Chapter Eight
Reed
Imust have changed my outfit ten times. Trying to decide if I should go with something casual or sexy.
I mean, Cole had said this was a date, after all.
Hazel finally told me that blue jeans and the white New York Ballet shirt I had first put on were perfect, and I decided to go with that.
I stared at myself in the mirror, trying to see if Cole would like what he saw.
Did my ass look good in these pants? Did these sleeves make my shoulders look broad enough?
Was Cole even attracted to me anymore? God, this was all so confusing.
I wasn’t used to having to second guess myself.
Guys usually told me they were interested, and that was that.
I had never really dated after high school.
There was one boy in senior year of high school who I went out with for a little while at the end of the year.
He’d taken me to prom. But that was only a handful of dates, and I think that was only because he wanted me to sleep with him after the dance.
A text came in right before six o’clock, and I was pretty sure that my stomach nearly dropped into my feet.
It happened as I was pacing through the house, chewing nervously on my lip, convinced that Cole was going to change his mind and cancel.
Or not show up at all. So, this, of course, felt like the nail in my coffin.
“What does it say?” Hazel asked as she looked up from her kindle. When I didn’t answer, she gently placed it down on the coffee table and stood up. “Reedy?”
My chin trembled slightly. “Cole said he’s going to be late. He asked me for the address so he could meet me there.”
It was innocent enough. But why did it feel like he was using this as an excuse to blow me off? To tell me he was too busy to hang out with me tonight. Maybe I should break things off now.
Hazel grabbed my hands. “Don’t hate me, but you could be overacting just a little bit.
He didn’t break your date. He’s just running behind.
What I think you need to do is go change into something a little sluttier, send Cole a selfie along with the address of this party, and then go.
Make sure he knows what he’s missing if he doesn’t show up. ”
“Sluttier?” My eyes widened. “Haz, you know I don’t dress like that.”
She shook her head. “You do tonight. Just some pants that show off your thighs a little better. Maybe shorts. And a shirt that just happens to give a little sneak peek of that toned tummy when you move just the right way.” Hazel wiggled her brows.
“Come on, just trust me for once. I’m not telling you to let your ass hang out. ”
“I mean, I would if that meant Cole would touch it,” I muttered.
My sister slapped my shoulder playfully, then marched me into my bedroom, ripped through my closet until she found what she decided was “slutty enough”, and then demanded I get dressed.
She dragged me into her room and sat me down in front of her mirror, where she proceed to do my hair.
But when she came out with eyeliner, I stopped her.
“I don’t... No.” I shook my head. I had to wear a ton of makeup when I was on stage for performances. It was always caked up. It clogged my pores. It left my skin feeling heavy and gross. And I didn’t like it at all.
She pouted. “Just a little. Your eyes are beautiful, Reed, but this will really make them really pop.”
“Fine.” I sighed, even though I knew I was going to regret this. “But not too much. I don’t want people to notice or think I’m trying to be like Leo.”
Andy’s boyfriend had never been afraid to be who he was. The makeup, the clothes. Maybe I was a teeny bit jealous of that. I knew I was gay at a young age, but I wasn’t brazenly loud about it. Makeup had never been my thing either. It felt strange against my skin no matter how often I wore it.
Hazel giggled. “Leo wishes he was like you.”
“Doubtful.” I might be a little sour that he had a boyfriend while I was still alone and probably would be for the rest of my life at this rate.
My sister sighed. “You listen to me, Reed Kelly. You’re going to let me do this for you, you’re going to text Cole back, and then you’re going to go to this party and wait.
But not like pining and waiting. You’re going to have a drink and hang with your friends, and when Cole shows up, you’re going to give him a kiss on the cheek, introduce him to everyone, mingle for a bit, and then ask him to take a walk.
And then? Then you’re going to kiss him on the lips with a little tongue. Understand?”
When I started to protest, Hazel narrowed her eyes. “Fine, fine, I understand.”
“Good, now let me finish this so you can go get your man.” She lifted my head and got to work.
I’D HAD MORE THAN ONE drink. I think I had four.
Or maybe it was five. Either way, I was feeling good.
Really good. Happy that my sister had convinced me to wear this tight green shirt that showed off my flat, taut stomach and the shorts that let everyone know that I had legs that went on for days.
But I couldn’t help but worry about Cole.
