Page 17 of Sight Unseen

“Dude, this here is some serious personal space invasion.” I chuckled as I moved away then stood as I dropped the cushion to the sofa. I tried to will my cock to deflate. “Am I still the same? No warts, moles or unusual hair growth?”

Nate dropped his hands to his sides and shook his head. “No.” he said softly. “You still feel like the same Cody.”

“Good, good.” I glanced at the deck as Jon turned to look at us from outside. I waved at him and he looked away, and turned his back. “So, is the boyfriend treating you well? I see he’s done some work moving things around. Does that make things easier?”

There was silence and I sat down again next to Nate, who’d gone paler. “Nate, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t think he wants me anymore, Cody.” Nate’s voice was barely audible. “He’s…so cold. It’s like I’m a freak and he doesn’t want to touch me. I mean, things weren’t great before the accident but now…” He looked dejected.

Ice trickled down my spine. I’d noticed something was off at the hospital. I’d even overheard a conversation between Jon and someone, no doubt Caleb; Jon had whispered he didn’t think he could do this. The words that had really gotten me were, “How can I be with a man who can’t see who I am? I’m wasted on him.”

The only thing that had stopped me going over and drop-kicking Jon’s ass down the hall was the presence of a little boy in his pajamas, wide eyed and pale as he sat with his family. I didn’t want the poor kid to watch my ninja moves and be traumatized forever. He looked as if he had enough going on in his life.

At the time I’d chalked Jon’s conversation down to the newness of the situation, to the fact everything had changed for everyone. Now, hearing Nate’s agonized words, I wasn’t so sure.

I wrapped my arms around him, taking care not to let any wayward body parts to get in the way. He sank into me with a soft sigh. I swallowed the need to have this comfort as a permanent thing in my life, and stroked his hair. This was about making him feel better, not me.

“I’m sure that’s not it. He’s getting used to the changes, that’s all. Like you are. I mean,” I drew away from Nate and framed his face in my hands. “Look at you. You’re gorgeous. So you can’t see. What the hell difference does that make? It means he can steal the biggest piece of steak first. He can grab that last baked potato without you noticing, and drink milk straight from the fridge.” Nate hated it when I did that. “It means nothing else. You’re still the same you that you were before.” My hands traced idle patterns on his head, massaging his scalp the way he’d always liked. Nate gave a throaty groan, which caused my groin to flame hotter, and I suppressed the urge to adjust myself.

If I jerked off, he wouldn’t be able to see me. He’d never know I came right in front of him. Yeah, but he’d probably smell it. Plus, I’m noisy, even when I’m by myself.

I gasped at the traitorous thoughts and ignored the image they projected.

“I’ll never be the same me,” Nate murmured into my chest. “You can’t keep pretending that everything’ll be the same. Jon’s already used the word disabled, I nearly told him—”

“Oh hell no,” I pulled back and snarled. Nate made a surprised noise as I stood. My hands left his soft mass of freshly shampooed hair and waved my arms about as I paced. “Jon is talking out his ass. We do not use that word in this house, or ever. That might be a word in a dictionary but it’s not who you are.” I put my hands on my hips and glared at him, hoping he’d feel the patented Cody laser stare.

Nate laughed loudly. “Calm down. Let me finish what I was going to say.” The smile splitting his face made me feel better. “I didn’t argue with him because to be honest, I was damn tired. If I hadn’t been, I would have told him the same thing.”

I squinted at him. “So we’re on the same page?”

He nodded, as he grinned. “Yeah, Shaggy, we’re on the same page.”

“Don’t call me that,” I said, swatting his shoulder. “Good. As long as you don’t let that douchebag call you disabled, you and I will be fine.” I bit my lips. I hadn’t meant to call Jon a douchebag, even though it was true.

Nate ignored it. He patted the seat beside him and I sat back down. As I did, Jon came in. He looked at us both and disappeared into the kitchen.

“As Cody is here with you, I’m going to go out and collect our food. I’ve ordered it, and the drive will do me good. I might be a while. I have to get some dry cleaning too on the way home.”

Jon picked up his bag from the dining room table. “Anything else you need while I’m out, Nate?”

Nate shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. I’m still figuring things out, but there’s nothing I need desperately.”

Jon nodded. “Okay. Well, I’ll see you later.” He bent down over the sofa and placed a perfunctory kiss on the top of Nate’s head. “I’m sure Cody will look after you while I’m gone.” Nate couldn’t see the flash of petulance in Jon’s eyes, but he also couldn’t see the relief cross Jon’s face. He looked glad to be going out and thankful he was getting away from Nate, which seemed to override his irritation I was around.

Me, I’d be glad to have Nate to myself for a little while. And longer.

We waited until we heard the front door shut then I poked Nate in the ribs. He squirmed. He’d always been ticklish.

“So what say you and I grab a beer, kick off our shoes, and you can tell me what’s going to happen now that you’re back home?” I asked. “I’m sure there must be plans and I’d like to be part of them, even if it’s a just as a driver.”

Nate frowned. “Cody, you have a business to run. A busy art gallery. You can’t hang around and be at my beck and call.”

I nudged him again. “Course I can. That’s why I have minions. I’m the boss, I can do what I like. Just call me Despicable.” I said the word with a Daffy Duck lisp, and Nate giggled. God, the man giggled. It had been a long time since I’d heard that noise leave his lips.

“You are too much,” Nate said, his face affectionate. “You’re like this force of nature I can’t control, but in a good way. You blow in and make stuff better.”

I stood and went to the fridge, where I retrieved two beers. “Of course I am. That’s what crazy best friends do.”