were kindred spirits, even if they were separated by fourteen years and had an entirely different set of experiences. "I will never mock or make fun of you," Jimmy vowed.

Nova laced their fingers together. "I know. It's why I can open up to you in ways I don't with others. It feels like I've known you so much longer than a few weeks."

An invisible string . Jimmy felt its tug and wanted to crawl across the table to plant himself in Nova's lap. Instead, he slanted forward, and eager lips met his for a long kiss. When they broke apart, finishing breakfast was the last thing on either of their minds. He saw the lust sparking in Nova's blue eyes. As horny as he was, Jimmy wanted the sum of their adventure to be more than physical releases. He was beginning to crave Nova's smile as much as his kisses, and the man's laughter was a reward that rivaled an orgasm.

"You know what it's time for?" Jimmy asked.

Nova lifted his hand and kissed the inside of his wrist. "For me to clean the breakfast dishes," he guessed. Jimmy shook his head, and Nova smiled impishly. "Marking off another item from your list?"

Jimmy shook his head again. "Close. It's time for you to make a list so we can fulfill one of your summer goals."

Nova released Jimmy's hand so he could rub his together gleefully. "Now we're talking."

"Not so fast," Jimmy said. "I get to pick the first adventure and surprise you."

Nova narrowed his eyes. "I don't get any say?"

"Did you allow my input yesterday before our bike excursion?" Jimmy asked.

"Fine," Nova grumbled. "Good thing we got rid of the rules, so you don't have to get hung up on the pesky fifty-fifty thing."

Jimmy laughed evilly. "Get a piece of paper and a pen. I'll clear the table."

Nova stood up. "Don't you dare clean the kitchen," Nova told him. "You cooked, so I'll clean."

Jimmy stood up too and crossed his heart. "I'd like to have my list back also."

"I'm not sure I trust you with such an important document," Nova replied wryly.

Laughing, Jimmy picked up their breakfast plates. "Fair enough. You can be the list keeper."

By the time Nova returned with his folded agenda, a notebook, and two pens, Jimmy had cleared the table and filled the sink with water. "What did you expect me to do?" Jimmy asked when Nova glared at him. "Stare at you while you make a list?"

"Watch television or scroll through your social media accounts."

"No, and hell no," Jimmy replied as he began washing the dishes.

"I have a dishwasher," Nova pointed out.

"Hush," Jimmy replied. "I do my best thinking when my hands are in water."

"You're a Pisces," Nova absently said as he started to write in his notebook. He must've realized what he said because his head snapped up to meet Jimmy's gaze. "Please don't tell my mother I said that."

Jimmy pretended to zip his lips, then returned his attention to his task. By the time he finished cleaning the few dishes, he'd come up with a few good adventures he wanted to add to his list.

Nova was still in deep thought, so Jimmy sat down opposite him again and unfolded the notebook paper. Some of his goals made him smile, and others made him cringe as he reimagined Nova reading it for the first time.

"The paper looks worn, and what's this crusty stain on the bottom?" Jimmy asked, scratching his nail over it.

Nova looked up and grinned sheepishly. "I dribbled some ice cream on it. Butter pecan, I think."

"Ice cream?"

"Did you think it was dried cum?" Nova asked. "What kind of pervert do you take me for?"

Jimmy snorted. "The kind that eats ice cream while reading a list of my deepest darkest yearnings."

"Touché." Nova didn't sound the least bit remorseful.

"Did the ice cream come before or after you jerked off?"

Nova smiled wolfishly. "After. It's the best after-sex treat. I believe it went like this…I perused the list to see which one I wanted to think about while fucking my fist, then afterward, I ate ice cream while picking out a different one to try out later with my dildo."

Jimmy laughed. "Well, a scientific mind such as yours functions best with a plan."

"Absolutely." Nova ripped out his sheet of paper and handed it to Jimmy. "Just sitting back and letting you take charge of the day goes against the grain, but I'm going to do it."

Jimmy was dying to see what Nova had written down, but he couldn't look away from his intense gaze. "Because you trust me."

"Implicitly," Nova agreed.

Taking a deep breath, Jimmy glanced down at the list. He chuckled when he saw the title. "Nova's Gnarly Adventure?"

Nova smiled and shrugged.

Jimmy was impressed when he perused the agenda because Nova had taken it seriously. The goals were split about fifty-fifty between activities they could do with and without clothes. Jimmy blushed when he read the naughty things Nova wanted to do with him, making the wicked man laugh. Even though they'd nixed the rules, Jimmy was determined to focus the bulk of their day on a nonsexual activity. His eyes landed on an excursion that he wished he'd thought of too.

"Got it," Jimmy said, then pulled out his phone and put his plan into action.