chest.
Definitely not straight.
“Impressive.” He pulled me out of my erotic thoughts. “I do believe you’ve discovered a hidden talent of yours, Mr. Moore. Makes me wonder what other hidden talents you have?”
Was it my imagination from picturing myself scrubbing his naked body, or did it sound like August was flirting with me?
Again.
It was always so subtle. Nothing heavy enough for me to be able to say definitely that it was flirting. Sure, his comments were usually double entendres, but maybe it was just my horny brain that made everything into a sexual meaning.
“As soon as I discover those hidden talents, you’ll be the first to know,” I said with an uneasy laugh, setting down the paint roller and stepping back. “What do we do now?”
“You can go wash up in the restroom while I clean up in here.”
“No, I’ll help.”
We cleaned up side by side, removing the drop cloth he’d spread across the floor to prevent the paint from staining the carpet. We shucked everything that wasn’t reusable into garbage bags, and he replaced the tools we used in the garage while I washed up in the depressing-looking bathroom.
There was no high-powered showerhead and no fluffy towels. Still, it was a small price to pay for how much I’d enjoyed the day with August. I tried to recall when was the last time I had so much fun that didn’t involve parties, drinking, and fast women, but I couldn’t remember. Even when I was married to Miranda, I hadn’t done anything like this.
A knock on the door startled me from my musings. I stared at the door handle as though August would barge in without permission.
Did I want him to come in?
“Charles, I put out some clothes for you on the bed if you want to change,” August said.
“Okay,” I said loudly, my eyes fixed on the door. I couldn’t decide if I wanted the doorknob to turn or not.
“I’ll be in the backyard. Come on out when you’re done.”
“All right.”
Everything went quiet, so I assumed he’d left. I spent some more time scrubbing my body. When my hand landed between my legs to wash my dick, my touch turned into a caress.
I tried to keep August out of my head as my stroking became more deliberate. I tried to replace images of him with his shirt off with those of Poppy naked, her legs falling apart to accommodate me. But it wasn’t her pants and moans that had a shiver run down my spine. It wasn’t the softness of her hands, clutching my shoulders.
It was August’s laughter that cloaked around me. His smile that had me moaning. His naked chest that had me fucking my fist harder, my mouth dry from the need to lick him. Those flat nipples that were partially hidden by his chest hair.
Fuck, how would his hairy chest feel against mine? The shocking image of August lying on top of me, my legs around his waist, became too much. I had to bite my bottom lip to suppress my cry as I shot ropes of cum down the drain.
“Shit.”
I braced an arm against the wall to support my trembling legs. This wasn’t good at all. I was playing with fire, and this time I wasn’t the only one who might get burned. This was Owen’s son. I couldn’t toy with him and walk away like I did all my past lovers.
He seemed the commitment type, but I had no promises left to give anyone when my life was so uncertain. I already had one promise hanging in the balance to care for Poppy’s child as my own. That was my main focus.
The beating off in the shower had done me good. I was more composed and determined as I joined August in the garden. He already had the grill fired up and the patties on. I hadn’t even had to tell him earlier in Walmart to pick out veggie patties. He went out of his way to get me what I wanted.
“Want to flip these for me while I make the salad?” he asked.
“Uh, the wall was bad enough, August. Don’t trust me with our food.”
“It’s nothing hard. Wait for another five minutes, then do the flip.” He handed me the tongs. “You don’t have to stand at the grill, Charles. Have a seat.”
I only realized then that he’d set up two chairs outside, alongside a cooler with the six-pack of beer he had also grabbed at Walmart.
On the white foldaway table that stood in