Friends, Sexcapades, And Love Affairs – Ch. 23
By Laura S. Fox
Copyright © 2021 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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on the front page, as they help us all enjoy so many great stories, while
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Chapter Twenty-Three - A
Little Help
Adrian hadn't slept a
wink all night long, tormented by questions and what-if scenarios. He couldn't,
wouldn't allow himself regrets, but that was easier said than done. There was
one particular thing that came back to haunt him over and over. Edward had said
that he had decided on Sunday to call it quits, and yet, the next day, he had
hurried to meet Adrian, go out to dinner with him, and later to bed.
That didn't sound like
someone who had made up his mind. It was irksome, and Adrian tossed and turned
until he needed to get out of bed. He could always call Edward and ask for
explanations, but he had a feeling his calls would be rejected.
Even if they hadn't, that
still didn't mean that Edward would have the patience and inclination to listen
to him. No, things like that needed to be clarified face to face. With that
decision in mind, Adrian dressed for work. One last cursory look at himself in
the mirror told him that anyone could read on his face what a shitty night he
had had.
He pondered for a while.
He grabbed his phone, and for long moments, his fingers hovered over the
screen. Once in his life, he would have to swallow his pride. After all, all he
needed was clarity, and that seemed to lack the most in his corner of the
universe at the moment. With the risk of having Adrian Rossi's image completely
compromised, he had to do it.
***
Jared danced around the
kitchen, humming a tune he must have heard during the commercial break on the
radio, and grabbing the ingredients he needed for making breakfast. Shane had
come home late last night, so he hadn't even had the time to wonder why they
needed to have another sleepover so soon after the other from Sunday night.
Once Shane had kissed him and pushed him toward the bed, any such questions had
drifted from his mind.
Even right now, Jared was
in no mood to ask himself those pesky questions. Having such a close friend, a
friend he had sex with, was not at all complicated. Actually, his life seemed
to have become incredibly easier lately, or better said, from the moment he had
met Shane. Everything was straightforward with the guy.
Now, there was a bit of a
problem because Jared didn't know how Shane took his coffee. He stopped his
dance and went directly to the bedroom, where he found Shane dressed up and, by
the looks of things, ready for a new day.
"Do you need to go back
to yours?" Jared asked, a bit disappointed. For some reason, he was looking
forward to having breakfast with Shane. He might not be able to pull something
like pigs in a blanket for the first meal of the day, but he took pride in
being the master of all things omelet-related.
"I think I should," Shane
said and ran one hand over his face. "I need to shave."
Jared liked Shane like
that, but it felt like it wasn't his place to decide what Shane preferred. The
short stubble became him. There was something rough about Shane that Jared
liked; at the same time, he was sweet and charming, and that combination had to
be Mother Nature's recipe for making Jared go all mushy over his friend with
benefits.
"Ah, okay. Maybe you
should bring your stuff," Jared said as he walked out of the bedroom, with
Shane following him. "Wait, I should have some spares for one time use or
something," he added and went directly to the bathroom. He was the guy ready
for an apocalypse. Surely, extra shaving supplies had to be somewhere.
"Do you want me to bring
my stuff and keep it here?" Shane caught him before he could reach the
bathroom.
Jared realized how
ridiculous that had to sound. They weren't living together or anything. "Well,
not in particular," he said, trying to get out of the situation without
sounding like a moron.
Shane rubbed his nose
against his playfully. Jared inhaled the smell of minty toothpaste when Shane
pressed their lips together. Maybe the short stubble was a little bit of a
problem, as Jared felt his mouth being slowly ravaged. Shane needed to sort his
priorities; didn't he need to leave? It was unlikely, however, that Jared would
protest. Since the last bone in his body was turned to putty by that kiss,
there was no conviction of any kind to tell the other off.
Jared broke the kiss. His
sanity was at risk, and he needed to set some things straight. "Yeah, you might
have to shave," he said, patting his lips.
"So you don't like me
like this?"
It was a bit weird to be
crowded in his own home and pushed against the wall. Also, it was arousing like
hell.
Jared shook his head.
There was just something about how Shane's skin smelled, even after showering,
that made him light-headed, like walking in a dream, if he inhaled too much. "I
think I like you plenty. My ass is my witness," he said quickly. He tried to
straighten up instead of molding his body after Shane's slow moves. His back
was against the wall, and Shane made a cage with his arms, seemingly bent on
holding Jared there.
Shane didn't appear to
take the hint. "Oh, do you think it's wise to mention your ass so early in the
morning?"
Jared let out a small,
nervous laugh. "Why wouldn't it be? After all, it's part of my anatomy."
"Yes, and you have
beautiful anatomy. I recall everything about it in detail."
Shane was such a teaser.
Jared pressed against his chest, and he didn't need to do it hard to make the
other move away. "I was thinking about making breakfast for two."
"Great. I'd love that."
"Didn't you want to go
home so that you could shave or something?" Jared reminded him.
"I'm not a big fan of
shaving. Breakfast with you, on the other hand --" Shane left the words hanging
and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Jared groaned. "Why do
you have to be such a joker? Do you ever take a break?"
