I called Jon the next day from my new room—the room I didn’t plan on sleeping in very often, if at all.
“Hi! Nice to hear from you so soon,” Jon said.
“Hi Jon. Um…we need to talk,” I said, not exactly sure how to go about telling him I was with Jeff now.
“Uh-oh.” Jon sighed through the phone. “Give it to me.”
“After you left last night, Jeff and I got to talking.”
He blew out a breath. “He finally admitted he’s into you?”
“Um, yeah. Basically. Yes.”
Jon stayed silent for so long, I thought we might have been disconnected. “I can’t say I’m surprised. I know it’s what you wanted. I won’t say I’m not disappointed, but I understand. I kind of held out hope you were over him.”
“I’m sorry, Jon.” Shit. I sucked at this. I’d never had to break a date in my life.
“I’ll learn to love again,” he said with a chuckle.
I laughed, too, the tension between us easing somewhat. “You asking me out sort of put him over the edge.”
“Glad I could help with your love life,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.
“Sorry. Again.”
“Hey, it’s not a big deal. I’d rather know now than later.”
“Can we still be friends?” My voice sounded odd. Strained. I hoped he couldn’t tell how uncomfortable I felt.
“I’d like that,” he said after a long pause. “You’re a good guy, Aaron. Make sure Jeff treats you right.”
“He will.” I was sure of that.
“Okay.”
Another awkward silence followed as I paced my small room and chewed my bottom lip.
“Well, I’ll let you go,” I finally said.
“And listen—I’m not mad, Aaron. I’m disappointed, but I appreciate your honesty.”
“Thanks. Have a great day.” Have a great day? I sound like an idiot.
“You, too.”
After we hung up, I sat on my bed and flopped back on my pillow. Jon was a nice guy and I felt like a dick. I shouldn’t have said “yes” when he’d asked.
At the soft knock on the door, I called, “Come in.”
Jeff walked in and leaned against my dresser. “How did it go?”
“He was so mature, he made me feel like a little kid. He wasn’t surprised.”
“Really?” Jeff looked skeptical.
“Yeah.” I threw my arm over my eyes. “I’m an ass.”
“No you’re not.”
He made his way across the room and the bed dipped with his weight. Sighing, I looked at him and smiled. How could I not feel happy when the guy I was mad about sat so close I could smell his body wash? I leaned in closer.
His eyebrow rose. “Are you sniffing me?”
I blushed, but nodded. “I can’t help it.”
“Why?” His dark gaze made my spine tingle.
I swallowed hard and tried to look away, but he cupped my jaw and held me there. Heat spread through me like wildfire and I licked my lips. Lust coiled in my belly and I trembled. I wasn’t sure why, but the way he took control of things made my blood heat. My dick went rock-hard in seconds and I pressed my lips together as I tried to figure out how to explain it to him. “I’m not really sure why I like your smell. I’ve always liked it. It-it represents you. I want to breathe you in and let it swirl around inside me.”
His eyes flashed while he stroked my cheek with his thumb. “Does it turn you on?”
“Yes,” I admitted, feeling the blush spread down my neck and onto my chest. “I’ve always wanted to…”
“Wanted to what?”
I tried to shake my head, but he held tight. I wanted to lie, but I couldn’t. Not to Jeff. Once I said this, he’d think I was a freak. I just knew it.
I took a deep shaky breath and let it out slowly. “I’ve…I’ve always wanted to bury my face in your…” I awkwardly waved to his groin. “To breathe you in. To know it like it’s a part of me.”
“That’s the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever heard,” he said, his voice thick and gravelly.
“You don’t think I’m weird?”
“Not at all. I like going to sleep to the scent of your hair.”
Looking back, I recalled several times he nuzzled my hair. Maybe it was normal to like someone’s scent.
“Boys?” Judy’s voice rang through the hall.
We shot up as if we’d been busted doing something. He opened the door while I got busy making my bed.
“Honey, can you run to the store for me?” she asked Jeff.
“Sure.”
