Chapter Three

 

James

 

The week after the wedding had dragged. Sam had been busy with work all week, which was unusual. At least I’d see him tonight. Unfortunately, this weekend he’d be with another blind date that I had set him up on. I wanted him to find the one, but I was always relieved that the guy wasn’t right for him. I knew it was wrong of me to feel elated about that, but I was.

Anthony had called and said he was coming over later in the day to meet with Tessa to go over his restaurant accounts. I was beaming when I told Tessa the good news. I was floored with her reply.

“Can’t Carlie meet with him?”

“No can do. She already has an appointment booked with another client. Besides, I thought you were nuts about this guy.”

She snarled at me.

I put my hands on my hips. “Isn’t that why you took Samuel to the wedding? To make Anthony jealous?”

“Okay, I’ll see him.”

I smiled ear to ear.

“While we’re on the subject of Samuel, did you know he has a major crush on you?”

I blew raspberries. “I wish. He’s my best friend.” I felt myself blush. “Did you even look at that man? He’s gorgeous. Besides, he goes for powerful, sophisticated men. He’d never be interested in me in that way.”

“Yes, he is. I watched him at the wedding. Whenever you talked, he hung on every word. Even though you’re gay, when you slow danced with Olivia, and you two laughed and chatted, a big old green-eyed monster came out of him. At one point, I thought he was going to walk out on me, because you had your hand on Olivia’s hand, and you bent over and whispered in her ear. He looked hurt, and I heard him groan.”

I blew out air and gave a hand gesture of dismissal.

“Fine. You don’t have to believe me, but I think it’s time that you talk with him before you lose a good friend. If you’re still looking for Mr. Right, I think you already have him.”

She poked me in the chest. “You need to open your eyes.”

“My God, girl, I’ve had a crush on him for years. If you’re right, I must have hurt him so many times.”

“What are you talking about?”

I put my hand over my mouth and talked between my spread fingers. “I’ve been fixing him up with hot, successful guys for the past year, and they never work out. I fixed him up with someone for tomorrow night.” I cringed, thinking about how rejected Samuel must have felt.

“Oh, James.”

“You better be right, because he’s coming over tonight to hang out. I’m letting you know now that I’m leaving early today. I’m going to make him dinner and buy him his favorite wine. After dinner, I’m going to corner him in my kitchen, kiss the hell out of him, and then suck him dry.”

She put her hand up. “I don’t need the details, thank you very much.”

“Like you never sucked a man dry. Pleassse.” I bit my thumbnail. “If you’re wrong, I’ll most likely lose my best friend.”

“I know I’m right, but are you sure you shouldn’t talk with him before you jump his bones?”

“No way. He’s not the touchy-feely kind of man and hates to talk about his feelings. Action would be appreciated, so that’s what I’ll do.”

“Okay, I hope you have better luck than me.” She squeezed my arm. “Good luck, hon.”

I gave her a closed-lipped smile.

***

The remaining four hours should have flown by, but they didn’t. My stomach was churning with nerves and excitement. The possibility to be with a man like Samuel filled me with joy.

When my parents threw me out for being gay, he had come through for me. He’d convinced his mother to take me in. During the bullying and the last two years with Dale, he had been supportive. He was a trusted friend who always had my back. When he’d told Mark that I was the kindest and most considerate man he knew it had overwhelmed me with gratitude and love. It had made my heart sing.

But it wasn’t those things that were the most important. When we were together, we were both fully engaged in our conversation, and we understood each other. We didn’t always agree, but we respected each other. I loved him, but equally important, I liked him. That night I’d find out if he just thought of me as a kind and considerate friend, or whether I was something more to him.

The meal had almost finished cooking when my doorbell rang. I wiped my hands on a dish towel and opened the door for Samuel. He hadn’t dressed up, which made sense; I mean, it wasn’t like this was a date or anything. He had most likely come from the gym. He had sweatpants and a t-shirt on. His blond hair was still wet from a shower, and I thought he looked as good if not better than when he was in his stuffy lawyer suits.

“Mmm, something smells delicious. Did you make us chicken pot pie?”

“I sure did. I called your mother and got her recipe.” I grinned.

“That’s my favorite meal. I could kiss you.”

Sparks ran down my spine. “Maybe later.” I teased with a wink.

He chuckled.

“I just have to pull the pies out of the oven. You can pour the wine.” He selected a bottle from the wine rack, took the corkscrew out of the drawer and went to the table.

I put the dessert in the oven so it would be ready when we were done. I served the pies and, if I say so myself, the crust looked perfect.

I watched Sam blow on a fork-full of the pie, then savor it in his mouth. He moaned in pleasure, and I felt the sound roll through me.

“It’s amazing, just like my mother’s chicken pot pie. You are too good to me.”

“You deserve it. This is my way of thanking you for having my back with Mark and for helping Tessa for me.”

He smiled at me. God, he was gorgeous. I felt my heart racing over what was going to happen after dessert. When we finished the pie, the stove timer went off with a ding. I pulled the cookie sheet out of the oven, grabbed the spatula, and headed to the table.