Shane appeared to ponder
for a second. "I don't see why. And I think I just complimented you. I'd rather
have breakfast with you than shave."
"Well, thanks for
considering me above mundane tasks. I bet I can beat taking out the trash. Oh,
right," Jared said, smacking his forehead, "I need to do that, too. I forgot
yesterday."
"You go make breakfast.
Let me take out the trash," Shane offered.
"Really? Okay, thanks,
that's nice of you."
Jared couldn't believe
Shane wasn't taken. Well, of course, he was new in town, and the ladyfolk
didn't stand a chance given where Shane's preferences lay. Therefore, Jared was
fortunate to have Shane all to himself, at least for a while. That said, he
needed to take advantage of the situation, but not too much. Maybe letting him
take out the garbage was not that great a move, but it was too late now to take
it back.
He was back in the
kitchen when he realized that he still hadn't found out how Shane liked his
coffee. Well, he would ask when Shane was back.
It was undeniably nice to
set the table for two. Jared wanted to sing and dance again, but he needed to
keep his wits about him; he and Shane were nothing but friends, and that meant
that it wasn't wise to fall into some romantic trap laid by no other but
himself.
Shane was back as he
placed the plates loaded with food on the table.
"I forgot to ask you
about how you like your coffee," Jared said apologetically. "Or are you a tea
person?"
"Coffee, black, is good
enough for me," Shane replied as he took his place.
"Ah, so there's no room
for sugar in your life?" Jared joked as he filled Shane's cup.
Shane surprised him by
catching his hand and bringing it to his lips. He winked at Jared before placing
a small kiss on his knuckles. "I think I have plenty of it."
Jared pulled away his
hand. He used the kitchen towel in his hand to swat Shane's head playfully.
"I'm not some missus you need to seduce first thing in the morning, joker."
"I kiss your ass to
seduce you," Shane replied promptly.
And didn't he know it.
Jared sighed.
"This was just a bit of
gratitude," Shane added.
"Gratitude? What for?"
"All this," Shane
gestured around. "For being such a perfect host. For letting me sleep in your
bed. Frankly, I don't know where you picked it, but that thing is amazing."
Jared laughed. "Mike
likes it, too."
Shane's amusement faded a
little. "Did you and Mike ever --" He gestured with his hands to illustrate the
meaning of the words left unsaid.
Jared placed one hand on
his hip and shook his head, offering Shane a look of disapproval. "I think I
told you I don't have the habit of sleeping with my friends. In the sense of
having sex, of course."
Shane's smile was back in
its face-splitting mode. "Just with me."
"Just with you," Jared
agreed. "How do you like your omelet?"
Shane was already digging
in with gusto. "It's awesome. But I'll cook breakfast tomorrow, okay?"
Oh, so they would have
another sleepover? Jared was about to ask when his phone pinged with an
incoming message. He frowned as he checked it.
"Something wrong?" Shane
asked.
"It's just a message from
Adrian. He wants to see us tonight. Something about trouble in love?" Jared
said the last words hesitantly.
"Trouble in love?" Shane
echoed his surprise.
"Yeah. Adrian never talks
like that," Jared said with conviction. "Let me just fire a quick message at
him."
"Go ahead. Ask him what's
wrong," Shane encouraged him.
Jared typed in fast.
Soon, he got a reply. "He says that he and Edward broke up, and he could use a
bit of friendly advice."
Shane seemed as puzzled
as Jared felt. "Weren't they all lovey-dovey Sunday evening?"
Jared raised his
shoulders and then let them fall in defeat. "Yeah. I thought that, too. All
right, this is a serious type of emergency. When he's unlucky in love, Adrian
really takes it hard."
Shane placed both hands
on the table in front of him and had a determined look on his face. "Anything
he needs, let him know that I'll offer my full support. And my fists."
Jared grimaced theatrically
at that. "Let's hope that whatever Adrian has in mind doesn't include us
getting physical. It would be bad taste."
Shane puckered his lips
like a naughty child. "Still, if he needs me for that, I'm ready."
Jared rolled his eyes.
"Are you and Adrian like peas in a pod or what? He likes to joke about that,
too."
Shane just shrugged.
"Makes one feel he has something to do."
"I suppose," Jared
agreed. "But Adrian, I think, will need lots of hugs. I don't know yet what
kind of advice we can give him --"
"I have a few ideas,"
Shane said promptly.
"And why doesn't that
surprise me," Jared muttered under his breath. As much as he wanted to deny it,
he liked Shane for his can-do attitude. And Mike had turned out all right after
taking advice from Shane. Maybe Adrian needed a bit of that no-nonsense
approach Shane was starting to become famous for.
***
"I feel so bad for
leaving you here," Ryan said anxiously, as the car stopped.
"I'll be fine, don't
worry," Mike said quickly. He scanned their surroundings and then kissed Ryan
quickly.
"It went out of my head
that you would have to be at work earlier than me," Ryan said with regret. He
kissed Mike back.
Mike kissed him again. "I
should have been the one to tell you that, and also set my alarm. It just went
out of my head." He placed one hand on the door, but Ryan stopped him with
another kiss. "My Uber should be here in about two minutes."
"You didn't even have
breakfast," Ryan said.