“Wonderful.” She pulled a debit card from her purse. “I’ll text you a list.” She turned to me as I finished pulling up the comforter. “How did you sleep in your new room, Aaron?”
My eyes shot to Jeff and he barely moved his head. Yeah, it wasn’t time to tell her I wasn’t sleeping in my room. “Fine.” I was a horrible liar and felt like she could see right through me.
“That’s great. Okay. I’ve got some errands to run. I won’t be home until dinner, but do you guys mind if I just grab a pizza?”
“Sounds good, Mom.”
“Yum,” I chimed in. But I thought about what she’d said, that she’d be gone until dinner. My heart rate sped up at the thought of spending an entire day alone with Jeff. Obviously, we’d spent many days alone together—nights, too—over the years, but things were different now. Heat spread across my face and down my neck as I pictured all the things we could do.
“Are you feeling okay? You look flushed, Aaron.”
More heat. “No, I’m fine,” I lied again, not looking at her or Jeff for fear my eyes would betray my secret desires.
“Okay, I’m off,” she said and hurried down the hall.
Jeff and I stood frozen, staring at each other until we heard the front door shut behind her. Once we heard that click, he pulled me into his arms.
“What’s making you blush?” he asked as he pressed his lips to my cheek.
I trembled. “We have the whole day to ourselves.”
He kissed down my jawline and wrapped his arm tighter around my waist. “We do. Were you thinking dirty thoughts?”
I laughed awkwardly. It all seemed so surreal. “Yes,” I admitted and moaned as he licked my neck. My hands roamed his back. I loved how the muscles bunched and flexed and smoothed out as he held me close and moved against me.
“I’ve wanted to do this for so long, baby,” Jeff confessed.
Just then, his phone pinged.
“Probably the shopping list from your mom,” I said.
He slipped the phone from his pocket and glanced at the screen. “Yeah.” He cocked his head at me. “Your call. Groceries now or…fun?”
“If we get the groceries out of the way, we can have the rest of the day.” My body didn’t agree. My cock throbbed so hard it almost hurt.
“Okay.” He twisted his lips. “I know you’re being smart, but I’d rather stay in.”
“Me, too.”
Reluctantly, we got ready, then left for the store. Jeff handed me his phone so I could go over the list, longer than I thought it would be. Lots of vegetables.
“Looks like your mom’s on a health kick.”
He laughed. “She’s trying to lose weight. I think she’s going through some midlife crisis thing. She bought a Minnie Mouse T-shirt, too.”
My mind went to my own mom. She’d always been petite and trim, never worried about gaining weight—at least not that she’d ever shared with me. I guess that was something a lot of women worried about, though. Men, too. Yet my mom had always been a bit of a health nut when it came to food, so I’d grown up eating a variety of vegetables with my meals.
My gut clenched as I thought of her and I gripped the edge of the seat. I closed my eyes, my body tensing. My breath came out in pants as I felt myself tilt a little.
“Breathe, Aaron. Deep and slow. Just breathe.”
Jeff’s words acted like a balm to my nerves. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. My stomach began to relax and I eventually opened my eyes. “Thanks.”
“Want to talk about it?”
I wasn’t sure if I could even mention my mom right now. I gave him a sidelong glance, and he shot me a smile. My body relaxed and I patted his thigh. “Thanks again for…well, everything.”
He placed his hand on top of mine, tangling our fingers together. “What are boyfriends for?”
My eyebrows shot up. “Boyfriends?”
He gave me a quick glance as he pulled into the parking lot. “Aren’t we?”
I said nothing as I let the word “boyfriends” settle in my mind.
He found an open spot and parked the truck. “I’m probably going too fast. I’m sorry. Can we forget I said that?”
But I didn’t want to forget. A grin spread across my face. “No, let’s not forget. I like it. A lot.” I looked into those beautiful blue eyes and shivered. “Say it again.”
“Boyfriend.”
“Yeah, I really like the sound of that.”
“You’re mine.” He clasped the back of my neck and pulled me to him. He crushed his lips against mine in a kiss that made my blood boil. I enjoyed the pleasure rippling through me as our tongues once again danced and dueled.
