Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
brAD
Why did I say that? I want Charlie, but I’m not sure how this will work. I’ve hooked up with guys. But dating a guy? I’ve never been interested in that. And that’s not even the biggest problem. But it’s hard to focus on any of that while Charlie’s holding my cock in his hands like it’s a precious gift.
“Whatever I want?” Charlie asks breathlessly, like it’s Christmas. Honestly, he’s the gift. Sweet. Sexy. Perfect.
I kiss him with absolutely no finesse, just needing to taste him again. It’s messy and not nearly enough. I thread my fingers through his hair and deepen the kiss. He moans and strokes me faster, and shit , this is going to be over way too quickly.
I kiss along his jaw, enjoying the feel of his soft bristles against my lips. “What do you want, Charlie?” I nuzzle between his hair and neck. God, he smells amazing.
His mouth opens and shuts. And his face pinkens deliciously. I press my mouth against his hot cheek. “Tell me.”
“I want to see you.” His eyes meet mine. “All of you.”
I hesitate. I take care of myself, but I’m still forty-seven. Plenty of muscle. And plenty of padding. Some guys like that. But Charlie is twenty-seven.
He steps closer, his eyes on me as he places his hands on my chest. “Is this okay?”
He’s already seen me from the waist down. Held my cock in his hands. Why is this scarier?
My voice isn’t working, so I nod. Charlie unbuttons my shirt with trembling hands, and his nervousness eases mine. I want his hands on me. All over my body. Imperfect as it is. He opens my shirt and pulls it over my shoulders. Once I’m completely naked, Charlie devours me with his eyes. My dick plumps back up as his fingers dig into my chest hair. “Brad, you’re so hot.”
He buries his face in my chest, and it does things to my body and my heart. His eyes flick to mine as he leans in to suck my nipple. Oh fuck. I cup the back of his head, gently holding him in place as he teases the hard nub. He pinches my other nipple and pulls back. His lips are shiny.
I slam our mouths together and lift Charlie. He wraps his legs around me, and I hold him close, with one arm under his ass and the other wrapped around him with my hand on the back of his neck. I carry him to the nearest wall and push him against it. This frees one of my hands so I can remedy the fact that Charlie is still completely clothed. I fumble with the buttons on his shirt, not wanting to let go of him long enough to finish the job.
Charlie squirms in my arms until I let him down. He quickly undresses and tosses his clothes out of the way. “Now, where were we?” he asks breathlessly, giggling when I grab him again.
I crush him against the wall and kiss him until his eyes are glazed over. I want to fuck him. But I’m bigger than most, and Charlie seems inexperienced. Although he could use toys and that thought almost does me in. I shift so our cocks are lined up, and I wrap my hand around us both as best I can. Charlie moans, his head thrown back, exposing his long neck. This man is beautiful. Inside and out. His breath stutters as my hand speeds up. This would be easier with lube, but I don’t want to let him go. Never want to let him go.
I swipe my thumb over our cockheads, gathering the precum to smooth the way. But it’s not enough, so I spit in my hand and mix it all together as I tighten my grip on our hard cocks.
“Why is that hot as fuck?” Charlie asks. He moans again, and I speed up, trying to hold back my orgasm so I can watch him come.
“Brad, yes. Don’t stop. Please—” He tightens in my arms and comes, his release coating my hand. I can’t hold back any longer and pleasure rockets through me as I press my nose against Charlie’s neck.
We lazily kiss again as I carry Charlie to the bed.
“I need to clean up. Take a shower.”
I shake my head and kiss him. “Not yet.” I find a cloth in the bathroom and clean us both up. Then I lie beside him and pull him into my arms so I’m spooning him. “We can shower together if you want. But I’m not in my twenties anymore so I need recovery time. And this.” I run my nose over the back of his neck, and he giggles.
“Brad Rathborn’s a snuggler? I’m learning so much.”
He turns his head to capture my mouth in a sweet kiss. This is unusual for me. I’m not usually emotional or clingy after sex, but Charlie has me wanting so much more that I never want to let go.
Later, we shower together, and Charlie gets so worked up when I’m washing his hair that I sink to my knees to finish the job. Afterward, I dry him off and carry him back to bed.
Sleep evades me, so I watch Charlie. The rise and fall of his chest. The flutter of his long lashes against his cheeks. His lips as he mumbles something unintelligible. He’s beautiful. Angelic. Vulnerable.
In his work and in life, Charlie wants to be treated as an adult. But there are times, like tonight, when he needs someone to take care of him.
And I’m humbled by the fact that, for some reason, he picked me.
The next day, I’m expected at Chuck and Minni’s to watch the playoffs. Not showing up would bring questions I don’t want to answer.
My nerves are all over the place. What if they can tell?
“You’re late,” Chuck says from the couch. “The game’s already started.”
“Ignore him. No one’s even scored yet.” Minni squeezes my arm fondly and nods toward the kitchen. “You know where the food is.”
I grab a beer and study the table laden with snacks. How can I eat with my stomach churning? I swallow the guilt, load up on snacks, and find my usual spot on the couch. It’s the playoffs, and Chuck already gave me shit for missing the Kansas City game.
Does Charlie watch football? He didn’t in high school. But things might have changed. In fact, lots of things have changed. And nope. Not thinking about Charlie and last night.
“What’s up with you?”
“Hmm?”
Chuck pushes my arm, and I drop the salsa-covered chip I’d been holding and not eating.
“Asshole,” I grumble as I clean the mess, leaving a small stain on my jeans. The cheers from the game catch my attention. Chicago scored again, and I missed it. They make the extra point with ease. I’m not a Bears fan, so normally, I’d be yelling about this.
