Chapter 10 #2
When the song ended, Ethan selected Zane’s acoustic cover of Taylor Swift’s “Style”. “This is a fun one.”
Blake tapped his hand against his chest in time with the music. “I like it. Who’s singing?”
“It’s my friend Zane. He mostly performs parody songs, but he also records covers. He’s a little obsessed with this song.”
“I always wanted to learn how to play the guitar,” Blake said, his voice wistful.
“Yeah? Zane could probably teach you sometime.”
As the song wrapped up, Ethan handed his phone to Blake.
Blake slowly typed in a few words and scrolled through search results, squinting at the screen. “There it is,” he mumbled to himself.
When Blake hit play, the mournful sigh of stringed instruments, perhaps a quartet, caressed Ethan’s ears. The melancholy melody built slowly, resonating deep in his body, expressing the ache of emotions too complex to describe in words.
“What’s the name of this piece?” he asked.
“‘On the Nature of Daylight.’ My father plays the cello. He moved to Europe before I was born to play in an orchestra. On one of their world tours, they stopped in LA and I went to his show. This was one of the songs I saw him play.”
“Is he still in Europe?”
“Yeah. I’ve only met him a few times.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sometimes I feel like part of me is missing, you know? I love my mom, and I wouldn’t trade our life together for anything, but…”
“But sometimes you wonder what it would be like if your dad were around.”
“Yeah.” Taking Ethan’s hand, Blake asked, “Are you close to your dad?”
“Sometimes. He’s been riding me hard lately.
I know it’s because he wants the best for me, but it still drives me crazy.
When I was young, my dad was in the military.
He was away from home a lot. Whenever I told him that I missed him, he would tell me, ‘Look up at the sky. We’re under the same stars.
’ It always made me feel closer to him.”
Ethan tilted his head until it rested against Blake’s. “You could do that, too, to feel close to your dad.”
Blake pointed to the hazy sky, washed out by the glow of the city. “Except you can’t really see the stars in San Francisco.”
Ethan scrolled through his phone, searching the available apps. He installed one quickly and held his phone above them. On the screen was a brilliant field of stars in every color imaginable. “See? You and your dad are under the same stars.”
Ethan lowered his phone and rolled onto his side facing Blake. “And so are we. These are our stars, too.”
Blake cradled Ethan’s jaw and rubbed his cheek with his thumb. They met in a kiss, their tongues sliding together in a languid dance.
When they separated, Blake smacked his lips. “You taste like Jujyfruits.”
Ethan brushed Blake’s hair off his forehead. “Can I go home with you?”
Blake nodded and kissed Ethan again as the violins played on, building to a hopeful crescendo.
Blake
They tumbled through the door to Blake’s apartment, locked in a passionate kiss, their hands all over each other.
The only light came from the fixture over the kitchen sink, which Dustin had left on for him. Blake nudged the door closed, and unzipped Ethan’s hoodie. He ran his hands over Ethan’s torso, loving how lean he was. It was the type of body Blake had dreamed about having when he was growing up.
Reluctantly, Blake pulled back from the kiss. “Can I have a minute to pick up my room?”
Ethan let his hands drop to Blake’s waist. “Of course.”
“I’ll be right back.” Blake stole another quick kiss, then walked backward toward his room, doing his best to remain calm and collected. With a final awkward smile, he ducked into his room and closed the door, slumping against it and flipping on the light. He surveyed his room with mounting panic.
Shit. Shit. Shit!
Evidence of his porn career was everywhere.
He unfolded the quilt at the foot of his bed and draped it over his garment rack of costumes.
Rushing over to the shelf over his desk, he took down his three GayVN awards and his custom Fleshlight.
His gaze darted around the room, frantically looking for a hiding place.
He shoved everything into his closet and kicked the door shut.
Blake gave the room a quick scan and groaned when his eyes landed on his massive ring light and phone tripod – equipment that screamed “cam boy.” He raced over and carefully placed them under his desk, where they’d be hidden from sight by his chair.
Satisfied that the room was depornified, he took off his shirt, shoes, and socks, and kicked them under the bed with the rest of the dirty laundry that was strewn on his floor.
After spraying cologne on his chest, he took a deep breath and opened his bedroom door. With a sultry swagger, he strolled into the living room.
“Where were we…” Blake said, trailing off when he found the room empty. Ethan’s shoes were by the door, so he hadn’t left. Confused, Blake glanced down the hall, but the bathroom was dark.
“Ethan?”
“I’m in the kitchen.”
Blake crossed the living room, and stopped short when he reached the kitchen, his heart leaping into his throat.
