Friends, Sexcapades, And Love Affairs – Ch. 18
By Laura S. Fox
Copyright © 2020 Laura S. Fox
All Rights Reserved
Gay Erotica
Intended for Mature Audiences Only
This story will contain graphic depictions of sexual intercourse, strong
language and it is not meant for readers who are less than 18 years of age.
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Chapter Eighteen - A
Whole Lotta Benefits
"So, would you guys like
to tell me the whole story?" Shane asked, after their first round of shots.
Mike looked like a lost
puppy, and Jared still waited for the good buzz to start. He didn't plan on helping his two friends finish the bottle, but he licked his
lips in satisfaction. "The whole story?"
"Mike, why don't you just
go for what you want?" Shane was direct, and Jared loved that about him, yet,
right now, his protective side surfaced in an instant.
"Mike is shy like that.
And such complications --"
"I'm a dumbass and a
coward." That was Mike, who took the second shot and threw his head back to
make the booze all disappear down his throat.
"Hey, you're not at all a
coward. A dumbass either," Jared replied, feeling a familiar sting at the way
his best friend saw himself. Mike had always been like this, shy and unsure.
Jared had tried to make him think otherwise, but he wasn't sure he was helping
much. Adrian tended to be rougher in his encouragement, but that approach
hadn't worked too many wonders.
"Yeah, I am." Mike looked
down and sighed so deeply that his shoulders slumped.
Jared caressed his back,
and a bit of frustration grew inside him. Why wasn't he better at this? Mike
had no reason to think badly of himself.
"Why is that?" Shane
intervened. He poured another round with confidence. Jared wondered, for a
moment, if they weren't going through that bottle too fast.
"Because I should just go
work someplace else."
It looked like that
particular logic eluded Shane because he looked at Jared, in search of an
explanation.
"That would solve
everything," Jared said. "Once Mike is no longer an employee working under Ryan
--"
"Under Ryan." Mike
snickered and hiccupped.
"Easy with the booze,"
Jared warned. "In a nutshell, no one would have everything to say against them
if they weren't boss and employee."
"So, Mike only needs to
hand in his resignation, and then that's all. He could go ahead and be with
Ryan."
"Yeah, pretty much. But
that means a lot to Mike. He worked hard to get where he is now."
"Mike, what do you
think?" Shane's attention turned to the person being the main topic of that
conversation.
Jared felt a bit annoyed.
Was Shane trying to ignore what he said? But, in a way, it was only fair. Mike
could speak for himself, and it was only because of Jared's overly protective
nature that he often found himself obliged to speak in his friend's name.
"I don't know. I'm afraid
to quit my job. What if Ryan's not the one? Then what do I do?"
"You find another job," Shane
said promptly. "What's the full half?"
Mike twiddled his thumbs.
"I guess it's that Ryan is the one and that I might not be a homeless person
for long."
"Homeless?" Shane turned
toward Jared, in search of additional explanations.
Still miffed over being
ignored earlier, Jared kept his mouth shut.
"If I quit, and I don't
land another job soon, I will be unemployed. Then, the months will pass, with
me out of a job. I won't be able to pay my bills, and my landlord will kick me
out." Mike was talking without pausing for a breather. "Then, I'll be
homeless."
Shane's eyes grew wide.
"Is he always a worrier like this?"
Jared quirked an eyebrow.
"Are you sure you want to ask me that?"
A puzzled look welcomed
his words. Jared looked away, feeling a bit guilty. After all, Shane was just
trying to help. He was the one jaded, trying to jump and notice the slightest
sign that he was taken for a fool.
"Yes, I'm always like
that," Mike replied, oblivious at the exchange between the other two people at
the table.
"You don't mind me
saying, Mike, but aren't you too ... What's that word? Self-absorbed?"
"Self-absorbed? Mike?"
Jared crossed his arms over his chest. "He's the selfless guy I know."
Shane didn't seem fazed
by Jared's display of annoyance. "Then that's the problem. He thinks that he is
the root of all problems and the only one with all the solutions."
Jared bit his lips in
thought. "Yeah, I guess that's true."
Shane nodded shortly.
Jared could swear Shane had stared a bit too long at his mouth right that
moment, but it was gone, so it could have been nothing but his imagination.
"Mike, you're not going
to be homeless." There was finality in Shane's words.
"I'm not?" Mike didn't
appear for one moment, insulted by Shane's characterization of his person.
"If you ever run out of
options, which I don't think it's possible, and if you're half the brainiac Jared tells me you are, you'll find a job fast.