“Are those your famous chocolate chip cookies?”

I bobbed my head and smiled at the joy that spread across his face. “Resistance is futile.”

He laughed. “Damn right it is. I’ll take two, so we can save some for the movie.”

“You’re the best.”

He took a bite and groaned. “You should sell these things. They’re so good. I’m helping with the dishes, and I won’t take no for an answer.”

“If you insist.” We carried the dishes to the kitchen, and I filled the sink with hot water and dish soap. I washed while Samuel dried. Each time our shoulders bumped, I felt my nerve endings tingle in anticipation of what would come next.

“So, you and Olivia looked pretty cozy out on the dance floor the other day. Is there something I should know?” He sounded hurt.

“Jealous?” I teased.

“Who, me? Why would I be jealous? It’s not like you’re—”

He hesitated to continue.

I took the opportunity to set the mood. “Siri, play ‘All of Me’ by John Legend, the hour loop.” The song was special to me. It mirrored my friendship with Sam and my hopes of it becoming our love song.

Sam drew in a deep breath. “Why—?” His voice cracked.

“Why did I choose that song?”

He nodded.

I pressed my open hand against his heart, and I slowly stepped toward him. I kept up the pressure so he would step backward until he reached the refrigerator. I felt his heart pound at my nearness. His beautiful blue eyes looked vulnerable and spoke volumes. It felt like they begged me not to break his heart, or maybe that was what I was feeling. My pulse raced faster and faster. I prayed I was right, because if I wasn’t, I could lose my best friend. The one person in my life that I trusted. The one I loved.

I cupped his cheek. “I chose this song because the entire time I danced to it, with Olivia, I wished it was you in my arms.”

His tender gaze made me wonder if he could see into my soul. And whether it was tenderness for our friendship or more. I leaned in close. The sweet aroma of chocolate invaded my senses, making me hungry to taste it from his lips. I wrapped my hands around the back of his neck and gave him one sweet peck to see if he’d back out before I kissed him like a wild man. He didn’t pull away. For the first time in my life, I felt butterflies in my stomach.

He grasped my butt with both hands and pressed our bodies together. A soft gasp of surprise and excitement escaped me. He took over and gave me slow, sensual kisses. Each one sent sparks of electricity through my veins.

I took back control and bombarded him with hungry passion.

His kisses turned possessive, and his blistering appetite set fire to my soul. We panted together to our love song.

He moaned into my mouth, and I rubbed his growing shaft. I poured everything I had into the kisses. I wanted him to feel my love. This moment had been a long time coming, and it was everything I had hoped for. I had to have more of him.

I opened my eyes, dropped to my knees and took his sweats and briefs to the floor with me. His erection bounced, and I whined in need to taste him.

“James,” he growled.

It made me feel like I was the only man that mattered to him.

I caressed his thighs.

He groaned and reached down and pulled my t-shirt over my head.

I ran my tongue up both sides of his length. His clean soapy scent and taste had me pressing my butt cheeks together. I wanted him. Needed him. But there would be time for that later. Slowly, I took him into my mouth in sensual strokes up and down his member. Gradually I built up speed and pressure. I looked up and our eyes locked in a way that was incredibly erotic. I reached around and stimulated his anus with my fingers, letting him know what was yet to come. He put his head back and hissed.

I slowed my thrusts and softened the pressure of my tongue and breathed out to relax my muscles, allowing me to deep throat.

His body trembled. I brushed my other hand over his stomach and felt it tighten. He was close to coming.

I ran my hand down his thigh and reached for my throbbing cock. I continued to stroke his erection with my mouth and tongue while I worked myself into frenzied sensations of pleasure.

He reached down and took hold of both sides of my head and controlled my movements. It drove me crazy how into us he was.

Tingles grew in my groin and spread to my spine. With each stroke, the sensitivity increased, and I twitched.

“Don’t stop.” He demanded.

I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. I needed him to come first, but I was close now too. His excitement and the quivers of his hard, powerful body had me on edge. I looked up and his eyes rolled back, his eyelids shutting as blissful bursts of joy exploded into my throat. I released the pressure on his anus and he released me.

When he was spent, his body slid to the floor. He clamped his fist around mine. In no time, an electric buzz spread over me in waves. Muscle contractions rolled through my stomach, back, and chest. Spasms vibrated within my cock as I orgasmed into ecstasy. It was mind blowing.

Sam lay his head on my shoulder and wrapped his arms around me. “When I close my eyes at night, I think of you. I don’t want you fixing me up with any more lame dates. I only want to love you for the rest of my life.”

I choked up. It felt like a dream. All this time, he’d wanted me as much as I’d wanted him. He was my best friend and soul mate.

He sat up straight and gazed into my watery eyes. “Don’t tell me the man that never stops talking has nothing to say in a moment like this?”

I swallowed hard, gave him a tender kiss and whispered, “I love you.”

 

The End