“My throat hurts,” I whined as we watched the second encore of the evening. The concert had been fun, and as expected we weren’t the oldest people there. Thanks to knowing almost all of the songs by heart I sang along a little bit too often, and my throat was now paying for it.

“Want more water?” Leo held out a bottle of water.

“Thanks.” I took a long sip, ignoring the fact that it was his bottle, and we were sharing germs.

It was a beautiful night for a concert at the beach. Although we were sitting far from the water, you could still feel and smell the salty air. The music was fun, and the company was perfect. Although we’d only been hanging out for a few days, I felt like I’d known Leo much longer. It had felt completely natural to pick him up at work before the show.

A chilly breeze picked up, and I zipped up my sweatshirt all the way. Leo put his arm around me. I didn’t look at him. I was afraid if I did he’d remove his arm, and I wanted him to leave it exactly where it was.

When the band officially left the stage for the last time, Leo turned to me. “Ready?”

“Ready.” The crowd waiting to get out of the arena was only going to get worse the longer we waited.

We wove through people as we made our way to the exit.

“That was fun. Thanks for taking me.”

“Thanks for coming.” I linked my arm with his.

“Anytime you have extra concert tickets I’ll help out.”

“Thanks for the generosity.” I bumped my shoulder into his side.

“Of course.”

We reached my car, and he waited by the driver’s side. As soon as I unlocked it he swooped around me and opened my door. He closed the door and went around.

“What was that for?”

“I feel bad you always have to drive.”

“I don’t mind.” I didn’t. I liked driving because it meant we could stay on my schedule, and I’d get where I needed to go. I was a bit of a control freak.

He smiled and started fiddling with the radio.

We waited in the long line to exit the parking lot. It was the most annoying part of going to a show at a large venue. It took forever to leave the place.

“What was your very first concert?” He watched me out of the corner of his eye.

“Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

“Seriously?”

“My dad took my brother and me.” It had been at Forest Hills in Queens. I’d spent days picking out the right shirt to wear only to spill soda on it ten minutes into our drive to the stadium.

“It’s better than my first concert.”

“What was yours?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“I told you mine.”

“Mine’s embarrassing.”

“Can’t be that bad?” I watched him.

“NSYNC.”

“No way!”

“Yes.” He looked away. “I had a huge crush on this girl, and she had tickets.”

“You have a weakness. You can’t say no to free concert tickets.” Internally I added ‘when they come from girls’.

“I guess some things never change.”

The line of cars moved slightly. “This is going to take a while.”

“There go my plans for the evening.”

“I’m sure they were great ones.”

He smiled. “As great as yours.”

“What time do you go to bed usually?” It was eleven. Not too late.

“Now that’s a new question.”

“What time?”

“Whenever I’m ready to face it.”

“Not a good sleeper?” I understood what that was like.

“You can say that. What about you?”

“Usually around ten thirty.”

“Ok good. I wouldn’t want to keep you out past your bedtime.” He grinned.

“Well, on work nights. On weekends I’m up later.”

“Oh. Important information to know.”

I laughed. “Glad it’s out in the open.”

The traffic finally opened up, and we turned onto the parkway. I rolled the windows down so we could enjoy the feel of the wind. Normally I’d have asked my passenger first, but I couldn’t imagine Leo minding it. He seemed relaxed, with his head resting on the seat.

A few loose pieces of my hair blew around my face. “I love the feel of the wind like this. It makes me feel alive.”

He smiled. “It is invigorating.”

“I totally understand why dogs stick their heads out the window.”

“Comparing yourself to a dog?”

“Not exactly.” Leave it to Leo to turn it around like that.

“Are you a dog or cat person?”

“Dog, but I have a cat.”

“Dare I ask?”

“My ex gave him to me, and I refused to leave him behind.”

“Makes logical sense.” He put his hand out beside him palm up.

“Fluffy hates me, so it’s even.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t hate you. Cats are weird.”

“Weird isn’t the word I’d use.”

“I like cats.”

“Really?” Had I finally found something we didn’t have in common?

“Why does that surprise you?”

“You don’t seem like the cat type.”

“I am. I love dogs too. I am an equal opportunity pet person, I suppose.”

“What about birds?”

“Never had one, but they’re cool.”