Also, you can always stay with one of your friends. Jared here cares for you
like he's both your momma and papa. Do you see him letting you live on the
streets?"
Jared was speechless, and
so was Mike.
Shane continued. "Let's
play your worst-case scenario. My good guess is that you never really thought
of it to the end. So, you're out of a job. For months. You don't have a place
to stay. Ryan's not the one."
Each of Shane's sentences
was met with exclamations and grumbles from Mike. Jared was still a complete
mute.
"Here's the solution.
I'll hire you. I don't know as a what, but cross my heart, you won't be out of
a job for long. Jared here, I bet he will let you sleep in his bed, you lucky
dog, until you're eighty. And Ryan? Well, I'm sure there will be someone else
if he's not the guy you think he is. Which, again, I think you might be wrong
in worrying about it."
Astonishment was too
little a word to describe what Jared felt. That little personal envy that Shane
inserted at one point hadn't been lost on him, but that wasn't all. Simply put,
things stood like that. Jared was too caught up in helping Mike never feel the
slightest discomfort, and now, in a few minutes, he had been proved that he had
been wrong all along.
He stole a glance at
Mike. His friend was staring at Shane like he had just had the epiphany of a
lifetime. "You're absolutely right." Mike's voice was a whisper, but his shock
wasn't of the unpleasant type. He grabbed his glass again and downed it in one
gulp. "I'll quit."
"Atta boy." Shane smiled,
and Jared wanted to pinch his cheek, mostly because he was envious of him and
his problem-solving skills than anything else.
Mike sunk into his seat
and giggled. "I can't believe I couldn't see it until now."
"You saw it, but --"
Jared intervened.
"Not really," Mike
replied. "I was too busy thinking of what could go wrong. Just like you, J."
Jared opened his mouth and
closed it. Mike giggled again. All right, this one was toasted. "Maybe you just
had a shot too many, Mike."
Shane placed a warm hand
on his shoulder. "Let the boy grow up a little, Jared. He might puke his guts
and curse his life tomorrow, but he'll be a man."
Jared had a mind to
argue, but the satisfied smile on Mike's lips convinced him to let it go for
now. "Sleep on it, Mike. It's not all bad advice Shane here offers." He turned
his head to stare down the imp who was getting his tail in all things that
weren't his business. A naughty smile was the answer. No wonder there. "Do you
always offer jobs to people you barely met?"
Shane shrugged. "It's a
solution. I didn't say it was the ideal one."
"That's not what I
asked."
Shane winked at him. "I
know."
Jared shook his head and
smiled. Yeah, it was a solution, and one to offer Mike a bit of peace of mind
while he could work on his own. Shane wasn't just a cowboy; he was a smart
cowboy. "You put me to shame as a best friend."
"Nah, no way."
"Yes, you do."
"This tequila is so
awesome!" Mike interrupted them. He licked his lips noisily. "How about more?"
He raised his glass and then pushed it toward Shane, who was the designated
bartender as it seemed.
Jared couldn't argue with
that. And if Mike would be sick tomorrow, he had just the remedy for a
hangover.
***
"Guys, I'm afraid we hit
the bottom." Mike hiccuped.
"The bottom?"
Mike pointed at the empty
bottle. "We drank everything."
Jared had a dazed look on
his face, and the only one who seemed to be still in full control of himself
was Shane. Mike had to admit inwardly that he was a big fan of the guy. If only
Jared could see how awesome he was. Maybe he could play matchmaker somehow.
Maybe there were books on how to be one, and Mike only had to google them.
Right now, though, there were more pressing matters, like figuring out if
getting on his feet was a good idea or not. The room was not spinning yet, but
his legs were all jelly.
"We could have more,"
Shane suggested. "It's on my tab, so don't be afraid to splurge."
"That's not fair," Mike
slurred. "You're my future boss, so I should butter you up while I still have
money." Another hiccup made both Shane and Jared snicker. "Hey, how come I'm
the only one toasted?"
"We might have a bit more
practice under our belts," Jared explained.
He was talking. Mike
wanted to laugh so hard. Jared and Shane had sunken into the love setee they were sharing, and they leaned against each other
as if that was the only thing keeping them from melting to the floor. Mike
closed one eye and framed his friends with his hands improvising a rectangle.
"You know, you two look great together."
Shane didn't say a thing,
but Jared snorted. "Shane would look great with anyone. You know, make everyone
shine by association."
