Chapter Six
The next few days passed in a haze for Liam. He wanted to be touching Jason all the time, wanted desperately to be close to him. Both mornings since the lustful afternoon in Liam's office, Jason had dragged him into the supply room when Liam had come to the bistro for his morning coffee. Jason seemed almost as greedy for contact as Liam was, frequently untucking Liam’s shirt from his suit trousers to get his calloused hands on Liam's smooth abs.
“No marks,” Liam would hiss playfully, as Jason pressed his lips to Liam's neck and made small, pleading sounds.
“Don't you have to go to work?” Jason would tease as he brushed his fingers over the bulge in Liam's pants.
Unfortunately, he always did—although significantly more rumpled than usual. Work was more miserable than usual, as well. Charlotte was moody and sullen with him, for reasons he couldn't particularly understand. Even apologizing for slamming the door in her face didn't seem to placate her. The shareholders were antsy, and he was understaffed due to two graphic designers being on maternity leave. The end result was that by Wednesday night, he was so exhausted he could barely sit upright.
His phone buzzed, and Liam smiled as he saw that it was Jason calling.
“Hi s-... Hi,” he answered. In his tired state, he almost slipped up and called Jason ‘sweetheart.’ He still wasn't entirely sure that Jason wasn't just in this for sex. The thought that Jason only wanted him for his body broke Liam's heart a little. But if that was all Jason wanted, well, it was better than nothing.
“Hey there,” Jason replied warmly. Even just the sound of his voice made some of the tension fall away from Liam's shoulders. “You sound tired, Liam. Are you okay?”
“I'm exhausted,” Liam said, the tiredness making him honest. “Work has been a disaster. The shareholders are after my blood, and we’re down two designers…I’m sorry, you don't want to hear any of this.”
“Of course I do,” Jason said, sounding a little affronted. “I love… knowing what's going on with you.”
Liam was sure it was just the tiredness talking, but he could have sworn he heard a funny little pause after Jason said the word ‘love.’
So Liam told him all about the chaos going on at work. Jason was an excellent listener. He laughed easily at mediocre anecdotes about Liam’s employees who he didn't even know and was very sympathetic to Liam's complaints about the spreadsheet software the company used, even though he admitted he'd never heard of it. He also refused to let Liam feel guilty for unloading all of his worries, insistent that a problem shared was a problem halved.
“The worst part is, I don't have to be here right now. There's literally nothing more I can do today, but I still feel guilty if I leave early,” Liam finished.
“Early?” Jason asked incredulously. “Liam, it's nearly eight o'clock at night. Go home. It sounds like you had a terrible day, and it's finally over, so just leave your damn office!”
Jason softened his words with a soft chuckle in his voice. Liam smiled fondly, even though Jason couldn't see him.
“All right,” Liam said. “I know when I'm beat. I'll see you tomorrow morning, I guess? I don't work Thursday mornings, but I was planning on coming into the shop anyway.”
“Yeah, okay. Tomorrow.” But Jason didn't seem excited by the prospect. In fact, he seemed a little disappointed.
Liam licked his lips nervously as an idea occurred to him. This was a potential way to know whether Jason was interested in sex or something more. But did he want to know?
He was so tired of living with indecision.
“Or,” Liam said nervously, “you could come over tonight? I'm too tired to really, um, do anything, but...I’d like to see you.”
“That would be amazing,” Jason said, and Liam breathed a sigh of relief. He could practically see the blinding smile on Jason's face right now.
“I just have two questions,” Jason continued. “What's your address, and what do you want for dinner? I'll get some takeout on the way over.”
After much protesting that Jason didn't have to buy him anything, Liam gave in and suggested Chinese food and gave Jason his address. Liam’s chest was bubbling with happiness. He couldn't believe how much he was looking forward to just eating takeout with Jason. Maybe Jason would even stay the night, and Liam could sleep curled around him like he'd been dreaming of for years. He could already imagine how beautiful Jason would look in the early morning light.
“You're going home early,” Charlotte said with an edge to her voice as Liam passed her on the way out. Liam turned to face her. He had really had enough of her attitude lately.
“Yes,” he said curtly. “My boyfriend is bringing me dinner.”
Liam swept out of the office without waiting to see her response. His heart was pounding in his ears. Why had he said that? Just because Jason insisted on bringing him some Chinese takeout didn't mean they were dating. But the thrill that the words left on his tongue meant that he couldn't entirely regret his impulse.
That thrill hadn't worn off even by the time he had made it home. For a moment, Liam stood in the doorway of his apartment and tried to see it with a stranger’s eyes. It was...clean. And expensive-looking. That was the best that could be said for it. There were barely any personal touches to the minimalist place at all. Liam frowned, worried Jason would think he was soulless by looking at this place. But he didn't have any time to make it homier, make it into somewhere Jason would enjoy spending time.
Trying to shake off his negative thoughts, Liam made his way to the bedroom. If he were honest with himself, all he wanted to do was have a shower and change into his pajamas. A voice in the back of his head that sounded suspiciously like his mother said to put on another suit instead, but he decided to ignore it. Following his mother's advice had never gone well for him.
He managed to have a quick, steaming hot shower and pull on soft flannel pajama pants, but he was still shirtless when the doorbell rang. T-shirt in hand, he hurried to the door. He didn't want to keep Jason waiting and for him to have second thoughts about coming over when sex wasn't on the table.
Jason smiled when Liam opened the door, with only a brief appreciative glance at his bare torso. Liam blushed anyway, remembering the compliments Jason had showered on him that day in his office.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Jason said, handing Liam a fragrant cardboard carton. “Put a shirt on maybe? Don't want you to get sauce on you.”
Jason brushed past him into the house and Liam shut the door in something of a daze. Jason had called him ‘sweetheart.’ Was that allowed? Could he do that too? He'd said it so casually, it made Liam’s heart swell with hope.
When he finally shook himself out of his thoughts and followed Jason to the living room, Jason had already opened his container and managed to track down some cutlery. Liam set his container of food down and tugged the shirt over his head. Jason was sitting on the floor and leaning against the sofa so that he could rest his food on the glass coffee table.
Liam glanced down at Jason, cross-legged and very focused on trying to use his chopsticks properly. A soft, loving smile appeared on Liam’s face without his brain’s permission. Just having Jason in his apartment made it feel more homey.
Jason looked up and Liam looked away quickly, trying to wipe the loving look off of his face. It gave too much away.
“Come and eat,” Jason instructed. “Then you can go to bed. Damn, you look even more tired in person.”
“Thanks,” Liam said dryly as he seated himself next to Jason.
“I didn't mean it like that,” Jason said, leaning his head on Liam's shoulder in apology. Liam dropped his head onto Jason’s sleepily, and began to eat. Jason put a gentle hand onto Liam’s knee.
They ate like that in silence until Liam was too tired to even raise the fork to his mouth.
“Okay, sweetheart,” Jason whispered, levering him up.
All Liam had to do was obey Jason’s gentle instructions and crawl into bed. Jason turned the lights off and opened the bedroom door as if to leave.
“Stay?” Liam mumbled into his pillow.
Jason paused. “Of course,” he said after a moment.
Liam heard the rustling sounds of Jason stripping down to his boxers, and hummed happily at the feeling of Jason’s skin against him as Jason spooned him carefully.
“Is this okay?” he said softly into Liam’s ear.
“It's perfect,” Liam replied, his voice blurred by sleep. “I love you.”
There was another pause. Liam was so tired, he barely registered it.
“I love you too, Liam,” Jason whispered. “Goodnight.”
Liam fell asleep within seconds, with the warm press of Jason's body against him, and Jason's fingers carding gently through his hair.