Chapter 6
six
T roy dried his hair on a towel and walked into the kitchen. He watched Jessie finish a sandwich at the kitchen table, Troy’s mother at the sink. “Almost ready.”
“Want a sandwich, honey? You missed breakfast.” His mother turned from the sink, smiling at Troy.
“Sure.” He ate the sandwich she offered.
Jessie drank some milk, then stood. “Thanks for the sandwich, Mrs. Larson.”
“Anytime, honey,” she said.
Jessie brought his dishes to her, then joined Troy walking down the hallway and into the bedroom.
Troy opened the drawer on his nightstand and grabbed a glow-in-the-dark yellow frisbee. His gaze caught on the skin mag underneath it, turned face down.
Jessie hovered over him.
Troy glanced at him. What should he do? He had a different understanding of things now.
Jessie came close to his ear. “Take it.”
Troy smirked at him. “Someone horny?” A quiver of heat rushed his groin. Apparently, he was.
A coy grin swept over Jessie’s lips. “Always. I told you that.” He swatted Troy’s back. “Besides, with the families around, there’s not much alone time around here. Know what I mean?”
“Yes, I certainly do.” Troy chuckled. The only time he could jerk off when they were up here was in the shower. He’d been too rushed to do that today. “Okay.” He grabbed the skin mag, rolled it up, and hid it under his t-shirt. “Let’s go.”
Troy looked out over the grassy field, surrounded by tall pines, birch, and oak trees, with thick weeds and vines laying a blanket of green underneath. The noonday sun shone brightly between layers of thin clouds.
Jessie, kneeling, set up the silver boom box at the edge of the field and hit the button for the cassette player, then rose, placing his hands on his hips. “There.” More than a Feeling by Boston filled the air.
“Dude, I love this band.” Troy swung the frisbee in his hand. “I think they have another album coming out soon.”
“Yeah, they’re really popular in New York.” Jessie gazed at Troy. “So, go out and throw that thing.”
“Okay.” He jogged out across the field, eyed up the distance to Jessie, curled his arm and flicked the frisbee out of his hand, watching it spin high in the air.
Jessie jumped, snatching it out of the air, exposing a patch of taut skin between his shirt and shorts.
Desire flickered up Troy’s spine. Damn, the things he was noticing now. He should focus on the frisbee, not his friend’s body.
Jessie curved his arm and threw the frisbee, his dark hair flinging around his face. The frisbee soared high in the air.
Troy ran and tipped it mid-flight, fumbling with it, then caught it. “Take it easy.” He laughed and threw it back.
They played, throwing the frisbee back and forth, bantering at each other for a half hour or so. Then Jessie flung the frisbee high and to the left, it curved off and landed between the trees.
Troy chased after it, but lost sight of it. “Shit, where’d it go?” He walked to the edge of the woods and scanned the underbrush. The dang thing was glow-in-the-dark. How hard could it be to see?
Jessie came trotting up, grabbed him from behind and picked him up off the ground. “What’s the matter? Too slow to catch it?” He laughed and set him down.
“Dude, you threw it into the woods.” Troy chuckled, then turned in Jessie’s arms and swung him around.
“Want to wrestle?” Jessie tussled with him, cackling, then they both tumbled to the grass, Jessie on top. He sat on tucked legs, found Troy’s sides, and tickled him. “Got you.”
Troy giggled and squirmed. “Shit, stop.” He battled with Jessie, clutching at his hands, then dug his fingers into Jessie’s ribs.
Jessie jerked and wiggled, then fell to his side, giggling. “No, don’t.”
“Don’t? You started it.” Troy crept up, his fingers working over Jessie. He hovered over him, chuckling.
Jessie caught Troy’s hands and tugged on them.
Troy fell over him, chest to chest, his face close to Jessie’s. The laughing halted. He gazed into his large blue eyes, then focused on his generous lips, the bit of exposed front teeth. His breath caught. His heart thumped in his chest. What would it be like to kiss him? Donna knew what it was like. Did Gary? His chest tightened. Don’t think about fucking Gary.
