Love By Number Page 6

  Jesse watched, speechless, as Aidan headed for the bathroom without a second glance.

  “Well, so much for the cuddles,” he muttered.

  He laughed to himself, shaking his head. It was stupid to be hurt by Aidan’s dismissal. They barely knew each other. If they were smart, they wouldn’t have fallen into bed together, even though the sex had been phenomenal. Aidan’s reactions were so raw and unfiltered. So many people held so much of themselves inside. Aidan was just the opposite.

  When Aidan returned, he bypassed the bed where Jesse laid in a mess of tumbled sheets and climbed in the other bed. A second later, he clicked off the bedside lamp.

  Ouch. Okay, he is definitely done with me.

  Jesse went into the bathroom, restraining himself when the urge hit him to slam the door. He closed it with a soft click, turned on the water and lost himself in the heat and steam.

  Chapter Eight

  The room was swaddled in darkness when Jesse woke. He was cocooned in blankets neatly piled over him, a far cry from the tangled sheets he remembered. Aidan must have covered him up. That was sweet — unless he did it because he didn’t want any reminders of your naked body.

  A flood of images filled his mind: Aidan bucking to meet his thrusts, Aidan gripping his arms hard enough to hurt, Aidan’s face showing every moment of agonized pleasure as orgasm racked his body. Aidan seemed so reserved, but there was a raw openness to him in bed that was unlike anything Jesse had ever experienced.

  It was amazing.

  Until Aidan scrambled out of the bed like his ass was on fire and needed to be doused in the shower.

  Disappointment washed over him, and he glanced over to the other bed. Despite Aidan’s run of shame, Jesse wanted to see him cute and disheveled and bed warmed. Instead, he saw a neatly made bed, with no sign anyone had slept there.

  His heart missed a beat, and he sat up. “Aidan?”

  Jesse’s voice croaked, and he cleared his throat and tried again. “You here, Aidan?”

  There was no answer.

  Jesse listened for sounds in the bathroom: a shower running, a toilet flushing or the sound of a toothbrush or glass clinking against the sink. There was nothing.

  Heart beating fast, he grabbed his phone to check the time. Surely, Aidan hadn’t been so freaked he fled in the dark of the night.

  Holy shit, it was 12:30 in the afternoon.

  Jesse threw back the covers and stood up, naked and shivering, to pull open the heavy drapes. Bright sunshine flooded the room.

  No wonder Aidan was gone. He struck Jesse as the early riser type. He could have woken Jesse, though. He would have explored the city with him. He had been kind of looking forward to exposing Aidan to more of his brand of fun.

  But maybe that was the problem. Aidan was done with him now.

  A notification on his phone caught his eye. Gramps had texted last night, and Jesse had never noticed because he’d been too busy fucking up shit with Aidan.

  Gramps: What a game! Can’t wait to hear what it was like to be there. Stay safe and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

  He’d added three winky faces.

  Wait. Had Gramps expected something to happen between them or was Jesse reading too much into those emoticons?

  He took a quick shower, threw on some dark jeans with paint splatters — the purchased kind, not the legit kind — and a dark T-shirt. His clothing reflected his mood: dark. Then he picked up the phone and called Gramps to check in.

  “Hey, kiddo!” Gramps answered after the first ring.

  “Hey, Gramps. Sorry I didn’t call last night.”

  “Nah, you were having fun,” Gramps said. “Heck of a game the Royals played.”

  “Yeah, it was. Aidan and I went out to celebrate afterward, and I crashed hard. Just woke up a while ago. I’m saving some good stories to tell you when I get home.”

  “Sure would be something to be there,” Gramps said with a sigh. “It’s not every day two rival teams end up in the World Series, especially in your own backyard.”

  “It’s pretty cool.”

  Even though he didn’t have the same enthusiasm as Gramps or Aidan, he could appreciate it was a historic moment for fans. “But you’ll get to experience it yourself when the series moves back to KC for some of the later games.”

  “Ehh…” Gramps hedged. “Might not be up to it.”

  “Why not? You go to all the home games.”

  “Weather’s getting colder, you know, and the crowds will be worse. Traffic too. Don’t know that I’ll want to deal with all that.”