I moaned from deep in my throat and tangling my fingers in his silky locks.
He pulled back. “Fuck! I just want to kiss you for hours!”
I licked my lower lip. I loved that I could still taste him there. “Then we need to get this shopping done so we can get home.”
“You’re right. I just want to touch you and kiss you so bad. Sometimes I ache with it.” His cheeks pinked adorably.
“Do you ever think about…about being inside me?” My words slipped out before I could help myself.
“All the time, Aaron. Is that something you want?”
I nodded, but couldn’t make eye contact. What I had shared was so intimate, I felt incredibly vulnerable. “I know it can hurt, but I want to feel you deep inside me.”
“I’ve read up on how to prepare a man. And watched videos. There are things we can do to help.” Jeff squeezed my hand. “If that’s really what you want.”
I finally met his gaze, blown away by the look he gave me. Desire and heat, along with tenderness, caring, and vulnerability. This was hard for him to discuss, too. “I do want it. But not right away. I mean, you know I’ve never been with anyone. I don’t want to rush things.”
“I’d never rush you. And you know I’ve never been with anyone either.” He squeezed my hand again. “We can learn together.”
Learn together. I liked that.
* * * *
Grocery shopping took much longer than we planned, mostly since we had no idea where things were located. When we had finally found everything and I pushed the cart into the only open check-out line, I heard someone call my name. I glanced around and waved to Russell Adams.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hi, Russell. How’s it going?” Jeff asked.
“Good. My mom asked me to run up here.”
I laughed. “Yeah, Jeff’s mom gave us a list, too.”
“I wanted to say thanks for the other day,” Jeff said. “You defending us? That was huge.”
“No thanks needed. I don’t understand why some people are so idiotic about this. Who the hell cares who somebody loves? It’s your own business. And Deidre thinks you guys are ‘adorable together’,” he said, using his fingers to make air quotes.
My gaze shot to Jeff. Nobody knew we were together.
“Oh, shit. I wasn’t supposed to say anything,” Russell exclaimed. “Deidre’s going to kill me. See, she has it in her head you guys are more than friends.”
Jeff looked at me, his eyebrows raised. I nodded, letting him know I understood. He grinned at Russell. “Well, you can tell your girlfriend she’s right.”
Russell’s eyes darted between us. “You guys really are dating? That’s great!”
“We think so,” Jeff agreed.
We talked a few more minutes while we waited for our turn in line, then Russell took off to finish his own shopping.
“That felt good,” Jeff said, placing items on the conveyer belt.
“What?” I asked as I handed him grapes from our cart.
“Telling him we’re dating. To admit we’re a couple. Didn’t it feel good to you?”
“Oh, definitely. Sorry, I was busy trying to figure out why Deidre thought we were together already.”
Jeff cocked his head, his eyes twinkling. “Probably because I was always staring at you.”
“You were not.”
“Trust me. I was. Especially this year. I tried not to, because I was afraid you would see me and realize how much I cared about you, but it didn’t matter. The pull to see you was more than I could handle.”
“I was doing the same thing,” I told him, smiling. “When I realized what I felt wasn’t just friendship, I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
He chuckled. “We’re kind of stupid. We spent so much time hiding how we felt, we could have already been together.”
“That doesn’t matter. We’re together now, just like we were meant to be.” I knew that sounded a little cheesy, but I didn’t care.
* * * *
By the time we got home and put away the groceries, we were starving. I offered to make us ham and cheese sandwiches while he searched for a good movie on Netflix. Personally I didn’t care what we watched—I was hoping for an eventual make-out session on the couch. I grabbed a bag of chips and balanced the two sandwich-laden paper plates in one hand while I made my way into the living room.
He took the plates from me, setting them on the coffee table. I tossed the chips there before getting cans of sodas from the fridge.
“Root beer,” Jeff called.
“I know!”
I grabbed his drink and my Dew before I collapsed on the couch next to him.
He’d queued up the newest Star Trek movie and I grinned. “How many times have we seen this one?”
