“Wait a minute.” He got up and walked around to me. He put his big arms around me and pulled me in close. I could feel his heart pounding as he pressed his thick chest against me. “I like you, Jordy. I like you a lot.” He looked me deep in the eyes. “And yes, I want to take you to bed. But I don’t want a one-night stand with you.”

“What do you want?” I replied, leaning my face toward his until we were bare inches apart.

“I want to get to know you. I want to date you.” His hands slid down my back and cupped my ass. “Is that something you want, too?”

I slid my hands inside his shirt until they rested on his big pecs. His skin felt hot to the touch. “I think I could want that, yes.”

He leaned in and kissed me. It was chaste, a sweet kiss, just our lips pressed against each other as we stood there. He tasted of the wine and mint. He slowly started moving me around in a slow dance, there under the stars, to Pachelbel’s Canon. And when he undid my pants, I didn’t resist as he slid them down. I stepped out of them and pulled his shirt up over his head, kissing him at the base of his throat. “You have such a beautiful body,” I breathed into his ear as he started kissing my neck.

“Not as beautiful as yours,” he whispered back, and he swung me up into his strong arms as effortlessly as if I weighed no more than a feather, and carried me back into the house, kissing me the entire time. He set me down on the couch and stepped out of the scrubs. He was naked underneath them, and he sat beside me on the couch. He lay back and pulled me down on top of him. I traced his lips with my right index finger, and we kissed again.

It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. Usually sex was rushed, hurried, and frantic—an animalistic need to sate desire. But this—this was gentle, and slow, and loving. We explored each other’s bodies with hands, mouths, and tongues in a slow ritual of pleasure. And when I finally entered him, it was like we became one with each other. I didn’t want to slam into him, pound away at him until he gasped with pleasure and screamed when he came. Instead, I gently moved into him, not pressing, not forcing myself into him. Rather, I waited for him to slowly open to me, slowly sliding back and forth until his breathing came faster and I went deeper into him.

I couldn’t take my eyes off his incredible body as I made love to him, as I kissed his neck, as I stroked his magnificent chest.

And when he came, just before I did, tears slipped out of my eyes. And when I was finished, I collapsed on top of him, and he kissed the top of my head.

“That was beautiful,” he whispered. “I could lie here with you for the rest of my life and never get up.” He smiled. “Hey, you’re crying.” He kissed my wet cheeks. “Why?”

“I don’t know.” I snuggled against him. “I’ve just never felt so close to someone before.” I felt safe lying there, in his arms, like nothing in the world mattered.

He squeezed me a little tighter. “It’s been hard on you, hasn’t it.”

I nodded. “I’ve been so lonely.” I forced a laugh. “I had no idea just how lonely until now.”

“You don’t ever have to worry about that anymore.” He kissed my cheek again. “You’re a special guy, Jordy. I could see that the first time I met you.” He started stroking the back of my head. “Forget about Chad. Forget about everything in your past. Start over. You can’t do anything about the past, but you can do something about the future. Don’t let your history poison your future.”

Chad was an idiot to walk away from you, I thought.

“You’re a good person,” he continued. “That’s what matters. The outside is just wrapping paper. You can wrap a pile of shit in the most gorgeous paper, but it’s still a pile of shit.” He kissed me again. “Now wipe those tears away. No more crying, you got it?”

“I’m okay.” I smiled back at him. “Should we shower before dinner?”

He nodded, and I climbed off him. When he stood he wrapped his arms around me again. “Stay the night?”

I nodded. “I’d like that.”

And he led me to the shower.

Chapter 11

Having sex with Brandon had been the last thing on my mind when he came over so I could help him with his paper. But it had been kind of a shitty day. I woke up in Dante’s arms, and he made me breakfast before I came home. He’d sent me a few flirty texts in the morning, which made me smile, and I’d responded in kind. He wanted me to come back over that night, but I remembered agreeing to help Brandon with his paper so had to beg off—and the next night was Big Brother Night and I’d be stuck at the house. So we made plans for me to come over for dinner on Sunday. Make sure you bring a swimsuit ;) was his last text.

I’d gone to my classes walking on air. I couldn’t focus on the lectures. I just sat there and daydreamed about Dante, remembering what it felt like to have his arms around me, remembering how special being with him was. I’d always thought the term making love was stupid—but now I understood what it meant. There was definitely a difference between that and fucking. I was sorry I wasn’t going to be able to see him again until Sunday. I couldn’t wait—especially after he texted me a nude photo while I was sitting in my Art History class.

It was at the gym that the day started going downhill.

I showed up at Body Quest in my workout clothes. I checked in at the front desk, and the girl working there frowned at me. “Didn’t Jay call you?”

“I don’t think so,” I replied, pulling my phone out of my shorts pocket. I checked the messages. Nothing from Jay. “Is there a problem?”

“You really need to talk to Jay.” She sighed. “He doesn’t work here anymore. He should have called his clients to let them know.” She pushed a stray lock of hair off her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”

“What?” I stared at her. “What happened?”

She looked around, then leaned over the counter. “I’m not supposed to say anything,” she whispered, “but you were one of his clients so you should probably know. He had sex in the steam room with one of the members.”

Oh, my God. “Seriously?”

She nodded. “One of the other members went into the locker room and saw him. He even recorded it on his cell phone and turned it over to the manager.” She clicked her tongue. “The member is going to have his membership canceled, once Rosemary gets a chance to talk to him.” She shook her head. “Can you believe it?”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, and headed over to the elliptical machine to start my workout.

Somehow, I managed to make it through my workout. I drifted from machine to machine, crazy thoughts running through my head.

They’re going to cancel my membership, I’m going to have to find another gym and another trainer, someone taped us in the steam room, I wonder who it was, I can’t believe I let him do it, I wonder why someone would do such a thing, there’s a video of me having sex with Jay, oh, my God, I wonder if anyone else has seen it, what if it gets posted on the Internet, oh, God, I need to talk to Dante, what am I going to do?

When I finished my workout, I headed out to the parking lot. I got into my car and sat there for a moment. I got my phone out of the console and texted Jay: Just found out—dude, I’m so sorry.

I didn’t expect an answer, and didn’t get one.

All the way home I fumed. There had to be something I could do. Sure, Jay and I had broken the gym rules, but it was still shitty. I made a call when I got home, and felt a lot better when I hung up.

Brandon showed up at six on the dot, wearing a pair of nylon sweatpants and a tank top showing off his broad shoulders and firm chest. He gave me a hug and a kiss when I answered the door. It was obvious he wasn’t wearing underwear. “Thanks for doing this,” he said, plopping down on my couch. “I appreciate it.” He winked at me. “I promise to make it up to you somehow.”