"No," Mike protested,
keeping his improvised frame up with some difficulty. "There is just something
about you two, side by side like this. You fit. Shane is so dark and sexy, and
you, J, are so cute and soft."
"Soft? I'm not soft,"
Jared said and tried to straighten up. Shane's arm was around his shoulder, so
he eventually gave up on that feat.
"I mean, your face," Mike
continued to argue. "You've always been the prettiest of all of us. No wonder
Chris wanted you, even with a husband at home. He couldn't resist you."
Jared's face darkened.
Mike swallowed; of, fuck. His mind was all fogged up, but even so, he realized
what a horrible thing had just left his mouth. "Oh, shit, J, I'm sorry."
Jared waved, but he
wasn't smiling anymore. "No worries, Mike. Water under the bridge."
"No, no." Mike shook his
head with vehemence. "I shouldn't have said such an insensitive thing. It's not
your fault Chris is a cheater."
From the corner of one
eye, Mike could tell Shane was watching their exchange with growing interest.
Clearly, he was the least drunk of them all.
"And you're not just
pretty," Mike rambled on. "You're also smart and funny and a good cook. And the
best friend I could ever have."
"Mike, honey, don't
worry." Jared reached him with one hand and caught his arm. "Don't sweat it. I
mean it. I know exactly who's
fault it was that Chris thought he could take advantage of me."
"His," Mike said with
aplomb.
"Mine," Jared replied,
and his voice was hard when he said that.
Mike fell silent. "You
know what, guys? How about you put me in a taxi so that I can hit the hay? You
can stay here and have fun."
"No way I'm going to leave you to ride in the backseat of some
unknown car. I'm taking you home."
"We're taking you home."
Shane stood up and offered Jared his hand.
To Mike's relief, Jared
took it and didn't seem as upset as earlier. "You are so cool. The best. Both
of you."
Jared smiled at him, and
the hardness was gone. "You're drunk, Mike. Let's get you home."
Mike was pleased to see
that being on his feet was not that big an ordeal as he had expected. He turned
slightly and risked a look at Ryan's table, something he hadn't done for the
entire evening. His eyes met Ryan's in an instant as if that was meant to be.
He smiled, and Ryan smiled back. Even if the music blared around them, and the
light wasn't that good, Mike could clearly see that.
That was it. Shane was
right. The full half and everything. Mike put all his strength into anchoring
himself on his feet. Then, it felt like his entire body moved on its own
accord.
"Mike," Jared called for
him. "Mike."
His friend's surprise was
clear as day, but Mike couldn't stop now. He walked over to Ryan's table, his
eyes never leaving his prize. When he stopped inches from the table, Ryan's
eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Now or never. Mike steeled
himself and bore his eyes into Ryan's. The other people at the table
interrupted their conversation and turned in their seats to look at him.
All eyes were on him now.
If he backed down, he was a total coward. Mike raised one hand and cut the air
with it. "I quit."
That move almost caused
him to lose his balance, but Mike managed to turn it into an impulse for a
pivotal pirouette that put him on his way back to his friends who were looking
at him in awe.
His face was stretched
into a big grin. Jared caught him into his arms. "Mike, I thought you would
sleep on it."
Ah, Jared was worried.
Mike patted his head. "Don't worry, J. It was long overdue."
"Mike, can I have a word
with you?" That was Ryan, but Mike found it difficult to turn and look at him.
His feet were done for, and if Jared didn't hold him, Mike was sure he would be
a puddle on the floor.
"I'm sorry, Mr.
Armstrong," Jared said in an apologetic tone. "Mike is not quite himself right
now. Please, don't mind him."
"All right. Will he be
okay? Will you take care of him?"
There was genuine worry
in Ryan's voice, but Mike no longer had the strength to take the reins and
follow up on his act of courage. "It's all good now," he said, but his forehead
was on Jared's shoulder, and his friend could barely hold him.
A stronger arm wrapped
around his, and Mike moved his head to see Shane. "You're the best cowboy that
ever lived, Shane."
"We will take care of
him, Mr. Armstrong," Jared said politely. "No need to worry."
"Okay. But, please, here
is my card. If you could send me a short message to tell me that Mike got home
all right, I would be grateful."
"Of course," Jared
replied.
"We will talk on Monday,
Mike," Ryan said, and his voice was stern.
Couldn't Ryan just see it
already? Mike would have explained everything at large, but his mind was jiggly
pudding, and his feet were no better. Yeah, they would talk on Monday.
"Monday," he shouted and
raised one arm.