Jessie licked his lips, widening his eyes. “Troy.”
“What?”
“What are you thinking about?” Jessie cocked his head in the grass.
Troy shifted, letting go of his hands and raising on his elbows, still hovering over him. “I don’t know. Stuff.” Definitely not something he could tell him.
“What stuff?” Jessie laid an arm across Troy’s back. “Talk to me. It looks like there’s so much going on inside your head all the time, but you’re not saying anything.”
Troy furrowed his brows and glanced at his lips. No way was he going to tell him what he was thinking about. He pushed to get up.
Jessie held tight to his back. “No, stay.” He hooked his other arm around his back. “Talk to me.”
“About what? I think, okay? I just think.” Troy twisted his head, looking out into the woods. He needed to get out of this somehow. “Like, I think we need to find that frisbee.” He offered him a grin.
Jessie winced and dropped his arms from his back. “Fine.” He clenched his jaw.
Troy lifted his brows. “What?” Why did he look pissed off now?
“Nothing. Let’s find the frisbee.” Jessie shoved Troy off him and sat in the grass, his knees drawn up.
Troy righted himself and sat cross-legged in front of him. “Dude, don’t be mad at me.” Why did it seem like they were both getting angry about everything?
“I’m not.” Jessie huffed and pursed his lips.
“Come on, you want me to talk to you, but you won’t talk to me.”
Jessie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right.” He shimmied close to him. “Okay, yes, I’m mad because I know there’s something going on with you that you’re not telling me. You’ve been different ever since...” He drew a deep inhale. “Ever since you lied to me about being at the marina.”
Troy dropped his mouth open. Was it that obvious? What he’d seen that morning had changed him, he knew that. But did I change enough for Jessie to notice? Should he just come out with it? Fear crept over him. No, he wouldn’t. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Why did you lie about being there when I asked you?” Jessie frowned. “Did you come inside?” He focused on him, wrinkling his forehead.
Oh, shit. They’d probably heard him. “Uh, no.” He might have to take this secret to the grave at this point. He tried to look at Jessie but couldn’t. He hung his head, sighing.
“You’re lying to me.” Jessie’s voice wavered.
“Stop it, Jess.” Troy looked directly at him—he was hurting him. He didn’t want to see Jessie’s big eyes tearing up because of him. But he couldn’t tell him the truth. If he did, then it might all pour out of him, all the confusing feelings he was having. He wasn’t ready for this conversation. He shimmied close to him and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, drawing him into his chest. “Let’s not argue. Okay?”
Jessie laid his head against his shoulder. “Yeah, you’re right.” He wound his arms around Troy’s back and held him tighter.
Troy’s heart skipped. Warmth filled his chest. It felt good to hold him like this. When did it change? When did a simple hug turn into something more? They’d hugged before, but always quick, friendly hugs. This was different. He didn’t want to let go. He brushed his cheek over Jessie’s dark hair, wrapping his arms tighter.
Jessie released a held breath, turning his face into the nape of Troy’s neck.
Jessie’s breath shivered over Troy’s neck. Heat dashed through his groin. His spine shuddered with lust. He brushed his hand over the back of Jessie’s head. His hair was so soft. He’d never noticed before. But then he’d never really touched it before. His breath quickened.
Jessie took deep breaths, his chest heaving against Troy’s. In a whisper, he said, “Let’s get high and look at your skin mag.”
“Yeah.” Troy’s cock twitched and swelled. He didn’t want to let him go long enough to get the damn thing, but he had to. He released him, then looked into his eyes.
Jessie gazed at him with hooded lids. He bit his lip, glancing at Troy’s groin.
“Where do you want to do this?” Troy adjusted himself, then peeked at Jessie’s shorts. A clear erection strained under his zipper. Jessie was feeling the same way he was, apparently.