"It's all right. I'll
figure out something."
"Please text me to tell
me you're okay as soon as you're at work."
Ryan worried too much.
Mike needed to kiss him again and let him know that everything was all right.
This time, Ryan didn't let go, and their kiss turned longer.
"Oh, damn, we need to
stop," Mike complained.
"I know, I know." Ryan
ran one hand through his hair. "I need to plan things a little better."
"See you tonight?" Mike
asked as he opened the door on his side.
Ryan offered him a goofy
smile. "To play video games?"
"I think that can wait,"
Mike replied with a confident smile.
Where all that confidence
came from, he had no idea. He got out of the car quickly; if he risked another
look at Ryan, the chances were that they would kiss again, and he had a feeling
that it would be hard to stop.
Good thing his Uber was there.
Mike hurried toward it, not without throwing one last look at Ryan and waving
at him discreetly. Ryan sent him a wink and a small kiss.
Mike was on the backseat
and just telling the driver where to take him when his phone let him know he
had a message. "Trouble in love?" he mumbled the words. Who? Adrian?
***
Mike pretended to be all
cool and collected as he entered the building and headed toward the server
room. Usually, he was as good as invisible to most people, but, right now, he
barely kept from shivering like a leaf. He couldn't risk one look up. His eyes
set on the floor, he walked fast. It had to be his imagination, but he felt
myriads of eyes on him, scanning him. If he had had a sign on his back spelling
that he had slept with the boss the previous night, he wouldn't have been this
nervous.
"Good morning, Mike," a
voice interrupted his thoughts. "Running a little late?"
Mike looked up, feeling
his feet turning to stone. It was just the janitor. All around him, the hallway
was empty, as always. No one came down to the server room; Mike had played
scenarios in his head involving a fire and him being left behind because no one
knew about him. "Yeah," he admitted and let out a small nervous laugh. "Just,
um --" He stopped, his mind completely empty.
"Playing video games all
night?" the man asked with a small laugh. "My grandson is just like that.
Scrawny thing, too. He forgets to eat once he sits in front of that machine."
Mike let out a sigh.
"Yeah, that's totally me, too." It was easy to lie when it was the truth. It
didn't matter that he had been kept late by something else, or better said,
someone else. That reminded him that he needed to text Ryan and told him he had
arrived safely. Murmuring apologies, he hurried to the server room and closed the
door behind him. For good measure, he checked it a few times, and only after
that, he texted.
At work. Arrived safely. Mike
stopped. Was it safe to add anything else? He hesitated. What if someone could
peek over Ryan's shoulders, and a simple text was enough to launch a nuclear
disaster? But it felt like he gave Ryan the cold shoulder by sending such a
short message. Thank you for
everything. There. It didn't give away anything, and at the
same time, it let some of his feelings show.
His phone remained silent
for only a minute or so.
Great. I miss you already.
Mike smiled as he read
the message. I know.
Teasing me much?
What I meant is that I miss you, too.
This is better.
Mike couldn't keep in a
grin if it killed him. He sat at the computer. What could he say to keep the
texts going? Then he remembered that he needed to meet Adrian that
evening. How late can we see each other
tonight?
Why? Do you have other obligations? (smiley face).
It was a bit funny how
Ryan chose to write `smiley face' instead of sending an emoji like everyone
else. Actually, I have. My best friend is
in some kind of romantic crisis.
Jared? The long-haired cutie from that night?
Mike smiled. Everyone
thought that about Jared. He was about to reply when another text followed.
I apologize. I shouldn't call your friend a
cutie. You're the cutest.
Don't worry. Everyone thinks Jared is a cutie.
But it's my other best friend who needs to see me tonight. Adrian. Mike
pondered for a moment. I'm really sorry
about this. If you can't meet me tonight, it's okay.
I can. Just send me a message when you're free.
It doesn't matter how late it is.
Mike felt relieved. I will. His fingers hovered; what could
be a good way to finish that conversation? He wasn't bold enough to send
eggplants and other suggestive emojis.
This day already seems so long.
Of course, Ryan could
think of something elegant and romantic, while Mike's head was full of
eggplants.
You know what else is long?
Mike scratched his head.
What could Ryan mean by that?
His phone pinged again. An eggplant.
Mike burst into laughter.
So Ryan's head was also filled with suggestive emojis.
He typed back. My thought exactly.
Is this sexting? I've never done it.
Me either. Mike
was completely honest.
Unfortunately, I'll have to go to a meeting
soon.
I also need to work. Mike
hesitated just a second. I can barely wait
to kiss you again.
Easy on the sexting, Micah. I might not be able
to control myself. Who knows? I might even knock up our business partners.
Mike winced at the
reminder of his small blunder right after he had confessed to Ryan in his
office barely twenty-four hours ago. Well,
you're not allowed to do that, he typed promptly.
Are you going to keep me in line?
I'll do my best.
All right. Then I'll behave. See you tonight.
Mike decided to reply
with a kissing emoji this time.
Counting the hours ... In the meantime, I'll
keep this kiss close to my heart.
Do that. Mike
couldn't believe his audacity. But he wanted Ryan to do that. I can't believe I'm so lucky to have you.
