“I thought you were on your way back to New York. Why are you here?” He took a cautious step toward me.
“I decided I was not okay with you leaving when we have a bunch of things still unsaid between us.” His eyes widened, andhe opened his mouth, possibly to ask me to get the hell out, but I held up a hand. “No, please listen.” I gestured toward the living room couch, and he sat down. I took a seat beside him. He didn’t run away in disgust, so I took that as a good sign.
“I need to clear the air about a few things,” I began. “I’m crazy about you. In a non-creepy way.” I smiled when his eyes lit up. “And, yeah, I like sex. I’m twenty-six years old. I had a lot of sex while living in New York. It was all meaningless. For a while now, I’ve been stuck in that revolving door of men because I was trying to get you out of my brain. But it didn’t work. I’m crazy about you,” I repeated. “I don’t really know what I thought would happen this week after we jumped into bed about three seconds after seeing each other again. But I know what I wanted to happen. I’d like to date you, Jonas. Not bang and move on.”
He looked cautiously optimistic, but his brows furrowed. “We don’t even live in the same state, Phoenix. How would that work?”
“Right.” I nodded. “That is true. But, as it happens, I co-own a business, and my partner and I can really work from anywhere. We do have to travel a lot when we have an active client implementation, but I don’t have to be stationed in New York. I’ve been missing North Carolina anyway. It’s my home. And I care about you a lot.” He scooted closer until he was practically sitting in my lap. I wrapped one of his hands in mine. “I’ve cared about you in some way ever since I met you. Even though I know you helped Brooklynn get all those frogs into my bed back in the day.” I gave him a pointed look, one eyebrow raised. Jonas snorted and shrugged. “Not even gonna try to deny that, are you? I knew it.” I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “We could be good together, Jonas, great even. All I’m asking is for you to trust me and give this thing between us a try. And I’ll try not to be too much of a jealous idiot.”
Jonas reached up and cupped my cheek in his palm. “I’d like that. And I’d like to apologize for flying off the handle, and up and leaving. I’m sorry, Phoenix.” His mouth slipped into a frown. “You didn’t deserve any of that. I freaked out and let my thoughts twist and poke at my insecurities. And I did what I do best in those situations.” His hand fell, and he looked down. “I not only created a problem, but I also avoided dealing with the problem. And that’s not fair to you.” When he raised his head, his expression was grim. “I owe you so many apologies, Phoenix, that I could start now and go until the end of time, and it still wouldn’t be enough.”
“That’s not—” I began, but he interrupted.
“I ran into Marcus on my way out of Asheville this morning. He kissed me.”
I plopped back against the cushion. Of all the words in the English language, I had not expected that combination to come out of his mouth right now.
“Ah, I see,” I said slowly. “And, uh, what happened after that?”
Jonas’s mouth pulled into a small smile. “I shoved him away and yelled at him.” Relief flooded my chest, nearly dizzying in its effects. “I should have been more open to what you and Brooklynn said about him yesterday. I’m sorry.”
“Jonas, it’s okay. No more apologies necessary.”
His shoulders raised and lowered as he exhaled slowly. “Okay. I’d like to try this ‘us’ thing, if you’re willing to be patient with me. I’m going to make a lot of mistakes.”
I dropped his hand and cradled his face in my palms. Our lips met in a kiss so simple it was nearly chaste, and yet it was one of the best, most meaningful kisses I’d ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
“Neither of us is perfect,” I reminded him. Then I summarized the most important part. “So, it sounds like we’re going to let this be what it will be and enjoy the adventure.”
He nodded. “And the sex.” He pecked my lips with his. “Going to enjoy that too.” Jonas brushed his mouth against mine. “A lot.” He licked my neck. “Like, so much sex.” Another kiss. “So much.”
“I like the sound of that.” I pulled him into my lap and settled us on the couch. I kissed along his skin as I removed each piece of clothing I could get to. “Brooklynn will disown me if she finds out we defiled the couch.”
Jonas put a finger to his chin like he was pondering. “It’s not technically defiling the couch if you fill me up with your cum and none of it gets on said couch.”
I drew his mouth to mine and mumbled against his lips. “I love the way you think.” We kissed slowly, our tongues stroking and exploring each other. The slow speed didn’t last long. I stripped while Jonas ran ass-naked to his room, retrieving his lube. I sat on the couch again, and he straddled me as soon as he returned.
I kissed him hard while I got him ready for me. “Listen,” I said between kisses. His lust-glazed eyes met mine. “One of these times, we really will go slow. I will romance you so slowly you’ll be crying and begging me to cut the slow burn and get to the fucking. But today is not that day. I’m gonna fuck you hard and fast right here on this couch until your legs are shaky and you forget how to talk. Then I’m gonna lay you on your stomach over the back, watch my cum drip from your pretty pink hole, and fuck it back into you. And start all over again.”
Jonas squirmed around, grinding his ass down on my fingers. “Those are big promises, Kennedy,” he panted. “You better deliver, or else I’ll have that snowman shipped here and use him to get off instead.” He ran his fingers through my hairand down my neck, looping his hands around me. “Thank you for coming after me. It means a lot,” he whispered, and then kissed the tip of my nose.
I added another finger to the mix, and he shuddered in my arms. “You’re worth it,” I said. “Now, come?—”
He leaned back just enough to reach up and shush me with two fingers pressed against my lips. “I have to say one more thing. Well, two.” I nodded, and he withdrew his fingers slowly. “First is a question.” He flushed, and I was very intrigued by whatever had caused it. “Did you, um, happen to travel here with your cowboy hat?”
I smiled and shook my head. “’fraid not, babe. I left in a rush in my hurry to get to you, and forgot to grab it. I’ll have to give you a raincheck on the cowboy fantasy.”
“Okay, sure. I’ll hold you to it.”
“And I’ll be sure to deliver on it.” I kissed him on the mouth, then sat back. “So, what’s the second thing?”
In the most serious tone ever, he said, “I’m so relieved I finally got the chance to find out you’re uncircumcised. The mystery was killing me.”
I huffed a laugh and pointed to my slathered-up dick. “Shut up and ride my pickle.”
He grinned and slid down my cock, slowly impaling himself on me. “Great news, Phoenix,” he said, panting a little as he adjusted to me. “I’m no longer the most awkward one in this relationship. Call it an attitude adjustment, or something.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked.