“In the car. We can use the back seat. No one will see us there.” Jessie stood up, then held out a hand to Troy.
Troy grasped his hand and rose, scanning the area. No one was around. Everyone was probably in town at the parade. He took another peek at Jessie’s shorts. Jessie wasn’t even hiding the fact that he had a hard-on. But then, neither was he.
Jessie jogged into the woods, bent over, then held up the frisbee. “Found it.” He smiled and walked to him. “Let’s go.” He grabbed up the boom box and shut it off as he strode to the car.
Troy followed him to the Trans Am, parked in the small lot next to the log-sided chapel with a steep, shingled roofline.
Jessie opened the passenger’s side door, then the glove box and grabbed a baggie of joints. He flipped the seat up and climbed inside, taking the skin mag off the back seat.
Troy stepped into the back and closed the car door. He settled in beside Jessie, anticipation coiling in his gut. What would it be like this time? The first time, it had taken him off guard, but now he wanted it, craved it even.
Jessie slid a joint and a slim, blue lighter out from the baggie, set the joint to his lips, and lit it, sucking in deeply. He held his breath, then offered it to Troy.
Troy took a drag. It was getting easier. His lungs could handle it now. His head buzzed. He handed it to him.
Jessie drew another hit, then released a cloud of smoke into the car. He fingered the skin mag, resting in his lap. “You want more?” He held the joint out.
“Maybe one more.” Troy grinned at him and sucked on the joint, then held it out, studying it. Jessie’s lips had been on this. He chuckled. Why am I thinking about that? He put it in his mouth but didn’t inhale. He’d kiss him like this. He giggled.
“Dude, what are you doing?” Jessie snatched the joint from his mouth. “You’re bogarting.”
Troy gazed at him, then focused on his lips. Damn, I really want to kiss him. How badly will he freak out if I do? Or would he? He let Gary—stop thinking about fucking Gary.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Jessie let a faint grin play on his mouth, then dragged off the joint and pinched it out.
“You don’t want to know.” Troy looked over the small back seat of the car, the black vinyl, the hand rests on the sides. He shifted closer to Jessie, their legs and sides touching.
“Maybe I do want to know.” Jessie gazed at him.
“Open the skin mag. Let’s find some good pictures.” He didn’t want a repeat of the discussion on the grass. Troy pointed at the magazine, resting on Jessie’s lap.
Jessie opened the magazine and looked at it, then peeked at him. “Stop me when you see something you like.” He turned the page.
Troy leaned into him, enjoying the heat from his body, so close to his. They were both fully clothed this time. He wasn’t sure he liked it. “It’s hot in here. I’m taking my shirt off.” He shimmied his shirt over his head and tossed it into the front seat, then watched Jessie.
Jessie took him in, licking his lips. “Yeah, you’re right.” He removed his shirt and flung it to the front seat. “What about our shorts?”
“Yeah. Take those off, too. We don’t want them to get dirty, right?” Troy unfastened his shorts and rose up enough to skim them off, then threw them in the front.
Jessie did the same and sat next to Troy in only his white underwear, his erection poking up to the band, a dab of pre-cum wetting the tip.
Troy glanced at Jessie’s cock. A surge of lust swept over him. A soft moan crept out of his mouth. Not only did he want to kiss Jessie, he wanted to touch him, too. Did they even need the skin mag?
Jessie cleared his throat. “Troy, which picture do you like?” He flipped the page.
Troy focused on the magazine resting on Jessie’s bare thighs in front of his hard cock. An image of a woman in leather, her nipples and groin exposed, rested on the page. It didn’t matter what the picture was, he was good with it. “That one.”
Jessie smiled. “You like whips and chains?” He palmed his shaft through his underwear and groaned.
Troy watched him rubbing himself, his own cock aching. No, I like you. “Whatever, it’s all good.” He lifted up and pulled his underwear down to his knees, then brushed lazy strokes over his erection.