He laughed. “It’s a classic already, which means you can watch it as many times as you want.”
I loved the movie, so I certainly wasn’t going to argue. As the opening credits started, we ate our sandwiches and shared the chips until the bag was empty and our stomachs were full.
Soon afterward, Jeff draped his arm around my shoulders. It felt surreal to be watching a movie with him as my boyfriend, not just my best friend.
“This is nice,” I admitted as a warm feeling spread through me. I rested my hand on his thigh and traced figure eights onto the denim. I swore I felt him tremble, and I looked down to find a bulge in his jeans. I gasped.
He chuckled. “See what you do to me? All the time, Aaron. All the time.”
I got hard, too. So hard I throbbed against my zipper and it became uncomfortable. “Do you want to lay down and watch the movie?”
“Hell, yes.” He got up and pulled the drapes, probably trying to set a mood. Then he grabbed a throw pillow.
I stretched out on the sofa, my back against the cushions. Jeff sprawled out next to me, then pulled me on top of him, our bodies pressed chest to chest, thigh to thigh, and groin to groin. I braced my arms on either side of his shoulders and licked his soft lips. He moaned. I tugged at his lower lip with my teeth. Another moan from Jeff.
I placed hot kisses from the edge of his lip to his jaw, and he arched his hips into mine. “You like this?” I whispered, my breath blowing across his kiss-dampened skin.
“I like everything you do. I want…can I…touch you?”
“Anywhere.”
“You’re so fucking sexy.”
He took control, somehow switching our positions and landing on top of me. His lips crushed mine and he swept his tongue into my mouth. Our kiss grew more heated as my hands roamed his backside and I cupped his ass. I squeezed the firm globes. I didn’t think I would ever get used to touching him.
He pulled back from the kiss and rested his forehead on my shoulder. “God, yes. I love your hands on me.”
I squeezed again, then slid my hands under his waistband and into his boxers until my fingers touched soft, silky skin over hard muscle. Nothing had ever felt as right as touching Jeff, and I wanted more. I massaged his ass for a moment before pulling out my hands. “Take your pants off.”
He leapt up in a flash and stripped so quickly I had to bite back a chuckle. Wearing just his boxers and shirt, he started to lie down again, but paused. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”
I smiled at him. “Then do something about it.”
He straddled my legs and snapped open my jeans, then unzipped them. My heart rate sped up as I realized he could see the bulge of my cock and I wondered if he would touch me.
Jeff stood, pulled off his shirt, tossing it aside before he started removing my jeans. Soon, they joined his on the floor. I took off my shirt. I wanted to feel him against me and I reached up to touch his belly. I loved how the dark hair trailed from his belly button and into his boxers. I wanted to follow that trail. Lick it. But for now, I just touched with a finger, easing my way down to the waistband.
He inhaled sharply and his abs trembled, but he didn’t stop me. I swung my feet onto the floor so he stood between my legs. I gazed up at him as he ran his fingers through my hair.
“Looking up at me like that,” he said, his voice breathy, “you look so beautiful.”
I blushed. I’d never been called beautiful before, but it made me feel empowered. I slid down his boxers, revealing a short, wiry pubic bush. I traced my fingers across the swell of skin just above that hair, and Jeff moaned.
I took a slow, deep breath and pulled the boxers the rest of the way down. His cock slapped against his stomach, and I stared at it as he kicked aside the boxers.
I wasn’t sure what I expected, but his cock was gorgeous. The mushroom head was almost purple and a glistening bead of precum pearled at the slit. A thick vein ran from the base to the head, but the rest of the shaft appeared smooth. It looked longer than mine, but probably about the same width. Large balls hung between his legs, lightly covered with wispy dark hair, and I cupped them in my palm.
“Oh, God, Aaron,” Jeff moaned.
On the TV screen, the movie played on, but I no longer cared as I rolled his balls and marveled at their heaviness. Leaning in, my heart jumped as my fantasy of burying my face in his bush came closer to fruition. I stopped short and looked up, seeing the pupils blown in his wide eyes and his face and chest flushed.
