Chapter 20 #2
“I… I worked for an advertising company, a big one. Everything went well, until it didn’t.
One day, I got accused of infringing copyright and stealing funds.
I don’t know who started that rumor, but it easily went around, and they even had fake proof at the beginning.
Police got involved, public prosecution got involved.
Everyone got involved,” he talks so fast as if he is scared the words might run away from him.
“My boss was on my side and made sure every single testimony and piece of proof got looked at properly. Still, it took months until they found out I was innocent and the evidence was forged. But at that point it didn’t matter anymore.
” He looks down at his hands. “I worked for a fancy company, had fancy friends and a fancy apartment,” he says more to himself than to me. “I was shallow.”
“None of that is true,” I say firmly. “You had your dreams, and you worked for them. You relied on people around you, because that’s what we do.
You couldn’t anticipate what they would do.
This”—I make a gesture to summarize it all—“was impossible to predict. No one imagines starting out in a company just to get their name slandered like that. It’s actually insane. ” I pause. “Do you know who did it!?”
“Two guys who were jealous of me. Our boss offered me a promotion, although I was one of the new employees.” He pauses. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t even know what happened to them. I only know that they have a lawsuit going against them.”
We pick our marshmallows off the stick and eat them. They are slightly burnt, but it’s part of the fun. “But that’s not all that happened?”
He shakes his head, his hands tensing. I take one of them into mine, happy when he doesn’t pull them back. “My parents…”
Ah, right. At least I know a bit about them. “Aspen told me about them when he first came into town and we became friends,” I say.
“He did?” He looks up at me.
“Yeah, there was a huge fallout which made him leave everything behind, but you know that already.”
“I do, but I never knew what truly went down between them.”
“I am sure Aspen will tell you if you ask, but it wasn’t pretty,” I say.
“When all of that happened to me, I thought at least my parents would back me up.”
“But they didn’t?” I ask sadly.
He shakes his head. “Dad was furious, and Mom cried. She kept telling me what a failure I am. What did she do to deserve two such useless sons? But that wasn’t the worst.” He recoils again, but this time I have him, making sure to hold him so he knows he is safe.
“Dad found out I am gay. He followed me… You know, the noise, the sound of the door...”
“Oh no,” I murmur.
“He didn’t react well.”
I didn’t know much about Leo’s story, just a tiny part of it, because it was what made Aspen book a ticket and fly out to the city to look for his brother.
He hadn’t heard from him in days. “Aspen told me a little bit about that,” I say, not wanting to lie to him.
“I don’t know any details, but I know he tried to reach you for days, and then he flew off. ”
“He might have saved my life,” he admits. “At that point, I was just sitting in my apartment, not able to do anything. I couldn’t even think. Then he came to save me.”
“Wayne, huh?” I ask, quoting the nickname Robin sometimes uses.
This finally draws a smile from him. “Yes, like my superhero.”
“And that’s it,” he says. “Aspen made sure to drag me to a doctor. Meanwhile, the police had cleared my name, but there was no going back anymore for me. I couldn’t. I… apparently, I am suffering from severe burnout and a mental breakdown. Pretty pathetic.”
“Yeah, absolutely pathetic how the people around you treated you,” I say, furrowing my brows. I try to hold my anger in. Leo doesn’t need me angry or upset, he needs me to listen and accept what he is telling me. “It’s fucking unbelievable!”
Leo’s lips tremble. “Do you really think that?”
I draw back a little to take both his hands, looking into his eyes.
“Nothing of this was your fault, Leo. The awful decisions other people make are not on you. You just wanted to live your life without hurting anyone, and you got offered a promotion because that’s how good you were.
The people around you made their choice, and it was a fucking horrible one, and fortunately, they are facing the repercussions for it now.
” I squeeze his hands. “Nothing is wrong with you. You are perfect the way you are, and I love you for who you are.” I pause, my mind suddenly stuttering.
“I just said the last part out loud, didn’t I?
This is not supposed to pressure you and—”
“Do you really mean it?” Leo asks.
“Yes, maybe it’s stupid to say it so early, but I love you.”
Leo’s whole face lights up before he lets go of my hands and tackles me in a hug.
“I am so happy. Obviously, I love you too.” He beams. “And I never said that before. You know, I was always wondering how it would feel to be in love with someone, and how I’d know,“ he pauses.