Jessie raked his teeth against his lower lip, fixating on Troy. He rubbed over his own shaft a few times, then shimmied his underwear down his legs. As he pumped his cock, he crept close to Troy and leaned on him, resting his head on his shoulder.
Sensation pulsed over Troy, making him shudder. He pumped his shaft, pleasure knotting in his gut. He turned toward Jessie, resting his cheek on his head.
Jessie pumped fast, his body quivering, rocking his hips in time with his hand. Quick breaths panted from his mouth. He moved his head against Troy’s shoulder, then nestled his face in his neck.
All of Troy’s attention was on him. He watched the jerking of Jessie’s hand over his stiff cock, the way he squeezed at the tip, the pre-cum glistening over it, the feel of Jessie’s bare body against his. Release tingled through his shaft and tightened his sac.
“I’m going to come.” Jessie thrust his hips, slowed his hand, and moaned into Troy’s neck, his body trembling. His cum spurted up, onto his chest and over his fingers.
“Oh, shit.” Troy’s peak shuddered over him in intense waves of pleasure, one after the other. He gasped and whimpered, surrendering to it all. His cock jerked and burst cum onto his chest and stomach, dribbling down his hand. As it slowed, he realized Jessie’s arm was wrapped around his waist, his face fully buried in his neck. What did that mean? Did it mean anything? Did this make them gay? He couldn’t say they weren’t touching each other. But they hadn’t actually touched each other.
Jessie sighed and unwrapped his arm, lifting his head. “I fucking came hard that time.” He bent forward, opened the center console between the seats, and grabbed traveler-sized tissues, then straightened and cleaned himself off.
“Yeah? Me, too,” Troy said, watching him.
Jessie threw the used tissue to the floor, then handed a tissue to him.
“Thanks.” Troy wiped the droplets of come from his chest and fingers and tossed the tissue on the floor. The question was, why did doing this make him come so hard? It wasn’t the magazine picture. He’d barely looked at it this time. It was Jessie. He had his answer as to why his dick reacted the way it did at the marina. It was all Jessie. He pulled his underwear up, then rose to snatch his shorts from the front seat.
“Can you grab mine, too?” Jessie flipped his underwear over his cock.
Troy grabbed Jessie’s jean shorts, then sat down and handed them to him. It was a shame Jessie had already covered up. He wouldn’t mind seeing him naked a little longer. Or maybe doing that again. Damn, the things I’m thinking now. He slid his shorts up his legs and fastened them.
Jessie put his shorts on and twisted to face him. “I’m tired. Nap?”
“In the car?” He curled the edge of his mouth. Jessie didn’t want to leave the back seat. Maybe they would do that again.
“Why not? Where else we going to go?” Jessie pushed him to the outer edge of the seat.
Troy turned and rested his back on the inside of the car, his legs spread over the seats. Not too uncomfortable .
Jessie positioned himself sideways over Troy’s bare chest, between his legs, and laid his face at his neck, curling his arms up. “How’s that?”
“Fine.” Warmth swept through Troy’s chest. He wound his arms around Jessie. Holding him was feeling better and better all the time. What did all of this mean? It wasn’t just a sexual thing. Maybe I have real feelings for him? If so, did Jessie feel the same? What if he didn’t? A prickle of fear caught his breath. Then why would he lie on him like this? He had to be feeling something, too.
“You’re thinking again. I can practically hear it.” Jessie laid his hand over Troy’s heart. “I can hear your heart beating like crazy, too.”
“Good, then I’m not dead.” Troy chuckled.
“You’re not going to tell me what you’re thinking about. Are you?” Jessie lifted up and gazed into his eyes. “Tell me you’re not freaking out at least.”
Troy smiled at him. “I’m not freaking out. Maybe you are, though, ‘cause you keep bringing it up.” His smile waned. What if that was true? What if Jessie was the one having problems with what they were doing?
