Chapter 9 #2
My chest flooded with warmth. “Then stop trying.” I drank some of my margarita and skimmed a corn chip through the creamy guacamole. My mind went back to breakfast. “You know Malik got drunk with some dude last night and hooked up.” I chuckled.
“He did?” Eating a chip dipped in guacamole, he tilted his head. “I suppose you and your friends have had plenty of hookups at The Club over the years.”
“Only the last two.” I ate another chip. “I wasn’t old enough to go in there until last year.” And the first time had been on my birthday. I remembered little from that night, thanks to the shots.
“You didn’t have a fake ID?” He smirked at me. “Hell, I’ve been going into bars since I was nineteen.”
“Yeah, but you were in Oregon. You knew where to go.” I took a sip of my drink. “And there aren’t any gay bars in Medford.” I ticked my brows. Had he hooked up with anyone at the bars there?
“Didn’t matter if they were gay or not. I found family there.” He hooked a brow. “There were times Ethan was the one going home alone.”
“I don’t want to hear about this.” With a scoff and my chest heating, I held my palm to him.
“You can keep those stories between you and Ethan.” I was quickly becoming a jealous bastard around him.
I hadn’t been like that in high school. Why was this different?
Maybe I’d been too innocent in high school. Innocent and stupid.
“There are a few gay clubs in Ashland.” He sipped his drink. “I went there only twice.” He shrugged. “It was fun, but it was hard dragging Ethan along with me.”
I blinked. “You dragged Ethan to gay clubs in Ashland?” The dude was very much a free spirit, but still.
“Yeah, I had to bribe him, though, with free beer.” He freed a soft snort. “Which always got him in trouble because the more he drank, the less he realized guys were hitting on him.” He barked out a laugh. “It was pretty funny, actually.”
Peering at him, I said, “Has Ethan ever experimented with guys?” More like, had Ethan ever experimented with him? My gut pinched. Damn it, there I went again.
“Not that I know of. If he did, he never admitted it to me.” He swiped a chip through the guacamole. “What movie do you want to see?”
Thank God, he’d changed the topic. “Let’s see if we can find a good action flick. Something mind-numbing, but good.” I slipped my phone from my shorts and set it on the table. It didn’t matter what we saw. I was happy to spend time with him.
“You always liked action flicks.” Shaking his head, he chuckled and swiped on his phone. “Maybe we can find a funny action flick.”
Oh yeah, he was a comedy guy. We’d spent countless hours watching comedians on Netflix back home. “Pick whatever you want. This date is all about you.” I leaned back as the server dropped off our food.
“No, it shouldn’t be all about me, Eli.” He set his phone next to his plate. “I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Relationships are a two-way street.” He picked up his fork. “We’ll go see the new Marvel comics movie.” He gave me a sly grin. “Those have action and usually a few funny moments.”
“Great.” I cut into my burrito. He was right. I had to quit beating myself up about what happened.
After an enjoyable meal and cuddling as much as possible in a movie theater with an armrest between us, we left the outdoor mall, and I drove him home.
I wanted to spend more time with him, but we both had homework to do.
“Maybe our next date could be at my place? I’d like to cook for you.
” Of course, I’d have to get my roommates out of the house.
Casey was easy, since he was perpetually out with Ryker somewhere.
“Sure. What sort of things can you cook?” He angled himself toward me.
I turned into the parking lot of his apartment complex. “Just about anything.” I hadn’t started cooking in earnest until I’d left home for college. “I cook for the house now, and I must say, there are a few dishes the guys die for.”
“Yeah? Like what?” He swept his tongue across his lower lip.
“Like this chicken with sun-dried tomatoes and artichoke dish I make. I serve it over rice.” I drove into an empty parking spot and put the truck in park. But if I cooked it, I’d have to make extra for the guys to eat later. “It’s fairly healthy since it’s a Mediterranean dish.”
His eyes lit. “Yeah? Damn it, you’re making me hungry.” He rubbed his belly as his gaze landed on my mouth.
I had a feeling he was hungry for more than food. I glanced toward his apartment, the long shadows of early evening sprawling across the landscaping rocks. Would he invite me in? My cock stirred. “I want my roommates out for the night though, so I’ll need to let you know what night.”
“Let me know and I’ll make it happen.” He leaned across the center console, his hand grabbing my nape and pulling me toward him.
As he hovered his lips over mine, he said, “I’ve been dying to kiss you all day.
” He claimed me in a searing kiss, his tongue sliding across my own. My skin heated and tingled.
Hell yeah. Leaning closer to him, I slanted my mouth over his and deepened the kiss, my cock lengthening in an instant. His kiss was full of need, his mouth devouring mine and tongue penetrating me.
As he freed a soft whimper, he crawled over the console and sat in my lap, his knees on either side of my hips. “Fuck, I want you, Eli.” Rocking his hips, his balls brushed across my solid cock through our shorts.
“Good thing you’re a small guy and I have a big-ass truck.
” Raising the edge of my mouth, I grabbed his ass and rubbed him across my aching dick while our mouths clashed once again, sucking and licking as if no one else in the world existed.
