Page 78 of The Way Home

“Yeah!” Jamie smiled proudly, both dimples appearing. “I finally figured out how to use Bluetooth.”

Caleb’s gaze flicked to the record player on the bookshelf, recognizing the lo-fi channel. One of his favorite oldie mixes.

His eyes snapped back to Jamie’s. For a second, he wondered if he remembered this song from the first time he’d come over. The first time he’d ever laid hands on Jamie, or run his fingers through those gorgeous curls.

Soft green eyes met his, and a light blush crept into the tops of his cheekbones.

Jamie knew exactly what this song meant to him.

His hands found Caleb’s wrists and gently tugged him closer. “Come here.” The contact sent a stutter through Caleb’s chest. Uncharacteristically confident fingers walked up Caleb’s arms, tracing the lines of muscle, and settled on his biceps.

They were close enough now that Caleb could smell the coffee and paper on Jamie.Work Jamie,he called him in his head. The sweet, brilliant library version he’d fallen in love with years ago.

“So.” Jamie’s eyes traced Caleb’s face. “I have a question for you.”

“Okay,” Caleb said, trying to steady the rush in his chest. He could tell Jamie was nervous, but in that determined way he got when he was ready to conquer his fear.

“Would you, erm—” Jamie chewed on his bottom lip. “Do you have Saturday off still?”

“I have a session with Angie in the morning, but the rest of the day I’m free.”

“Oh.” His frown deepened, and Caleb wanted nothing more than to make his dimples appear again. “What about in the evening?”

Caleb flashed an encouraging smile. “I’m free in the evening.”

The blush coloring his cheeks deepened. “Would you want to go on a date? With me?”

Caleb’s heart skipped. “A date?”

“Yeah. Like, aproperdate.” His British accent lifted ever so slightly on the wordproper, and it was so fucking cute. “We haven’t been on one since February, and… I have some ideas.”

Fear and doubt flooded his system, but he did his best to shake them away. Sally’s voice echoed in his head.

Maybe you have to try, too.

Reaching forward, Caleb settled his hands on Jamie’s hips and gave a light squeeze. He slid his hands beneath the hem of the old Coca-Cola shirt, making Jamie shiver. He would not let his fears keep him from this man.

“Hmm… do I want to go on a date with you?” he mused, palms splayed across Jamie’s lower back. His skin was delightfully warm. “I’ll have to check my schedule…”

Jamie rolled his eyes. “I can find someone else if you’re busy.”

Caleb tugged him forward, drawing out a surprised gasp. Leaning into the soft skin of Jamie’s neck, he dropped his voice low. “Don’t you dare.”

His hands journeyed up Jamie’s spine to his shoulders, enjoying the way he arched into the touch, and his mouth fell open on a soft sigh. This was all it took to make them feral for each other. Small touches and light caresses. The air in the room shifted from thick to fucking sweltering.

They were both hard, that much was painfully obvious, judging by the bulges in their pants, and it took every ounce of Caleb’s self-control not to carry Jamie straight to the bedroom and do unholy things to him.

“Where are you taking me on this date?” Caleb murmured against his throat.

Jamie’s grip tightened on Caleb’s biceps like he was holding on for dear life.

“It’s, uh… a surprise.”

Caleb smiled, placing a gentle kiss just below his ear.

“A surprise?” God, it was pathetic how giddy this made him. “So you have a plan, then?”

He felt Jamie’s smile before he saw it, and when he glanced to his left, pride swelled in his chest.