Free See the Light by Cassandra Carr Page A

in Jason’s grip holding his hands above his head. There was no doubt if the younger man really wanted to, he could take control.
“Why don’t you get under the covers?” Jason suggested. “We can take a little nap and then maybe order some room service. I know I worked up an appetite.”
Jason grinned, and Patrick found himself smiling back. “You’d nap with an old man?”
Jason shrugged, and Patrick was sure a smart-ass retort was coming. He wasn’t disappointed.
“Sure, as long you keep your teeth in. I’d hate to wake up looking at a jacko’-lantern. That shit freaks me out.”
They got into bed, and Patrick wondered how Jason would react if Patrick tried to spoon him. Deciding it was better not to rock the boat for now, Patrick put his back to the middle of the bed. Long moments passed as Patrick tried to will himself to sleep, way too aware of the warm body behind him to settle down. He could hear Jason’s breathing, and it didn’t sound like he had fallen asleep either.
He was trying to decide if he should just give up on sleep when a strong male arm snaked around his waist. Jason snugged his body up tight against Patrick’s, and Patrick forgot how to breathe. It had been so long since he’d done this, since he’d cuddled with another man, and he’d forgotten how good it felt. Finally at peace, he grabbed Jason’s hand and drifted off to sleep.

* * * *
    Jason was sweating. He frowned. His apartment was air-conditioned. Why was he so hot? Then he remembered. He wasn’t at his apartment, and the reason for the blazing heat in the bed was the man sound asleep next to him. Patrick . Jason smiled.
    While they’d slept, they’d drifted apart, but Jason remembered slinging an arm around the older man. Should he do that again? Would Patrick wake up if he did? Jason had never cuddled another man, but as soon as the front of his body connected with the back of Patrick’s, he’d felt like it was the right thing to do. The puzzle had finally come together.
    His stomach gurgled, and Jason pressed a hand there, trying to shut it up. Patrick rolled onto his back.
    “Guess I’d better feed you before you start picking off limbs.”
With a laugh, Jason sat up before swinging his legs over the side of the bed. “Yeah, I was just thinking I needed to find some ketchup.”
“Ha-ha.”
Jason grabbed the room-service menu and then brought it over to the bed, propping himself against the headboard. Patrick joined him there, and together they perused the selections. It felt oddly…domestic, but comfortable at the same time. Jason wasn’t at all sure what to make of that.
“A steak sounds pretty good. What are you looking at?”
Patrick gave him a half smile. “Steak.”
“We’re creatures of habit, aren’t we?”
“Well, I eat with the team on the road, so I’m guessing I’m as sick of chicken and pasta as you are.” Patrick slanted him a glance. “Wanna get a bottle of wine, since we’re not leaving tonight?”
“Sounds good.”
Not leaving tonight…
Jason chewed the inside of his cheek. He’d agreed to spend the entire night with this man. Would they sleep? Fuck all night long? Play cards?
Patrick placed the order and then went into the bathroom. Meanwhile Jason tried to calm his now galloping heart.
Everything’s okay. Don’t make too much of this.
By the time the other man returned, Jason had managed to calm himself, and they shot the shit while Jason flipped through the pay-per-view channels, looking for a movie while they waited for dinner.
The rest of the night passed without either Patrick or him making a move on the other. Instead they watched the movie they’d picked out and stuffed themselves with steak, wine, and a dessert Patrick had ordered. Jason didn’t often eat dessert during the season, but when the tray came and Patrick offered to split the slice of cheesecake with him, he threw caution to the wind, figuring he’d expend enough calories to counteract the rich treat.
The