Sensation sparked up my spine, and my dick pulsed in my underwear.
Grabbing my cheeks, he thrust against my stomach, shoving his firm dick into my abs and then bit my lower lip, pulling on it. “I jerked off thinking of you last night,” he said, breathless.
“Me too.” Jesus fuck, if we kept this up, I might come in my jeans. “Ride me, Wren.” As he tilted his head back, I nibbled the column of his neck and then sucked the sensitive flesh. I’d leave a mark or two.
Panting, he grabbed my shoulders and dug his fingers in as moan after moan spilled from him. “Can’t…I can’t.” His darkened gaze met mine, his eyelids hooded, and cheeks flushed. “We have to wait. Don’t we?” His face tensed, and he plopped down in my lap.
“Do we?” I glanced between us at the outlines of our cocks. We were both hard as hell. But I had to honor what he wanted. “Guess we’ll be jerking off again tonight?” With a soft chuckle, I brushed a long brown bang from his forehead. He was stunning, and at some point, I would have him.
“Yeah, guess so.” He climbed off me and into the passenger seat. “Shit, I don’t know what came over me.” He choked back a laugh. “I can’t resist you. You make me insane, Eli.” As his forehead wrinkled, his gaze found mine. “Dinner this week at your place.”
“Yes.” With a sigh, my attention turned to his apartment across the courtyard. “I’ll walk you to your door, but I have to give it a minute.” I glared at my rock-hard dick. Stand down, for fuck's sake.
“Yeah, me too.” Shoving his hand inside his jeans, he pushed his dick to the side and gasped. “Damn it, even that feels too good.”
“You’re not making this any easier for me.” I planted my wrist on my steering wheel. Would he let me have my way with him next time? God, I hoped so. I might die of lust otherwise.
With a gentle grin, he said, “Okay, let’s go.” He stepped out of my truck.
Sure, he wasn’t still sporting a hard-on. “Okay.” After leaving my truck, I met him on the pathway and grasped his hand.
“Grace was watching us from the window last night.” Dipping his head, he freed a short laugh.
“She was?” It sounded like something my roommates would do. “Did she like the show?” I plodded along next to him and stopped at his door.
Nodding, he said, “She did. She wanted all the details about last night.” He faced me, holding both of my hands. “For whatever reason, she wants to be sure we work this out.”
“She’s a smart woman.” I let a smile creep across my lips. “Listen to her.” Cupping his cheek, I pressed my lips on his, not lingering too long this time. I didn’t need to walk back to my truck with a fresh boner.
“I will. Let me know about dinner.” He grasped the door handle. “Goodnight, Eli. I had another great time with you.” With a heart-melting grin, he stepped inside his apartment.
“Holy fuck.” I skimmed my palm down my face and regrouped. He’d be the death of me if we didn’t get past kissing this week.
After driving home, I stepped into the house through the front door, and three sets of eyeballs swung my way.
“Dude, you’re back from your date. How was it?” Casey stalked toward me, his hands behind his back. As he got close, he sniffed me. “I smell cologne that is not yours. Did you fuck?”
“No, and back off.” With a huffed chuckle, I pushed him away. Casey could be a nosy fucker, but he always meant well.
“So, tell us what happened?” Casey said, planting his hands on his hips.
“Yeah, inquiring minds want to know.” Malik, centered on the sectional and next to Tex, paused the game on the TV with the remote.
I strode toward the kitchen. “We had a pleasant lunch followed by the new Marvel movie and made plans to see each other again.” Maybe I could use this to my advantage.
Pulling a water bottle out of the refrigerator, I said, “I’d like to make him dinner one night this week.
” I faced them all. “I’ll prepare the chicken dish, and I’ll make enough for leftovers, but you need to let me have the house alone.
” I unscrewed the cap of my water bottle.
Tex’s brows raised. “There’s Thursday night football. Me and Malik can hit the sports bar around the corner.” He focused on Casey.
“I can spend the evening at Ryker’s house.” With a snort, he said, “At least I know I’ll get some.” He dropped into a chair at the kitchen island. “Haven’t you two already had sex when you were in high school? What’s the hold-up now?” He planted his elbow on the counter and his cheek in his hand.
“We’re taking it slow. We still have some emotional hurdles to get through.” More like Wren did. But then, I’d let what had happened affect me, too, hadn’t I? I drank my water.
With a shrug, Tex said, “So, you can invite him over on Thursday and we’ll leave you alone.”
“Text us when it’s safe to return and don’t let it go too late.” Malik tsked. “I need my beauty sleep.”
“Yeah, yeah.” With my heart lightening, I fished my phone from my pocket and texted Wren. Hopefully, Thursday would work for him.
Eli
I can get the house to myself on Thursday. Does that work for you?
Wren
It does. What time?
“What time should I tell him?” Holding my phone to my face, I peeked at them.
“The game starts at five-fifteen, so we’ll be gone by five,” Malik said.
“Okay, then I’ll tell him to be here around five.” I texted Wren the time. Having him here would let us move forward in ways being out in public couldn’t.