I’m not the only one missing the game. “Where did Minni go?”
“She got a call while you were zoned out.” He shifts, giving me his full attention even though the commercial is over. “What’s going on, Brad? And don’t say nothing.” He pins me with a look. He’s damn good at that. “You were acting weird yesterday too.”
“Just a lot going on,” I say, washing down the mild hysteria bubbling in my throat with another swig of my beer.
His gaze wanders in the direction of the kitchen. “The head of the school board is on a rant, but Minni’s been getting louder, so I’d say we have less than five minutes until she’s back. Spill the tea.”
“Don’t ever say those words again.”
He laughs. “Now you sound like Charlie.”
Right. Charlie. I open my mouth to tell him it’s nothing when words start pouring out. All on their own. “I met… someone .” Why am I hesitant about this part? This is my best friend. I meet his gaze. “A guy.”
He frowns. “Stop being so dramatic. I probably knew you were bi before you did. You met a guy. Okay. What’s the problem?”
I laugh, and some of the mounting pressure in my chest eases. “He’s hot. Sweet. Adorable.”
“Those don’t sound like problems, Brad.”
“No, I guess not.” I scrub my fingers through my beard. “I don’t know if he’s really into me.” I shrug. “I don’t date guys. Ever.”
“What about that one with the birthmark?” He furrows his brow like he’s thinking of his name. Did I even tell him the guy’s name?
“That was just sex.” I clamp my lips shut. What am I doing?
“And this isn’t?”
This isn’t anything I’ve ever experienced before. “I don’t know. I like him.”
“Why not just sleep with the guy? See where it goes.”
I choke on my drink. Get it together, Brad. He doesn’t know you’re talking about his son. Thank fuck. Or that you took care of that last night. Although, not much sleeping was involved. “What if I want more?”
“Again, what’s the problem? If you want more, go for it.”
“In this town?”
“You think those homophobic assholes are going to run you out of town?”
We have a few. “They can try,” I say with a growl.
Chuck nods once in approval and glances at the door to the kitchen. Minni’s voice rises in volume. Yup. She’s more than done talking to this person. We’re running out of time.
“You’re forty-seven, Brad, not fourteen. An adult. Just ask him. That’s the quickest way to know if he’s really into you or not.”
It isn’t that simple. But I sure want it to be.
“Thanks, Chuck.” I appreciate his support, even if part of me feels I don’t deserve it.
He glances at the door again. “Anyway, I have a favor to ask. And you can’t tell Minni.”
“You know I hate keeping things from her.” But their anniversary is only a few weeks away. Is that what this is about?
“It’s nothing bad. Promise.” He rubs the back of his neck. “It’s good to have Charlie home.”
I’m not sure what to say. “I’m glad he’s back.”
“We all are. The town loves Charlie. Except for Miss Dundy County 2019. And maybe 2020.” He chuckles. Is he remembering after Charlie barfed? How he’d slipped on the mess and fallen into a contestant? And knocked her into the next? And on down the line until there was a pile of people on the stage, including Charlie, since one of them grabbed his arm on her way down. “Anyway, you’re helping him with that Homes for Hope project, right?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Charlie knows nothing about construction. I just want you to keep an eye on him. Make sure no one gives him a hard time. Minni would be devastated if he left again.”
“I think he can take care of himself. He’s an adult.”
“Sure. But he’s still Charlie.”
Minni returns, complaining about the school board, but then we settle back to watch football. I focus on my friends, not their son, getting caught up in the game. Chicago wins, and I grump about it. Just like that, everything feels almost normal.
As I stand and stretch out the kinks in my back, the picture on the mantel catches my attention. I’ve seen this picture a million times. Charlie’s graduation. The one from college, not high school. I remember how proud Chuck and Minni were. There’s a picture of Charlie with both of them and one with him alone. His hair isn’t long yet. His face still has that adolescent padding to it. But he’s grinning, and I can’t help but grin in response.
“That’s one of my favorite pictures.” Minni picks it up. “I’m so glad he’s back home.”
“Why did he leave Kansas City?” I sound normal. Right?
“It was that stupid ex-boyfriend,” Chuck says, thrusting his finger in the air at some imaginary target. “I told Charlie to report him.”
“Oh?” I try to act interested, but not too interested. Not who-is-this-guy-and-how-can-I-find-him level of interested. Which is harder than it sounds.
Minni gives Chuck “the look.” One I’ve seen her give many times. Basically, stay out of it. It’s none of our business . Then she shifts and says, “Chuck? Can you check the pie in the oven?”
“Of course.” He kisses her cheek and disappears into the kitchen.
“We only have a minute. I need a favor, Brad.”
Oh God. “What do you need?”
“Can you help with Charlie?”
Didn’t I already do this with Chuck? Are they tag-teaming me? “Does Charlie need help?”
I must have had a tone because she looks at me. Really looks at me. “Unlike my husband, I know Charlie is an adult and more than capable of taking care of himself.” She stares at me until I nod. “But all his memories of Dundy County are tied up with that fair disaster. My fault. I pushed him too hard. I just want you to remind him of all the good things in this town. Just in a matter-of-fact way. You know?”
“I doubt Charlie will be hanging out with me.” I laugh like it’s ludicrous. And not like I sucked Charlie’s cock the night before. God. I’m a terrible friend.
“Well, of course not.” She slaps my arm as if I was joking. “He’s a young man. Needs to be hanging out with other young people.” Her eyes dart toward the kitchen again and back to me. “But you’ve been helping him move in. And you’re working with him on Homes for Hope, so you might see him then, right?”
“Right.”
She beams. “Thank you, Brad. You’re such a good friend.”