Jared caught him and
dragged him along. "I'll never let you drink again, Mike."
"Tequila," Mike hooted
and then made a poor impersonation of a popular cartoon character of Mexican
descent.
Jared clamped one hand
over his mouth for a second. "Now, let's get you out of here before we all get
thrown out by the personnel."
Mike kissed Jared's cheek
as soon as his mouth was free again. "I love you, J. You're awesome."
"Yeah, I know. And you
really can't hold your liquor."
If Mike had said that he
could remember how he got out of the club, into a cab, and back home in his
bed, he would have been the biggest liar in the universe.
***
"Will he be all right?"
Shane asked. "If I'd known he was such a lightweight, I wouldn't have let him
drink so much."
"He will be fine. I'll
leave all the instructions on what to do the first things he wakes up, and he
will surely call me. He didn't have that much to drink, but I think he drank
too fast." Jared shook his head. "It had happened before, which is why I am not
as worried as you might think I should be."
"I don't think anything,"
Shane said. "You're the boss here since you've known Mike for much longer than
me."
"You sure hurried to give
him advice." Jared didn't want to sound pissed, but he was a little and couldn't
hide it.
"Sorry if I trespassed.
It wasn't my intention."
Jared turned with a smile
toward Shane. "I meant it. Not all the advice you gave Mike tonight was bad."
He tucked Mike in and brushed one hand against his forehead. Mike was already
snoring and in dreamland. There wasn't anything else left for him to do here.
"Can I know which one was
not that bad?"
"Mike needs to be a
little more courageous. His natural shyness, although endearing, might just
stop him from being his best self. And also, happy, in this case. Ah, I almost
forgot. I'll send Ryan a quick text."
"The poor guy looked like
an angel from heaven struck him down." Shane chuckled. "I'm not sure he
understood the situation."
Jared laughed, too, while
he typed fast. "That's true. But it's all on Mike to explain it. And I won't
get involved since I don't want Ryan to think that Mike has bragged all over
the place about sleeping with the boss. It's just that, the three of us, we
don't have many secrets worth keeping from each other."
The midnight air had
cleared his head a little, as well as his need to care for Mike, but Jared
could feel the buzz from earlier returning, in the warmth of the room. Maybe
they all needed to head over to the bed, after all.
"The three of you," Shane
said.
Jared threw him a guilty
look. "I didn't mean to make you feel excluded. We've known each other since
forever. But I hope we'll all get to know you, too."
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Do you want to get to
know me?"
"I'm pretty sure what I
said covers that."
Jared stood up from
Mike's bed and closed the bedside lamp. Shane walked out of the room without
being told what to do. With the spare key he kept for such occasions, Jared
locked the door to Mike's apartment and followed Shane outside. It looked like
there was some conversation they needed to have.
"Shane," he asked, the
moment they were out in the street again. "Give it to me straight. Who was the
guy you said you liked tonight?"
"You guessed it."
Jared fell in line with
Shane and took the offered arm. There had been no talk of asking for a cab and
be on their way, too. A walk on quiet streets at midnight sounded like a good
idea right now. "I didn't guess anything since I asked you who it was."
"You wouldn't have asked
if you hadn't known already."
Jared sighed. Well, Shane
wasn't the type to beat around the bush, so he shouldn't be, either. "You were
talking about me."
"Yes."
Shane disentangled his
arm from Jared's hold and then hooked it over his shoulders. It could look
friendly to anyone who might have seen them walking at that hour, but Jared
knew better. Shane's body heat was coming at him in waves, and it felt so good.
There was a kind of tiredness making his legs heavy now, and it wasn't just the
booze. It wasn't all unpleasant, either.
"We are friends. We
decided that."
Shane remained silent as
they continued to walk. "Yeah. But there are all sorts of friends in the
world."
Jared shivered lightly,
and Shane pulled him close. "Beats me what you're trying to say, right now."
"Chris was that guy, the
married one." Shane didn't ask. He was just stating facts, and now Jared had no
idea what Shane wanted to know.
"Yes."
"He broke your heart or
something."
"Or something," Jared
admitted.
"So, you don't want a
boyfriend right now."
"That's pretty much what
I told you before."
"But you want a friend.
You want me as a friend."
"Yes. You're an awesome
guy. I would hate to lose you only because we met at the wrong moment."
Shane seemed lost in
thought again. "How about another drink, Jared?"
"Maybe we had enough."
"The night's still young,
and I'm your newest friend. You can't let me drink by myself."
