Page 32 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“So… what did you do today?” Ody asked, forcing his focus back to the screen.

Anna started talking, but Ody barely followed.

The towel fell from Mano’s hips. Ody’s gaze snapped to him. Mano stood there, completely exposed, watching him.

Ody’s breath caught as he forced himself to look away.

“Ody?” Anna’s voice came through the phone.

“Yeah. I’m listening.”

He wasn’t.

Mano pulled on his boxer briefs slowly, never breaking eye contact. Then he stretched, arms lifting overhead, his muscles pulling tight with the motion, just enough to draw Ody’s attention.

His eyes dragged over Mano’s broad shoulders, the defined shape of his chest, ink tracing down his arms, then dropped lower, to the black boxer briefs sitting low on his hips, to the bulge between his thick, muscular thighs.

Ody exhaled through his nose, jaw tightening as he tried to steady himself.

“Ody, what’s wrong?” Anna asked, picking up on it.

“Nothing,” he said, forcing his eyes back to the screen.

Behind him, Mano turned, bending just enough to grab his shirt. Ody’s gaze dropped lower.

“Babe, I’ll call you back. Something came up.” He ended the call and pushed to his feet, closing the distance in two steps, backing Mano into the door.

“What are you doing?” Mano snapped.

Ody let out a short breath, eyes locked on him. “That’s exactly what I’ve been wondering since you started putting on a show.”

“I wasn’t.” Mano shoved at him. “Move. I want to get dressed.”

Ody didn’t budge. One hand came up, bracing against the door beside Mano’s head, trapping him in place. “Oh yeah?” he said, his voice low. “Because that looked like you were trying to get a reaction.”

“It’s not my problem you get turned on just by looking at me.”

Ody’s mouth curved. “Yeah,” he said. “I do.”

Mano stilled.

“You couldn’t even respect the fact that I was on a call with my girlfriend,” he added, gaze still dragging over him.

“Get out of my way.” Mano tried again to push past him.

Ody shifted, blocking him, his other hand coming up to the door on the other side of Mano’s head, boxing him in. He leaned in just enough, a slow smile pulling at his mouth. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, big boy.”

Chapter 8

Mano’s body stayed rigid against the door, his head trapped between Ody’s hands. “What would your girlfriend say if she saw you right now?” he asked, looking straight into his eyes.

“She won’t be my girlfriend for much longer.”

Mano’s throat tightened as he looked away. The thought settled in, heavy, and it scared him more than it should. “I thought we agreed that we’re just two guys fooling around.” The words came out quieter than he intended, even as part of him wanted Ody to prove him wrong.

Ody didn’t hesitate. “We can be more. You know that.” There was something raw in his eyes. Hope. Too much of it.

Mano broke eye contact, his gaze dropping.