Rest and Be Thankful

After Cam ran away in a panic, Rob stared at the door for a moment, not knowing how to put the embarrassing moment behind him.

He felt his words were a little flirtatious, but only a little.He'd say the same thing to Var, and even Kenny - down to the stag pub owner at the end.Every time Kenny came across a word that might have a hint of sex, he couldn't help but make a seductive "Oh~" and raise his eyebrows.Cam's reaction must have been extreme, right?

Did he think Rob was teasing him?Coming too fast?

Perhaps the idea bored him?After all, there is still a certain gap between the two in terms of age.And to be honest, there's also the charisma side.Rob is at least ten years older than Cam, and even if he is ten years younger, it is impossible for him to overwhelm Cam physically.Cam McMorrow swaying and writhing on the Gomorrah floor crossed Rob's mind again.

The thought was not nutritious, and Rob ruthlessly suppressed it, and went to the kitchen to take an inventory of the cupboards and think about what to make.When he sees Thai red curry, he pauses, hoping Cam likes it spicy, and gets to work.

He was pounding the sticky ingredients together when he heard Cam upstairs.The creaking of the floor and the sound of water rushing into the bathtub.This is the sound of the house that he has not heard for a long time since he lived alone.

The sound evokes useless images of Cam's tall, beautiful, naked, wet body, and no matter how hard he tries, Rob just can't get those images out - every creak and splash is in his head These scenes are repeated over and over again.

The truth is, he's very curious about what Cam's body looks like under that layer of material.Some parts are still very obvious.He has broad shoulders, long legs and a thin waist, which can be perfectly displayed without taking off his clothes.It's the smaller, tinier details that Rob wants to know: how thick is the fur on his muscular chest, whether his nipples are small or large, whether his belly button is concave or convex.What is the skin color of those skins hidden under the clothes...

Rob bit his lower lip uncomfortably as he pondered these wonderful details.These questions weren't the standard sexual fantasies he'd come up with a hundred times a day—fantasies could easily be packaged and sent away.No, this time is different.The very private curiosity he couldn't help feeling about Cam went deeper than just wanting to fuck him.

He wants to appreciate.

He wants to describe.

Upstairs, the tub gurgles as the water runs away—Cam must be out of the shower.This thought led to another fantasy, this time of Cam stepping out of the bathtub, the water dripping slowly across his chest muscles...

Rob swallowed.

God.

He forced himself to concentrate on preparing the food, chopping, sautéing, stirring, and seasoning until a steaming pot of curry finally simmered on the stove.

As soon as he turned off the fire, Cam came downstairs, his step quick and regular.Rob tensed up stupidly suddenly at the thought of seeing him again.He took a pair of wine glasses from the kitchen counter and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from the refrigerator.When Cam entered the kitchen, he was opening a bottle and looking up, showing just the right amount of surprise.

"We meet again," he said. "Have you had a good bath?"

Cam was wearing baggy, faded jeans and a solid gray T-shirt that stretched over his chest.He was barefoot and his dark hair was still wet.He looked so alluring that Rob was grateful he still had a kitchen counter to hide his growing cock.

Of course Cam didn't know about it.He paced into the kitchen, smiling unreservedly—he was confident himself again, and better.The smile on his face was more real than Rob had seen before.Cam's left cheek was dimpled from the big, unnaturally sweet smile.

"I had a really good bath," he sounded satisfied. "My house only has a small shower, and if that's not too bad, the boiler stopped working two days ago." He sniffed the air intoxicated. "Smells great. Thai food?"

"That's right - red curry. Chicken. Hope you like spicy."

Cam's smile widened. "Love to death."

"Fortunately, I put a lot of chili powder in it. White wine is okay?" he asked, lighting the bottle in Cam's direction.

"Sounds good," Cam replied easily.

Rob removed the cork, poured two full glasses, and pushed one of them toward Cam.

"Sit down," he nodded to the two bar stools lined up at the end of the table, and Cam obediently jumped on one of them.As he sat down, Rob couldn't help but look over to see the soft denim stretched across his muscular thighs.

God, what the hell is wrong with him?He had to stop his contempt for this man.He couldn't think of any reason why Cam would be even remotely interested in him.

Rob forced himself to turn around, busy making rice.

"Ten more minutes to go," he announces once the pan is bubbling on the stove.

Cam's stomach growled just then, and he laughed, and then Rob laughed too.The two share the fun as they make eye contact.Cam had a charming smile, Rob thought, warm and contagious, showing his perfectly white teeth and making his dimples shine again.

When there was a trace of curiosity on Cam's expression, Rob found that he had stopped smiling a long time ago, and he was staring at Cam.He looked away in embarrassment, lifted his glass and took a sip before sitting himself on another bar stool.

"So," he began as soon as he sat down, "it sounds like you've had some bad luck lately. The car broke down and the boiler stopped working."

As soon as he finished speaking, he wished he hadn't said those words.Cam seemed deflated, and the smile disappeared. "It's really unlucky," he lowered his eyes to look at the countertop, "Actually, I've been a little depressed recently."