"Are you trying to get me
drunk, Shane? That's not very nice of you."
"It's my plan."
"Oh, I really didn't
think you would admit it like that. Why do you want to get me drunk?"
"It worked the first
time," Shane said.
"Ah, but then I wasn't
drunk. I had only a few shots, and I wanted it. I won't be a hypocrite and
blame it on the booze."
"That's good, then.
Still, how about not calling it a night just yet?"
"You know what, Shane?
I'd like to spend more time with you. But not drinking. I want to see you
dance."
Shane looked pleased with
the prospect. "Then, we could just go back and dance some more."
"Nah. I'm not sure that's
my kind of club, anyway. I want us to go something where you can truly display
your talents." Jared pulled out his phone. "There must be a place where they
offer other types of entertainment. I think I found it." It wasn't the type of
place where people would waltz, but it was the next best thing.
Shane observed him. "You
say you want to see me dancing. Don't you want to dance with me?"
"I just want to watch
you."
"You're a bit mysterious.
I thought you didn't keep secrets from your friends."
"I'm sure you still have
plenty yourself. This is all about me getting to know you. You want that,
right?"
"Sure. In return, I'll
ask for something, too."
"Of course. Anything."
"Anything?"
That question mark had to
be a trap, but Jared didn't think much of it as he walked right into it.
"Anything," he confirmed again, with renewed conviction.
***
Jared watched as Shane
offered his dancing partner his hand, and together, they began twirling on the
dancefloor. Social Latin dances had been the closest thing he had found to test
Shane's talents, but that wasn't the only thing he wanted to check. It was
clear as day that Shane had dancing in his blood. Whether it was rumba or
cha-cha, so far, he had proved a redoubtable contender in the amateur dance
competition that took place that night.
With keen eyes, Jared
took in how Shane placed his hand on his partner's back. Tango was a passionate
dance, and if there was something there to see, that had to be it. Shane's
execution was flawless, and his partner, an attractive brunette in her late
twenties, seemed enraptured with him.
Jared brushed his fingers
against his lips. Shane had a body to die for. His face hovered over his
partner's as the music played. The beautiful brunette coquettishly let her
eyelids drop, and, for a moment, it seemed like Shane was about to kiss her.
But, he just kept her there and didn't move until the last note died.
"What a beautiful
performance!" The announcer clapped his hands and hurried on the stage.
The couples rushed out,
and Shane, after saying something to his partner, jogged over to the place
where Jared said. His eyes were shining, and he exuded sexiness more than
before if that was possible. "So, what did you think, Jared?"
"I clapped until I
couldn't feel my hands. If you and the beautiful lady you danced with don't win
first prize, there's no justice in the world. Now quick, hurry back because
they'll call your number."
Shane had a mysterious
smile. "I don't think I'll win. There were plenty of talented people here
tonight."
"Are you kidding me? You
were amazing."
Shane let his eyes travel
back to the dancefloor. "In your eyes, maybe I was. But, just in case I don't
win, can I have a consolation prize?"
Jared didn't quite know
what to make of that. "Sure thing you can have that. Hey, your partner is
waving at you. Go, go."
The announcer called each
couple, and then exchanged a few words with them. A meter would measure the
public's reaction for the dancers once they were presented. Jared had meant
every word; his hands were already numb.
He watched in disbelief
as Shane and his partner came in third. Right away, he hurried to meet Shane.
Seeing how much passion he put into his dance, he must have been pretty upset.
"Aw, Shane, I'm so
sorry," he started.
Shane's partner eyed him
with interest and smiled slyly. "So, this is Jared."
Jared offered his hand.
"Yes, that's me."
She shook his hand and
offered her name, but then she quickly excused herself as she needed to hurry
back to her friends.
"What a beautiful lady,"
Jared commented. "I bet she gave you her number."
Shane took him by the
shoulders and guided him back to the table. "What do you bet?"
"I don't know. I didn't
mean it like that."
Shane chuckled. They sat,
and Jared pushed a drink in front of him. "I thought you needed some
refreshment."
"That and my consolation
prize." Shane put the glass down after taking a sip. "Juice? I thought you
would ply me with stiffer stuff, now that I lost."
"I can't believe it. You
were so amazing out there," Jared said. "And if you want alcohol, we can call
the waiter."
"No, juice is fine."
Shane looked at Jared, and his eyes were warm. "You said I could ask anything."
"Yes."
"And I'm also entitled to
a consolation prize."
"Two times, yes."
