Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Keeping his hand in Fitch’s, Ansel rolled to his side so he could run the other along Fitch’s scruffy jaw. He’d never seen him without facial hair.
“How often do you shave?”
Fitch rubbed his free hand over the opposite cheek. “In the morning, and again in the afternoon if I have a chance. Which I didn’t today. Sorry, did I give you beard-burn?”
“I hope so.”
Fitch shot him a confused look.
“I like that you’re hairy,” Ansel clarified.
“Is that why you call me Grumpy Bear?”
Ansel shifted closer so he could trail a finger through Fitch’s chest hair. “No, you’d be more of a wolf than a bear. I call you Grumpy Bear because that’s what you reminded me of the first time we met. Grumpy Bear, from the Care Bears.”
“Are you shitting me? I reminded you of a cartoon?”
Ansel laughed at the false offense in Fitch’s tone. “Not just a cartoon, I had one of the stuffed animals when I was little.”
Fitch rolled to straddle his thighs and started tickling his ribs. “I’ll show you. Keep laughing, Angel.”
“Okay, okay.” It was difficult to speak between snorts. “You win.”
Fitch stopped the torture and leaned forward until his nose almost touched Ansel’s. “What’s my prize?”
Ansel caught his breath at the heat in Fitch’s brown gaze. “Anything you want.”
Fitch’s grin was wicked. “Oh, you just gave me far too much power.”
Suddenly Ansel’s heart stuttered in his chest and his lips dried. “I trust you.”
Those three simple words stopped time. Fitch froze, even seemed to stop breathing, and so did Ansel until his lungs began to burn. Half a dozen heartbeats later, Fitch finally moved enough to kiss him.
“Thank you,” Fitch whispered against his lips. He stayed there for another moment, just looking into Ansel’s eyes. Then, like a switch being flipped he pasted on a hungry half-smile and straightened. “I’ll claim my prize at a later date and I won’t promise you’ll have any warning.”
“Yep, total wolf.”
Grunting, Fitch toppled off him and moved to the edge of the bed. “If I’m a wolf, what does that make you, Little Red Riding Hood?”
Ansel kicked Fitch’s hip. “In your dreams. I’m the fucking woodsman.”
“You are pretty deadly,” Fitch agreed over his shoulder, finding his boxers on the floor.
“What are you doing?” Ansel rose to his knees.
“It’s pretty late and I still have a long drive ahead of me. If I want any sleep at all I better get going.”
“Or—” Ansel paused until Fitch looked at him again “—you could stay.”
Turning fully, Fitch studied him. A moment passed while they stared into each other’s eyes. “Or I could stay,” Fitch repeated, slowly. “But if I do, I’ll want to snuggle and I know how you get about all that mushy shit.”
Sounded like heaven. “Hmm, tough call, but I think I can handle a little cuddling if it means you get more sleep. After all, it is my fault you’re up so late.”
Fitch tossed the boxers to the ground again and reclined in the bed. “I have church in the morning so I’ll need to leave early.” He tugged Ansel down into his embrace and pulled the sheet over their naked bodies.
“That’s fine.”
“I may not let you go, all night.” He kissed the top of Ansel’s head.
“That’s okay too.”
“Good night, Angel.”
“Sweet dreams, Grumpy Bear.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
During church service the next morning, Fitch was struck with a strange mix of nervous calm. He was happier than he’d been in months and knew he wasn’t hiding it very well. Ansel had let him spend the night and they’d slept in each other’s arms until the sun came up. If he hadn’t promised to be at church, he might have stayed in bed all day. Feeling Ansel’s soft breaths against his chest, the heat at his side, the strong arms around his middle, had been heady.
He followed his parents back to their house after the benediction. As soon as he’d parked, his sister was at his window waiting like an eager puppy. Opening the door, he rolled his eyes at her.
“You made up with him, didn’t you?” She kept her voice hushed, but it still carried enough to have him looking toward the front door.
“Maybe.”
“Oh my God, you’re going to tell them.”
How the hell did she always know what he was thinking?
“Would you please be quiet? Christ, Meg.” He shut the car door.
“Sorry, I just didn’t realize it was so serious.”
He pushed a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. “I just don’t want to feel as though I’m hiding something.”
Meg’s face scrunched. “Yeah, I get it. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.” She hooked her arm around his and tugged him into the house.
His parents were great people. They raised him and Meg to be open and honest about all the important things in life. When Meg came out, they accepted her eventually. Deep down, he knew they would love him no matter who he dated. But even if they were the most open-minded couple in the world, this news was going to shock them. He’d been chasing women since puberty.