Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“That’s an idea.” Linc rubbed his chin. “Junior’s the right age for a dog. Guess I could ask May if she’d let me pick out one for his birthday later this year.”
“Way to ensure you’d be Uncle of the Year.” Jacob laughed before eating more of his salad. The steak was good, nice sear on a generous portion of medium rare meat, simple but balanced seasonings. Linc could cook, something Jacob should have anticipated but hadn’t. It was nice, this domestic side of him. “Nice food. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
They finished the food with more easy talk—about the kids and Linc’s garden plans, carefully avoiding all mention of work. Talking with him had always been comfortable, even with all the unresolved attraction stuff that lingered for years. Maybe that was part of why he’d persisted so long—it wasn’t simply that Linc was hotter than fuck. He liked hanging out with him, liked the intent way he listened, liked the way a funny story about the kids could coax out a rare deep laugh and make Jacob feel like a rock star simply for making Linc lighten up. And each contribution from Linc felt like earning secrets, even if it was simply gardening tips.
Linc moved to clear their empty plates, but Jacob beat him to it.
“Let me. You cooked. I’ll get the dishes.”
“Okay. Shouldn’t be too hard because I’ve got a dishwasher now.” Linc followed him around the island to the sink, lounging against the counter while Jacob loaded the plates and washed out the skillet. His hooded gaze made Jacob feel like a rabbit off in the hills, easy prey for a hungry bobcat. Anticipation gathered low in his gut, even before Linc tugged him against his front. Without even giving him a second to dry his hands, Linc wasted no time in raking his teeth against Jacob’s neck. Not enough to leave a mark, but still more aggressive than a quick kiss, and it made Jacob instantly hard.
“I was thinking—”
“I thought we weren’t supposed to be doing that.” Jacob had to laugh.
“Behave.” Linc gave him another soft bite. “The whole time we were eating, I was thinking that maybe we didn’t do enough to test your theory.”
“Is that your way of asking me how I feel about fucking?”
“Yeah.” Linc held him tighter, letting him feel how aroused he already was himself. “Do you like getting it? Because I’m not saying I won’t...but damn I really want to fuck you.”
Jacob liked how Linc didn’t automatically assume that because he was younger or shorter that he liked to bottom but that he also wasn’t scared to show how much he wanted it either. That sort of want was undeniably appealing, even if it wasn’t Jacob’s usual. And it wasn’t like he hadn’t spent years wondering what it would be like with Linc.
“Yeah, we can do that.” He sank into the embrace as Linc inhaled sharply. “Do you have stuff? I won’t go bare.”
“Need to check some expiration dates.” Chuckling, Linc pulled him toward the hall that led to the bedrooms, but into one of the smaller rooms, not the master.
“You didn’t take the master for yourself?” The room was small, dominated by a queen-size bed with a plain blue comforter and an older nightstand, with the remaining floor space devoted to two dog beds.
“Nah. Made that my gym. The attached bathroom is handy after a workout, but also...” Trailing off, he shook his head. “Too much baggage, I guess. Taking over my old man’s space...yeah. I was fine with keeping this room for sleeping.”
“I can see that.” Feeling bad for making Linc think about his asshole of a father, Jacob wound his arms around Linc’s neck. “Now about those expiration dates...”
“Okay, okay. Let me dig.” Linc pulled loose. There was something endearing about him not even knowing where his supplies were. Logic said he had no hold on Linc, but the jealous, primal part of Jacob’s brain liked knowing that Linc didn’t do this very often. Indeed, everything about the simple room said he didn’t entertain many guests at all. Rattling around in the nightstand, Linc came up with a bottle of lube in the top drawer and a strip of condoms two drawers down and tossed both on the bed before pulling the comforter back. “Dates are good.”
“Thank goodness. I sure wasn’t driving back into town.” The nearest convenience store was still a good fifteen minutes away.
“We’d just get creative.” Coming up behind Jacob again, Linc pulled at his shirt while nuzzling his neck. “But either way, I wasn’t gonna pass up my chance to get you naked.”
“Yeah.” Jacob swallowed hard at the reminder that this was their one chance. Linc didn’t need him, not on the same level Jacob did, and he needed to remember that, be careful to not make more of this than it was. Maybe Linc was good at seduction, the little touches and kisses, but that didn’t mean he was entertaining any romantic thoughts. With that in mind, Jacob shed his own clothes quickly, not sure how much more tenderness from Linc he could take.