Rachel looked at me as I glanced at my phone, smiling at a text I got five minutes ago.

"Jesus Christ Marcus, how are you so into a guy you hardly know?"

I awkwardly snapped back to reality, "I- I uh.... how do I put this?" I closed my eyes, "when I saw him, everything just stopped for me. I couldn't breath, move? I was locked into his steady gaze... when he looked away I felt a heat in my chest I'd never felt before. When he smiled, I wanted to smile. I never thought I could feel that way for anyone."

"You should do a romance novel or something. You certainly now have to experience to write more three dimensional characters versus your normal background romances."

I laughed at that, "maybe, but it might give me away. Can't overwhelm him this early on after the figures out my other job."

Rachel chuckled, rolling her eyes. She glanced to the side, and I followed her gaze. Luckily we were in a soundproof room, but people were looking at Rachel enviously. Not because of the reason I was here, but because I was the mascot, I suppose, of the editorial office.

"One day they'll figure out I'm actually S.M. Jacks."

"One day, for now, you're just my cute friend who I talk to about work."

I laughed at that. "So, what do you need me for?"

"Well, as usual, we love your work."

"Obviously."

She snickered, "but they want to know if you'd be willing to draw it out into a series. The story does have a very open ending and there's a lot to be desired, maybe expand on the romantic traits?"

It took a second before I nodded, "Yeah, I can do that. I'll have the next books manuscript done in a few months, but the draft will be done in a few weeks."

"You're actually the best," she sighed in content, "my boss sings my praises because of you."

"Glad I could help."

My phone buzzed and I picked it up, heat rising quickly to my face at the message and picture.

"Ooh, what saucy stuff did Connor send?"

I hesitated before flipping my phone around to show her.

He sent a picture of a few boxes of condoms and a few bottles of lube with a caption of:

Just in case 😉

With a god damn winky face. The god damn winky face.

"Aren't you lucky that your schedule is so free?"

"He's only acting like this since he found out he's my first. Guess he got a huge ego boost."

"I'd get an ego boost if you told me that. I can't blame him. Still, I'm sure he'll be an awkward sweetheart when you see him again."

"You already know he's awkward?"

"You attract that sort."

"I suppose I do." I get up, stretching, unaware that my shirt did up a bit, revealing a lot of hickeys. "If that's all, I'm going to head home."

"Have fun." She waved goodbye to me and I headed out, looking at my phone with a very warm smile.

It must've been obvious what was going down since no one approached me as I was leaving.

Because I was uninterrupted, I got home quickly. When I entered, I smelled something good from my kitchen. I left the mini hallway and went to the open space, seeing Connor humming as he put some homemade pizza in two separate plates, wearing my chef's apron.

I think I was staring at him for a full minute before he noticed me.

His cheeks flushed and he smiled, "Welcome home Marcus! I made us some dinner!"

"I can tell." I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist, "it smells good. So do you, did you take a shower again?"

"No, That's my body spray."

"It smells so much like you."

His body stuttered at that as he set his palms on the table, "I half want to skip dinner."

"we kinda need food in order to survive."

"I know that."

I moved around him to grab my plate, moving over to the living room to set it down in my coffee table. He followed suit as I went to pour us some drinks.

Soda.

Since I wasn't in the mood for alcohol that night.

I came back with the frosty glasses and sat beside him, curling into Connor's side. I switched on the tv to some home improvement show and we ate in silence, enjoying the comforting presence of the other.

"I'm still surprised you're Hero Maker." He whispered, "what's next, you're the mysterious author S.M. Jacks?"

I bit my lip, choking back my obvious smile. He caught it.

"You're kidding?"

"Nope. I just came back from a meeting with my editor."

Connor looked at me for a second, than laughed, "I guess i just got really lucky? A lot of people would be jealous of me if they knew."

"That reminds me," I looked over at him, "I'm worried about people sending you death threats by connecting us to Hero Maker. So, to avoid suspicion, I'd say we'd wait for a month or more to tell anyone. That way, no one connects Hero Maker to me or you."

He nodded, sliding an arm around me, "I'm fine with that. I want to keep you all to myself anyways."

"Did finding out you were my first give you that much of a confidence boost?"

"Yup."

I  shook my head, laughter spilling from my lips, "you're hopeless." I ate my last bite of pizza and got up with my plate, "at least you're a good cook."

"I kinda have to be, I live alone."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's paid for by my parents. They want me to focus on nothing but school so they send me monthly allowances for surviving."

"Then you were at the bar because?" I teased.

"My friends invited me. I really didn't drink anything until I sat with you."

I looked at him curiously, "have you ever had a job?"

"I paid for my own college tuition in exchange for what my parents are doing for me now, so yeah. I had a lot of jobs during middle and high school."

Oh, that makes sense." I went over to the kitchen and put the plate in the sink, quickly washing my hands as Connor soon came to do the same.

It was already pretty domestic. This was just another aspect of it.

I sat on my counter, just watching him as he watched his hands, waiting until he's done to start talking again.

"So, what's with all the condoms you got?"

"In all honesty, I was buying a single pack, but they were on sale and soooo,"

"You went overboard?"

"Pretty much." He turned around and put his arms at my side, slinking between my legs.

I cocked my head at him, a smirk playing on the tips of my lips, "how many do you think we can go through this weekend?"

"Why don't we find out?" He asked, moving closer until his breath was on my face.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and yanked him closer until our bodies were flushed together , "let's."