He looked so concerned that Rob wondered if he wasn't just talking about his boiler and car.That was his face at the cafe that day, as if he was weighed down by some invisible burden.Suddenly, Rob felt an overwhelming urgency to do something for him to make him feel better.

"You know—" he opened his mouth.After hesitating for a moment, he forced himself to continue. "I've always wanted to talk to you about that... misunderstanding we had years ago."

Cam looked up, eyebrows furrowed in alarm. "Misunderstand?"

Rob cleared his throat. "Uh, about you selling drinks at the houseboat."

"Oh." While waiting for Rob to vomit, Cam's expression broke.

"Actually, I feel bad for what happened between the two of us during this period, especially when we called someone from the committee here instead of talking to you first."

Cam's dark eyes were hard to read, but finally he said, "I admit I was annoyed at the time, but now—well, I can understand why you called them."

"It wasn't actually me that called. It was Var. I didn't know until later."

Cam looked taken aback. "War?"

"Yes, but she meant well. She was protecting me. Var was loyal, but a little impulsive. When she saw what you were doing, she called Peter from the committee without thinking. They Been together on and off. Then Pete went a little too far - maybe to please Warr - and the whole thing went way too far. I told her afterward that she should have asked me to negotiate with you, but you and I were already Argued." He paused, then added sincerely, "I should have had a good talk with you after that, but I didn't. I'm not usually that mean, and I actually feel terrible about it afterwards .So—I'm sorry."

Cam watched Rob's expression for a moment. "You're very generous in your apology," he said at last. "Especially considering that I was the one who did something I shouldn't have done." After a pause, he added, "I have to say, I also felt sorry for our noisy fight. Then I realized that rushing into the coffee The restaurant got angry and accused you of going too far, but I'm too embarrassed to apologize."

Rob gave a short laugh. "Really? I thought you were mad at me, especially since you didn't go to the Stag on Fridays."

"My God, no," Cam murmured. "I'm not going because I know everyone heard what happened to the two of us. I guess they'll think I'm an asshole, and I don't want to be singled out after a few drinks. And—" He suddenly stop.

"And what?"

Cam shrugged and put on a look of indifference that made Rob suspect he cared a lot about what he had to say next. "And I'm broke. I don't have money to go out and drink anyway."

Cam fiddled with the neck of the glass, keeping his attention carefully away from Rob, hunched and dejected.

I am penniless...

That's why Cam started selling coffee on houseboats?Suddenly the whole thing made some sense.

"The bottleneck period when starting a career?" Rob asked softly.

Cam didn't look up, and laughed a few times without a smile. "You can say that."

After waiting for a while, Cam said softly. "I know what it's like, Cam. The cafe hasn't really started making money until the last two years, and to be honest that's all thanks to War. It lost money the first year, and made a little money the next year. It's not easy starting a business thing."

Finally, Cam looked at Rob and gave him a pale smile. "I thought I was being cautious enough," he said, raking his wet hair with one hand. "I'm a certified accountant. I know better than anyone how many start-up businesses die in the first year and how important it is to prepare for the worst. But this is more seasonal than I thought .Winter is completely quiet - I don't have any new bookings until after Easter."

"Then you still have a reservation?"

"Yes—summer will keep me busy, but except for a little advance payment, I won't be paid until April." He sighed. "Damn, don't listen to me. I don't even know why I'm telling you this." He rubbed his face hard with his hands.

Rob stretched out his hand, put it on Cam's warm and firm shoulder, and gently squeezed it without any hint of comfort.Cam felt his touch and looked at him with doubts in his eyes. At that moment, Rob seemed to feel a slight touch and resonance between the two.Then the stove timer rang, breaking the stagnant atmosphere.

"Rice is ready," Rob said, taking his hand from Cam's shoulder.His voice was a little hoarse, and when he realized it, he cleared his throat and jumped off the stool. "Listen, why don't you go to the living room and wait while I serve dinner? I lit the fire while you were taking a shower—it should be warm by now." Without waiting for an answer, he turned back to the stove and stretched out his hand bubbling pan.

"Okay," Cam said behind him, and then paused, "then I'll bring the glass, okay?"

Rob had gone to the sink to drain the water from the meal. "Okay, thanks," he said, turning his head.His voice sounded too pleasant to be his own. "By the way, take the wine from the refrigerator, okay?"

"no problem."

As Rob worked, he became ludicrously aware of Cam's movements behind him—the sound of the man's bare feet on the tiles, the hum of the fridge as he opened the door to get his wine.

The sound of the door clicking shut as he left the kitchen.

At last he was alone.Rob stopped what he was doing and closed his eyes briefly.His reaction to Cam McMorrow excites and scares him in equal measure.It's one thing to like someone, but it's another to be so interested -- so obsessed.He hasn't felt this way in years.Not since Andrew.This feeling is like being awakened.It's like being alive again.And he was ready for it, and he couldn't even wait.

just.

He had no reason to think Cam would be interested in him either.

It's time for you to give someone else a chance...

If only it were that simple.