Love in the Clouds

Chapter 2-2

He awoke to rumbling in his ear and it took a moment to realize his head rested on someone’s chest, his arm lay across someone’s waist, while his legs tangled with another pair. He felt an arm around him, holding him close.

Holy f**k, how drunk had he been last night? His eyelids fluttered open, and the sunlight coming in through the blinds acted like shards of glass. He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut, then began to pull away, but the man tightened his grip and tugged him closer.

It wasn’t until he forced himself to lift his head that he realized he was in Raf’s bedroom. That made him feel better and he lay down his head again and settled into Raf’s arms.

Shit. What the hell had happened last night?

Memories of the previous evening began to filter in. Had he really told Raf he loved him? Of course, he did love him, but as friends. Best friends. God, his mind reeled.

He looked up and found Raf’s gaze on him. Wow, his friend looked sexy in the morning, all sleep-rumpled hair and heavy-lidded eyes. Dustin shook his head to clear the fog from his brain.

Raf also seemed to realize their intimate contact, his eyes slowly widening.

Dustin raked his hands through his hair. “f**k, Raf.”

His friend pulled himself into a sitting position and leaned against the navy blue padded headboard. “First of all, calm down. Nothing happened. Secondly, it’s no big deal that we…cuddled.” He gestured between them.

Dustin chuckled. “Cuddled?”

“What the f**k ever…you know what I mean,” Raf growled. “It’s no big deal. We were asleep.”

A huge weight lifted as Dustin realized they would be okay. He hadn’t gotten too drunk and made a pass at his best friend. He hadn’t f****d up the best friendship of his life. He couldn’t hold back the smirk, though. “But seriously, man. Cuddled? That’s too f*****g cute.”

Raf frowned and climbed out of bed, ignoring Dustin’s teasing. “I’m going to drive you to your car so you can head home and get ready to go to the airport.”

Dustin watched him stride into the bathroom, long muscular legs carrying him. He tore away his gaze and chastised himself. Yes, this was probably one of the weirder moments of his life, but his friendship with Raf felt strong. They’d get through this. Any strange feelings he experienced were just part of the whole weirdness.

A short time later, they drove to the bar in silence. It felt a little awkward, but Dustin wasn’t sure what to say. They’d slept in each other’s arms, nothing else, but the more he thought about how they’d woken up together, the more his mind began to go further. Imagining what it would be like to run his fingers over Raf’s morning stubble. Or tracing the edges of his lips. Dustin had been hard when he awoke, and the idea that Raf probably had been, too, had all kinds of dirty images running through his brain.

Dirty thoughts that had never starred Raf before. Well, that wasn’t true. He’d thought the man gorgeous when meeting him in college. Shy and sweet and easily flustered, too. Kind of checked all Dustin’s boxes. But they’d clicked so well as friends, those s****l feelings had disappeared almost immediately.

Now, Raf pulled into the parking lot and aimed for Dustin’s silver Honda CR-V, the only automobile there. When he parked alongside it, Dustin fiddled with this seatbelt. He wanted to say thanks. To say he was sorry for getting drunk. But he felt weird and unsure of himself, a total game-changer for him. He was the guy who always knew what to do. Always led the way when others hesitated. But here he was, embarrassed about being in Raf’s arms when he had awoken. But was that really it? Or was it that he had liked the feeling too much?

“You okay?”

Raf’s words dragged him from his thoughts, and his cheeks heated. “Yeah. Just…I guess tired?” He hazarded a glance at Raf and sighed when he saw only concern, not judgment. He raked his hand through his hair. “Guess I’m still feeling a little…strange.”

“Oh, for f**k’s sake. It didn’t mean anything. You think I threw myself at you or something? Good God, why would I want to be another notch for you?”

Dustin’s chest tightened. “Whoa! What do you mean by that? Where the hell did that come from?”

Raf gripped the steering wheel, his gaze out the front windshield. “Nothing. I just meant…you go through men like water. Never seeing one too long. I could never be that. It would kill me.”

Surprised at Raf’s admission, Dustin grasped his bicep, squeezing. “I would never do that to you.”

Raf snorted. “It doesn’t matter anyway, Dusty. We’re friends. So quit freaking out over this morning, go home, and get ready. I’ll pick you up at eleven.” His sharp tone cut into Dustin, and he pulled his hand back like he’d been burned.

“I’ll be ready.” He climbed out without another word. Once his car started, he watched Raf pull out. His best friend was a great guy. Always looking out for him. Just like this morning, not leaving until he knew Dustin’s vehicle started.

As he drove home, he couldn’t get past what Raf had said. Was he admitting he wanted something more with Dustin? More than friendship? Or was Dustin reading too much into things? True, he used to date a lot, then move on to the next guy. But he wasn’t looking for that anymore. He wanted something real.

The very idea of being with Raf—in that way—made him tingle. He shook his head, pushing out those thoughts. They were best friends.

God, he just wanted a hot shower, some food, then to see his plane. He sure hoped things returned to normal between the two of them in a few hours.