"Then I want you to come
home with me tonight."
Jared swallowed, sudden
nervousness a ball in his throat. Wasn't that all that he had thought the entire
night while dancing with Shane, drinking with him, watching his hands holding
an attractive woman, and trying – and failing – to quench the jealousy rising
in him like a tide? No, he hadn't thought of anything. All night, all he had
done had been to fight off such ideas. He was Shane's friend, and nothing else.
"But we are just friends,
Shane," Jared said, with a note of regret.
Shane studied the glass
in front of him. "I told you, Jared. There are all kinds of friends in the
world."
Jared froze for a moment.
Then he shook his head. "You can't mean what I think you mean."
Shane nodded.
"You're thinking ... what?
Friends with benefits?"
"I believe that's the
term." With those words, the sexy twang was back, and the charm was turned on
to the max.
"You want a boyfriend,
Shane. I can't be that." Jared's voice was quiet.
Shane was looking
anywhere else but at him. "I don't want that. I want a friend I can feel good
with."
"Wow. I mean --" Jared
found his words with much difficulty.
"You wanted to check
something tonight, Jared. What did you find?"
Jared took a careful sip
from his glass. Was he that transparent?
"Do you know why I didn't
get first place?" Shane changed tack, without apparent reason.
"Why?" Jared could feel
his throat drying like the Sahara desert at noon.
"I lacked passion. My
dancing lacked the passion needed to impress the people here."
"I must argue with that.
Your moves were so precise, so --"
"Void of passion. Because
I wasn't dancing with the one I want," Shane said. His voice was calm and
measured, but Jared felt a bit afraid that there was a volcano underneath,
threatening to erupt.
"I don't know what to
say." It was the truth. It wasn't fair to use Shane only because Jared felt
attracted to him. It would be wrong.
Shane took his hand and
caressed it. "Come with me tonight. We could be awesome friends. With
benefits."
"But I would take
advantage of you like I did the first time," Jared objected, albeit feebly.
"That's where the part
with benefits comes in. I'd get as much of this as you. And we would be even,
don't you think?"
Jared had a feeling Shane
was, indeed, much smarter than he let on. He hesitated, his mind still on the
obligation to push Shane and such a tempting offer aside.
"We'd have fun, the way I
see it," Shane said. "You don't have to get entangled in a new relationship
until you decide you want one again."
"That could be a long
time. I don't want to keep you from finding --"
"If I'm suddenly sweet on
someone, you'll be the first to know," Shane said in a solemn voice. "Because
you're my friend. And it's you I want. It's not that complicated, right?"
Right. Jared risked one
look at Shane. "So, it's just a sex thing?" he asked in a quiet voice.
"No. We're friends. But
you don't have to do anything, like buying me chocolate on Valentine's Day and
all that."
Jared laughed. "I give
chocolate to Mike and Adrian every year on Valentine's Day."
"Then you'll have to give
me some," Shane said. "Here is what, Jared. Give me a kiss, and I'll know if
this works out. I have a feeling it will."
"Give you a kiss? Here?"
Jared looked around, a bit panicked.
Shane laughed. "I can
wait until we're out of here and alone."
Jared didn't object when
Shane took his hand and dragged him outside. Was he really going along with
this?
***
Shane didn't wait long.
There were at a fair distance from the club when he pulled Jared under an
awning. Jared didn't protest one peep when Shane pressed him against the wall
and put his lips on his. He couldn't breathe, but he didn't want to, anyway.
There were so many other better things to do than that, like letting Shane take
his mouth, over and over, making his head spin and his feet float above the
ground.
"It's not fair that
you're such a great kisser," Jared said the moment their kiss broke.
"I'm putting my money
where my mouth is. How was it, babe? Tell me you didn't like it, and I'll walk
away right now. But be honest with me."
"It's just a sex thing,"
Jared murmured under his breath.
"What, babe?" Shane's
voice was playful now, and the endearing term didn't help Jared think clearer
now.
"I would lie if I said I
didn't like it. You're good at this, Shane."
"So? What do you say? Do
you want to be friends with benefits with me?"
"I feel like I
shouldn't," Jared moaned.
"It's okay if you say
`no', but how many times did you hook up with someone, and he sucked? Not in
the fun way."
"I guess ... plenty of
time," Jared agreed.
"So I save you the grief
of having to deal with that. You already know you like it, how I do you. I
won't bother you like a jealous boyfriend, and you're free to do what you want.
Plus, I'm not married."
