Fifteen

J immy's confidence had started to wane the second he'd stepped out of his car, and it had completely abandoned him by the time they reached the front door. He dropped his keychain twice before Nova took it from his useless fingers and efficiently slid the key into the deadbolt. Once inside, Nova leaned against the closed door and surveyed the room for a few minutes before their gazes collided.

"You look nervous," Nova said.

Jimmy nodded. "Very."

"Have you changed your mind? I can order an Uber."

"God no," Jimmy said suddenly. "Surely you were nervous your first time."

Nova pushed off the door and slowly walked to him, cupping his face gently. "I was, but I think I'm more anxious now."

Jimmy rubbed against him like a kitten, except he sighed instead of purred. "Really?"

"Absolutely. This is a big damn deal, and I don't want to mess it up."

Snorting, Jimmy said, "That's very unlikely."

"Would it make you feel better to talk about it?"

"Not really, Dr. Skye. Kind of takes the sexiness out of it."

Nova smiled and said, "We do what you want to do at a pace you're comfortable with. No ask is too big, and no pleasure is off-limits." Nova lowered his head and kissed Jimmy; his firm mouth was a pleasant pressure against his own. He didn't deepen the kiss right away, choosing to sip and savor before slipping his tongue between Jimmy's parted lips. That's when his nerves packed their bags and hit the road, allowing him to relax into Nova's embrace.

Jimmy rested his hands on Nova's chest before sliding them upward. One cupped the back of Nova's neck, and the other slid into his dark hair. Saltwater had changed the texture of his strands, making it feel stiffer between Jimmy's fingers. He stared into Nova's too-blue gaze. "Want to shower with me?"

"Like you really need to ask."

Jimmy laced his fingers through Nova's and led him up the grand staircase to the second story.

"This entire floor is yours?"

"Yeah," Jimmy replied.

Pastel swaths of light from the evening sun shining through stained-glass magnolia blossoms drew Nova's attention to a sitting room in the center of the second story. "It's more beautiful than I imagined," he said. "What's in the turret room?"

"I'll show you." Jimmy led him through the single door to the area he'd turned into a home office. "This was my favorite hideaway as a kid. I spent hours spying on the other kids or creating alternative universes in my head." Jimmy grimaced at how awful that sounded. "Now I use this space for more productive creativity."

Nova looked around the room, and Jimmy tried to see the space through his eyes. Was the collection of antique furniture, ancient typewriters, world maps, globes, nautical charts, and keepsakes boring to him? Nova met his gaze and smiled. "This is a beautiful home office. It has a lot of character." He ran his finger along the edge of Jimmy's Queen Anne writing desk. "Is this a replica?"

Jimmy shook his head. "My grandmother has a knack for finding abandoned and forgotten antique pieces. Restoring them to their former glory is her passion. Some pieces she keeps, and some she resells. This desk was my first purchase. I think I was twelve when Grandma and I found it tucked away in someone's garage. It was dusty and scarred, but we could see the potential, even if the owner couldn't." He turned and faced Nova. "Guess how much we paid for this desk?"

Nova's wry grin turned into a full-blown smile. Jimmy wondered what level of antique geek he must sound like. "A hundred bucks?" he guessed.

"Ha," Jimmy said. "Fifty dollars. Can you believe it?"

Nova shook his head. "The fools. What's it worth now?"

"I saw one auctioned for over a thousand dollars last year, and it wasn't in nearly as good of shape as mine. I think I could double or maybe even triple the price if I found the right buyer."

Nova reached up and tucked a wayward curl behind Jimmy's ear. Then he ghosted his finger lower, leaving goose bumps in his wake. "But you don't want to sell the desk, do you?"

"Hell no. The old girl means too much to me. Not only is she a beautiful piece of furniture, but the memories I associate with her are even more priceless." Jimmy looked around the room and said, "I like that every piece in here has a story."

"Like the old steamer trunk sitting in the corner. Oh, the tales it could tell."

Nodding, Jimmy said, "The trunk is actually a family heirloom and not a purchase. It didn't quite come over on the Mayflower, but probably not long after. It's been in the family for hundreds of years."

"Oh, wow," Nova said. "Seafaring must be in your blood."

"It is, but my family history is rife with tragedy instead of epic adventures."

"Ah," Nova said. "That explains why swimming in the ocean was discouraged."

"Forbidden," Jimmy replied.

