Page 15 of American Love Story

When he spoke again, he sounded more certain. The confidence that I’d gotten used to coming back. “For law school, it was the same. I went to the schoolIgot into. I ended up at Fordham Law and honestly, I loved it. Then I came back here tothe DA’s office.” He stepped closer to me, as I was still looking for how to respond. When he came closer, he didn’t look sad anymore. Just like that, his smile was back.

I wondered what it cost Easton every time he did that. “So is this place worthy of your first post grad school home, Professor?” The way he looked at me, with hopeful eyes, like he needed me to play along, was enough to disarm me.

“I don’t know, Mr. Archer. Are you going to be a good landlord?”

Was I flirting? Trying to impress? I wasn’t even sure what kind of life I was living anymore. But it was all worth it when I saw that smile.

“Well I usually have a property management company take care of stuff for my tenants, but for you, I might want to take care of things myself.”

Why was him talking about repairing shit in my apartment making me want to fuck him over the staircase railing?

And why had I even gone there?

Once again, I had an image come to mind. This time, Easton writhing under me as I spread him open with one hand while I worked an enormous dildo into his ass with the other. Pushing it in as he undulated under me, trying to make it go deeper, while I leaned in to lick at his stretched out rim, and he begged me to fuck him harder.

This time I really did have to adjust my pants and Easton started moving toward me like he knew exactly what was going through my head. Before I knew what was happening, he grabbed my shirt, pulling me down to him. I moved fast and grabbed the back of his neck to pull his face to mine, like it was the most natural thing in the world. No hesitation, not a shred of reluctance.

I had at least four inches and sixty pounds on him. I was a big guy—people usually approached with caution—but Easton came to me like he was coming home.

Like there was nothing he could see that he didn’t want to get closer to. I was thinking about what part of him I wanted to get at first when I remembered why I was here—to rent this apartment that heowned. If I got mixed up with Easton, it would get messy.

Messy was one thing I did not do.

I released the hand that I had on the back of his neck and stepped back with a heavy exhale. “Easton.”

He immediately pulled back and glanced up at me, looking dazed. Once again I wished I could just let myself go. Get what we both wanted.

I looked at him trying to figure out how much my hot and cold shit had pissed him off, and he did look pissed, but apparently not for the reason I thought.

“Oh no. Stop that shit.”

I laughed because he was fucking ridiculous.

“Stop what. You’re a mind reader now?”

He lifted a shoulder, but I could tell he was embarrassed about the kiss and I felt like shit. I had to give it to Easton, he could handle discomfort. He powered on and cleared the air. “As a matter of fact, Iama bit of a reader, not minds, but certainly body language.” He exhaled and waved in my direction. “Looks like once again I pushed you too far too quick. My bad.”

I shook my head and smiled at him because no matter how crazy he made me, I really fucking liked Easton Archer. In fact, the more I knew, the more I wanted him. There was no telling myself any different on that.

“Easton, I’m just trying to get into this building without starting some fuckboy drama with you. I want this place and I?—”

This I wasn’t sure how to say without going into weirdness territory.

“I like you. Like as a friend, and I’m going to be here for a while.” I sagged after getting the words out, and he looked at me like he knew what was coming.

“I get it. If you want this place, it’s yours, and I will keep my thirsty ass in shape.”

I shook my head at him, biting back a smile, wanting to also say my piece. The thought of Easton walking away from this feeling hurt was not sitting right with me.

“Listen, you’re obviously not the only thirsty one in this situation.” I glanced up to the steel beams in the ceiling, hoping to word this right and not offend him because he had been nothing but decent to me. “I just don’t want to ruin the chances of us actually being friends. I don’t do very well as a lover in the long term, but I am a decent friend. Hearing about your college experience, I don’t know, it makes me want to get to know you better, without our dicks being involved.”

Easton deflated like I was making too much sense and he might have to agree with me, but he didn’t have to like it. “You might have gone with the wrong career, because I’m thinking you would have made a hell of a lawyer.”

An unexpected bark of laughter came out of me, a regular occurrence whenever Easton was around, but I was grateful for the shift in the conversation. “Pssh, being an economist is much better. We don’t even try to argue; we just manipulate the data until we can tell everyone how to think. So…”

Easton extended a hand to me as if to seal the deal. “Welcome to six eleven Cayuga, Professor Denis.”

I smiled wide as we shook on it. “Thank you, Mr. Archer.”