Caught in his stare for a thudding heartbeat, Mickey didn’t either. Then a cold breeze rattled him, and he stepped aside, waving Benito forward into his small terraced house.
Benito slipped inside, closing the door behind him. He leant against it like he had at the club, still watching Mickey, dissecting him.
Mickey didn’t mind. He’d done the same on the rare occasions he’d hooked up outside of the club. He pointed at the kitchen. “Back door is through there. It’s unlocked.”
“Why are you telling me that?”
“So you know where the exits are.”
“In case we crash?”
Mickey grinned. “If you like. Just letting you know you’re safe.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“No?”
Benito straightened, though he didn’t step forward. “I wouldn’t have come if I thought you were a weirdo.”
You’re gonna come.
Smirking, Mickey swallowed the crude joke and considered his options. Throwing Benito back against the door was one. Taking him straight upstairs was another, but Benito’s set jaw gave him pause.He’s nervous.“You want a drink, mate?”
“Hmm?” Despite his sharp gaze, Benito startled.
It was endearing as fuck. Mickey took a chance and held out his hand. “Come on. Let’s get a beer.”
Benito stared hard at Mickey’s outstretched hand, as if he didn’t believe it was real. Then he took it, and his cool, dry fingers wrapped around Mickey’s palm.
Mickey brought his other hand to the game and rubbed warmth into Benito’s fingers. “Cold out?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve got the cure for that.”
“Have you?”
“I reckon so. Let’s get that drink first.” Mickey let go of Benito’s hand and padded barefoot to the kitchen, trusting that Benito would follow. He opened the fridge and retrieved two beer bottles with twist caps as Benito filled the space behind him. “Here. You can open it yourself.”
So you know it’s safe.
Benito took the bottle. He uncapped it and took a long swig, throat working and leaving his lips wet when he was done.
Captivated, Mickey took it all in, pondering if they’d kiss again. If he could even handle it. Fucking Benito was one thing. His kiss had been something else. In thefrequentmoments he’d thought of it since that night, his lips had tingled, and he’d shivered, a craving he didn’t recognise igniting inside, one that distracted him from even his darkest thoughts.
Like now. Mickey opened his own bottle with undue care but abandoned it on the counter without drinking. He didn’t need the ice breaker, just for Benito to feel comfortable enough to relax. “Did you have to come far?”
Benito raised an inky brow. “You wanna talk about the weather too?”
“We already did that.” Mickey suppressed a grin. “Just making conversation. Let me know when you’re ready for something else.”
“I was ready when I got here.”
“Were you?”
Benito drank more beer. “You think I drove all this way to have a chat?”
“I don’t know how far you drove. You never answered my question.”