Broken Compass
Page 240
“You’re pushing yourself too hard again. But lucky for you, I know of a way to work the stress out of you.”
“You do, huh?” His smile is happy. His cheeks flush.
“Are the others in?”
“Upstairs. Showering. Together.” His flush deepens.
A chuckle rumbles up my chest. It’s so fucking cute how he gets all hot and bothered, as if he isn’t living and having regularly fuck-hot sex with two guys and a girl.
“One day,” I tell him, and slap his ass.
He grunts. “One day, what, Nathaniel?”
“Oooh, my full name. Ouch!”
“One day I’ll tap that ass.”
“In your dreams.”
I leer at him, and he sticks his to
ngue out, because sometimes we’re like two-year-olds with each other.
Of course I wouldn’t push him. We’re exploring our sexuality, our fascination with each other, taking it slow, just fooling around, gathered around Sydney, our fiery center like planets pulled in by her gravity.
And that’s plenty fine with me. No rush. No expectations other than staying together. Staying happy.
“Come on.” I grab his arm and drag him to the sofa, “sit down. I’ll make you a smoothie.”
“Nate…” He doesn’t let go of my hand, tugging until I sit down with him. “I’m fine. I had a smoothie this morning.”
“You fucking love my smoothies.”
He rolls his eyes.
It’s my new hobby. West is the foodie among us, the chef, but I found my niche. Healthy smoothies. “You know you need the energy to keep up with us.”
I swear if he rolls his eyes any harder, he’ll get a headache.
“Take tomorrow off. Stay home.”
He sighs. “I can’t. I shouldn’t miss more classes.”
“Sure you can.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It is easy. Just do it. I’ll make you the mother of all smoothies.”
“Nate…” He’s laughing. “Stop.”
“Look, I’m spoiled. I’m a kept man. All I’m missing is an apron and a duster in my hand. That’s what you expected, isn’t it? When you bought this house?”
“That depends,” he says. “Will you be wearing anything underneath that apron?”
I eye him. “Nope.”
His cheeks color, but he looks serious. Way too serious, when I’m trying to get him to relax. “Nate, buying a house for us doesn’t mean… Dammit, look, I have the money, and I wanted a place for all of us—”