Their conversation was veering toward subjects that were the opposite of sexy, but on the other hand, Jimmy forgot to be nervous. He snagged Nova's hand and tugged him out of the room before doubt could stir up the masses and mount an uprising. Halfway to the set of double doors on the opposite side of the sitting room, Jimmy started to wonder what condition he'd left his bedroom in. He stopped so suddenly that Nova plowed into him and jostled him forward a few steps.

"What's wrong?"

Jimmy turned and smiled up at him. "I don't suppose I can talk you into sitting on the couch while I tidy up my room."

"Not a chance," Nova said, reaching around him to open the doors. "Holy shit!"

"Oh God." Jimmy covered his face with his hands. "I'm normally not this messy."

"What mess?"

Jimmy spread his fingers enough to peek between them. The room was tidy except for a few articles of clothing tossed on his bed.

"I was gasping over the clawfoot tub," Nova said, pointing at the porcelain beast tucked in the corner of the room. "Christ. They don't make them like that anymore. It's big enough for both of us. You could ride me like a bronco in that thing."

Jimmy's mouth fell open, and his vision blurred as his imagination kicked in. "Okay."

Nova laughed, and Jimmy blinked the room back into focus. The taller man pulled him closer and kissed him. "Maybe we put that one in our back pocket for later. Didn't you say something about showering together?"

"This way," Jimmy replied, leading him into a small but tidy bathroom. "The shower is big enough for both of us but barely."

"It can make for a fun time."

Jimmy turned on the faucet to let the water heat up, then pulled two fluffy towels from a tall chest tucked in the corner and set them on the counter. Nova cupped his face and kissed him long and hard before they parted to quickly divest themselves of clothes. Once beneath the hot spray, the two men came together in a meeting of hungry mouths and curious hands.

They were both fully erect within minutes and the hot kisses they exchanged helped steam up the small space. One part of Jimmy's brain urged him to go slow and savor while the other spurred him to speed up. They could quickly wash the saltwater, sweat, and grit off each other and climb into Jimmy's big bed. He was more than eager to figure out which positions he liked best, but Jimmy chose not to rush it. Their lives were about to get a lot more hectic when their ladies returned in a few days. He might not get many more opportunities to explore Nova's body.

Tipping his head back, Jimmy stared up into Nova's piercing blue eyes. "Can I wash your hair?" he asked.

Nova smiled and pressed a quick kiss to Jimmy's lips. "You can do anything you want to me. I'm all yours."

"Anything?" Jimmy asked as he picked up the shampoo bottle from the corner shelf.

"Absolutely anything." Nova's voice was husky and raw, his eyes burned with lust, and his body looked tight and primed to fuck.

Hands shaking, Jimmy squeezed shampoo into his palm. The touch of Nova's hands on his hips immediately settled Jimmy's nerves. He raised his hands and threaded his fingers through Nova's hair, building a lather as he gave the man's scalp a gentle massage. Nova's fingers flexed against Jimmy's flesh, encouraging him to move closer. The tip of Nova's dick brushed against Jimmy's abdomen. The throaty growl that followed sent tingles through Jimmy's body.

"I never knew having your hair washed could be so intimate," Nova said. "It feels like you've got me by the balls."

"Give me a minute to get there," Jimmy quipped and tilted forward to rasp his tongue over one of Nova's nipples. The taller man gripped Jimmy's hips hard enough to bruise him, which only spurred Jimmy on more. He took turns teasing the sensitive buds until Nova trembled from his restraint. "You really want to fuck me, don't you?"

"You have no idea."

Jimmy dropped a hand down to grip Nova's dick. "I found an impressive clue."

Nova tipped his head back into the water, rinsing the shampoo from his hair. Then he reached for the bottle. "My turn."

Jimmy expected Nova to reach for his damp curls, but instead, he went for the trimmed pubic hair. Gasping, Jimmy clung to Nova's broad shoulders as deft fingers teased the base of Jimmy's cock, a sensual promise of things to come. The urge to rush renewed with vigor, but Jimmy stamped it down. Everything was still so new and exciting, and neither of them had to answer to anyone but each other. Nova eventually added more shampoo to his palm and washed Jimmy's hair. Christ, his eyes nearly rolled back in his head, and he moaned like a seasoned porn star, which only seemed to encourage Nova more. They switched to body wash and continued their erotic onslaught, teasing and touching until all of Jimmy's inhibitions washed down the drain with the remnants of their river adventure.

