“I’m a guest and you’re letting me stay in your place. I appreciate you being a sweet Share Bear. I’m not gonna make any cracks about Unwashed Hair Bear.”
Reece narrowed his eyes.
“Right back to Glare Bear, huh,” Grayson said.
“Take your shower, asshole.”
“And now it’s Swear Bear.”
Grayson set his bags down on the end of the couch. Reece belatedly realized the gift basket was still on the coffee table, now empty except for wrappers. And oh shit, he’d also left out—
“I think I know that hoodie.”
“I was leaving it out so I’d remember to return it to you.”Lie.Well, luckily Grayson was looking at the hoodie, not him. Hopefully he hadn’t noticed the flinch.
“Are you wearing it?” Grayson glanced back at him. “I figured you’d burn it to keep the bogeyman away.”
Reece shrugged, trying to look nonchalant and not like he wore it every day. “It’s a lot nicer than any of mine.”
“Then you should keep it.”
“What, really?” Reece said, eyes widening. “Is it from your college?”
“Yeah,” said Grayson. “But it’s not like I’m gonna be sentimental about that.”
“Right,” Reece said, nonchalant, because he was definitely way too cool and collected to have his own sentiments over getting Grayson’s hoodie to keep.
Or any sentiments over having Grayson finally here with him again. There wasn’t much space in the studio’s living area and they were only about three feet apart, close enough their size difference was even more noticeable than usual, as was the easy strength that practically radiated off Grayson. Reece would have to climb him like a tree to kiss him, but Grayson would probably barely notice his weight. And yeah, it’d be different without the map of emotions to guide his mouth and hands, would be a new challenge to figure out how Grayson liked to be kissed, to get him wrecked and sated.
But damn. They could have a lot of fun.
Reece quickly turned away, walking over to the thermostat. “Towels are in the bathroom. I feel pretty confident in guessing an obscene amount of that duffel is devoted to shampoo and haircare products, but help yourself to anything of mine.”
He turned the heat up as Grayson pulled a few things out of his bag and then disappeared into the short hall that led to the studio’s minuscule bathroom. A moment later, he heard the shower start. It was nice, knowing he wasn’t alone. The studio felt smaller with Grayson in it—in a good way, a cozy way. Maybe he could think about a roommate when the sublease was up. He could put up an ad.
Twenty-six-year-old terminally single empath seeking roommate. No drugs, bad drivers, or movies rated higher than PG. Must be open-minded about bisexuality and sadistic superhuman monsters.
Maybe not.
He walked over to the double bed along the far wall. He didn’t have much in the way of blankets or pillows, but Grayson hadn’t seemed concerned about his accommodations, had said he often slept in his truck.
Apparently lived out of his truck.
Reece frowned. He didn’t know what to do with someone who’d bought a house to keep him safe but didn’t have a home for himself.
A few minutes later, Reece had turned the couch into a bed best he could, with his comforter and one extra pillow. He heard the shower turn off and the bathroom door open, and turned before he meant to.
Grayson had poked his head out of the bathroom, a towel draped around his neck, covering his visible shoulder. A mesmerizing flush deepened his shower-warmed skin. “Can you pass me my bag?”
If Grayson had still had emotions, he probably would have felt refreshed and calm, maybe even languid. All that height and breadth would mean endless inches of skin to explore and map, so that Reece could fall into him and lose himself until the world had disappeared.
“Care Bear?”
Reece shook himself. Grayson, of course, didn’t have emotions. But his fingers twitched at the sight of wet, bare skin, because he might enjoy touching him anyway.
“Bag. Coming right up.” He grabbed Grayson’s duffel off the couch and nearly stumbled. “This weighs almost as much as me.”
“Then you already know it’s not enough for a workout.”