Stop sexting with me already, Micah.
You're the one who keeps on sending romantic
messages. I can't help it.
Then I should stop.
No, don't stop. I mean, until you have to
leave.
I'd do this all day long. But my assistant is
already eyeing me with annoyance from across the room. See you tonight, my
love.
Mike's heart skipped one
small beat at those words. Ryan was a busy man. He needed to be mindful of his
time, and stop bothering him with texts throughout the day.
And it was going to be
such a long one. Ryan was right.
***
"I hope you don't mind my
bringing Shane along," Jared said apologetically, as soon as Adrian opened the
door and held it for them.
Adrian shrugged. "You two
are an item. I expected you would come together."
To illustrate that,
Adrian shared a handshake and a hug with Shane.
Jared had a mind to
protest at him and Shane being called an item, but Adrian looked absent-minded
and upset, so there was no point in starting an argument about where things
between him and Shane stood. He risked an apologetic look at Shane only to be
met with a goofy grin. Of course, Shane would find it funny, and there was no
surprise there.
The number one priority
was a best friend with a broken heart. There was a tension in Adrian's
shoulders as he moved throughout his apartment, gesturing for them to follow
him.
"Your place is cool,"
Shane said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
Jared preferred to allow
other people to speak, and he wanted Adrian to start talking whenever it felt
comfortable for him. Shane was a different type of person, and, right now,
Jared was happy things stood like that. Adrian would need his friends, but the
addition to their group couldn't hurt. Somewhat nervously, Jared reminded
himself how well Shane had handled Mike's insecurities before. Not that Adrian
had insecurities. A different approach was needed, but he would just have to
make things work on the fly.
They took place around
the table, except for Adrian. Jared quirked an eyebrow at the sight of the
bottle of strong liquor and the glasses. It wasn't like Adrian to get smashed.
He was the kind to think that his body was a temple, so he never
overindulged.
Without asking them
anything, Adrian filled their glasses. He gazed in the distance, and his lips
moved slightly like there was an internal war going on beneath the surface.
Jared knew that he had to ask sooner or later --
"What happened, man?"
Shane asked, taking the glass offered by Adrian. "You two looked picture
perfect two nights ago."
Great. The cowboy was
ready for action. Jared couldn't be upset, though; tip-toeing around the
subject wouldn't help Adrian.
Adrian clasped the back
of the chair until his knuckles turned white. His lips set in a straight line.
A loud knock announced them that Mike was there, too. With a small murmur of
apology, Adrian went to get the door.
"Did I speak out of
turn?" Shane whispered in Jared's ear, taking him by surprise.
"You do your thing,"
Jared said with a small wave of the hand. "Frankly, I'm glad you're here.
Adrian looks terrible. And it's not like him to get drunk." He gestured at the
table.
Adrian came back with
Mike.
"Hi, guys." Mike kissed
Jared on both cheeks and offered a solemn hand to Shane only to be pulled into
a half hug over Jared's head.
Mike looked really well;
Jared examined him briefly. That confession must have done him a lot of good,
but Jared had a feeling that he was missing something. He would ask later. His
attention trained back on Adrian, who looked like a god of vengeance and doom,
a dark expression etched on his face.
"He broke up with me,"
Adrian started abruptly. "Right after I told him that I loved him."
The air was suddenly
sucked out of the room. Jared exchanged a quick look with Mike. His other best
friend looked as dumbstruck as him.
"What a dick." That was
Shane, who, apparently, wasn't aware of the magnitude of the moment. Had Adrian
ever said those words to anyone? Jared wasn't entirely sure he had, not even to
Alexander, a long time ago.
"I know, right?" Adrian
laughed humorlessly. He took a sip from his glass and slammed it on the table.
That startled Jared and
Mike, but Shane appeared completely unfazed. "Is he a coward or an asshole?"
Jared inserted a small
nervous chuckle. "Let's not jump to conclusions and be judgmental. It could be
that Edward had a reason --"
Mike tugged his elbow.
"We should be on Adrian's side, right?" he whispered, although everyone else in
the room could hear them.
That left Jared with his
mouth hanging open. That was true, but he had a feeling that trash-talking
Edward wouldn't help Adrian much.
"Yep. He had a reason. I
mean he must have had one," Adrian replied, and his frown deepened.
"All right," Jared said,
seeing how the other two people at the table remained silent. "What could it
be? You're the one who knows him, Adrian."
"Beats me," Adrian said
and ran one hand through his hair in evident exasperation. "He told me we were
done since Sunday, but then, on Monday, we had dinner and awesome sex."
"So, it all went downhill
once you told him ... that?" Jared swallowed thickly. If Adrian asked for help,
it had to be because something mattered more than pride, and that said
something. As astonishing as that sounded, Adrian had to be in love with
Edward.
Adrian nodded. He paced
the room for a few seconds while everyone else watched him like they were sitting
in the stands at a tennis match. "I mean, everything was going so damned fine!"
He exploded all of a sudden.
This time, Jared was
prepared. Adrian needed a way to channel all his anger. But, as a friend, he
needed to use his head and common sense. "Adrian, I think he loves you back,"
he said calmly. "Sunday, when we were all together, I couldn't stop thinking
that you two looked amazing together."