  “Gramps,” Jesse said, a suspicion that’d been vaguely nagging at him finally taking shape. “The World Series isn’t part of your season ticket-holder package, is it?”

  “There’s an upcharge to add on World Series tickets.”

  “And you didn’t pay that upcharge?” Jesse asked, certain he was right. “Level with me. Did you buy the tickets for these games just so I could take Aidan?”

  “Jesse, don’t get all fussed.”

  Jesse raked a hand through his hair. Damn it. Gramps was on a fixed income. He didn’t have the spare cash to pay for high-priced tickets, and Jesse wasn’t even a real fan. Gramps should have used that money on tickets at home, so he could go. This could be his last chance to see a World Series.

  “Why would you do that, Gramps? You could have gone when the series moved back to KC!”

  “We hit his car, Jesse, and he was so upset. That young man loves the games.”

  “Not like you,” Jesse argued. “He’s not a baseball fan. He’s a numbers fan. He likes to record stats. Hell, he might as well not even be at the games for as much excitement as he shows. He ignores the crowd—”

  “So what, Jesse? It’s not for you or me to decide how someone should enjoy a thing. A lot of people follow players’ stats. A lot of people enjoy analyzing the mathematical side of baseball.”

  “I guess,” Jesse grumbled. He was being a dickhead, but he was still out of sorts about the way Aidan had used him for his dick and then abandoned him in an empty room.

  Like you didn’t get anything out of it? Best fuck of your life, and you’re still not satisfied.

  “What’s going on, Jess?” Gramps asked, too damn perceptive for Jesse’s liking. “Did you two have a falling out?”

  “No,” he said quickly. “Everything’s fine. I should go, though. I need to grab some food.”

  Gramps didn’t push. “Enjoy the game tonight. And get to know Aidan better. Don’t judge him because he’s different from you. You need a little different in your life.”

  Jesse barked a laugh. “I have plenty of different in my life, Gramps. I bounce from job to job.” And man to man.

  “Not this kind of different,” Gramps said, and Jesse couldn’t really argue. Aidan was his own brand of different, that was for sure.

  “Yeah, okay. Talk later?”

  “You got it.”

  They hung up, and Jesse gathered his things. He’d grab some lunch and then see if he could reach Aidan.

  Things were bound to be awkward after last night, but he should play nice. Maybe Aidan just wasn’t used to having sex with a virtual stranger. Maybe he’d been unsettled or uncertain how to act.

  For that matter, Jesse felt unsettled. He did casual sex, but not casual sex like that. It had been explosive, and he didn’t know how to handle the feeling of rejection that settled over him like the blanket Aidan had used to cover his body while he slept.

  ***

  Aidan left a gift boutique, some expensive face cream and handmade soap in a bag for his mother. She’d told him he had to bring her a gift, so he’d dutifully added it to his list of things to do when he got up that day.

  Got up, as if he’d slept. Aidan had lain in his bed, restless in a strange room with a strange man just a few feet away. Even though Jesse had sated Aidan’s body with the best orgasm he’d had in years, his brain wasn’t nearly as satisfied. His mind was cluttered, flitting from game
highlights to rehashing the stats he’d run through the simulator before the trip to the clothes in his suitcase he’d never had a chance to put away.

  Around 3 a.m., he’d climbed out of bed and dosed himself with melatonin, a natural sleep supplement. He’d put away his clothes, so he could stop worrying about how wrinkled they would be the next day. And then, finally, he’d gotten out his laptop and given in to the urge to run some new simulations through his program, this time focusing specifically on Marcus Polanowski vs. the next day’s starting pitcher for the Cards, Miguel Ortega. While the simulation program ran, he’d updated the overall team stats and reviewed results from earlier simulations — focused on the whole series — he’d run before embarking on the trip. Before he knew it, it was 6 a.m.

  Jesse had slept through it all, spread out in his bed like a starfish eating up every inch of space. Even with his dark hair a tangled mess around his head, he’d managed to look attractive. Aidan had been slightly tempted to climb into that bed and touch that lean body, all interesting angles and smooth skin, one more time.

