Page 24 of How Not to Date a Griffin

“I-I don’t know,” Nolan whispered.

Reid glanced up, found something too-big and a little bit not-right-now in his eyes, and… shrugged, somehow relaxing in the face of Nolan’s uncertainty. “Come lay down. This is the softest bed I’ve ever laid on.”

Nolan didn’t say anything, his hand fluttering over Reid’s, which was still gripping his thigh. Reid released him, and shifted his arm behind his back to awkwardly pat the mattress. “Come on.”

He nuzzled his face into the pillow, but watched Nolan round the bed. The bed dipped as Nolan joined him, and Reid waited patiently, fighting drowsiness as he got comfy.

Nolan’s warmth seeping into him, his arm trailing over Reid’s side, did not help.

“We have all week, yeah? Nothing has to happen tonight,” he offered, and rolled over so Nolan could see the sincerity in his gaze.

Nolan huffed, breath disturbing the hair falling into Reid’s forehead. “It’s not that I don’t—I want it. A lot. Is there such a thing as too much?” His voice was quieter as he asked.

Fucking flattering, is what it was.

“Never too much. Like I said, we have all week, right? You’ll be here at your conference?”

Nolan nodded, and Reid reached up to tap at the spot his dimple usually appeared. “See? We have so much time. Nothing has to happen right now.”

“Tonight was just… really fucking perfect,” Nolan breathed.

“Still is,” Reid told him, and meant it. “Dunno about you, but I haven’t shared a bed with someone in ages. Feels nice.”

“The other stuff would’ve felt nice too,” Nolan returned, fingers tensing over his hip. Was he pouting?

Reid cracked one eye open and tried not to let his cheeks twitch. “You’ll have to prove it.”

“Next time,” Nolan whispered, and both Reid’s eyes snapped open.

Next time, next time, next time. The words echoed in his head, imprinted on his mind.

“I’ll hold you to it,” Reid promised, reminding himself to breathe even though he was stuck in the deep pools of Nolan’s eyes again. “Hope you didn’t plan on kicking me out. Bed’s too nice.”

“I would never,” Nolan scoffed, sounding properly scandalized.

It should’ve been awkward, as wrapped around each other as they were, sinking into the bed like molasses. Instead, it was the most comfortable Reid could remember being with another person.

So when Reid’s eyes drifted closed once more, they didn’t open again for the rest of the night.

Nolan

Reid fell asleep quickly, lips parted as he breathed deeply, expression relaxing, one of Nolan’s pillows still crumpled up behind him. Where he’d been hugging it, Nolan reminded himself.

His heart thumped against his ribs, and he settled into the embrace, a small smile curling his lips.

Reid was utterly, devastatingly handsome, blond hair spread across the pillows, tattoos stark against the white sheets. He wouldn’t dream of waking him up, kicking him out. Maybe Nolan was crossing some invisible one-night stand line, but he couldn’t find it in him to care. Not when Reid looked so at peace, so comfortable.

It was dark, the city lights casting the room in a soft glow. The citrus scent of his soap smelled divine on Reid.

Maybe don’t sniff the attractive man while he’s sleeping.

Nolan sank into Reid’s heat, his skin smooth against his own. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat sure to wake the man in his bed, and he tried to calm himself down. His thoughts turned to their evening together, each touch they’d shared and the soft glances and even the conversations. Then to later, when arousal had burned low and hot, the embers sparking with every touch and kiss and god, Nolan wanted him.

Which had led to his real crisis. The night had been so perfect, was still perfect—he heard the words in Reid’s voice, and felt the man shift in his arms—but what if he’d ruined it?

This wasn’t some silly one-night stand, and he’d let his fear of it ending stop it in its tracks altogether.

But now we have all week and next time was echoing in his head, and Nolan knew this wasn’t something casual for Reid, either. He found comfort in the epiphany, and finally, truly relaxed against Reid, the late hour and too many emotions catching up to him. The morning would come early. He should sleep.