Jimmy shut off the faucet before leaning out of the shower to grab their towels. Nova's hands continued to roam over his body, demonstrating that maybe his control was wavering just a tiny bit. They made quick work of drying off before heading back to Jimmy's bedroom. He cast a longing glance at the clawfoot tub and earned a playful slap on his ass. Jimmy's skin tingled where Nova's hand had connected with his flesh, and his heart sped up.

The bed was tucked into an alcove beneath two round windows that looked like a ship's portholes. In the center of each one was a stained-glass sailboat. The nautical theme continued in the bedding and with the decorations hanging on the wall, including an antique net he'd draped over his headboard.

Nova walked over and ran his finger over the weathered rope, then made a fist and tugged it. "This could come in handy."

Jimmy tried to imagine what they'd use it for, but his late-night porn searches hadn't revealed a net kink, though he didn't doubt one existed. He yanked the clothes off the foot of his bed and moved up toward the headboard to send the throw pillows sailing too.

"You have condoms and lube, right?" Nova asked.

Jimmy replied by opening his nightstand and removing both things. "Check."

Nova took the proffered items, then stretched out on the bed, crooking his finger for Jimmy to join him. He didn't obey him right away but not because another round of nerves made him freeze. The sun had hit the round windows in a way that shot prisms of vibrant blues, reds, and yellows over the bed.

"You look like a modern piece of art," Jimmy said in awe.

Nova fisted a hand around the base of his cock and lazily stroked upward. "The interactive kind."

Jimmy eased onto the bed, stopping to kiss the yellow dot of light above Nova's right calf and the blue one on his upper left knee. A long shaft of red light slashed over Nova's groin, acting as a beacon for Jimmy's curious hand and tongue. He crawled farther up Nova's supine body. The hand gripping Nova's cock trembled and stilled as he drew closer. A pearl of precum beaded at the tip, and Jimmy took his time licking it clean before continuing his upward trek.

He hovered over Nova's navel and dipped his tongue inside, reveling when abdominal muscles flexed under his skin. Jimmy did it again and was rewarded with a chuckle. Making a note of the ticklish spot, he ran his fingers over Nova's happy trail and sifted them through the tight curls at the base of his cock as he chased each prism of light.

"Sailors used the stars to guide them for centuries. These points of light are a different kind of map," Jimmy whispered before lowering his head to trace the dots up toward Nova's nipples. He sucked one hardened bud into his mouth, then the other. "A treasure map."

A sharp inhale caught Jimmy's ear as he lightly grazed Nova's nipples with his teeth. Both of Nova's hands came up to grip Jimmy's head and hold him in place. He reached between Nova's splayed thighs and gave his balls a gentle massage.

"By a thread," Nova cautioned, reminding Jimmy of their conversation after the bike ride.

"You won't hurt me," Jimmy replied. He knew there'd be some level of discomfort, but Nova would never intentionally harm him.

So he continued learning the different textures of Nova's body and the erogenous zones that drove him mad. By the time he reached Nova's lips, the man was good and worked up. The kiss they shared was hot enough to set the bedroom on fire. Jimmy melted into his embrace not realizing Nova had reversed their positions until the clever man broke the kiss and sat back on his haunches.

"It's your turn to be interactive art," Nova said as he traced the prisms over Jimmy's body.

While Jimmy knew the basics of biology and was aware of the most common places that would bring him pleasure, Nova introduced him to new heights, starting with his ear and working his way downward. Jimmy's back arched off the bed when Nova wrapped his lips around his cockhead, massaging his tongue against a spot just under the crown.

"I don't want to come yet," Jimmy said as he thrust his hips upward, pushing his dick deeper into Nova's hot mouth. He nearly cried out "nooooo" when Nova obeyed his wishes and let his dick slide from his mouth to move lower to lick and suck Jimmy's balls and taint.

His entire body was shaking by the time Nova reached his feet and dug his thumbs into Jimmy's arches. "Oh fuck."

Nova smiled and met Jimmy's gaze as he moved on to the other foot. The man looked so composed and in charge, at complete odds with how he'd flexed and arched when he was the one on his back. Jimmy shifted his leg and tucked his foot up under Nova's heavy balls.

The fingers around his feet flexed as Nova narrowed his eyes. "Cheater."

"You were looking too unaffected," Jimmy said.

