Chapter 4

Chapter Fou r

Edries

I wake alone. When Bernice first left, I’d been counting up the days I’d woken alone. I’ve since stopped counting, but it’s still one of the first things I acknowledge whenever I wake up. The bed is empty. It’s just me.

The crackling of the fire makes me realize that I’m not in my own bed. I open my eyes and look around, remembering. Right. Cabin in the woods by myself for Christmas. Only… I’m not exactly by myself as planned. But Gabe isn’t in bed.

I’m going to pretend I’m not disappointed by that realization as I get up and head into the bathroom. I must have slept well last night. There’s evidence that he’s already taken a shower and gone about the morning. I follow through the motions I imagine he took.

Pissing. Brushing my teeth. Getting into the shower and washing. Does he wash his hair first or his body? How thorough is he?

Shaking my head, I push the inappropriate thoughts away. It’s one thing being creepy on a complete stranger that you’ll never face again. Another thing entirely when that not quite a stranger anymore is at most, fifty feet away.

Under the same roof. Snowed in .

At the reminder of the snow, I glance out the window in the bedroom. Yep, still snowing. I can’t see beyond the whiteout of snowfall. Turning my attention to the fireplace, I load in a few more pieces of wood and then head into the living room to do the same.

Turning into the kitchen, I stop in my tracks. Gabe’s there, all right. He’s moving about the space in nothing but underwear and socks with an apron on. They’re not boxer briefs, either. They remind me of skimpy bathing suit bottoms and these are decorated with candy canes.

I stare. I shouldn’t stare, but I stare. His body is lean and toned, tanned, likely from all the time he spends in the sun with soccer. His hair is dark, kind of messy. He’s got strong legs, but they don’t look entirely too thick. Gabe’s body is that of a runner.

I’ve never noticed before…

Of course, I’ve never noticed before!

Gabe glances over his shoulder and thankfully, I’m not staring at his ass. Not going to lie, I’ve always been an ass man. Just… never thought to look at a man’s. Shame really because if Gabe’s is anything to judge them on, I’ve been missing out on some fine ass.

Wait… I didn’t mean it like that.

“Hey,” he says. “Did I wake you?”

I shake my head. My mouth is too dry to speak.

“Sorry. It’s really hot in here.”

“So I shouldn’t have stoked the fires?” I ask.

He makes a face and then laughs, giving me his back again. “Glad I added on that perk when I paid for the room. I’d likely be frozen to death by now.”

I snort. “You’re lucky I’m generously letting you stay in the room I paid for, since I know how to keep a fire burning.”

Gabe doesn’t turn around, but I can practically see his smile. He’s standing next to the sink, so I move around the small island that takes up more space than I actually need and wash my hands. Our elbows brush, though they shouldn’t since there’s plenty of room, but he doesn’t move away .

“Want some help?” I ask. Not that I’m entirely sure what he’s making with the array of items spread out.

“Want to chop some fruit?” he asks, nodding his head toward the other side of the counter.

Not if it takes me that far away where I might not get to touch him accidentally, I don’t. For obvious reasons, I don’t say that. Giving Gabe a nod, I move behind him, casually brushing against his perky ass and placing a hand on his back as if to prevent him from backing up while I move through a space that’s entirely unnecessary for me to try to fit. This island truly has no business in the kitchen.

His hand pauses in whisking while I move by. It’s a hardship forcing myself to remove my hand from his warm skin. He’s soft, hard muscle under smooth skin.

I scoop up the fruit and bring them closer to him, but place myself strategically where he won’t be able to easily get by to reach the stove unless he wants to go around the island. If he chooses to do that, I’ll take that as my hint and leave him alone.

Maybe I should do that, anyway. It’s not like he’s given me any indication that he’s interested.

Fucking Christ, why am I interested? He’s a dude! Is it because he’s here and I’m lonely? It’s no secret that I hate waking up alone. I hate being alone. I want a family. But for fuck’s sake, I’m literally brushing up on a gay man I haven’t even known for twenty-four hours!

Pathetic. That’s what I am.

My thoughts still when he moves behind me, our asses brushing as he slides down the counter to the stove. Well, it’s not rubbing his hips against my ass like I did him, but… am I supposed to read into this or not?

Actually, if I were wise, I’d concentrate on chopping the fruit so I don’t cut off a finger. So I do. All the while finding different lame excuses to accidentally brush against him.

I have a mango, a pomegranate, two kiwis, a pineapple, and some berries. When I break into the pineapple, I cut a little piece off to taste it. There are some that just aren’t that great. But this one looks juicy. Yep, it’s good.

With another piece that’s not uniform in size to the other cubes, I turn around and crowd into Gabe’s space. His hand stills again as he glances at me. His eyes meet mine before dropping to the piece of fruit in my hand as I bring it close to his mouth. Offering it.

A smile quirks the corners of his lips as he leans in and takes it from my fingers. I swear, I feel the brush of his soft lips against the head of my dick. I’m not sure why he looks slightly amused when I back away, but I don’t hate that look on him.

In fact, I have to force myself not to think about that look while I continue my task of cubing fruit. Focus on the knife, fucker!

It doesn’t take me long to get through the fruit, even as I try to draw out the task for as long as I can. Then it’s done and I just stand there. Aware of how close he is. My fingers itching to touch him.

Setting the knife down, I pick up a slice of banana to offer him this time. He’s flipping what is clearly French toast now, so I wait until he’s done. He accepts this piece of fruit. I watch his mouth as he chews and then his throat as he swallows.

“Finished chopping,” I say. Damn, why is my voice so scratchy?

He nods to the cabinet beside us. “There are bowls in there.”

I lean into him, pressing my chest to his back to lean over where I really don’t need to, and open the cupboard to grab a couple bowls. Then I back away, slowly, because I don’t want to.

I’m starved for affection, aren’t I? Is that my problem here?

Turning back to my fruit, I split the pile of mango, kiwi, banana, berries, and pineapple, mixing them before arranging the fruit in the two bowls. I add the pomegranate seeds last. They’re like little drops of dark blood on an otherwise pretty dish.

I’ve prolonged the inevitable, so I turn and squeeze by Gabe to get back to the sink to wash my hands again. Once I dry them off, I’m surprised when I turn to find Gabe in my face. With his hands on my chest, his eyes locked on mine, he pushes me against the fridge .

“Is there something you want, Edries?” he asks. Mostly teasing. I think. I definitely see amusement. But is it also a serious question?

Because I’m not entirely sure, I don’t answer. Instead, I pull him against me and press my mouth to his. His surprise is clear when his lips part and I take advantage of that, too. I mean, if he’s going to knee me in the balls, I might as well make it worth it.