“Rodents?”

“Like hamsters?”

“Yeah.” Or mice or whatever else people get to run around in the wheels.

“Ok, not as much.”

I turned off at the exit closest to his house. I slowed down so I wouldn’t get a ticket and to make the night last longer. I wasn’t ready to say goodnight and go back to my empty apartment.

I pulled into his driveway.

He turned to look at me. “Do you want to come in?”

His question surprised me. “Now?”

“I’ll take that as a no.” He opened his door.

I made a split second decision. “Yes.”

“Yeah?” He leaned in.

“Yeah.”

“Ok, want to pull around to the side then?” He gestured toward the garage.

“Sure.” I tried to calm my racing heart. Being invited in didn’t actually mean anything. We were both bored. For all I knew he’d put on a movie. Of course that was the last thing on my mind.

I got out and met him around the front of the car.

“It’s a mess. I wasn’t planning on having company.”

“I don’t mind a mess.” I followed him up the steep steps on the side of the garage.

“I hope you agree when you see mine.” He unlocked the door and gestured for me to walk in first.

I walked into pitch darkness until he flipped on the lights. I blinked a few times to get used to the light. I glanced around at the crowded yet cozy space. It was all one room with furniture separating the different living spaces. The living room was made up of a large leather couch and a TV that took up half the wall space. The only mess I saw was the unmade double bed and some dishes in the kitchen sink. “Nice place.”

"It works for the time being." He moved a sweatshirt hanging on the back of a chair. If he thought this was a mess, I didn’t want him to see my place when it was messy. Not that it happened a lot, but when it did, it was intense.

"Can I look?" I gestured to the movie collection he had piled next to the massive TV.

"Sure." He walked over to the kitchen counter and put down his keys, wallet, and phone. I liked that he put down his phone. It meant he was all there with me. I’d worked hard to break my own addiction to technology.

"Quite the collection." My eyes ran over the titles.

"I've picked up a few over the years."

"What's your favorite?" I kneeled down to see them better.

"You can't ask me that."

"Why not?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Because I don't have one favorite. Each category is different."

"But no overarching favorite?"

"Not for movies, but I do for music. Movies are like food while music is like women."

"Uh, do I want to know what that means?"

"Movies each have different purposes for me. Some make me laugh, some make me think. Some are entertainment. Like food. How can you compare a burger with a slice of cake? They serve different purposes.”

"Got it, but why is music like women?"

"Music has one purpose. To move someone. I can pick one favorite. The same goes for women. Who needs variety if you can find everything in just one?"

Words had never turned me on so much. "That's an interesting way to view things."

"It works."

I stood up. "But what if you never find one thing that has everything you need? Do you keep searching?”

"I wait." His eyes locked with mine. "Eventually you hear the right one, and it can become your favorite.”

"Does it change?"

"Only when it has to."

"Do you have a favorite now?" I ran my teeth over my bottom lip.

"Song?"

"What else would I mean?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

"I meant song."

"Are you sure?" He looked deep into my eyes. The gaze felt physical, like he was actually looking into my soul, as clichéd as that sounds.

"No."

"I was hoping you'd say that." His lips crashed into mine. They were demanding and hard, nothing like I expected them to feel, but somehow that made it better.

His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him, echoing his lips in the intensity. I moved my arms around his neck. Pulling him down to my height. Now that I'd had a taste, I wanted more. He deepened the kiss, and I gladly opened up to him. His taste and feel tantalized me, making me need more.

In a blur he picked me up and carried me over to the couch. He laid me down and moved over me. His eyes were heated and full of want. I was sure mine matched his as I waited for his lips to return to mine.

"You want this, right?" He paused with his lips inches from mine and his eyes full of intensity. "This isn't me reading into something that isn't really there because I want it so bad?"

"You’re only reading into exactly what's here." I pulled his head down to me, and he didn't hesitate to pick up exactly where we left off. He sucked my lower lip into his mouth and lightly bit down.

I moaned, slipping my hand underneath his t-shirt. His chest was muscular, solid, everything his t-shirts had hinted at.

He mirrored my actions, and I took in a breath as his hand ran over my stomach.

"You are so sensitive," he breathed.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Not at all." He pulled my t-shirt over my head.