“I am kind of an overthinker,” he says, sounding flustered.
“That’s good,” I chuckle. “Because we just established that I am an overthinker too.”
“One of us has to be the voice of reason,” Leo says. “And I am not sure if Barkley counts.”
“I think we are pretty good at calling each other out,” I say.
“Maybe.” Leo smiles, his eyes darting around nervously. “So, before I had my embarrassing breakdown…” When I pull him closer, his confidence seems to grow as well. “Where were we?”
I tilt my head. “You were about to get naked,” I say bluntly. “I would say it was a solid 70% chance that you would ride my dick.”
Leo chuckles. “Couldn’t say it more romantic, huh?”
“Facts are facts,” I deadpan. When Leo looks at me through his beautiful brown eyes, I can’t help but smile. “Tell me if I am wrong, babe.”
“You aren’t wrong,” he says. “Did I kill the mood?”
“Nah, if anything, I just killed it.”
“If we both killed it… You know, two minus are a plus,” he says. “So, this means none of us did anything to kill the mood, and we can just proceed as planned. Facts are facts.”
We look at each other before bursting into laughter.
Tonight was a whirlwind of emotions, but I am there for it.
Barkley is snoring at the front step of the door now, so we keep it open for him.
The hut itself is rather spacious. It has a small kitchen, a cozy living room and a separate second room, which is the bedroom.
I close the door behind us while Leo wiggles out of his clothes, only leaving his underwear on. Once done, he smiles impishly at me.
“Are you coming?” he asks.
“Like I need any more invitation,” I mutter, tugging off my sweater and shirt, before pulling Leo into my arms, smashing my lips against his.
Leo gasps against the kiss, then wraps his arms around me and presses his body against mine.
His skin feels so warm. I have gotten a glimpse of him already at the club, but this is the first time I am going to see him completely naked.
“Please tell me you brought condoms and lube,” Leo mutters against my lips.
“Don’t worry.” Without letting him go, I grab a small bag and take the needed items out of it.
“Wow, you really came prepared!” Leo grins. “So, was it the plan all along to get into my pants?”
“Let’s just say I wanted to be prepared for all eventualities.”
Leo’s face lights up with a smile while he sits down at the edge of the bed. He keeps his eyes pinned on me while he pulls down his underpants, leaving himself completely naked. Then he pulls a knee up and leans his chin against it. “Your turn.”
I can’t quite grasp what’s happening right now, but I am here for all of it. Following Leo’s lead, I take off my clothes, making sure to give him a full-frontal show. His gaze lingers on my cock, my erection growing under his gaze. Leo’s cheeks flush slightly. “Like what you see?” I tease.
“Yes.”
I can see him chew on his lips and move closer, resting my palms on his legs. There is something oddly intimate about being so close to somebody while we are both completely naked. “Why are you nervous now?” I ask softly. “You know, we can stop anytime. We don’t even need to do anything.”
“Because it matters,” Leo says, driving his fingers through my hair. He slips backwards on the bed, pulling me with him. “I just realized that I never slept with anyone who I was in love with. Previously, it didn’t matter if I performed well or if I didn’t, but today it suddenly matters to me.”
“You don’t need to perform well,” I say. “It’s the first time we are getting intimate, minus the moment in the club. Obviously, we don’t know each other’s bodies yet, but we’ll get there. It’s going to be great just because I am going to do this with you and not some random stranger.”
“You are right, that was silly.”
“It’s not silly. It means something to me, too. Of course I want you to enjoy yourself. If it helps, I can’t wait to fuck you ever since I sucked your dick in that club. Or maybe even earlier.”
Leo grins. “So, you think I am fuckable?”
“You have a delicious ass and I can’t wait to push my dick into your tight little hole.”
“Yes,” Leo gapes. “I want you to fuck me!”
He takes my glasses and carefully puts them on the nightstand, a gesture I find so sweet and hot at the same time, it makes me want to make this guy mine even more.
The moment Leo turns his attention back to me, I lunge forward, capturing his lips in a heated kiss.
He gasps, his hands moving to my back and holding onto me while I push my tongue past his lips.
He instantly obliges, opening up for me willingly.
Moving my free hand to his back, I push it down until I reach his ass, giving it a little squeeze. Leo arches his back, moaning.