  He’d settled for pulling the blankets up and brushing a few strands of silky hair away from Jesse’s face. He couldn’t let himself forget that Jesse was a spontaneous, impulsive person. He no doubt crashed into bed with lots of guys without it meaning a relationship. Aidan wasn’t really the hookup type, but he could play it cool.

  He’d made his bed, showered and dressed, then left to grab some complimentary breakfast at the hotel — it was free! — before heading out for a visit to the Missouri Civil War Museum. He’d spent hours absorbing the history in the exhibits there, then grabbed some lunch and ordered another Uber to a shopping district so he could fulfil his duties as a good son and buy something for his mother.

  It was only 2 p.m. now, but he was tuckered. A nap before the game that night would be a good idea if Aidan wanted to keep a sharp eye on the plays.

  His phone rang for the third time, once again from the same unknown number. Aidan made a habit of ignoring any unrecognizable numbers, but this one was being persistent. He answered, if only so he could tell the person to stop calling the wrong number and move on with their life.

  “Hello?”

  “Aidan, finally,” Jesse said. Aidan immediately recognized his voice. “Where have you been that you couldn’t answer the phone?”

  “Oh. You weren’t in my phone, so I didn’t recognize your number. Sorry. Thought you were a wrong number or something.”

  “Why am I not surprised by this?”

  “What do you need?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Jesse said, his tone biting. “I guess a note or a phone call letting me know where my roommate is disappearing to for the day would be nice. I’ve been trying to track you down for a couple of hours.”

  Aidan searched for a place to sit down, but he was on a sidewalk in front of a row of shops. His Uber was already on the way, so his aching feet would have to wait a few minutes longer for rest.

  “Sorry, I didn’t know that was required.”

  “Required? No, it’s not required—”

  “Then why are you mad at me?” Aidan asked, frustration leaking into his voice. “You were sleeping, and I didn’t want to wake you. I don’t know the protocol here.”

  “The protocol? Jesus Christ, Aidan. How about just being a normal courteous human?”

  “I’m not normal. Sorry. I have to go now.”

  Aidan hit disconnect, his hand shaking. He was angry, but he was rational enough to know he was angrier at himself than Jesse. He hated messing up, and he always messed up.

  The Uber pulled up, and Aidan climbed in. When his phone rang again, he silenced it and tucked it away in a pocket.

  Chapter Nine

  Jesse threw his phone across the hotel room, where it landed with a muffled thump on a padded armchair in the corner. He was such an unbelievable asshole. He could still hear the hurt in Aidan’s voice. I’m not normal.

  He’d started out calling Aidan with good intentions. He thought they could meet up for a bit in the afternoon, and he wanted to ease Aidan into the idea that he wasn’t going to be at the game that night. After talking with Gramps, Jesse had made up his mind to sell the second ticket. He could share some highlights from Game 1 with Gramps, and then return the money for the second ticket so Gramps could go to a game when the series moved to Kansas City.

  But call after call was ignored, and he grew frustrated. Between being left alone in the hotel room and having his calls go unanswered, Jesse felt snubbed. He’d tried texting too, in case Aidan was in a place that didn’t allow for talking on the phone, but he’d gotten no response.

  He’d taken Aidan’s actions personally. But maybe it wasn’t personal.

  Twenty minutes later, the door opened. Jesse jumped up as Aidan walked in carrying one small shopping bag.

  “Hi,” Jesse said. He felt nervous after their phone interaction. But more than that, he felt incredibly awkward coming face-to-face with Aidan after the night before. He couldn’t shake the memories of Aidan’s body sliding hot and sweaty against his.

  “Hey,” Aidan said without meeting his eyes. He went to the closet and tucked his small shopping bag into an outer pocket of his suitcase. Then he kicked off his shoes and slipped off his light jacket.

  “Sorry I was a jerk,” Jesse said to his back. He watched Aidan’s rigid figure still.

  “I’m sorry I was rude,” Aidan said. “I don’t mean to be. It’s how I am. That sounds like an excuse, I know.”

  “Well, it’s not like we promised to spend all our time together,” Jesse said. He was still put out, but now that he was in the small space with Aidan, he was hit with all sorts of other feelings. Mainly lust and longing.

