Bad Ideas (First & Forever 4)

I grinned and couldn’t help but prod him a bit. “Just being practical? That’s it? I shouldn’t read anything else into what many might call a big moment?”

“Okay, fine. I’m not just being practical. I want you to have those keys because I trust you, and because I think we’re ready for this step.” He glanced at me and grinned. “What I’m trying to say is, I’m kind of fond of you, Lassiter. Now, can we please go inside? I’m freezing my ass off.”

Theo laughed when I scooped him into my arms and carried him and the mini tree inside. I kissed him before putting him down, and as he locked up behind us, he said, “I changed the code on the alarm. It’s now one-two-zero-three.” He tapped a button on the panel beside the door and headed for the stairs.

I chuckled at that as I followed him. “Can I read into the fact that you changed the code to my birthday, twelve-oh-three?”

“I changed it to something you’d remember.”

“That’s the only reason?”

“Okay, so I also wanted a reminder of when your birthday is, so I don’t forget.”

“Even though it’s over eleven months away,” I teased. “Are we still supposed to pretend we’re just taking this day-by-day and not planning for the future?”

He chuckled and said, “You’re such a pain. Yes, we’re still taking this day-by-day until further notice. You should really stop trying to send me into a panic and instead, appreciate the fact that I’m trying to take baby steps.”

“You’re right, and I do appreciate the hell out of that.”

“I have one more thing to spring on you after your shower,” he told me, when we reached his bedroom. “You’re absolutely going to read into that, too.” I was smiling ear-to-ear as I headed into the bathroom.

A few minutes later, after I’d showered, brushed my teeth, and tried to tame my unruly hair, I returned to the bedroom with a towel around my hips. Theo was on the bed, sitting cross-legged on top of the covers. He’d put the little tree on the nightstand, and its multicolored lights were reflected in the soft sheen of the deep blue silk robe he wore.

I tossed aside the towel and climbed onto the bed. When I parted the robe and revealed a matching pair of blue silk briefs, I said, “You bought a sexy outfit! I feel like Christmas came early.”

“I thought I should expand my repertoire beyond ripped jeans and band T-shirts.”

I pushed him onto his back and climbed on top of him as I pointed out, “You’re sexy that way, too, and when you’re all covered up in those tailored suits at work. But I definitely appreciate this ensemble.”

I supported my weight on my knees and elbows as I leaned down and kissed him. Then he said, “I’m glad you like it, but this isn’t actually what I was referring to when I said I had something else to spring on you.”

“You’ve been busy.”

I sat back so I was straddling his hips, and he pulled a half-sheet of paper from beneath the pillow. “Yeah, I guess I have. So, earlier this week I decided to get an STD screening, and my results were negative across the board. You’d mentioned you were celibate for quite a while before we got together, and I assume you got tested too at some point.” He turned the paper so I could see the test results for myself.

“Yup, as part of the physical I had at the start of this year. All my results were negative, too.”

“Great. So, I was thinking, you know, if you wanted to, maybe we could stop using condoms? I mean, just if you wanted to. The thing is, I’m not actually going to sleep with anyone but you, and I thought maybe you felt the same way, so…”

He was totally flustered and rambling, which I thought was very cute. I grinned at him as I plucked the test results from his fingers and tossed them aside. “I’m one-hundred-percent on board with retiring the condoms and being monogamous, Theo. Also, I’m going to start calling you my boyfriend now. It’s time. Actually, I’ve been thinking of you that way for a while, but I want to make it official.”

He beamed at me and said, “I’ve never had a boyfriend before.” Then he rolled us over so he was on top of me. As he kissed me, I slipped my hands under his robe and cupped his ass, which turned out to be totally exposed.

I smiled against his lips and murmured, “There’s more—or less—to these manties than meets the eye.”

He sat up a little and raised a brow. “What the hell is a mantie?”

“You know, men’s panties. Yours seem to have an added feature.”

He climbed off me and said, “It’s a thong. I was trying to look sexy, but it’s driving me insane!” I grinned as he unceremoniously stripped off the silky undergarment and threw it on the floor. Then he flopped down beside me on the bed and sighed. “I’m so bad at being seductive. Like, hey baby, check out my negative test results and my wedgie.”