Magnificent had arrived earlier in the week. That would keep his mind occupied while on leave from GBI. Again.
Jonah lectured himself all afternoon about keeping his hands and lips to himself. He wanted Avery to know he meant more to Jonah than just a good fuck. Avery’s sweet smile tested his mettle right off the bat, and he wanted to taste it. Instead, Jonah tucked his hands in his back pockets.
Avery raked his gaze over Jonah’s white tank top, faded blue jeans, and bare feet. Then he looked at the living room, smiling when he noticed Jonah had moved the furniture around in the small space to spread out his comforter. He’d placed pillows at the end opposite the television so they could lie down and watch the movie after they ate. A wicker basket sat in the center of the blanket. Jonah worried it would come across as cheesy, but Avery’s expression transformed from happy to wolfish in an instant.
Jonah cleared his throat and rocked back on his heels. Why was he so damn nervous? Because Avery mattered to him. So damn much. “The pizza should be here any minute.”
Avery closed the distance between them, crashing into him. Jonah staggered back a few steps, banging into the kitchen table before finding his balance. The jarring motion rattled his brain, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to complain. Jonah must’ve winced though because Avery made a horrified gasp and started to pull back.
“Huh-uh,” Jonah said, snagging him at the waist and hauling him back against his chest. “I like you here, and I much prefer it when you whimper from pleasure instead of distress.”
“I am just so happy to see you looking better,” Avery said, nuzzling his nose against Jonah’s neck.
Jonah cupped the back of his head, and Avery looked into his eyes. “I want to kiss you.”
Avery hummed happily. “Yes, please. Nice and gentle.”
Jonah laughed. “Are you instructing me or warning yourself?”
“Both?”
Jonah slowly lowered his head and kissed Avery the way he’d fantasized about earlier. Avery blessed him with one of his little whimpers, and Jonah nearly lost his mind. He’d just slipped his tongue inside Avery’s mouth when someone knocked loudly on the screen door. Jonah begrudgingly pulled away from Avery, hopefully only long enough to retrieve the pizza and tip the driver.
Avery placed a hand over his pounding heart, halting him. “Do you know what my favorite part of picnics was when I was a kid?”
“Baked beans?” Jonah guessed.
Avery snorted. “Huh-uh. Climbing trees. I’m looking for more adult activities involving wood these days.”
Jonah could feel his grip on his good intentions slipping. “Ouch,” he said, sucking air between his teeth and cringing. “Think of the splinters.”
Avery trailed his hand lower, stopping just above the waistband of his jeans. “You’re the tree, Jonah.”
“Pizza delivery,” the driver said through the screen. “I have several others to make.”
“I’m coming,” Jonah said.
The teenager snorted. “Yeah, I can see that.”
Jonah pressed a quick kiss against Avery’s lips before walking to the door to pay the kid and get his pizza.
“Where were we?” Avery asked once they were alone.
“We were about to sit down and enjoy a pizza picnic and watch a movie,” Jonah said, tipping his head toward the blanket.
“The basket is a nice touch,” Avery said. “I can’t believe you had one sitting around here.”
“I didn’t,” Jonah admitted. “I still can’t drive, so I enlisted Marla’s help setting this up. She happened to have a picnic basket from a drag performance of Wizard of Oz.”
Avery laughed. “I’m starving.”
“It’s from all your sleuthing, Velma.”
“Velma?” Avery asked.
“You are familiar with Mystery, Inc., right? I mean, I know we have a ten-year age gap, but I thought everyone knew Scooby-Doo and the gang.”
Avery glared at him. “Of course I know who they are. I was just surprised you called me Velma.”
“Why? She’s the smartest one.”
“True,” Avery said, preening a little before grinning at Jonah. “And who exactly would that make you? Fred?”
Jonah snorted. “God, no. Felix is Fred. The man is all about setting traps. He even owns a van he sometimes uses for investigations. It’s white and blends in everywhere, but maybe we could talk him into painting it psychedelic colors instead.”
Avery laughed so hard he nearly fell over onto the pillow. If that happened, Jonah’s control would snap, and he’d forget all about the pizza and his attempt at chivalry. “Who’s Daphne?”
“Rocky,” Jonah said without missing a beat. “He uses his good looks like a distraction device. Someone so pretty can’t