“You can have your old room back anytime.”

“Thanks.” Marc sounded sad, defeated, and Riley wanted to punch the bastard who’d done that to him.

“We’re both fucked, aren’t we?” Marc asked.

“Yeah, probably, but try to take care of yourself.”

“You do the same.”

Riley hung up and realized he wasn’t all that hungry after all.

***

Several weeks later, as Dash and Thorne lay in bed on a Saturday morning, Thorne propped himself up on his elbow and looked at Dash, really looked at him, like he was seeing all the emotions Dash wanted to keep hidden. “I have something special planned for next week.”

“You do?” Dash asked, heart pounding much too fast.

“Yes, if you can stay the night and most of Saturday. I’d love for you to stay longer.”

Dash considered how to answer. He’d stayed overnight some weekends and others not, trying to fight what was becoming an addiction to Thorne’s bed. “I can stay until Saturday evening.”

Thorne smiled. “Then you should bring some clothes you don’t mind getting wet.”

Dash couldn’t keep the surprise off his face. “We’re going sailing?”

“If you’d like to.”

“I’ll stay the whole weekend.” The words were out before Dash had made a conscious decision to say them. If Thorne was ready to share something that had been his passion, things were moving in the right direction. A relationship might be improbable, but not impossible, right?

“You will?” Thorne looked like he’d been certain Dash would say no. “I don’t have to offer my ass this time?”

Dash smiled as he pulled on his shirt. “I have a feeling you’ll be offering your ass even if you get nothing extra in return.”

“I hate it when you’re right.”

But Dash knew Thorne didn’t really mind at all, not when Dash was right about sex, anyway. He could see the outline of Thorne’s hard cock under the sheet. Get out of here before you’re tempted to suck him off.

“Of course you do.” If only this wasn’t a business transaction. What if he asked Thorne for it not to be? What if he suggested they went sailing off the clock? The words swam around in Dash’s mouth, but he refused to let them out. He wanted to see Thorne on a boat, the one place he might relax, let go, be himself for more than a few minutes. He wouldn’t risk losing his chance by asking for something ridiculous. One more weekend and then something would have to give.

“I’ll see you next Friday,” he said, gathering the last of his things.

“I’ll be waiting.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN