Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Rayne being anxious and needy in Mike’s home was a dangerous aphrodisiac. He had to put a little space between them if he was going to control himself.
“It’s late. I’ll show you your room so you can get some sleep, then tomorrow, I’ll give you the five-cent tour of the rest of the house.” Mike took Rayne’s hand and led him toward the living room, wondering what he thought of the house. It was pretty boring as far as decorations and flash, but his place was spacious and clean, and his furniture was oversized and comfortable. He just hoped it was enough to entice Rayne to want to stay.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Rayne
Rayne had a firm hold on Mike’s hand as he led him through the house and up the stairs. He touched his tender bottom lip with his other hand, still feeling the passion and fire from their kiss. Had he ever been kissed like that before? He was certain he hadn’t. Everything Rayne had done intimately or sexually in the past was calculated, planned, and not about pleasure. When he had sex, there’d been no emotion in it, only a determination to obtain whatever it was he wanted. Money, clothes, shoes, vacations, jewelry—nothing was off-limits. Just his heart.
It took a long time, but Rayne had learned through counseling and endless SAA meetings that he could love; he was capable of it, but only after he learned to love himself. Now he was ready—he was sure of it. With his hand secured in Mike’s calloused palm, he knew he’d follow him wherever he led. That’s what he wanted now and for the future. He wanted Mike, mind, soul, heart, and body.
“To the right is my bathroom, and my room is the door at the end.” Mike pointed, then pulled him in the opposite direction. “To the left is another room, but there’s only a treadmill and weights and shit in there. This room is yours.”
Mine. Rayne was wonderfully surprised as he glanced around the spacious room that was at least five times bigger than the one at Trent and Wood’s place. Mike flipped on a switch, and the overhead lights illuminated the rest of the room as the distressed-wood ceiling fan started to spin.
“Wow.” Rayne gaped. “This is really nice.”
“You like it?” Mike asked, sounding concerned. “You can decorate however you want or change the furniture around.”
“No, really. It’s-it’s perfect… thank you.” Rayne didn’t know what he could say to express how grateful he was.
“Good. Go ahead and have a look around. I’ll bring up your bags.”
Rayne appreciated the breather because he was more than overwhelmed. There was so much he was feeling all at once for the first time in his life, and it was making his skin feel tight. He eased down on the king-sized, low platform bed that looked almost new with its blue-and-gray plaid comforter and matching pillows. He closed his eyes and tried to calm his racing heart, but he wasn’t having much success as his pulse sped up even more. Will it always feel like this with Mike?
Rayne glanced around the room, already feeling more comfortable there than he’d ever been at Wood’s. There was a gray microsuede loveseat and recliner in the sitting area in front of a black glass entertainment stand. Too bad Rayne had little use for the large flat-screen sitting on top of it, but the sound system looked nice. There were only two medium-sized chests of drawers on the opposite wall, and Rayne wondered if that’d even be enough space to hold all of his underwear. But he didn’t care—maybe it was time he unloaded a few pieces anyway. Summer was approaching; Rayne would hit up some yard sales and try to find a couple of armoires and maybe some art or floating shelves for the walls. If he added a couple of faux ficuses in the corners, it’d be similar to the brownstone he’d grown up in.
There were four doors in the room, and Rayne was curious as to what was behind them. Did he have his own bathroom too? He got up and went to the door that was closest and opened it to what must be a storage closet or something. There were about six or seven rows of white shelves lining the tall wall. Why do they build big homes these days but put offensive, tiny closets in them?
He’d never know, but Rayne was resourceful, and his mind was operating on overdrive. He could probably fold his jeans and sweaters and stack them in there. Not a terrible idea. He went to the set of double doors and opened them at the same time. Rayne was glad Mike was out of the room because the yelp of glee that escaped his mouth over a walk-in closet would’ve been embarrassing.