"Don't lie to me, J."
Adrian threw him a loaded look. "I know you mean well --"
Jared put one hand up to
stop him. "This isn't about that. It's just too shocking that he broke up with
you after you confessed. From what you told me before, I thought I would meet a
pretentious prick with a load of chips on his shoulders. But that wasn't the
person we met on Sunday. Right, guys?"
"I was surprised, too,"
Mike confirmed. "And the way he turned his head and looked at you each time you
said something ... I'm behind J on this."
Adrian turned his
attention to Shane. "What do you think?"
Jared couldn't be hurt
over having his and Mike's opinions being overlooked. Adrian was a mess and
probably felt insecure as hell --
"I just want to hear
Shane, too," Adrian said, looking at him as if he had just read his mind. "I
heard you, guys. And I appreciate it."
Jared smiled. "It's okay, Adrian."
"Shane is awesome at
giving advice," Mike chimed in.
"So I heard," Adrian
said. "So, Shane, what do you think?"
Shane studied his glass
for a while and scratched his head. "Jared and Mike saw what they saw and
they're right."
That sounded a bit
ominous. Jared felt his ears perking up. What could it be that Shane had
noticed and they hadn't?
"Dude's head over heels,"
Shane added.
What was with the moments
of suspension? Jared felt his impatience growing. "But ... There's a `but',
right?" he hurried Shane.
"He was nervous," Shane
replied in a deadpan voice. "He was tapping his foot."
"Tapping his foot?"
Adrian quirked an eyebrow. "Like he wanted to be out of there?"
"He also glanced at his
watch a few times," Shane added.
"I didn't know I was ..."
Jared swallowed the word `sleeping' in the nick of time, "friends with Sherlock
Holmes. So, you think Edward didn't want to be there, with us?"
"I don't think that. I
think he was disoriented about liking being there. And he forgot all about
being nervous the moment Adrian touched him or said something. It was like all
his worries melted."
Adrian was staring at
Shane like he was from another planet. Jared was no less surprised.
"I think I remember
seeing him do that, I mean, looking at his watch," Mike intervened.
Adrian shook his head.
"Well, that's weird. How come I didn't notice?"
Shane shrugged. "You were
too happy to see that kind of stuff."
"How come I didn't
notice?" Jared expressed his astonishment.
"You were too taken with
Shane," Mike said promptly.
Jared turned toward him,
his eyes wide.
"Damn it." Adrian slammed
the wall, startling them. "What the hell is wrong with him?"
"You could call him and
ask for an explanation," Jared suggested.
Adrian shook his head. He
wasn't looking at either of them, too busy leading his internal war. "He won't
answer."
"How can you know for
sure?" Jared insisted.
"He's all about control,"
Adrian said. "It would be easy for him to reject my calls and shut me down
completely."
"So, let me get this
straight," Shane intervened. "He told you that you were supposed to be done,
but he still came to meet you the next day?"
Adrian nodded.
"Hmm." Shane leaned back
in his chair and stretched his legs. Jared stared for a moment at their thighs
touching. "This guy wants you, but there's something else afoot."
"Like what?" Adrian asked
in an irritated voice.
Jared knew Adrian wasn't
annoyed by Shane. Still, he felt a bit of protectiveness pushing him into
action. "Shane cannot know. You shouldn't be upset with him."
Shane placed one hand on
Jared's knee and squeezed it in an affectionate gesture. "It's all right. There
could be anything, Adrian. Maybe he's stressed by something else, and the
thought of getting in a relationship complicates his life. At least, that's
what he could be thinking."
Adrian lowered his head
in defeat. "He made it quite clear to me that we would be over the moment I
started talking about feelings."
"And?" Shane interjected.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That maybe I knew this
was coming and went for it anyway. What does that make me? Stupid?"
"No way," Jared
protested.
"You're the smartest guy
I know," Mike added.
"It makes you a guy who
knows what he wants," Shane said.
Adrian perked up at that.
He even smiled. "Thanks, guys. Still, what the hell does Edward want?"
"You'll have to find
out," Shane offered right away.
"But Adrian thinks that
Edward won't take his calls," Jared pointed out.
"Then he'll have to meet
him in person," Shane replied.
Adrian nodded. "I was
thinking the same thing. I'll just go and confront him."
"But not tonight," Shane
said, putting one hand up solemnly.
"Why not?" Adrian looked
like he was about to fly out the door.
"Because," Shane
continued in a slightly preachy, but adorable, tone, "you want him to have a
bit of time to realize what he's done. Leave him alone a few days, and when
he's like a cat on hot-tin roof --"
"What's that even
supposed to mean?" Jared expressed his wonder.
Adrian didn't seem fazed
by Shane's choice of words. "Go on, Shane. You can explain that to J later."
Jared had a mind to
protest to that, but Adrian had his whole attention trained on Shane now.
"What I mean is that if
you go after him right now, he might just think he did the right thing. Let him
have some doubts about it all. You know, let him get ripe and ready for a
picking."