Nova arched a brow. "A thread, baby. I promise you."

Baby . Jimmy knew better than to take the term to heart, but he did it anyway. Nova didn't seem to realize he'd said it, or maybe he didn't care. Jimmy wouldn't allow his brain to get stuck on it because—"Oh God." Jimmy slapped his hand on the mattress when Nova's deft thumb located a certain spot on his foot. Those invisible strings again, and it was Jimmy's turn to hang on by a thread.

"What? Here?" Nova hit the spot with both thumbs. Jimmy's cock jerked and he cried out. Nova's laughter was dark and dirty. "Roll onto your stomach. There's one more erogenous zone I want to introduce you to."

Jimmy pulled his foot free and eagerly rolled onto his stomach.

"On second thought," Nova said, "get on your hands and knees."

Questioning his command didn't even occur to Jimmy, so he scrambled into position. He felt a little silly when he felt the cool air from the ceiling fan blow across his ass, but his worry didn't linger. How could it when Nova gripped both his ass cheeks in his large hands, pushing them together, then pulling them apart? The bed dipped as Nova repositioned himself behind Jimmy. Hot breath ghosted over his anus, making it quiver and clinch. Nova sank his teeth into Jimmy's right cheek while jiggling the left. He lost his balance and nearly smashed his face into the headboard.

"I'm so clumsy," he grumbled.

"You're so fucking adorable," Nova countered. "For my next stunt, you might want to hold on to something."

"Oh God," Jimmy whimpered as he pushed himself onto his hands again. Instead of locking his elbows, he rose up and braced his upper body on the headboard.

Nova's seductive chuckle vibrated Jimmy's ass cheeks, and more hot air ghosted over his anus. He'd seen rimming in porn, but surely—Nova's hot, wet tongue swiped across his puckered hole and circled the rim, stimulating all the nerve endings.

Jimmy moaned and pushed back against his face, wanting more of everything. He glanced over his shoulder and met wicked blue eyes. God, what a sight the two of them made. Jimmy's balls tightened and swung heavily between his spread legs. Nova's fingers dug deeper into Jimmy's flesh as he swirled his tongue around his anus and pushed against it.

Pleasure washed over him, and Jimmy's head felt too heavy to hold up, so he let it fall forward. Every neuron was focused on his ass and the sexy man who feasted on it.

"A thread," Jimmy called out. It was like a safe word of sorts.

"Good," came Nova's muffled voice. He still pulled back. When Jimmy started to lower his body, Nova smacked his left cheek and said, "Not so fast."

He expected more hot breath and wicked tongue play, but a drizzle of cool liquid coated his pucker instead. Nova rose up behind Jimmy, and he braced himself for penetration.

"Relax," Nova said softly. "You're not ready for that yet."

Before Jimmy could protest, Nova rubbed the cool lubricant all around the rim before pushing just the tip of a single finger inside his hole. It burned at first, but Nova eased out and soothed the area with the lube before inserting his finger back inside Jimmy's entrance. This time he went deeper, rotating the digit. Jimmy's shaky exhale was part sigh and part whimper.

Nova must've mistaken his cry as pain because he ran his free hand up and down the back of his thigh. He kissed Jimmy's ass and said, "Just breathe, baby. We'll take this nice and slow."

"Slow?" Jimmy asked. "That sounds more like an ahhhhh—" he groaned when Nova's finger slipped deeper and bumped up against something that sent electric thrills throughout his entire body. It was like the energy and joy from every holiday and birthday were concentrated in one area inside Jimmy's ass.

"Like that?" Before Jimmy could answer, Nova nudged it again, but harder.

"Fuck," Jimmy cried. "Do it again."

Nova moved his free hand around and stroked his cock while fingering his ass.

"A thread," Jimmy warned. "Not even an intact one."

Nova released his cock and slid his hand up to toy with Jimmy's nipples, amplifying the sensation of ass play. Nova eased his finger out, then applied more lube before easing two fingers inside him. The burn stole Jimmy's breath, but it didn't dim his enjoyment one bit. He already knew intense pleasure would obliterate the slight bite of pain.

"How do you want me?" Nova asked before kissing Jimmy's ass cheek. "Mounting you like this will give you the most pleasure." God, he made it sound so primal, and just thinking of Nova claiming him like a wild beast was nearly enough to make Jimmy shoot. "I could lie on my back and let you control the pace and penetration." Nova reached between Jimmy's legs and massaged his sac. "Or you could lie on your back, and I will take you in the missionary position." Having Nova's weight on top of him was exactly how he'd imagined losing his virginity, but the other two positions sounded so good.