“Touch me, baby. Please?” he urged.
Baby. I trembled. “Call me that again.”
He caressed my cheeks. “Baby? You are my baby, aren’t you?”
I couldn’t speak as the realization of just how much I liked being called his baby washed over me. It was all so new. So exciting. I nodded as my gaze traveled back to his dick. I swiped my finger at the creamy bead pooling at his slit. He trembled, groaning.
I looked up to make sure he was watching, then slid my finger into my mouth, letting the liquid sit on my tongue. It tasted different. Not unpleasant. Almost bitter, but not quite. Was “almondy” a word?
“Fuck, baby. That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.” His breathing grew erratic.
I slowly pulled my finger from my mouth, and shivered when he groaned again. I wrapped my fingers around his shaft, sliding up and down. I’d never touched another man’s cock, and it surprised me that it felt so similar to mine, yet so different. I wanted to taste him again, and when another creamy bead bubbled up, I darted out my tongue and lapped it up.
“Fuck!” Jeff cried. “Aaron!”
I savored the flavor. “You taste good.”
When he groaned and shuddered, I leaned in and finally nuzzled the wiry bush at the base of his cock. A strong musky scent filled my nose, mixed with his body wash and something hard to describe. Something that was just Jeff. I took another deep sniff.
“And you smell so incredible.” I tongued the skin showing through that bush. Encouraged by the resulting moan, I licked at the junction where his leg met his hip. He shuddered more, and I wrapped my arms around his waist and licked the other side.
“God. I’m going to lose it,” he told me.
I smiled and pulled back. I wanted to take him in my mouth, but something stopped me. But I still licked his crown when more creamy liquid beaded at the slit.
Suddenly, he pulled away and sat next to me, pulling me onto his lap so I straddled him.
He kissed me, his tongue quickly claiming mine. I leaned into him, surrendering to the kiss. I thrust my cock against his belly, only the thin fabric of my boxers separating us.
He growled softly, pushing back. “Stop.”
“Why?”
“I’m about to lose control just having you on my lap. I’ve wanted you for so long. God, I want to…”
“Come?” I whispered.
He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. I licked at it. “Then come, Jeff.” I pulled back and stared directly into his eyes. “Come on me.”
“Oh, fuck.”
I thrust against him again and he slid me back to pull his cock free. He grasped his shaft and began to stroke. Up. Down. Up. Down. Mesmerized, I watched, sliding my finger across his slit.
“Aaron!” Jeff cried.
“Please come on me. Aim toward my chest.”
Watching him jack off made me so hot, I felt ready to come without even touching myself. But I held off. This was about Jeff. I wanted to see him reach that point. Even though we’d been best friends for years, this was all new. I loved watching him cut loose. I shivered as his body tensed.
“Fuck, Aaron. I could taste myself on your tongue.”
I smiled. “I told you it tasted good.”
“Do you like…like watching me?” he asked, his hand faltering for a second.
“Are you kidding? It’s so hot, Jeff. I can’t wait to feel you come on me.”
My words seemed to get him going more and he jacked harder and faster. “I’m going to come, Aaron!”
The first jet of cream exploded out, splattering my chest. Just as I felt the wet heat, another hit me, then another. Soon, his release painted my torso, and I moaned.
When he came back down to Earth, he gave me a weak smile. “That was incredible. And seeing you covered in my…is…is just so hot. I can’t believe you asked me to do that.”
I shrugged. “I want to be yours, Jeff. It’s like…like…” I suddenly felt embarrassed.
“Like what?”
“Promise not to laugh, but it’s like you’ve marked me. Made me yours. Claimed me.”
“I love that. Love that you want to be mine.” He took a deep breath. “I want to belong to you, too.”
I pressed my lips against his for a moment, then climbed off his lap. “I’m going to get cleaned up.”
“What about you?”
“Not right now. It might seem weird, but I just wanted this time to be about you.”
He scrunched up his face. “Are you sure?”
“We have tonight,” I reminded him, and he smiled.
