Chapter Thirteen
Toby
Taking Ernest at his word, and with his help, they had booked an afternoon session at the bowling alley. The place had a café and bar attached to it, so they could have something to eat after. In Toby’s mind, that was like two dates in one and fulfilled the criteria for getting naked.
There’s nothing stopping you now.
Date first!
Not that he hadn’t already done the naked thing in front of his mate.
Toby hadn’t failed to notice how much Ernest seemed to enjoy looking at him.
Which didn’t help with how much Toby’s mind kept jumping to stripping again and bouncing all over that big body encased in clothes that left very little to Toby’s overactive imagination on size difference.
“Is this the right place?” Ernest’s question brought Toby from his wayward thoughts to see they had pulled up out front of their building.
“It is. There’s a place around back where Hector parks his car. There’ll be room there for you.” He smiled sweetly at Ernest.
Ernest's obvious nerves helped Toby calm down. He was so sweet and big. The Fates had been very generous to Toby, and although he’d felt a little concerned at first at Ernest’s confession of being with Pierre, who was much prettier than Toby, the adoring way he stared at Toby soon blocked that from his mind.
That and the scent of his arousal, it was as strong as Toby’s.
He'd given up thinking of ways to disguise it when really he wanted everyone to know that Ernest was his.
“Would you like to meet my friends?”
Ernest finished parking before he answered. “Oh… yes… I should have introduced you to Rick, he’s my only real friend.”
Toby pushed up the too-long sleeve and patted his bicep—because Ernest beamed at him when he did that—giving him another smile.
“Now you’ll have Morty, Niall, and Hector, oh, and Lionel, he’s best friends with Hector and of course Lionel’s mate Brad.
They met too at a Bucket List Buddies event.
Isn’t that cool?” Toby realized he was rambling when Ernest looked a little lost at all the names he’d thrown at him.
“It’s alright, I’ll introduce everyone to you.
” Another pat, and Toby got out of the car, his bare feet cold on the concrete as he held up the pant legs to stop them dragging on the ground waiting for Ernest to follow.
“The smells coming from inside are delightful.”
Toby held out his free hand, and Ernest took it, fingers entwining, giving his heart a little shot of adrenaline at how pleased his mate looked.
“Morty is a genius. I work in the café, and Niall deals with the financial stuff and promotion, social media and such, to let people know about us. Though he helps me, too. He’s manning the café while I’m with you.
” While chatting, they walked down the alleyway and slipped in the back door.
The clatter of something dropping came with a squeak. “Oh…Toby, you startled me,” Morty giggled, bending to pick up the plastic containers. “How did it go? Did you find your mate?” When he stood upright, he then caught sight of Ernest.
“I did. Ernest, this is Morty, one of my best friends. Morty, say hi to Ernest.”
“Why aren’t you a big boy,” said Morty, blushing, his gaze traveling up Ernest.
“Erm. Hello Morty.” Ernest held out his hand, then awkwardly patted Morty’s shoulder when he noticed his hands were full.
“I’m so happy Toby found you, these events that Bucket List Buddies are running, they’re like mate magnets! I met mine at the first one, although more stepped on would be more accurate. Though you didn’t really meet at the event, more because of it, I suppose. But still you met because of it.”
He grinned cheekily at Toby, then he seemed to notice the clothes, eyes widening. “Wow… erm, that’s a new look for you. Did you go to an op shop or something?”
“When I shifted, I needed some clothes. We didn’t think about that in my bird’s grand scheme to find our mate this morning.”
Ernest stroked the hand Toby was using to hold up baggy trousers, patting it reassuringly.
“Morty. Morty,” Hector called from above over the sounds of Kaya crying. “Kaya needs you.”
The tubs scattered about Morty once more when his arms windmilled for a second from turning so fast to glance up. He grinned sheepishly at Ernest, then darted for the stairs. “I’m coming, darlin’.” He waved an arm in the air. “I’ll catch you later after my daughter finishes with her daddy’s boobs.”
The rather alarmed look Ernest shot in the direction Morty disappeared, leaving the tubs where they had fallen, had Toby tuck his lips together to prevent the giggles escaping. Morty had post pregnancy forgetfulness. Or that’s what he kept telling them.
Toby bent to pick up the tubs, then realized they had éclairs—more squished than whole—inside them. “Morty’s a little clumsy.” Okay, that was like saying the church was a little religious, but Ernest didn’t need to know that. “And forgetful after the birth of Kaya.”
“Oh.” Ernest helped Toby by taking the tubs and stacking them in his arms. “How old is the baby?”
“Just a few weeks old. She’s so adorable,” gushed Toby, his thoughts wandering to how he might be if he had babies.
