Love Him Free (On the Market #1) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,40
told him, then grimaced as he pulled at the crotch of his jeans. ‘I’ll be right back.’
Rocco wanted to follow him, touch him more, see how worked up he could get the other man. He wanted to see if he could drag it out and delay the inevitable, but he also knew Simon needed to process. Right now, they were friends. They had kissed, Simon had come twice, and there was nothing between them that meant anything. No promises, no vows.
Rocco hadn’t felt this way about Eric when they’d first met. He was thrilled to have an interpreter who’d work on a porn set—he was happy that Eric didn’t seem judgmental. He liked that Eric was okay with his work and didn’t try and get him to quit.
He hadn’t realized the price for all of that.
And he certainly had never been so smitten.
Flopping onto the sofa, he kicked one foot up, then pulled out his phone to send Theo a text, checking on James.
Rocco: Won’t be all night. I hope James is behaving.
Theo: Better than Human James.
Rocco chuckled, then set his phone to the side and startled when he felt the cushion to his right move. He glanced over to see the cat version of himself—though he didn’t much see himself in cats at all—getting comfortable near his thigh. Pets either loved or hated him, and he had to admit it gave him a small thrill to know Simon’s fur-baby had accepted his presence.
He shuffled downward and pat his chest, and the cat quickly made himself comfortable on the broad expanse between his pecs. He dug his fingers into the cat’s fur, and felt the heavy vibrations of his purr. It was soothing and comforting in a way he hadn’t expected, and he felt himself drifting just a little bit until Simon appeared in his line of sight.
He had changed out of his date clothes, now in lounge pants and a t-shirt. His hair was fluffy and disordered, and his cheeks still carried a faint blush as he worried his bottom lip between his teeth like he didn’t know what to say.
Rocco took pity on him and patted the cushion the cat had abandoned. Simon stared for just a moment, just long enough for Rocco to feel a prickle of fear that Simon might ask him to leave, before he crossed the room and settled down.
He was close, but not close enough, though Rocco didn’t want to push it. ‘He’s sweet.’
Simon frowned, shaking his head, but there was amusement in his eyes. ‘He’d sell me out for five pets and a can of tuna.’
Rocco laughed, probably too loud because the cat stood up—claws deployed—and launched himself to the ground. He grunted under the stabbing pain, but let out a breath of relief when Simon’s hand brushed down his shirt.
‘Sorry. He’s also petty.’
Rocco laughed again, but softer this time, and he closed his fingers around Simon’s wrist, locking their gazes. He didn’t want to let go—not now, not ever. He wanted to lean in and kiss Simon again, wanted to pin him to the sofa and exist with him there and nowhere else ever again.
Reality was cruel though, and crept around the edges of his fantasy.
‘I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,’ he finally signed, letting go of Simon’s arm.
Simon shrugged. ‘You didn’t. It was me.’ Rocco lifted a brow, and Simon pulled a face. ‘I don’t want to be like this. I want to be normal. I’m not…I didn’t stay a virgin on purpose. I was just too anxious, and like I said before, I’m not an easy person to love.’
Rocco wanted to go back into Simon’s past and put a fist into the face of every man who had ever made him feel inadequate. Rocco knew too well what it was like—had seen the mocking way kids had moved their mouths in mimicry of his Deaf accent, the way they fluttered their hands into nonsense shapes to make fun of his signs.
But he didn’t believe his choices made him stronger than Simon—they were just different people. It was obvious Simon had a quiet, unassuming strength about him, and Rocco was falling for that. Hard.
‘Tell me how I can help you,’ Rocco said.
Simon flushed deeper. ‘With my,’ he gestured to his crotch, and Rocco chuckled.
‘I meant your life—the bakery, what’s going to happen after. Though, if you want help with that too…’ He crept his hand up Simon’s thigh until Simon pushed it off with a laugh.