Goldilocks and His Three Bears by AM Riley Read Free Book Online

the table blinked.
    “You know I was thinkin’ of getting a little street model to take with me,” said Scott. “The northern route is real pretty in the fall. I wouldn't mind taking a side trip or two if I had wheels.”
    “I'll get you a great discount,” said Paul.
    “I'd appreciate it, buddy.”
    “So,” Paul said, “Jim, where'd you end up this time?” He picked up the last piece of bacon and stuck it onto Brian's plate.
    “Brian, would you pass that pitcher of OJ over here?” said Jim. “Well, I think I was in Canada.”
    Brian ate his breakfast and took his dishes to the sink, where Jim took them out of his hands and plunged them into the soapy water. Jim said a soft “Thank you” and not much else.
    Brian padded back into the bedroom. Showered. Dressed. Paul came in and nodded at him.
    “You working today?”
    “Yeah. I have to go.” Brian moved from foot to foot. “So... ” He had a fluttering in his belly. Paul was across the room in a heartbeat, holding all of Brian against that big chest and sticking his big maple-syrup-tasting tongue down Brian's throat.
    “See you tonight,” he declared. And there was no question in those steady eyes.
    “Yeah.” That fluttering, scared feeling evaporated. Brian grinned. “I'll see you tonight.”
    Brian walked straight up to the bungalow after his shift was over and stood at the door, looking at the little key Jim had given him. He thought he should give it back. And then he thought maybe he should keep it.
    Crap.
    He started to unlock the door, but it was already open, so he stepped inside. “Hello?”
    Someone had cleaned the living room. The wood floors glowed.
    “In here!” came Jim's voice.
    Jim stood in the middle of a sparkling kitchen, wiping his hands on a big towel with the satisfaction of someone whose house was in order.
    “Hi there, Brian,” said Jim, his smile all happy, his eyes lighting up.
    “Hi.” Brian leaned against the doorjamb and wrapped his arms around himself. What he really wanted was to walk across those few feet and put himself inside a big Momma Bear hug. But that was off-limits now, wasn't it? He'd almost lost what he had, and he wasn't gonna fuck up again.
    “Hey, I didn't thank you for taking care of my plants,” said Jim, folding the towel and setting it on the counter.
    “No problem, man.”
    “You've earned a few buds. C'mon. Lemme get you something.” And Jim waved Brian to follow him, padding off toward his bedroom.
    It made Brian feel weirder than hell, standing there in that dark little room, with the fiber-optic glow lamps in the corners and that big brown velvet-covered water bed just there. Jim fussed away at a desk and came back with a thick baggie full of weed. He placed it in Brian's hands, and when Brian looked up at him, there was nothing but warmth and affection in those dark brown eyes.
    “Enjoy,” said Jim. They stood there looking at each other.
    “I'm... I'm waiting for Paul,” Brian blurted.
    Jim nodded. “Okay.”
    “I'm sorry, Momma, really I am... ”
    “Don't be.” And Jim's hand was soft on Brian's face, sort of drawing a line down his jaw with one gentle finger. His eyes glowed. “I want to see you happy, baby. Don't be sorry.”
    “Momma... ” And Brian was in Jim's arms, head pressed to his throat.
    Jim rocked him for a minute, and Brian could feel that his Momma Bear was hard for him. But then Jim put him gently back, big hands giving Brian's shoulders a quick squeeze.
    “I was going to watch the Magic Chef ,” he said. “Would you like to join me?”
    As a matter of fact, Brian liked that idea very much. So they were sitting on the big leather sofa together, a decent couple of feet between them, feet up, bag of buttered popcorn spilling onto the coffee table, when Paul returned.
    He had on his suit jacket and a crisp white work shirt. His shoulders filled every inch of the starched cotton. He began peeling it all away as he came through the door, turning before