“Oh wow,” Kyle sighed, sliding bonelessly down Eric’s body until his head was pillowed against Eric’s thigh. “That was nice.”
As much as Eric had loved holding Kyle against him, this view of the man, spent and happy in his lap, was breathtaking. “I did okay?”
“Oh yeah. Top marks.” He grinned up at him, and started sleepily chanting, “Ben-ny! Ben-ny!”
Eric laughed and combed Kyle’s hair back with his fingers. His heart felt huge, full of inappropriate feelings that definitely didn’t belong in a no-strings-attached arrangement. If Eric wasn’t careful, he’d become entangled in the strings his brain seemed determined to create.
Kyle, fortunately, was stronger. Or, probably more accurately, he was less interested. “Give me a few minutes to recover,” he said, “and then I’ll get out of here.”
Eric wanted to invite him to stay. “No rush,” he said instead.
Kyle rolled over and pulled himself up until his face was level with Eric’s. “You’re very sexy, Eric.”
“Am I?”
Kyle kissed his cheek, his jaw, and then his mouth. “Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
Eric didn’t know, but he let Kyle believe he had at least a bit of sexual confidence. “You’re very...inspiring.”
“It’s a gift.” Kyle yawned, then laughed. “I’d better get cleaned up and go while I can still walk.”
“You could—”
Kyle pressed a finger to Eric’s lips, then moved it to kiss him sweetly. “I’m going to go home.”
Please stay.“Okay.” But Eric couldn’t let Kyle leave without being sure of seeing him again. He took a risk. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in visiting my friend’s gallery this week? With me, I mean.”
Eric couldn’t quite read Kyle’s expression. He was either pleasantly surprised by the request and deciding if it would be a bad idea to say yes, or he was annoyed by it and about to tell Eric so.
“Is this a date?” Kyle asked, which hadn’t been either of the things Eric was expecting. He did note that Kyle wasn’t smiling.
“No,” Eric said, though he wished he could say yes. “Just thought you’d like to see this exhibit. If you want. It’s fine if you’d rather—”
“Can we get empanadas?” Kyle’s lips curved up, and Eric’s whole body relaxed.
“Of course.”
Kyle kissed his cheek. “I’m in.”
He went to the bathroom, and Eric looked at the empty space on the bed beside him, wishing things could be different.
Chapter Fifteen
As they entered the gallery together, Eric reminded himself for the hundredth time that this wasn’t a date.
“Hello?” Eric called out into the empty room. He heard the clacking of stiletto heels against the concrete floor, and then Jeanette appeared from the back room.
“Eric!” She embraced him and kissed his cheek, then turned to Kyle. “And who is this?”
“Jeanette, this is my friend Kyle. He’s studying art history at Columbia.” He hoped he hadn’t tripped over the wordfriend. Not that it was a lie. “Kyle, this is Jeanette Saint-Georges, my friend and the owner of this gallery.”
“I’ve walked by so many times and never been in,” Kyle said, shaking her hand. “It’s a beautiful space.”
“Thank you, and it’s lovely to meet you. I don’t think Eric has ever brought afriendhere before.” She shot Eric a look that held a question he had no intention of answering. God, was he really so transparent? He’d never said anything to her that would suggest he was attracted to men. Did she justknow? Would anyone he introduced Kyle to suspect that Eric was sleeping with him?
He averted her gaze and asked, “How was the opening?”
“Wonderful. We sold everything.”