Jared covered his face
with both hands. Shane had a funny way with words, and this wasn't the time to
be funny. It was a serious situation, and Adrian needed serious advice. "And
how would you know about this stuff, Sherlock?"
"My momma taught me all
about men," Shane replied good-naturedly. "I used to watch old movies with
her."
For some reason, Shane,
as a kid watching romantic movies with his mother, struck a sensitive chord
inside Jared. His advice came from the heart, and Jared couldn't help but agree
with him. "I think you should go with what Shane says, Adrian," he said. "You
don't want to appear desperate. Let Edward think a little of his stupidity."
"I second that," Mike
said solemnly.
Adrian sighed and finally
took place at the table. "I had a feeling I could count on you, guys. I think
it will be hard to wait, but I have a feeling I have to."
Shane raised his glass.
"To Adrian and may he be successful in winning over
Edward."
That sounded awfully
formal, but again, Jared agreed. Adrian looked a bit calmer than before, so
that was a win. Plus, he had a feeling that his initial plan of offering Adrian
lots of hugs couldn't have beaten the one laid out by Shane.
***
"Were you annoyed with
me? Earlier?" Shane asked him directly.
"No." Jared shook his
head to make a point. "All right. Maybe I'm a little jealous. You find it so
easy to come up with ideas. I envy you."
They had left Adrian in a
much better mood, and Jared felt good about it. Much of that was thanks to Shane
and his straightforward manner of treating any problem. Jared stopped; they
were in the middle of the street, but he wouldn't wait until they got home to
offer proper apologies for his behavior. Shane had noticed it and was in his
rights to be upset about it, although nothing about how he acted betrayed such
a thing.
He took Shane's hand.
"I'm sorry, Shane. I really am. I might be a little possessive about my
friends, which must be at least a bit weird. I'm the ... mother hen, as they
say. Now my little chicks take advice from someone else, and I act jealous. And
that's just dumb. So, I apologize for letting it show."
Shane examined him for a
long moment. His hand was rough and warm, and Jared liked to run his fingers
over it. "Mother hen? Does that make me the rooster?"
Jared pouted. "Of course,
all you see is another opportunity to laugh at me."
He made a move to walk,
but Shane embraced him from behind forcefully, almost making him stumble. "I'm
not laughing at you, babe," he whispered in Jared's ear, making him shiver
slightly. "All I want is to make you laugh."
Jared had to make an
effort to find his voice. That was too romantic to let it go. "Shane, you know
you're going to make someone very happy one day, don't you?"
"I know," Shane whispered
again, caressing Jared's ear with his lips.
There was no trace of
boasting in those words. That was Shane. A guy who knew exactly who he was and
had no fear of showing it.
***
Mike had to correct at
least a dozen typos as he texted Ryan, too excited with the prospect of having
his boyfriend over. His head had been in the clouds all day long, and only
their get together at Adrian's had grounded him a little. Silently, he
apologized to his friends for feeling so happy; he had been so swept away with
the way things had progressed between him and Ryan that he had totally
forgotten to tell all about it to J and Adrian. There was plenty of time, and
he wanted to surprise everyone by introducing Ryan as his boyfriend to the
entire crew. He could bet that Shane would be the least surprised. Jared's
boyfriend had a clarity for seeing things few people Mike knew had.
Ryan replied right
away. Let's try your place tonight.
Mike pondered for a
bit. Won't Bran be lonely if you're not
home?
It's clear who's going to be the doting parent
of us two.
Parent? Mike stared at
the screen. It was possible that Ryan thought of Bran, but there was a hint at
something else. Could it be that Ryan wanted ... a family? Like children? Mike
wasn't sure his mind had ever taken him that far.
There was a possibility
that he was misinterpreting things, and he was, after all, the one thinking of
families, kids, and picket fences. Did Ryan have picket fences? He couldn't
recall.
Was it possible to dream
so far into the future? Where would they be five, ten years from now? Mike
shook his head. He was getting ahead of himself, and also letting anxiety, his
old friend, get the better of him. For now, Ryan had feelings for him. Feelings
of love.
You know, the absence of a reply makes me a
little nervous.
Mike jumped when his
phone pinged. Busy making the house
presentable enough for guests. Sorry about that.
It was a little white
lie. Filling Ryan's head with his doubts and what-ifs didn't sound like a good
idea. And he needed to tidy up a little anyway. During such moments, Mike was
glad that his home was tiny.
Was the bed going to hold
them both? Mike felt doubts creeping in. Maybe they could do it on the floor?
But what reason could he invoke for such a silly thing? He could say that he
had always wanted to try it.
And don't worry about Bran. He's a good kid.
Also, I won't be gone all night.
Mike deflated. So Ryan
wouldn't spend the night. That was good, in a way; his bed wouldn't have to
succumb yet to the challenge of holding them both. Ah, he was just so dumb. He
could have just told Ryan that it would be better to go over to his.
I thought that I should let you sleep some.
You're still the same hard worker. I wouldn't want our relationship to become
too taxing for you.
Ryan always thought of everything.
How long can you stay? Mike
typed quickly. If their time was limited, he needed to plan. Did he have
condoms? He began rummaging through all the drawers. Checked. What about lube?
