the robe before we went downstairs, sorry.”
Donovan’s mouth quirked into a lopsided smile. “I wasn’t thinking either.”
Silver turned away before the bulge in his jeans became even more prominent, then yanked the curtain aside that guarded his closet. He retrieved the blue terry robe he’d purchased ever since moving into the garage, for when he took his own showers. Having to charge naked up the stairs and grab some clothes if someone knocked would suck.
Silver handed Donovan the garment then pretended he wasn’t interested in looking as Donovan threw on the robe and cinched it closed. Silver noted that while the robe offered him plenty of room to wrap around his waist, it ended way above his cute, knobby knees. Donovan tugged the towel loose from beneath the robe then held it up.
“Where should I leave this?”
Silver accepted the cloth from him, struck by how Donovan hadn’t tried to tease, or be seductive. The man kept on surprising him.
“Turn around.”
Donovan obeyed him immediately and Silver reached up to ruffle Donovan’s hair dry with the towel. He detected a quiet moan, followed by a sigh as Donovan accepted Silver’s attentions. Silver could go on for hours if he could draw those sounds of pleasure from Donovan over and over.
Silver sensed that the lack of touch in Donovan’s life explained a lot about the man and his snotty attitude. Silver grinned as he continued to vigorously rub Donovan’s head. So much fun lay ahead if Donovan would agree to allow Silver to take over.
“There.” Silver tossed the towel into the laundry basket he kept next to the closet. “Don’t want you catching a chill.” Silver allowed his palm to drift down to Donovan’s nape, then brushed the exposed skin with his thumb before drawing his hand away. He didn’t miss Donovan’s slight shiver.
Silver indicated to the futon. “Let me take a quick look at the butterfly bandage, then reapply the other one to your hand.” Once Silver was satisfied Donovan was good, he quickly rose. “Now it’s my turn. Go ahead and get in bed. I’ll shut off the light if you want, I can see all right from the bulb right outside the door.”
“Oh, sure.” Donovan wouldn’t meet his eyes. He regarded the bed then peered up at Silver. “But, leave the lights on in here, if you don’t mind.” Donovan wrapped his arms around himself. “Don’t laugh. Being in unfamiliar places…unnerves me.”
Silver grasped Donovan’s chin, locking gazes with him.
“I’d never laugh at anything like that. As you get to know me better, you’ll come to understand how I operate, how I believe and think.”
Donovan stared at him wide-eyed. “I’m unbelievably fascinated by you. You know, I’ve met scads of people over my lifetime, especially in business, who have what some might refer to as a strong sense of self.” He gave a derisive snort. “But that wouldn’t be accurate, not even close. What they have is a disgusting propensity for self-aggrandizing behavior. Not one of them has ever held my interest or enticed me to believe that what they had to say held any true value. However, I’d listen to you. I’d know that what you said mattered.”
Donovan covered his eyes with both hands and shook his head. He let them fall, chuckling as his cheeks flushed. “Jesus, I’m not even drunk. I usually only blather on when I’m wasted.”
“Did you mean what you said?”
The red in Donovan’s skin deepened. “Yes. Every word.”
“Then it’s not blather.”
Silver took a step toward Donovan, his heart opening up a fraction more from how surprisingly forthright Donovan was being. He laced his fingers through Donovan’s, then brought their joined hands to his lips, pressing a kiss against the sweet-smelling skin.
“Thank you.” Silver released Donovan’s hand then brushed back his hair, running his palm down the soft salt and pepper beard. “Come on, let’s get you into bed.” The corner of Donovan’s mouth twitched, and Silver smirked at him. “Behave.”
Donovan regarded him with fake innocence. “I didn’t say anything.”
Silver pointed to the futon. “No, but your thinking was very loud.”
Laughing, Donovan did as he was told. Silver found he loved it when Donovan laughed almost as much as it excited him when he obeyed. Once again, Donovan didn’t try to tease, but slipped under the covers before removing the robe. He laid it at his feet then turned on his side, facing Silver.
Donovan stuffed the pillow beneath his head and wrapped his arms around it. “At the risk of sounding too spoiled, would you mind