“Everyone, stop.” Daniel put up a hand. “I appreciate the support, but it doesn’t matter. Tomorrow, I’ll go into work and beg my boss for forgiveness. And I’ll figure out how to pay everyone back for rent this month.”
Jensen could see Daniel’s roommates gearing up to argue, but he had a feeling it wasn’t going to be productive. They could fight about it all night, but Daniel wasn’t in the right place emotionally to continue the discussion. Besides, they couldn’t really do much at the late hour.
“I think we should call it a night and continue this over breakfast in the morning.” Perhaps Jensen could get Daniel to see reason with a full stomach.
“Great idea.” Daniel stood from the couch, pulling Jensen with him. “Come on, I’ll show you to my room and we can get ready for bed.”
He laced his fingers with Daniel’s. “Good night everyone,” he said, then picked up his pace so they were side by side. “By the way, I have no toothbrush. I also don’t have a phone charger. Or pajamas.”
“Looks like you’ll be sleeping with your collarbone out, you slut.”
Jensen let out an exaggerated sigh. “For you, I’ll suffer through it.”
Daniel shook his head and chuckled softly. Jensen counted that as a win, at least for now.
“I’ll find you some clothes to wear to bed.” Daniel let go of Jensen’s hand then went to his dresser.
“I would appreciate that,” Jensen said, righting his shirt sleeves. “Can I draw you a bath?”
Daniel’s head whipped back to gaze at Jensen with wide eyes. “You’d prepare a bath for me?”
Jensen shrugged. “I figured you could use one after today, and—oof.” The air was knocked out of Jensen’s lungs as Daniel threw his arms around him.
“Thank you,” Daniel whispered against Jensen’s neck.
With a fond smile on his lips, Jensen hugged him back. There were so many things they had to talk about and figure out. But, for now, all they needed to do was hold each other and get some rest.
And shower. Jensen really needed to shower off the airport germs.
22
Daniel was pulledfrom sleep by the bedroom door closing. The air was still and quiet in the room, but barking could be heard from the next neighborhood. He propped himself up with an elbow to see Jensen cringing with a grimace on his face.
“Sorry,” Jensen whispered. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
A yawn ripped through Daniel as he collapsed back onto his pillow. “What time is it?”
“It was nine twelve when I left the room, so probably closer to nine twenty now,” Jensen answered as he set his glasses on the nightstand and got back into bed.
Daniel smiled at the precise answer and rolled over so he could see Jensen in the dim light taking over the room. Most mornings he cursed himself for not forking over the money required to get blackout curtains to keep the sun from disturbing him. Today he was happy he could see Jensen’s concerned eyes as they swept over Daniel’s face. That was one problem that had sort of solved itself, he guessed.
Of course, Jensen being in Daniel’s room didn’t solve all his problems. His car was still broken down in the city. He didn’t have enough money in his account to pay his roommates back or cover the cost of vehicle repairs. And he needed to figure outhow to keep his balls intact after skipping out on work last night without calling in.
He was fucked. But it was nice having Jensen wrap his long arms around him and kiss the top of his head.
“How are you doing this morning?”
Daniel snuggled closer and pressed a kiss to Jensen’s chest. “Bad but also okay, if that makes any sense.” He had no idea what he was going to do about his job or car or really anything at this point. He wished he could pull the covers over his head and burrow into Jensen and have all his problems disappear, but that was what had gotten him into this mess in the first place. He’d ignored the warning signs from his car, and now it was broken down in some lot. He’d ignored his bank balance, and his roommates had to pay his portion of rent. And he’d ignored how much he hated his job until it was a swirling mass of dread and misery he couldn’t escape from. The mess hadn’t disappeared just because he’d turned a blind eye to it, and it was past time for him to start cleaning it up. “I’ll just have to figure it out somehow.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Jensen corrected.
Moving his head back on the pillow, Daniel looked up into Jensen’s eyes. “You really mean that, don’t you?”
“I do. I’m moving here and will help you with whatever you need. I can call around and get your car towed. I could also rent a car or I can get my car shipped here. I bet my parents would drive it over, but my mother might never leave. She’ll be posted up in your kitchen cooking, and I don’t think your roommates would appreciate that. I’ll need to get an apartment quick. Oh shit.” He started fumbling around the sheets. “I have to tell my bank I’m traveling so they don’t freeze my cards.”
Daniel couldn’t contain himself a moment longer. He tackled Jensen to the bed and kissed him, his hands sifting through Jensen’s hair as he straddled him, and his breath coming faster.
After a moment of shock, Jensen pulled him closer, matching Daniel’s desperation in a clashing of lips and tongue and skin and emotion that could only be described as fierce. Each breath was filled with Jensen’s natural smell mixed with Daniel’s from sleeping bundled up together, creating an intoxicating scent that coated his lungs and drove him wild. Maybe even a bit feral, like he had already become addicted to it and his body demanded more. One more kiss. One more taste. One more touch. And another and another until the rest of the world gave way and there was only him and Jensen.