Ah, he had that, too. Good thing he had Jared as a friend who had taught him to
be prepared for all eventualities. Now that an eventuality that required the
presence of condoms and lube in the house was imminent, Mike was glad he was,
indeed, prepared.
A couple of hours. I'm almost out the door. Do
you want me to bring some food?
Mike pondered only a
second. No. I don't want to waste time
eating.
I appreciate the honesty. But I'll bring
something for you to have for later or tomorrow morning. Is that okay?
Mike's heart melted a
little more. More than okay. You're a lifesaver.
Just your boyfriend. It comes with the
territory.
Mike sat on the sofa with
a cushion under his arm. You're the best
boyfriend ever.
I hope so. When it comes to my love life, I
don't like competition.
Hurry. I can't wait to see you. Ah, don't hurry
that much. Don't break the speed limit and stuff.
No worries. All I want is to get to you in one
piece. After that, I don't care what happens to me.
Mike smiled. But why the
hell they were texting instead of speaking on the phone? Maybe Ryan was already
in traffic. But texting was more dangerous. Mike wasn't entirely sure, but
common sense pointed in that direction.
Are you driving?
Not yet. Too busy texting my cute boyfriend.
Mike was sure he would
never get tired of hearing that. Or reading that. Okay. Let's stop texting. Not that it's not nice to text.
I love it. But I want you here already.
Stop tempting me to break the speed limit.
Don't break the speed limit.
Ay, ay, captain.
Mike grinned at the
screen. Ryan, with his romantic and sometimes even goofy texts, was more than
what he had imagined when Mike had been busy pining over him. He sighed in
contentment. What else did he have to do to welcome his guest?
Oh, damn. Mike hurried
toward the shower. Maybe Ryan wouldn't break the speed limit, but he would
surely have the fastest shower in history.
***
Mike grabbed the bag with
food from Ryan's arms, left it on the small table by the door, and grabbed his
boyfriend's hand.
"Hey, hello to you, too,"
Ryan joked.
"No time. The clock's
ticking," Mike replied.
He dragged Ryan to the
bedroom and pushed him down on the floor next to the bed on the blankets he
placed there so that they could go wild as much as they want without fear of
breaking any furniture.
"Like this?" Ryan was
amused by Mike's sudden attack, and not in the least annoyed.
Mike let out a
noncommittal grunt as he began to unbutton Ryan's shirt. After taking a quick
shower, he had agonized over how to go about their little rendezvous that he
had ended up more worked up than he thought possible. Now, his body was aching
for Ryan, and that desire that he had tried to keep in check for the last ten
minutes spilled over.
He ran his fingers
through Ryan's chest hair, enjoying its coarseness.
"Wow, am I a sex
object?"
Mike could tell Ryan was
joking, by how his voice sounded, but he looked up to make sure. He blushed,
suddenly mortified by his behavior. His hands withdrew, but Ryan caught them.
"If I'm your sex object, then I don't mind. And it's nice to see you taking the
reins."
Mike grinned. He must have
looked pretty goofy because Ryan began laughing. Before he had time to protest,
Ryan pulled him into a kiss. Mike got busy taking them both out of their
clothes, which proved a bit more complicated than he thought.
He straddled Ryan quickly
and glued their chests together. It was so nice to feel the coarse hair on the
other's body against his bare skin; it was intimate in a way Mike had never
thought of before. This wasn't just lust. He wanted Ryan's smell all over him
until they became one.
All right, so it was
about lust, too. Rough hands began to knead his buttocks in earnest, making it
clear what would follow soon. Mike pushed himself up only so that he could grab
a condom and lube. Faced with a hard cock, he wasted no more time. He held the
rubber and the bottle in his hands awkwardly, took one deep breath and
descended directly over the current object of his obsession with his mouth. He
rested his elbows against Ryan's thighs and began bobbing his head up and down.
A small laugh followed,
and the supplies were seized from his hands. That was better. He could finally
adjust his position so that he could take Ryan's cock deeper and deeper. Like
he had seen in movies, he tried to look up, hoping that he didn't look weird
with his mouth full. Ryan's eyes were fire, deep and dark. Mike let his eyelids
drop, taken over by a new wave of desire.
"Get your sexy ass down
on my cock, Micah," Ryan demanded in a breathless whisper. "I want to watch you
fucking yourself on my cock."
A thrill and a shiver
coursed through his entire body. Mike wasn't a fan of the on top position,
overly conscious of his body, but if it were after him, no sex position would
have been ideal. He would have to deal with Ryan's burning eyes. Despite all
his usual anxieties, he was pretty sure he would survive that trial by fire.
Mike helped Ryan put the
condom on, and he got busy preparing himself. He gasped when he straddled his
lover again, now the blunt head resting against his behind. Steady hands
grabbed his hips to help him.
"You have no idea how
beautiful you are right now," Ryan whispered.
Mike let out a small
nervous laugh. Would he ever get used to compliments like that? Hopefully, yes.
And, just as hopefully, he would like to hear them again and again.
He finished his descent
on Ryan's cock with a small satisfied sigh. It was already fun. His body was
getting used to the treatment, and Mike wanted more of it. Ryan continued to
praise him, as he raised one hand to touch Mike's lips, enticing him to capture
the thumb and suck it in.