  Aidan turned. “You’re not mad?”

  Jesse shrugged. “Not anymore.”

  “Did you get out at all? Go see some more art?”

  Jesse snorted. “I have more interests than just art, Aidan. I would have gone with you today, you know. If you’d wanted.”

  Aidan’s gaze lowered to the floor. “Sorry.”

  Jesse moved toward him, pulled like a magnet. He put his hand under Aidan’s chin, tipping his face up to meet his eyes. “No, don’t be sorry,” Jesse said. “You’re right. I should have taken the chance to explore the city. Maybe I will before we head home tomorrow.”

  “Okay.”

  “Right now, I’d rather explore something else.”

  Aidan looked at him blankly. Jesse felt about as subtle as a Mack truck, but Aidan was the most oblivious person he’d ever met. He tried using Aidan’s brand of bluntness.

  “Want to fuck again? Or are you done with me?”

  Aidan’s eyes widened, but his hands came up to grip Jesse’s head and pull him into an enthusiastic kiss. Aidan didn’t hold back anything, kissing him just as fiercely as he had the night before. Jesse let Aidan shove him back onto the bed, laughing as Aidan climbed on top of him and started yanking at his belt.

  “Why are you laughing?” Aidan asked, frustrated. “We’re supposed to be getting naked.”

  Jesse pulled him down for a quick kiss. “Get yourself naked. I’ll do the same. Okay?”

  Aidan climbed off the bed and shucked his clothes, taking time to place them in a neat pile on the chair in the corner. Jesse yanked his T-shirt over his head, flinging it on the floor, and lifting his hips to tug down his jeans and boxer briefs. He threw them off the bed without bothering to see where they fell. He was too busy watching Aidan reveal himself in the light of day.

  Aidan was deceptively fit. When dressed, he seemed somewhat average. When his clothes came off, though, Jesse could see just how broad his shoulders were. His chest, nicely furred with dark hair, tapered toward his waist, and then Jesse couldn’t look at anything but the thick cock hardening between his muscular thighs.

  “You a runner?”

  “Among other things,” Aidan said, as he straddled Jesse’s hips once more. “It’s the only way to burn off some of
my restless energy.”

  “The only way?” Jesse asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Aidan grinned, apparently catching the sexual innuendo this time. “Well, I can think of another form of exercise that might work.”

  Jesse slid his hands up and down Aidan’s flanks, absorbing the heat of his skin. “That’s awesome news. I’m happy to be your new exercise plan.”

  ***

  Aidan’s heart skipped. I’m happy to be your new exercise plan.

  That almost sounded as if Jesse were proposing something longer-term than one more round of sex. Not that Aidan was great at reading the subtext in people’s statements. He was probably hoping for too much. Jesse had just been furious with him that morning.

  Jesse wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down for another kiss, drowning his thoughts in pure sensation. Aidan loved sex. He loved losing himself in the physical overload. It was almost too much sensory input, but instead of overwhelming him, it was a purifying experience. It recharged him and forced him out of his own head.

  He kissed Jesse, throwing himself into it fully without any concern for what came next, until Jesse broke the kiss, gasping for breath. “What do you want today?”

  “Want you to fuck me again,” Aidan said. “Is that okay?”

  “Anytime, babe.”

  Aidan couldn’t hold back a flinch. Jesse noticed. “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You don’t like me calling you babe?”

  Aidan nodded. “Sorry, it’s just … not my thing.”

  Jesse’s expression tightened. “My bad.”

  “No,” Aidan said, kissing those tight lips until they loosened. “It’s my bad, okay? I just … I feel weird.”

  Jesse’s hands slid over his back, soothing his stress away, before gripping his ass and squeezing. Aidan rocked against him instinctively, dragging his hard cock over Jesse’s stomach. He groaned, lust flaring hot again. “Fuck me, please.”

  “Yeah,” Jesse said, his voice rough. “Condom and lube packet in my wallet on the side table.”

  Aidan stretched over to grab the supplies, while Jesse slid a finger into the crease of his ass and circled his hole with a fingertip. He pressed back into the sensation until Jesse’s finger breached him.