Jimmy braced his hands against the headboard and rocked back on Nova's fingers. "I'm not sure enough of my brain cells are firing to make this decision. Just make me come. Please."

Nova eased his fingers out again. Jimmy glanced over his shoulder when he heard the rip of a foil package. Their gazes collided and held as Nova rolled the condom down the length of his shaft. If Jimmy had harbored any lingering doubts, the intensity he saw in Nova's blue eyes would've quashed it. Nova slicked on additional lube before tossing the bottle aside and moving into position behind him and stretching out over Jimmy's back.

"We'll take this nice and slow," he said huskily. "I'll stop if you need me to, okay?"

Jimmy nodded, and Nova kissed the back of his neck before lifting off him. With one hand on Jimmy's hip, Nova guided his cock to his ass. The broad head nudged against his pucker, then pushed past the initial ring of muscles. Jimmy's breath hissed between his lips and Nova stroked his back like he was a sleek cat.

"It gets better. Your body was made for this."

After a brief pause, Nova pushed deeper still. The nerve endings sang, but at least the tune had changed from death metal to something more soothing.

Nova groaned and flexed his fingers on Jimmy's hip. "God, you look so good stretched around my cock."

Knowing he pleased Nova turned him on more, even though the pressure from penetration made him feel like a worm on a fishhook. Jimmy wanted to wiggle to find relief but was afraid Nova would mistake his minor discomfort for something more severe. He took calming breaths before thrusting his hips back a little. His ass sucked Nova's dick deeper inside, causing Nova's hips to jerk in surprise and his cock to nudge against Jimmy's prostate.

Grunting in pleasure, Jimmy gripped the headboard, rocked forward a few inches, then pushed back even harder.

"Someone's greedy," Nova whispered hungrily.

"Starving."

Chuckling, Nova gripped Jimmy's hips with both hands. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, please."

Nova pushed forward, burying himself to the hilt. Both men cried out together. One of Jimmy's hands slid off the headboard. His finger snagged and held onto the net as Nova started moving in and out of him, keeping the pace slow and easy.

Nova lay over Jimmy's back, pressing his lips against Jimmy's ear. "Your ass is squeezing me so tight. I can't get enough."

Jimmy opened his mouth to respond, but it came out as a needy mewl. Every push-pull drag over his sensitive nerve endings and bump against his prostate pushed his arousal higher. Still, Jimmy wanted…more, to be an active participant rather than just someone who amazing sex happened to. He rocked his hips back to meet Nova's next thrust, eliciting a sexy growl.

The fingers gripping Jimmy's hips flexed and jerked before one hand released him to caress his abdomen and chest, gliding upward until it reached his chin. Nova used a gentle touch to turn Jimmy's head and gain access to his mouth. The angle made kissing difficult but not impossible. Jimmy matched Nova's hunger and intensity, wishing he could be closer still. Jimmy reached behind him, clutching at Nova's thigh and loving the play of muscles as it bunched and relaxed with each thrust.

Jimmy broke their kiss and pressed tighter into Nova's embrace. "Not enough." He'd expected sex to feel good, but he hadn't anticipated a desire to burrow into someone.

Nova sat back on his heels, pulling Jimmy with him until he sat astride his thighs. The position made Jimmy feel impossibly full, and he cried out in pleasure as he squirmed in Nova's embrace. Two arms wrapped around Jimmy's torso—one low around his waist and the other around his chest. Nova thrust upward, lifting off his heels and taking their pleasure to a higher plane.

His head leaning against Nova's shoulder, Jimmy lifted his arms up to grip his hair as Nova continued to nuzzle Jimmy's neck and shifted a hand from his hip to fist his cock. A few more thrusts had Jimmy's core tightening with impending release.

"I'm gonna…" Jimmy said.

"I know, baby," Nova said, sitting back on his heels and pulling Jimmy onto his thighs. "Ride me."

Jimmy arched his back and rocked on Nova's cock, but he needed more friction. He planted his feet on the bed and pushed up, fucking himself on Nova's entire length.

Gripping Jimmy's hips, Nova growled, "Take what you want."