I did the same with his.

He unclasped my bra and slowly slid it off. For all the intensity and rush from earlier he was taking this slow.

"So freaking beautiful." He lowered his mouth to my breast. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation of his lips. He bit down gently, making me open my eyes.

"Want to move to my bed?"

I nodded absently, and he picked me up and carried me over to his bed. He placed me down gently before stepping out of his jeans and striped boxers.

My eyes widened as I took him in.

He smiled in acknowledgment of my appraisal and unbuttoned my jeans. As with my other clothes, he slid them off slowly. He tossed them away from the bed before following with my underwear.

His eyes raked over me in a slow, intense gaze as though he were taking a mental video to re-watch later. "Over or under?"

It took me a moment to realize he meant the blankets. “Under.”

In one motion he lifted me up and pulled down the navy comforter and top sheet. He moved next to me, running his hand down my body. I closed my eyes again, focusing only on the sensation of his hand on my skin.

I startled as his hand slipped between my legs, but I recovered quickly, opening up to him. I moaned, and his lips retuned once again to my breast. I took him in my hand, ready to give him the pleasure he was giving me.

I got lost in the pleasure until he offset my hand and moved over me, holding a condom in his hand.

His eyes asked the question one more time.

I nodded, more than ready to welcome him in.

---

"So that just happened." I adjusted the sheet over me.

"It didn't just happen." He rolled onto his side "It was a completely consciously made decision. Can't even blame alcohol."

"I'm not blaming anything."

"Good." He twisted a few strands of my hair around his finger in a familiar way. "I'm going to be honest here. We’re compatible, and I am hoping that happens again."

"We are definitely compatible." The sex had been far better than any I'd ever had. He'd been attentive, yet reckless. The combination was perfect.

He rolled onto his back.

"Do you want me to stay?" I asked the question I needed to ask before I could truly relax.

He leaned over me. "Of course."

"It's a legit question."

"If you think so, then I need to make something crystal clear."

I nodded, entranced by the way he watched me.

"If you get in my bed at night, I always expect you to be there in the morning." His words didn't fit the Leo I knew. They were demanding, like his kisses.

It was almost too much. I needed to lighten the mood—bring us back to our normal place. "I guess I should be careful when I get in your bed."

"The time to be careful has passed. We're both in too deep. No reason to pretend otherwise.”

"You’re confident."

"You were part of that too. You know it as well as I do.”

I nodded.

"And you want to pretend you don’t plan to do it with me again? And again?" He moved over me.

"Why does it sound like you are ready for more already?"

"Because I am." There was nothing apologetic in his voice, but the smile on his lips was the one I knew well.

"It’s a good thing I'm ready too."

"Great. And this time I'll make sure you aren't asking me whether to stay afterward."

---

I returned to his bed wearing only his t-shirt. It had been the easiest thing to pull on before I made a trip to the bathroom.

He watched me approach while lying there with his arms behind his head. We hadn’t gotten around to turning off the lamp yet. "You look good in that." He was relaxed again, all smiles.

"Thanks."

"But you have to take it off."

"You don't want me wearing your shirt?" I put a hand to my chest. Did the shirt have special meaning to him or something?

"I want you wearing it anytime but now. Now you have to play fair. I'm naked, and you should be too."

"Oh." I pulled off the shirt and let it fall down to the carpeted floor.

"Much better." He held open his arms to me, and I gladly fell into them.

"You have perfect breasts." He cupped them with each hand.

"I don't think I’d say perfect."

"Perfect. Perfect feel, perfect size." He grinned wickedly. "Perfect taste."

"Glad you like them."

"Glad I get to enjoy them." He let go long enough to pull me on top of him. “And all of you too. I’m glad I get to enjoy all of you."

"You are so weird."

"Enjoying your body makes me weird?"

"No, but every two minutes your personality changes.”

"It doesn’t change. It's multifaceted.”

"Is that what you call it?"

"Yes."

I rested my head on his chest. "And I never said it was a bad thing,"

"I know." He ran his hands down my back. "I prefer this to our phone calls, far more satisfying."

"The problem is that anything else now will feel like settling."

"You know how I feel about settling." He kissed my neck.

I closed my eyes. "Yes I do."