As I walked upstairs, I hoped we’d have many, many nights ahead of us.
* * * *
By the time his mom pulled into the driveway, we’d started our second movie and were cuddling—well, making out and cuddling. But as soon as we heard the door, we put ourselves at opposite ends of the couch.
“Hey, boys! Pizza’s here,” she called. “Come ‘n’ get it.”
We headed into kitchen, which already smelled like pepperoni, tomato sauce, and green peppers. She opened the box on the counter and I saw she’d gone for the supreme deluxe.
Jeff and I grabbed plates and made our way to the table. Weird, but normally we would’ve sat next to each other and not thought a thing about it, but now we automatically put the table between us, directly facing each other. If his mom noticed, she didn’t say anything.
She grabbed milk and glasses, then passed them around after she poured.
“Honey, can you get some napkins?”
Jeff hopped up and took some from the counter. “Anyone want red peppers?”
“I do,” I told him.
He snatched the plastic container and handed it over.
“Thanks for going to the store today,” Judy said. “Were you able to find everything?”
Jeff had his mouth full, so I answered. “Had a little trouble finding the coffee pods you wanted, but finally did. Why Keurig?”
“I ordered a Keurig from Amazon yesterday. This old thing is acting up.” She gestured to the current coffee machine, looking a little worse for wear. “Do you drink coffee, Aaron?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Not too often. I get my caffeine from Mountain Dew.”
She chuckled. “Well, that’s a bad habit, too. But I suppose you’ll be living on caffeine when you’re away at college.” She set a slice of pizza on her plate. “Oh, that reminds me! We’ve got to finish your application tonight, okay?”
Nodding, I took a bite, savoring the flavors on my tongue. Nothing beat a really good pizza.
“I hope we can be roommates,” Jeff mentioned before finishing his milk.
I swallowed. “Me, too.”
“So what else did you guys do today?”
My face heated. “Watched movies.”
His mom chewed her pizza, glanced between us, then folded her arms and braced her elbows on the table. “Are you two dating?”
Shit!
My heartbeat thundered in my ears and heat spread down my neck. Jeff went pale and looked ridiculously guilty. How did mothers always figure things out? Even mine had known before she passed.
“Jeff?” Her tone brooked no argument.
His shoulders sagged. “Yes.”
She sighed. “I can’t say I didn’t see this coming.” She rubbed her brow and gave us a smile. “I’ve watched you two dance around each other for years.”
My jaw about hit the floor.
“First of all, you’re both eighteen and about to graduate. I like you, Aaron, and I think you’re good for each other. So don’t take this the wrong way…”
My heart sank. Was she going to insist I stay with my grandparents?
“Mom—” Jeff began.
“Let me finish. I’m fine with you dating. More than fine, actually. I’ve thought for years this might happen. But I don’t think you should be roommates in college. That’s an awful lot of pressure on the two of you when you’re both so young.”
Relief flooded through me and I gave Jeff a half-smile. He looked relieved, too, and smiled back.
“We’ll talk about it,” Jeff promised while I nodded my agreement.
She could be right, but I didn’t want to think about that now. I was just so glad she was letting me stay. She and Jeff were my family now. They were what kept me grounded throughout the whole disaster that had become my life.
“Well, school’s tomorrow, so don’t stay up too late, boys. I’m heading to bed early to read and finally get a good night’s sleep. Clean up the kitchen for me, okay?” She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “I expect you both to stay in your own rooms at night. You may be eighteen, but you’re living under my roof. Understand?”
We both nodded.
Jeff grabbed another slice of pizza, then rounded the table, taking a seat next to me. “Want another piece?”
“I’m stuffed.”
“Can’t believe she figured us out!”
“I know. But then again, my mom knew, too.” I remembered that last night we’d spoken in the hospital. “Did I ever tell you what she said about you?”
He shook his head.
“She told me you were a good man.”
His eyebrows raised. “She did?”
“And she was right. You’ve been here for me through everything.” I twined my fingers with his. “You are a good man, Jeff.”
He blushed. He was so damn cute, I kissed his cheek.