Dustin was leaning against the counter in his robe, eating ice cream straight from the container and casually chatting with Ethan. He looked Blake up and down with a smirk. “Hey, stud.”
Blake crossed his arms over his chest. “Hi, Dusty. I didn’t realize you were home.”
“I just popped out to grab a snack. I’m going to watch The Prestige.”
“Again?”
“It’s career research.” Dustin popped a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth and pointed the spoon at Blake. “It would be like you watching––”
(Please don’t say Magic Mike or Boogie Nights)
Blake tensed up and must have looked panic-stricken because Dustin snapped his mouth shut and swallowed. “Um…” Dustin bounced the spoon in an obvious attempt to buy some time. “Cocktail!” he said triumphantly. “That Tom Cruise movie.”
Blake’s shoulders relaxed. “Because I’m a bartender.”
“Yup, exactly.” Dustin pushed away from the counter. “I should let you two get back to your date. Nice meeting you, Ethan.”
“Nice meeting you, too.”
Dustin strolled by them, and before he disappeared down the hallway leading to their bedrooms, he called out, “Have fun!”
Blake huffed a soft laugh. “Well, that’s my roommate.”
Ethan stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Blake’s waist. “We had a nice chat. He just came out to say hi and introduce himself. But now that we’re alone again…”
A sly smile spread across Blake’s face. He took Ethan’s hand, and they hurried to his room. Blake closed the bedroom door behind them and took a seat on his bed, legs apart. His cock, already hardening in his jeans, strained against his fly.
Ethan stepped between Blake’s knees. “If I promise we’ll go further in the future,” he said, running his fingers through Blake’s hair, “is it okay if we take things slow?”
After years in the porn industry, Blake had lost touch with what “slow” meant. He was used to buttfucking within an hour of meeting someone. But with Ethan, he was up for anything. Slow, fast, it wouldn’t matter. He just wanted to be close to him.
“I’m okay with slow.”
Blake lifted the hem of Ethan’s T-shirt, and Ethan bent forward so he could pull it over his head. He took a moment to appreciate Ethan’s bare chest. His pecs were small, but well-defined, and his stomach was flat with a hint of ab definition. A light dusting of dark hair covered his pecs.
Blake trailed his fingers up Ethan’s chest, keeping his touch light and teasing. When he scratched his fingernails over both nipples, Ethan moaned, his eyelids fluttering closed.
Blake let his hands roam lower, tracing Ethan’s treasure trail and coming to rest on his waistband, a hair’s breadth away from the outline of his hard cock. He paused with his fingers on the button to Ethan’s jeans. “Can I?”
Ethan looked down at him, his lips parting on a quiet exhale, and nodded.
His fingers trembling with anticipation, Blake undid the button and slowly unzipped Ethan’s fly, trying to savor the moment. He’d been wanting to touch Ethan for days. To feel the heat of his skin, and taste his sweat.
Inch by inch, light-grey cotton briefs came into view, the only barrier remaining between Blake and the rigid length of Ethan’s dick.
Unable to hold back any longer, Blake slipped his hands under Ethan’s waistband and pushed both his jeans and underwear down his thighs, freeing his erection.
Ethan’s cock was amazing, long and thick, with a nicely tapered, dark pink head. Not as big as Blake’s, but a good size for his frame. Blake gripped it gently, eliciting a soft gasp from Ethan, a sound that caused Blake’s cock to throb in his jeans.
As he stroked Ethan’s warm, rigid shaft, Blake buried his nose in the musky hair at its base. He knew Ethan dyed his hair but was surprised to see his natural color was a deep coffee brown. Moving lower, he nuzzled Ethan’s balls, breathing in the rich scent of his sweat.
“Take off your jeans,” Ethan murmured.
While Blake quickly wriggled out of his jeans, Ethan kicked away his pants and took off his socks. Fully naked, he sat on Blake’s bed, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.
Blake licked his lower lip and ran his hand along Ethan’s thigh. He couldn’t get enough of Ethan’s body, with his lithe limbs and lean chest. Even his feet were cute, with short toes and high arches.
Blake’s body was too perfect and porn-ready. He looked like all the other guys – bulky muscles, waxed chest, fake tan, and pubes as manicured as fine topiary. He knew he was attractive, but he preferred Ethan’s more natural boy-next-door look.
Ethan slid to the center of the bed, sitting with his legs open in a V-shape, and patted the covers between his knees. “Come here. Sit facing me, and put your legs around me.”
Swinging his legs onto the bed, Blake positioned himself in front of Ethan, with one leg to either side of Ethan’s hips.