Page 62 of Keystrokes and Kittens

“If you don’t close your blinds.”

“Well, that’s true. It’s not like anyone’s going to look in.”

“Yeah…but morning light. Doesn’t that sometimes mess with your sleep?”

I chuckled. “Trust me—when I’m out, I’m completely out. I’m a good sleeper.”

“Restless?”

“No. I mean, not really. I might turn over a couple of times a night. Not often, though. I’m a deep sleeper.”

“Ah.”

His uncertainty gnawed at me. “What are you thinking?”

“That I don’t know what kind of sleeper I really am. I’ve never—” He gestured to the large bed.

“I know. And if you find it’s too much, then you head back to your room. This isn’t a pass/fail test. This is…an experiment.”

He frowned. “I don’t know if that makes it any better.”

I chuckled softly. “Yeah, that’s true. I’m trying to say this doesn’t have to be complicated. We get into bed. You decide what you want to try. What you think you might be comfortable with. If you’re not, then we stop. If you’re overwhelmed, then you head back to your room. Your sanctuary.”

“Without the lizards.”

I blinked. “What…? Oh, Kendall. Good memory. Yeah, like his sanctuary.”

“I suppose you can call it a good memory. I’m not likely to forget meeting the dude with the lizards.” He chuckled. “You know good people.”

“You’re one of the best.” I extended my hand.

He grasped it.

I led him to the right side of the bed. I pulled back the covers and gestured for him to get in. “That’s a harder pillow. If you prefer soft—”

“This is perfect, Soren. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re nervous.”

“Funny you should mention that.” I headed to my side of the bed.

“Oh?” He slid onto the mattress, settled on his side, and pulled the blanket over his chest.

I replicated his actions—also lying on my side so we faced each other. “Iamnervous. This is a first for me. Just keeping it real.”

Slowly, he nodded. “For both of us. Although different reasons.” He bit his lower lip.

After a moment, I skimmed my index finger over his chin.

He released his lower lip from the grip of his teeth.

I smoothed that lip.

His eyes widened.

I nearly pulled back. Except I didn’t sense a fear reaction. More…curiosity. “Do you want to just go to sleep or—”

“Hold me. I’d like you to, I don’t know, like hold me. But that might, you know—” He gestured vaguely toward my crotch.

“Right. Sure, that’s possible. But you know I won’t do anything about it. Look, I’m not aroused right now. I’m concerned about you. I want you to be comfortable. That’s all that matters. Would I like to hold you in my arms? Sure. If you wanted to hold me, that would be okay too. Or we hold hands. Or we just lie here and talk until we fall asleep.”