“I’m glad we figured things out.”
* * * *
Later, after we’d cleaned the kitchen and finished the movie we’d started before dinner, I headed upstairs to take a shower while Jeff did homework.
In the bathroom, I stripped and looked at myself in the mirror. I gripped my dick. Would Jeff find me as sexy as I thought he was? I wasn’t as long as him. I wouldn’t call myself small, but he was at least an inch longer. My balls were less hairy, too. Did he like a lot of hair?
I turned on the shower and waited for the water to warm while I thought about this afternoon. I had wanted to see Jeff come, and God, it was unbelievably sexy, but I’d also felt shy about letting him see me. I mean, this was Jeff, my best friend for the last five years. It was all so crazy. My life was crazy. Yet, things were going relatively well now, although I had a lot left to decide. The house, the possessions, college. Not to mention prom, then graduation.
I climbed into the shower and closed the blue-and-white-speckled curtain, letting the water run over my shoulders.
Things were going to be different. But had I been happy with the way my life had been going before? I had always been scared of my father. Scared he would hurt my mom or my sister. If I were honest, I had been scared he’d hurt me, too. If he’d found out I was gay before he went to jail, he might have killed me. My stomach roiled at the thought. He’d made so many nasty comments to me over the last couple of years. While I shouldn’t have let them bother me, I always did. It hurt more than I wanted to admit
To be fair, I did have a few good memories from when I was a kid. Remembering how he used to pretend to be the “tickle monster” and chase my sister and me around the house until he caught us brought a tiny smile to my face. Maybe there was a time he’d actually loved me.
Suddenly, guilt stabbed at me, and I couldn’t believe I was thinking good thoughts about the man who killed my mom. A sob tore from my throat and I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened and I gasped for air, but my lungs wouldn’t work.
My knees gave out. I slumped to the shower floor and braced my hand on the wall. My world began to gray, and I hit the wall with my fist before I gave in to the swirling darkness.
* * * *
“Aaron! Aaron, wake up!”
I was dripping wet, the air cold on my skin. I shivered and tried to open my eyes, but they seemed heavy.
“Aaron!”
I heard Jeff through the fog and concentrated. It took everything in me to force my eyes open. My vision was blurred, but I turned toward the sound of Jeff’s voice.
“Oh, my God! Thank God!”
Why am I wet?
Suddenly, I was being lifted and wrapped in something. It felt like a towel, but much bigger. A blanket made of terry cloth maybe? I closed my eyes as we walked across the hall into Jeff’s room. I opened my eyes again, and this time it didn’t require as much effort. Things seemed clearer and I looked up at Jeff. I was on his bed and he was drying my hair. I grabbed his wrist.
“What happened?”
“I heard a thump and thought maybe you needed shampoo or something, so I came to the door. When you didn’t answer me, I found you on the shower floor.”
“Panic.”
“You had a panic attack?”
I nodded. But I’d never passed out from one. Was this normal?
“I’m getting my mom.”
“No,” I begged. “Please. She’s probably already asleep anyway.”
He looked torn me. “You can’t keep having these and not get help.”
I knew he was right, but for now I just wanted to go to bed. I felt drained.
He dried me with what turned out to be a large beach towel, then tossed it to the floor. I didn’t care that I didn’t have on boxers, I just crawled under the blankets and curled up on my side.
The last thing I remembered was Jeff placing a kiss on my cheek before sleep came to me.
* * * *
He nipped at my chin and I whispered his name. “Jeff. I need you.”
Jeff groaned into my mouth as his tongue took possession. I moaned and arched against him.
His hands slid down my body and cupped my ass, and I ground against him. His lips moved from my mouth to my neck and I—”
“Aaron?”
“Mmm,” I moaned. “More. I need more. Make me yours in every way, Jeff.”
“Aaron?”
I reached for him but he was gone. I glanced around and couldn’t find him.
“Aaron!”
I stretched out, taking my hard cock in my hand.
“Aaron, wake up!”
