Bad Ideas (First & Forever 4)

“It’s also worth mentioning that during this same time period, I was finishing nursing school and starting my new career, and then I moved here from St. Louis, so there were a lot of other things to focus on besides my total lack of a sex life.”

Theo grinned a little. “And then one day you decided, ‘hey, I think I’ll fuck this guy I don’t like at my company Christmas party.’ An odd choice, if you ask me.”

“It was right on the heels of deciding I was going to get back out there and start having sex again. That’s actually why I had a condom and lube on me. I’d planned to select some random guy based on a cheesy dick pic and go out and get laid after the party. But then this stunningly beautiful man showed me his passionate side, so I was saved at the last minute from a sad, empty, meaningless hookup with some stranger from a dating app.”

His grin got wider. “You’re welcome.”

I flashed him a smile. “Is it rude to ask how long it had been since the last time you’d had sex?”

“You wouldn’t like the answer.”

“So, it was ten minutes before you and I hooked up for the first time?”

A bark of laughter slipped from him, and he said, “It wasn’t that bad. More like a week.”

“Oh, a whole week!”

“Unlike you, I never had a problem with casual sex. It was a good way to blow off steam.”

“Did any of those hookups ever turn into something more?”

“No. I made sure of it by never fucking anyone more than once.”

I grinned and told him, “I’m glad you suddenly forgot how to count to one.”

He knit his brows and pretended to be annoyed. “I had to keep coming back for more in your case. You ruined me for all other men by being amazing in bed.”

“Did I?”

“Wipe that smirk off your face, Lassiter. And get out of the tub. You’re starting to prune, and the water has to be cold by now.”

“It’s not cold. Check it out.”

A surprised bark of laughter slipped from him when I pulled him and the towel into the tub with me. Then he settled in on my chest again and nodded. “You’re right, it’s still nice and warm.”

I played with his hair for a while, and after a pause, I said, “I don’t know what made me think of this, but I saw you out at a bar once. It looked like you were on a date.”

“I don’t date.”

“Ever?”

“That shouldn’t come as a surprise, since you know what I’m usually like. Out of curiosity, which bar was it?”

I told him the name and said, “This was back in October. I was out with my brother and best friend, before they got together.”

“What was I doing?”

“You looked very bored, and there was some guy hanging all over you.”

“Oh! I actually remember that night, since I rarely go to that bar. I met a Grindr hookup there. I always made a point of meeting them in public before going home with them, in case they turned out to be creepy. Needless to say, I didn’t go home with that guy, but he didn’t want to take no for an answer. In fact, he even started to follow me out to my car. I yelled at him and threatened to call the cops.”

“I wish I’d known what was happening. I would have stepped in and tried to help.”

He nuzzled my chest. “That’s very sweet.”

I grimaced and admitted, “I actually wasn’t sweet at all that night. In fact, I was very drunk and insulted you behind your back. You and I’d had a big blow up at work that week. I don’t even remember what we’d been arguing about, but I was still angry. I think I called you one douche to rule them all.”

He actually laughed at that. “A Lord of the Rings-themed insult. Nice.”

“I feel awful about it, and everything else I ever said about you.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it. You and I weren’t friends, and I know how I am at work. Besides, who hasn’t vented about their annoying coworkers at one point or another?”

“I’m truly sorry, Theo.”

He stretched up and kissed me gently, and then he said, “I accept your apology.”

I thought he was being way too easy on me, and I still felt guilty. But at least I’d gotten that off my chest.

Eventually, we left the tub, dried off, and got ready for bed. Then we settled in under the covers, facing each other. I studied him in the soft light of the bedside lamp as I asked, “Will you come to my house Sunday morning? My housemates and I are planning a brunch, and then we’re all going out and finding a Christmas tree. Seth and Eden are joining us too, and I’d love it if you were a part of that.”