“You could.”
“You could live with me and make it a home.”
“Are you going a little too fast again?”
Orsen grumbled. “Shut up.” There was no heat in the words and Santino smiled. “Why do you have to be so sensible?”
“Because I want to do what’s best for you. Don’t think you’re the only one with blue balls. I want you naked, Orsen, and going to the club made me realize that. It’s a bit of a shock to find myself attracted to someone your age, but you’re only young in years.”
“Can I tell you something?”
“Anything.” Santino moved over to the sofa and sat, then patted the seat next to him. Orsen stood and then sat next to him, but left a gap between them. Santino slid closer and put his arm over Orsen’s shoulder and pulled him close. “Better.”
Orsen hummed and whispered, “I went to the park yesterday. I think I went there once as a kid, but I can’t really remember, so I went on the slide and the swing. It was fun.”
“I’ll take you to one of those theme parks. We can stay in a nice hotel and spend a few days there, and you can go on all the rides.”
“I think I’d like that.” Orsen snuggled closer and sighed softly. “I’m still a little angry with you.”
“I scared you. I’m sorry.”
“No. You were right. I’m running before I can walk. I heard someone say that before, and it fits.”
“It does.” Santino moved around and cupped Orsen’s cheek. “We’re alone on the sofa. Do you know what we do now?” Orsen shook his head. “We make out, which means lots of kissing. Want to try that?”
Orsen smiled. “I do.”
Santino hummed, then kissed him.
Chapter Eleven
After spending every night of the past week making out with Santino, Orsen wanted to do more, so he stood on Cody’s porch waiting for him to answer. When he did, Orsen stared at him and his black eye. “What happened?”
“Arthur pissed Lincoln off, so Lincoln threw his controller, but his aim’s shit and it hit me.” Cody left the door open and walked inside. “Shut the door, Orsen. Want a soda?”
“Please.” Orsen shut the door and followed Cody into the kitchen. “I did something stupid at Santino’s when he came back.” He blurted it out, then sucked in a lungful of air.
Cody turned to him, his eyes narrowed. “Did he hurt you?”
“Not in the way you think.”
“Sit and tell me.” Orsen took the soda and sat at the table, then told Cody what happened. Cody sighed and nodded. “You know he didn’t want to scare you, but he’s right. If you had pulled a stunt like that around the men I knew, you would have been in big trouble. They wouldn’t have stopped.”
Orsen shivered, bit his lip, but nodded. “I do know, but I really like him, and he makes me feel…” Orsen felt his cheeks heat up and stared at the table.
“He makes you hard and you want him to touch you.” Orsen winced but nodded. Hearing Cody say what he couldn’t caused him to blush even more. “I’m like that whenever I see TJ. When he comes in from work and he’s wearing his sheriff’s uniform? Hot as fuck and gets me hard so fast.”
Orsen’s mouth fell open and, if it was possible, he blushed even more. “How can you just talk about it like that?”
“Because I didn’t live in a hut in the middle of the woods, and I’ve fucked a lot of men.” Cody grinned. “Be honest about it. Sex is a natural part of our lives, and I know Santino likes you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
Orsen bit his lip and slid his finger through the condensation on the side of the can. “He likes my eyes. Ambrose would say he could get a lot of money for me because of them.”
“Fuck him. Santino doesn’t see you as a piece of ass, otherwise he would have fucked you when you threw yourself at him.” Orsen cringed. Cody shrugged. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“No. I did try to touch him and I’m not ready. I sound like such a kid. What does he see in me?”
“Now, you park that shit. You are gorgeous and sweet and kind and strong. You have a spine of steel. You’ve survived hell and now you have a hot man who looks like he wants to eat you up and take care of you at the same time. Strange look to see on his face.”