"You're so naughty," Ryan
teased him.
Mike began moving his
hips. His handsome boyfriend would get it, just how naughty he could be. The
tool inside his ass was hard and hot, a clear proof of Ryan's desire, and
assurance that he wasn't half bad at riding.
"Yes, like this," Ryan
encouraged him, while their bodies met over and over.
Mike let out a small cry
when Ryan grabbed his cock and began rubbing it fast. The sudden image of
shooting all over Ryan's chest and sexy abs caused his arousal to rise up a notch
again. Mike knew nothing about riding in general, but his hips moved and moved,
while his cock enjoyed being gripped by a strong hand. He was fucking himself
into Ryan's cock at one end, and his lover's hand at the other, and it was a
race against his thighs that were starting to burn. Luckily, his entire nervous
system was flooded by happiness hormones, and the pain was a faint
sensation.
In disbelief, he watched
at his own cock erupting, spreading its seed in an impressive ark all over
Ryan. His breath erratic, he could barely keep up any rhythm after that, so he
wasn't surprised when Ryan maneuvered him to land on his back and began to pump
his ass like a madman.
Mike could feel his ass
twitching, still glad about that assault, but incapable of eliciting anything
more than a few shivers and gasps from his tired self. Ryan kept up the
infernal rhythm for only a couple of minutes, and soon, he pushed a few last
times, his cock turning into pulsating steel in Mike's ass.
They stood embraced like
that for a while, Ryan whispering sweet words into his ear, Mike caressing his
hair and shoulders, too grateful for words.
"I'm so sorry that you
have to go," Mike murmured.
"Are you going to kick me
out already?" Ryan replied, his voice spent, but happy and amused.
"No, there's still time,"
Mike said. "Every minute you promised is mine."
"We won't be apart like
this long. Will you move in with me once your two weeks are up?"
Mike remained stunned,
lost for words.
"Ah, damn." Ryan rested
his forehead against Mike's. "Too soon?"
Mike threw his arms over
Ryan. "No."
"It's all right. I can
deal with a bit of stepping back."
"Ryan." Mike knew that he
needed to stop his boyfriend from rambling. "I'll move in with you. I mean,
what I am, crazy to say no? Of course, I would. Sorry about not replying
immediately. When I'm happy, I turn speechless." Ryan pulled back only so that
they could look each other in the eyes. Mike offered a small smile. "Wait, were
you nervous? About asking me?"
Ryan replied with a
strained grin.
Mike could feel his eyes
turning into saucers in his head. "No way," he whispered. "What reason would
you have for that? I mean, you're handsome, and an awesome lover. How could I
say no?"
Ryan shrugged and looked
away. Mike remained silent for a moment and then burst into laughter.
Ryan frowned and bit his
nose playfully.
"Ouch." Mike tries to
escape, but Ryan began to bite his cheek. "Are you a dog?"
"Why did you laugh? Did
you laugh at me?" Ryan began to munch on his ear, which was pretty distracting.
"I'm supposed to be the
nervous one!"
"Really?"
Mike managed to push Ryan
away just a bit. "Really. I'm nervous and awkward, remember?"
"Hmm, right. Just my
type."
Ryan returned to his
playful biting that turned into small kisses.
"Are you serious about
this, Ryan? Moving together?" He didn't like the waver in his voice, but there
was no helping it.
"Do you want me to leave
Bran alone every night?"
"No," Mike protested. "I
will come by your place."
"Every night?"
"Yeah. I mean, if you're
not busy."
"And what will you do?
Run back here every morning?"
"I'd just take a cab or a Uber."
"And spend a fortune on
that," Ryan said matter-of-factly.
"Right. Maybe I should
get a car."
"But I want to see you
every day, too, not just every night," Ryan said.
"Then I'll come straight
to you from work."
"I see. So it will be
like you live at my place."
Mike stopped. He couldn't
argue with that kind of logic. "Soon, I'll be jobless. It will be like I'm
freeloading on you."
"Hmm, I'm down with
that," Ryan purred into his ear. "Cute freeloaders are my thing."
"But I'll find a job,"
Mike said with determination.
"I don't doubt it."
"And I'll still have to
make some Uber drivers rich."
"I'll drive you to work."
"Ryan, you're a busy man.
You run a company and stuff."
"I'll find time for you.
I won't be that kind of busy hus-- I mean, boyfriend,
who neglects his cute lover."
Mike caressed Ryan's
face. Their eyes met. "You're the best boyfriend, Ryan."
And someday, the best husband. Oops,
his mind was going places again. But it was hard to rein it in with Ryan's hot
body pressed against him, and his sexy voice filling his mind with dreams.
"Will you move in with
me, Micah? Once we no longer have to keep it a secret?"
Mike nodded as solemnly
as he could, given their position on the hard floor. "I will."
Ryan kissed him deeply.
"Can I ask one more thing?"
Mike nodded
enthusiastically.
"Don't kick me out before
I make love to you once more."
Like he could fathom a
sacrilege like that. To make his response clear, Mike wrapped his legs around
Ryan and pulled him close.
TBC
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