Oh, so Shane knew how to
play dirty. But Jared realized one thing. That was a safe bet, what Shane
offered. They didn't have to think beyond that, and they didn't have any
obligations. And it felt good. And Shane knew how to make love so well. And
maybe getting laid on the regular would help him see things clearly.
A whole lotta benefits.
Shane hovered, his lips
close to Jared's. "What do you say, babe? You're in?"
Jared closed the distance
between them. "I'm in."
***
They had never stopped
kissing on the backseat of the cab taking them home. They hadn't while climbing
up the stairs, to Shane's apartment. And not once inside. It was a performance
of sorts that they had managed to be in the bedroom, completely naked and that
without letting their lips part for more than a couple of seconds at the time.
"Do you still have that
box of condoms?" Jared asked.
"You're the one I started
it with, and you'll be the one I'll finish it with."
"Hmm, big words." Jared
caressed the coverlet with his hands. Shane's bed was so comfortable. And maybe
all the night's excitement was getting to him because his eyelids were heavy,
and his body was sinking into the mattress like it wanted to belong there.
Shane kissed him again,
and some of the fogginess cleared. Giggling, Jared began kissing back, and he
allowed Shane to take off his clothes.
For a moment, as Shane
stood at the foot of the bed, looking perfect with his strong chest and hard
rock cock, Jared wondered briefly whether he wasn't in his right mind anymore.
Maybe he wasn't, but he was also young and bound to make mistakes.
At least, this looked
like the right kind of mistake. Shane laughed and pulled him by one leg toward
the edge of the bed. "When you look at me, with those naughty eyes, you make me
lose myself a little."
Jared snickered. "Really?
Like this?" He cocked his head and threw Shane what he hoped to appear as a
come-hither glance.
Shane bit his lips and
closed his eyes. "You're killing me, babe."
Was this bedroom talk for
friends with benefits? Jared had no idea since he had never had one of those.
But Shane maybe knew, and Jared wondered if he was one of a long string of such
friends.
Shane didn't allow him to
dwell on such thoughts. Their bodies glued and fused as Shane struggled to
prepare Jared. There was not much need for that. Tonight, he felt relaxed and
happy, unlike in a while.
Jared dragged his nails
over Shane's naked back. "How do you know to fuck so well? Just how many
friends with benefits have you ever had?"
Shane laughed but didn't
change his rhythm. Jared dug his heels into the small of his partner's back. It
looked like Shane didn't mind as he continued his ample swing of the hips that
made Jared shiver with soaring pleasure.
"You're my first."
"You liar." Jared bit
Shane's chest since he couldn't reach anywhere else.
"Cross my heart." Shane
hissed but didn't say anything.
"If I stumble over other
friends with benefits around here, I'll kick your ass."
"Do that. You won't find
anyone."
Shane buried one hand in
Jared's hair and pulled his head back to kiss him again. With any other guy,
Jared would have thought that a Neanderthal move. But, with Shane, everything
was different, even sex, for the sake of it.
It had to be in the way
he kissed, not artful, but firm, like he put in it everything he had. Their
mouths melded, while Shane hammered his ass with passionate abandonment. Jared
couldn't remember feeling so much pleasure and so free at the same time.
Shane had to be the best
friend with benefits in the world. He could be a little liar, saying that Jared
was the first. Jared could allow it. It wasn't that big a deal. At the moment,
Shane was his friend with benefits, and, as funny as that sounded, Jared
believed every bit of it.
The rhythm died down
after their first crush. Jared couldn't help laughing. There had to be a mess
between them, as Jared had let go to quite a bit of pent up pressure. Shane
kissed him gently as they came by to their senses.
"Would you mind seconds?"
"Are you kidding me? Of
course, I won't. But I'll sleep here in the morning. I still remember what a
wreck I was the first time."
Shane showered his face
with kisses. "You can spend all day here if you want."
"I wouldn't want to
overstay my welcome."
"We could hang out. Do
you have any plans with Mike and Adrian? We could hang out with them, too."
Just like friends, of
course. Jared had no choice. "Sure. Let's do that."
Shane helped him turn
gently on his belly. "I love watching your ass swallowing my cock. It's the
best view in the world."
Jared laughed. "You're a
little kinky, Shane. But I like it. Just give it to me like you really mean
it."
"You don't have to tell
me twice."
Jared giggled and
shivered when Shane bit his shoulder. Having a friend like that was completely
new, but it felt so damned good.
"Do your neighbors ever
wonder what could be happening in your apartment?" he whispered breathily, as
Shane moved again, making his eyes roll in his head.
