Infuriating - Onley James Page 0,20

Old Spice and sweat. The sound of heavy breathing and his weird breathy grunts. The way Carl’s gut would press against his forehead as he forced Day down. The feel of his hands in Day’s hair. His apartment that always stunk of cigarettes and garbage.

“You’re lucky I like you, kid. I’m saving you a lot of money this way. Don’t worry, I won’t tell your little girlfriend about our arrangement. I don’t think she could handle any more bad news. Do you?”

Day jerked forward, just barely making it to the toilet before his stomach heaved. Thankfully, there was painfully little left in him. He sat there, with his head on the toilet rim, for five minutes until he was sure the nausea had passed then finally turned on the shower. He undressed carefully, making sure not to snag his hose. They were the most expensive part of his outfits. When he was naked, he got under the heavy stream of water, enjoying the pulsing sensation of the shower head as it beat down on his sore muscles. He washed quickly but stayed under the spray until his fingers were pruny and his eyes were heavy.

Once he was safely wrapped in a towel, he stood in front of the mirror, drying his hair and trying to style it with his fingers. His lips and cheeks were red from where Jackson’s beard had brushed against him. He trailed his fingertips over the areas, closing his eyes so he could try to relive what it felt like to kiss Jackson.

Day shook his head. He didn’t belong there. Jackson was everything Day wanted in a guy, except that he was clearly unhinged. Who looked at somebody like Day and just acted like this could be more than it was? Maybe he was just trying to make Day feel better? Jackson did seem rather old-fashioned. Opening doors and buying Day food. That had to be it.

Hopefully, Jackson had taken the hint and realized that Day wasn’t in the market for a hero or a Prince Charming. Just somebody to keep him alive until they caught a murderer. He just needed to find a way to show Jackson that Day wasn’t Cinderella, he was the pumpkin.

Jackson was pulling a waffle from the waffle maker when Day stumbled down the stairs, his platinum hair sticking up in all directions and his glasses perched on his nose. He was wearing a pair of black joggers and a hoodie the same pool blue as his eyes. He seemed out of sorts.

“You hungry?” Jackson asked.

Dayton crawled onto a stool at the other side of the bar, glaring at Jackson’s dark wash jeans and fitted t-shirt. He could only smile at the grumpy look on Day’s face. He clearly wasn’t a morning person, and he seemed irritated that Jackson was already dressed and ready for the day.

Jackson plated the waffle and held it out to him, but Day shook his head, eyes at half-mast. “Coffee?” he croaked, like he had just crawled across the desert.

Jackson leaned onto the counter until he was in Day’s space, chucking him under the chin. “You could at least say please.”

Day perked up enough to purr, “Please, Daddy?”

Jackson grinned. “That’s much better. I should warn you though—”

The door to Jackson’s apartment flung open, and three screeching gremlins ran through the door, followed by Jackson’s sister, who looked like she was two seconds away from committing murder. Jackson was instantly pinned to the fridge, his two nieces and nephew hanging from his arms as he did curls and roared, garnering squeals of laughter.

The tension in the room shifted when Ruby and Day caught sight of each other. Day looked at Ruby suspiciously, but Ruby looked at Day like he was fresh meat. Her smile looked friendly, but Jackson smelled trouble.

“You didn’t tell me you had company. I thought you weren’t seeing anybody right now?” she said, her tone letting him know she didn’t like being lied to.

Jackson sighed. “Day, meet my younger sister, Ruby, my nieces, Chloe and Keisha, and my nephew, Isaac. Ruby, meet my newest client, Dayton.”

“Day,” Day corrected, holding out his hand. “I love your dress. Did you get that at Calico’s?”

Ruby’s eyes went wide, and she smoothed her hands over her orange sundress before sticking her hands in the oversized pockets and swaying, giving Day a genuine toothy grin. “I did! How did you know that?”

“I know fashion,” Day said, his tone a bit smug. “That color is amazing on you. Very few