My eyelids fluttered and I felt irritation at whoever was shaking me. When I opened my eyes, the haziness started to clear.
“Aaron. It’s me. Jeff. You were dreaming.”
When I finally came around and realized I was stroking myself in front of him, heat flooded my face. Fuck!
“Hey, it’s okay. You’ve been asleep for a few hours.” He smiled at me, and I melted inside. “It sounded like a really good dream. I didn’t want to wake you, but you were getting loud and I was afraid my mom would hear.”
Again.
“I’m so embarrassed. I don’t talk in my sleep anymore. Why does this keep happening now?”
He looked surprised. “You’ve talked in your sleep as long as I’ve known you.”
“What?”
“I mean, not every night, but often enough that I figured it’s common. Most of the time, I can’t tell what you’re saying. Although one time I was pretty sure you thought you were piloting the Enterprise.”
I grinned. That sounded like a dream I’d have. Relaxing, I leaned onto my pillow.
“So, you want me to make you mine? In every way?” he teased, but his eyes flashed, obviously turned on.
“Yes. But not tonight.” I rolled onto my side. “Your mom could bust us.”
Jeff chuckled and pulled the cover around my shoulders. “That’s fine. But soon.” His hand massaged my hip. I remembered I didn’t have on boxers and I liked the way his hand felt on my skin.
“Take off your boxers,” I whispered, feeling bold.
I didn’t need to ask him twice. He wiggled out of them so fast, I almost laughed. My amusement died the moment he slid up behind me and pressed his hard dick against my ass. Just along my crease. I wiggled my buttocks, almost squeezing him between my cheeks.
“Don’t tease me,” he warned, but I knew he wasn’t mad.
I wiggled again. “What?” I asked, feigning innocence.
He wrapped his hand around my hard dick and began stroking. It felt amazing and a moan escaped my lips.
“You like that, baby?” His hot breath swept across my ear.
I trembled. “God, yes.”
“Do you like when I call you baby?”
“Yes!” I cried as his hand brushed the top of my dick. “Fuck, that feels good.”
“What else do you like?”
I tried to concentrate, but all I could do was feel. Feel his hand on my cock. Feel his breath on my skin. Feel his chest pressed against my back. What did I like? “Anything you do.”
He suckled my neck and as he stroked faster. “I want you to come, baby.”
That did it for me, and my balls tightened as electricity lit me up. In seconds, I shot hard all over the sheets and his hand. I let the pleasure roll over me in waves. Colors lit up the back of my eyelids and I cried out his name over and over, as quietly as I could, until I begin to fall from the sky and come together again.
“That was fucking amazing,” I told him.
He pulled back and grabbed the towel from the floor. Once he cleaned his hand, he wiped me off, then the sheets.
“Sorry.”
“For what? Being sexy? Being so hot you made me come?”
“Seriously?”
He looked a little embarrassed. “It was so hot when you were begging me in your dream. Then when you came it was…just hot. I couldn’t help it.”
I kissed his cheek. “It all feels like a dream somehow.”
He pulled me close. “Yeah, but it’s not.” He grinned. “I know. I just can’t believe we’re finally together. I wanted to tell you for so long.”
“I think it was good that we waited until now. It feels right. And now I can’t wait to see you dressed in a tux at prom.”
“What color do you want to wear for the cummerbund? Or would you rather wear vests?”
Since I hadn’t really thought about it and I could tell he had, I wanted him to make the decision. It seemed more important to him. “What do you think?”
“A cummerbund.”
“I’m good with that. What color?”
“I was thinking of a dark purple.”
“Sounds great. Do you want me to wear a matching cummerbund or a purple vest?”
Jeff thought about it for a while. He was really into this. “Would you be okay wearing a vest?”
“That sounds fine.”
“Great! Let’s make sure we get the tuxedos rented this week. And we’ll need to buy tickets at school, too.”
Yawning, I nodded and curled into his arms. Sleep was winning the battle and I gave in. It was easy to sleep when Jeff held me. I closed my eyes even as I knew he was still awake, probably going over the tuxedo ideas in his mind.