Damn. Being with Gage was only a dream. He scrubbed both hands over his face and grunted. So much for sleeping. He noticed the time on the digital clock. Nine a.m. Shit. He’d missed chores. Now, he knew what the buzzing was—the doorbell. He climbed out of bed and raked his fingers through his hair. He still had the same clothes on from the night before. Duh. He hadn’t stripped before he collapsed. He’d been lucky to remember to kick off his shoes and socks before he snuggled under the blankets.

He trudged barefoot through the house to the front door. If his father was there because Ryan had missed chores, then Dennis would’ve been standing in the middle of the living room or would’ve barged into Ryan’s bedroom. Anyone else who knew Ryan wouldn’t have shown up so early. The day after races he was just about worthless unless he got a decent night of sleep. He groaned. He’d deal with the person at the door, then head back to bed for another couple of hours of sleep.

He grasped the door handle and opened it wide. Instead of his father on the stoop, Gage waited on the small porch.

“Gage?” Ryan snapped to attention. Now, he wished he’d have changed his clothes or at least brushed his teeth. “Can I help you?”

He drank in the image of his guest. The faded jeans hung low on Gage’s hips and the T-shirt stretched tight across his broad chest. His nipples beaded beneath the cotton. He’d cut his sandy blond hair since the night before, and the shorter cut brought out the shape of his brown eyes and chiseled chin. If Ryan wasn’t mistaken, Gage had shaved, too.

Ryan bit back another groan and gripped the doorframe. He longed to run his hands over that chest and to feel Gage beside him when he slept. No, he wanted to sink his cock into Gage’s ass and to experience him as anything but a friend. His cock thickened behind his zipper. No amount of adjusting would take the pressure off and besides, if he touched himself, he’d make the situation worse. Once Gage left, he’d have to rub one off.

God, he had it bad for Gage Bell.

Gage bowed his head, and his voice dropped an octave. “Can we talk?” His shoulders slouched, and he didn’t look Ryan in the eye.

Ryan gripped the handle to the screen door. Did he trust his former high school classmate and current racing competitor? From his head to his toes, heat surged within him. Maybe he was crazy from the restless sleep, but he wanted Gage in his home.