Rushing things, aren’t we, when you’re the one who is insisting on going on a date!
There’s no harm in thinking about such things beforehand.
“I’m sure she is.” Ernest blushed prettily. “I’d like to meet her… when it’s convenient… but after the date.”
Toby giggled at how insistent Ernest was—it should happen after their date—showing his eagerness.
Toby calculated that five minutes was all he needed to get changed, and they had a ten-minute drive.
And yes, it would be great to introduce Kaya to Ernest, but Toby was excited to get on with his date, too, and hopefully it would progress to more than talking.
“Yes, after.” Sexy time. Though he didn’t voice that, he just guided Ernest down to his apartment.
Inside, they left the tubs in the kitchen, which Toby instantly forgot about when they entered his apartment.
He left Ernest on the couch with the remote.
He ran into his bedroom and stripped off reluctantly when he was taking away Ernest’s heavenly scent.
The sweater was far too big to consider leaving it on, so he switched it for a T-shirt that made his eyes appear brighter—so Niall had said when he’d tried it on in the shop—he matched that to a pair of ass hugging jeans, his mind on how much his ass would be on show when bowling.
He remembered to check his feet were clean, before putting on socks and sneakers.
He ran a comb through his shaggy hair, then took ten seconds to check how he looked before dashing out of the bedroom. Ernest stood looking at the array of pictures of Toby with his friends and family.
“They’re my family.”
He nodded, turning with a framed picture of the three friends all smiling with a big Christmas tree behind them, glowing with lights. “I can see that. You’re all so young in this picture.”
“We were sixteen.” Toby stared at the picture, remembering how happy they were decorating the tree.
“It had been a tough year for Morty as his family had kicked him out for being gay. I asked my parents to let Morty come stay with us. That was the year we started a tradition.” He wasn’t sure it would continue now with things changing.
“Every year we make sure to take time before Thanksgiving to decorate our tree.”
“That’s lovely.” He put the frame back down. “Morty’s very lucky to have you as a friend.”
“I’m the lucky one now with everything that his mate has done for me and Niall.” He went to Ernest, not sure what was going on, when a furrow appeared at the bridge of his nose. He went with his instincts and stretched up to cup his whiskered cheeks. “But do you know what makes me even luckier?”
He held Ernest's gaze, working to convey his feelings as he shook his head. “You.” Not quite able to reach to kiss Ernest’s plump lips, he came up on his tiptoes. He witnessed a flare of yearning right before their lips touched.
Heat, sweetness and something else… craving, left an impression as Ernest took over the kiss, deepening it.
His mouth moved slowly, methodically—thoroughly—tasting Toby.
The kiss heated one degree at a time. The measure of it built from his curling toes to the top of his scalp. He felt it everywhere.
The fitted jeans now felt like Toby had shrunk them in the dryer.
When he eventually eased out of it, Toby wasn’t sure how the world around him had changed so much when everything looked the same—it just had. “You’re really good at that kissing lark.”
Ernest wore a bemused, flushed look. “I’m not sure what to say.”
Toby grinned and winked. “We don’t need words with kisses like that.” Holding out his hand. “Date,” he reminded himself, “we have a date to go on.” Then, when they got back here, all bets were off, along with their clothes.
“Oh, crap!” he exclaimed as the thought registered, and he clutched at the hand that had taken his.
“What is it?”
Would Ernest want to come back here? Go back to his?
Toby had to be at work early, and he didn’t have a car. He felt warmth flood through him as he considered how to explain what was going on in his head. The kiss most definitely made Toby want to say, ‘to heck with work’. But he couldn't let his friends down.
“Toby?” Ernest clasped his fingers tighter.
“I have to work in the morning,” he stressed.
A frown appeared, and then a light dawned in his eyes. “I… could… you know… stay here… for… yes… that,” he stammered.
Toby tugged Ernest with all his strength to the door, eager to get going, to come back for that. Then maybe he’d be able to think beyond what was happening in his way-too-tight jeans.
Humans, you’re so funny. Sex. For sex.
Doesn’t matter what it’s called, so just be quiet, I need to concentrate.
Toby rolled his eyes heavenward and headed out of the apartment, up the stairs, and out into the fresh air. The weight of Ernest's work roughened hand in his was perfect. How would it feel tracing over his skin?
It didn’t help to have these thoughts, considering how aroused they were. The smell seemed to have created a bubble around them. Was it a mate thing?
It made no odds. What worried Toby was how on earth he was going to control large, heavy objects when he felt all trembly on the inside. This was possibly the most unwise decision he’d ever made, but it was too late now. Bowl, eat, then sex!
Yes, Toby could manage everything in that order—possibly.