Jimmy was too caught up in chasing his orgasm to worry about proper form. He kept bouncing against Nova's thighs as the climax built inside him until he thought something might break. When it did, his orgasm was a beautiful, breathless free fall where nothing in the world existed but his pleasure. Jimmy drifted for a long time afterward before crashing down to earth or Nova's thighs.

"God, you're so beautiful," Nova growled as he eased free of Jimmy's clinch.

Whimpering his protest, Jimmy said, "But you haven't come."

"Yet," Nova said, rolling him onto his back and spreading Jimmy's legs before reentering him.

Jimmy moaned and wrapped his arms and legs around Nova, pulling him closer. Nova cupped Jimmy's face with both hands, kissing him deeply and passionately as he began moving again. His thrusts started out slow and measured but soon became quick and jerky. Jimmy felt Nova's entire body tighten as he chased his own climax. He broke their kiss and stared into Jimmy's eyes as he slammed forward a few more times, then stilled as he came. The look of wonder on Nova's face matched the state of euphoric fog taking over Jimmy's brain.

Their chests heaved from labored breathing as they stared into one another's eyes. The joy continued to build until it erupted from Jimmy in a nervous giggle. The sound was so unexpected that he snorted and covered his mouth. Jimmy's face flushed hot when he recalled Nova's fear of being laughed at during intimate moments.

Nova stiffened and blinked rapidly. Then he eased out of Jimmy and flopped onto the bed beside him. Jimmy's brain went into overdrive, trying to figure out how to fix his mistake. He looked over at Nova and found the man grinning up at the ceiling. The smile turned into a chuckle before morphing into a triumphant laugh that shook Jimmy's bed.

Rolling onto his side, Jimmy scooted over and rested his head on Nova's shoulder and his hand over his heart. Nova wrapped his arm around Jimmy and held him tighter as they laughed together.

"I don't know why I'm laughing," Jimmy managed to say. "That was the most beautiful moment of my life."

Nova stilled and stared into Jimmy's eyes. "I don't know either. I guess this is only slightly better than laughing at a funeral."

Jimmy sobered and tried to school his expression into something severe and somber. "It was a funeral of sorts. We laid my virginity to rest."

Nova rolled onto his side so they lay facing each other. He reached up and brushed Jimmy's damp hair off his forehead. "A proper send-off if you ask me."

Jimmy released a shaky sigh and nestled closer. "The best." The day's activities and his massive climax were starting to take a toll on him, and everything felt heavy, including his eyelids.

The next thing he knew, Nova was kissing him awake. Jimmy cracked open his eyes and noticed the room was pitch black except for a strip of light escaping through the ajar bathroom door. Once his vision adjusted, he could see Nova was fully dressed and kneeling beside the bed.

"Hey there," he said tenderly. "I have an Uber on the way, but I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye."

Jimmy bolted up in bed. "Cancel it. I'll drive you home."

"You don't have—"

Jimmy silenced Nova with a kiss. "I want to drive you home." He wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.

Nova stared at him for a few seconds before nodding. Jimmy dressed while Nova canceled the ride through his phone app. On the way out to the car, Nova reached for Jimmy's hand. The simple gesture made his heart race. But what did it mean? Or did it even signify anything?

Neither of them said much during the trip across town to Nova's subdivision. They both seemed lost in their thoughts. Jimmy abandoned his own inner musings to try to guess what Nova might be thinking, an exercise in futility if ever there were one.

Jimmy was searching for the right thing to say when he pulled into Nova's driveway.

"Put your car in park," Nova instructed.

Jimmy did as he asked, then turned to look at him. Nova removed his seat belt before leaning across the console to kiss Jimmy soundly. Tension and doubt melted at the first press of lips. When Nova pulled back, he no longer worried about using the right words.

"Thank you for giving me the best weekend of my life," Jimmy said, his voice sounding way more serious than he'd meant it to.

Nova cupped his cheek. "For me too. Is this goodbye?"

Jimmy turned his head and kissed Nova's palm. "No way. I'm just trying to convey how much our adventures mean to me."

Nova brushed his thumb over Jimmy's lips. "My free time will be limited when Millie comes home, but can I call and text you? I don't want to go two weeks without talking to you."

"I'd love that."

Nova kissed him again, his lips lingering a long time before pulling back. "Goodnight, Jimmy."

"Goodnight."

He watched until Nova disappeared inside his house before backing down the driveway. So much for easy and uncomplicated, but Jimmy had never been happier.