"Why?"
"Because I'm sure we're
making a lot of noise."
"I'll get a new bed. But
don't hold down your sweet voice. I want to hear I'm making you feel good."
"Even if your neighbors
will give us the evil eye tomorrow?"
"It's a risk I'm willing
to take." Shane snuck one arm under Jared's chest to hold him. "Now, hold on
tight, babe. Here comes the thrill ride."
A thrill ride? Shane was
an entire amusement park. Jared closed his eyes and let his body lead, for
once.
***
Mike woke up with a huge
throbbing in his head. Ah, what the hell had happened? Had someone clubbed him
almost to death? He groaned as he fought to open his eyes. With some
difficulty, he managed to clear his vision and throw a look around. It looked
like he was home, in his bed, which was a big relief.
He needed the bathroom.
His mouth was a cat cemetery, and his feet listened to him like they were made
of wood, not flesh and blood.
The water splashed on his
face had a bit of the desired effect. Mike mumbled to himself while brushing
his teeth, rinsing, then brushing again. So, last night must have been pretty
wild. He had gone out with Jared and Shane, and they had had ... Right. An
entire bottle of tequila.
That sure as hell didn't
seem like such a swell idea right now. At the moment, it had looked like fun.
Yeah, Mike had had fun with the boys, and since he wasn't a lot of fun,
usually, that was a victory of sorts. He hadn't made a fool of himself in front
of Shane, who was new to the group, and he hadn't been a spoilsport.
Or had he? Mike stopped,
his toothbrush in mid-air. Suddenly, a sensation of dread began to grow inside
him. He had gotten pretty wasted last night since he couldn't drink so much
without making a mess of himself.
Ryan. The memory of
seeing his boss, aka love interest, at the club, had been a pretty big
surprise. He had gotten the chance to point Ryan to Jared, and his friend had
told him that Ryan was an absolute stunner. Of course, he had done so without
drawing Ryan's attention. After their awkward episode, Mike had wanted nothing
but to remain invisible to Ryan the rest of the night.
Mike shrugged. He was
pining over his boss. What was new? The boys had been fun. Shane had given him
some good advice on how to stop being a total coward. Like how he could bite
the bullet and quit.
That meant that he needed
to work on his resignation letter, which Ryan wouldn't find too bothersome.
Then, he would explain everything ...
Oh, no. Mike dropped the
toothbrush into the sink and hurried back to the bedroom. He found on the
nightstand some instructions from Jared about what to do if he felt hangover.
That was the least of his worries right now.
The chances were he was
unemployed. There was one way to find out if that was true. With trembling
hands, he grabbed his phone.
***
Jared jolted when his
phone began to ring. For a couple of seconds, he stared around, wondering where
he was. The reality of the previous night came crashing down on him while the
phone continued to ring.
Someone handed him the
phone. "I think it's Mike calling."
Jared closed his eyes and
then grabbed the phone. "Yeah, Mike, how are you feeling? Resignation? Oh, yes,
you did say that. Calm down. I'll come over."
He didn't dare to look at
Shane after he ended the conversation with Mike. But he needed to face the
music eventually. Shane placed a concerned hand on his chest. "Is everything
all right?"
"Yeah. Yeah. I mean, Mike
just realized that he had handed Ryan his resignation last night. I need to go
talk to him."
"Okay? Would you like me
to come, too, or I've done enough?"
Jared smiled despite how
he felt inside. "Don't worry about that. It's only the growing pains, right?"
Shane caressed his chest.
"We can still hang out, right?"
Jared bit his lips.
"Yeah, sure. As friends."
"Friends."
He pushed himself up and
began collecting his clothes from the floor, without risking one look in
Shane's direction. "Shane, listen, can you do me a favor?" he said after he was
finally decent.
"Shoot."
"Let's not let the guys
know that we --" He swallowed his words.
"That we're friends with
benefits?"
"Yeah."
"Sure thing." Shane was
nothing but accommodating. "It will be our little secret."
Jared nodded. "Yeah."
"See you later?" Shane
climbed out of bed, and Jared moved his eyes away from the big dick swinging
around.
"Yeah. Sure. I should go.
Mike is in a lot of pain, as it seems."
Shane began getting
dressed, too. When he brushed by him, Jared wondered if Shane hadn't just made
a move as if to kiss him.
No, of course not.
Morning breath and all that. Plus, they were just friends. They didn't kiss
outside the bed, right?
TBC
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