Jessie smirked. “Shit, man. I’m definitely not freaking out. I don’t even need to think about it.”
Because you’re gay? He’d love to come out and ask. Although, what did it even matter now? If he asked him and he admitted it, would it change anything? Probably not. Troy gazed into his blue eyes, watching him so intently. “What?”
Jessie widened his eyes. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
“What?” Troy narrowed his eyes. “I thought you were tired and wanted to nap.”
Jessie blinked. “You’re trying to figure this out. What we’re doing. If you’re okay with it.”
“I’m okay with it.” Troy tightened his hold around him. “I figured it out.” There, he’d told him. As far as he was concerned, that should be all he needed to know. For now.
Jessie wrinkled his brows. “You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Can we please nap now?” Troy laid his head against the inside of the car and closed his eyes. Something warm and soft pressed to his chest. Had Jessie just kissed him? He wouldn’t ask. He’d let it be. Next time, he would definitely kiss Jessie.
Troy sat in the passenger seat of the Trans Am, hanging his arm out the open window, his hair blowing off his face while late afternoon sun flickered over him as they drove under a canopy of trees on the drive to the cabins. Bad Company’s Ready for Love played in the cassette deck. The afternoon had been perfect. They were still friends, probably even better than friends. Sure, maybe there was more to say at some point, more clarification needed, but right now things felt pretty good.
Jessie pulled the car up to his cabin, next to his parents’ white Cadillac Seville, and parked. He smiled at him. “Ready for family time?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Troy opened the car door and stepped out. The scent of barbequing meat floated on the air. “Damn, I’ve got the munchies.” Hopefully, his parents wouldn’t notice he was still a little high.
Jessie got out, walked to the trunk, and opened it. “Help me with this beer.”
Troy met him at the trunk and grabbed a twelve pack by the cardboard holder.
Jessie placed an arm around Troy’s shoulders and squeezed him from the side, letting his head nestle into his neck, then released him.
Troy grinned at him. “What was that for?”
Jessie shrugged. “Nothing.” He clutched a twelve pack of beer in his hand, then closed the trunk. “Just can’t do that when we’re with them.” He cocked his head toward the cabins.
Troy snickered. “You can hug me. That’s not weird. Just no lying naked on my bed together or something.” What stupid thing just came out of my mouth? He widened his eyes, looking at Jessie.
Jessie lifted a brow. “You thinking about being in bed together?”
Troy scoffed. “No. Stop it.” He walked to his cabin and opened the door.
His mother stood at the kitchen island in a red and white striped shirt and blue Bermuda shorts, cleaning corn on the cob into the trash can. “Look who finally showed up.”
“We bought beer.” Troy stepped through the cabin with Jessie following and set the twelve-pack on the kitchen table, then unloaded it into the shelf on the refrigerator door.
“How was the parade?” Troy glanced at his mother.
“Same as usual.” She set a clean ear of corn on the counter. “What have you two been up to?”
Troy’s gaze caught on Jessie’s. He snorted. “Just playing some frisbee, Mom.” And jerking off. And hugging. And napping almost naked in the back seat of Jessie’s car.
Jessie gave him a wicked grin.
Yeah, we’re thinking the same thing. “So, where is everyone?” Troy kept his gaze fixed on Jessie’s. He loved looking at him now. Why had he never noticed what a fox his best friend was? How come Jessie had never had a girlfriend? Because he’s gay, you dork.
“The other kids are down at the lake. Your fathers are out talking politics around the grill and Jessie’s mother is fixing potato salad.” She shucked another ear of corn.
“Let’s go have a beer on the porch.” Jessie beamed at Troy.
“Okay.” Troy grabbed two beers off the shelf and handed one to him. He leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Sounds like we still have some time before dinner and family time.” As he straightened, he looked him over, admiring him again.
Jessie nodded, pulling his beer can open.