He hadn’t texted me after I gave him the address of the party.
Only that he would be here. And that was hours ago.
Forever, really. Was he okay? Had he changed his mind about me?
I was having fun with my friends, but I just wanted to spend time with Cole.
And so, I was laughing, dancing, and trying to get lost in the party while I worried that Cole wasn’t going to show up.
I found myself pressed against a guy I had gone to school with.
Arlo something. We weren’t close at all.
In fact, he had been on the football team, so we were completely opposite.
But that hadn’t stopped me from watching him from time to time. And he could really dance, too.
“You’re good at this, Reed,” Arlo commented. He placed his hand on my hip. “I haven’t seen you around much since we graduated.”
I glanced around the room for Cole before I met his heated eyes. “I’m going to school in New York.”
“You’re back for the summer?” Arlo arched a brow at me. “I guess that means we only have a short time together.”
What? “No, I think...” I stopped when I saw Cole glaring at me from the doorway before he turned and hurried out of the room.
I slipped out of Arlo’s grip. “I have to go.” I rushed after Cole as fast as I could.
“Wait!” That only seemed to make him move faster.
“Cole, wait a minute! Slow down!” He was much faster than I was.
“This is just fucking great,” Cole hissed over his shoulder at me without stopping, then he slipped out the front door.
Warm rain slapped me in the face the moment I made it outside. “Cole, what the hell? Where are you going?” I hollered as the rain soaked my clothes. It was going to ruin all the hard work Hazel put into my hair and makeup before Cole had a chance to enjoy it.
He stopped, spun around, and walked a few steps closer. “It looked like you were having a good time. You could have told me you didn’t want me here.”
“Excuse me?” My stomach twisted in knots. “I don’t...I was just talking with some friends.”
Cole’s nostrils flared as the rain splattered against his hat. “It looked like more than that from where I stood. I’m not going to watch you dance and flirt with some dude, Reed. I’m going home. Go back inside.”
“Flirt... Wait, were you jealous?”
That was impossible, right? And was he suddenly shaming me for enjoying myself? I had spent the past year dancing my ass off, and all I wanted to do was relax while I waited for him. Cole was the only one I wanted.
Cole gritted his teeth as the rain soaked through his hat. “No.”
“You can tell me if you were. I won’t judge you.” I moved a little closer, my clothes now completely drenched from the rain. “You know, back when we were in school, and you told me about that guy that first kissed you at hockey camp? I was insanely jealous. I hated him.”
Cole’s eyes dipped to my lips. “Wait, you were?”
“Mm, I was. I had always hoped that I would be your first kiss with a boy.”
“Is that the reason you stopped talking to me?”
I nodded. “Yes.” The booze was making a little loose lipped, but he deserved to hear the truth.
Suddenly, Cole’s hand shot out, and he grabbed a fistful of my shirt.
He hauled me against him and slammed his lips against mine.
I was lost in a blissful kiss that had been years in the making.
His tongue licked around the outside of mouth before I opened it for him.
I whimpered as the kiss grew heated. I pushed the hat from his head as my hands tangled in his hair, and my cock knocked against my zipper.
Nothing had ever felt like this before. My body grew hot in the rain, and goosebumps broke out over my skin.
All I wanted to do was climb the man like a tree. Kiss him until I couldn’t breathe.
“Jesus, Reed.” Cole cupped my jaw as he pulled back. His blue eyes were hooded with lust as he stared at me.
I nipped playfully at his bottom lip. “Take me back to your place.”
“And then what?” he whispered, kissing me again, his tongue finding mine. His body was all hard muscle, and I wanted to explore every inch of it. Lick the rain from his skin until he was dry.
I moaned, then pulled back. “Whatever you want.”
Cole laughed softly and grabbed my hand, and then we sprinted through the rain, completely soaked.
I giggled behind him, carefree and happy, thankful that we weren’t far from his house.
It felt like all my troubles had disappeared when we hit the porch of his house.
Cole stopped, yanked me against him, and kissed me again before he unlocked the door.
Then we were kissing, touching, and trying to peel off our wet clothes, which was close to impossible.
“Need to touch you,” he whispered, finally tearing off my shirt. “All of you.”
I grabbed the back of his neck. “Want to keep kissing you.” I didn’t want to lose that mouth. His lips were so soft, sweet, and perfect.
“So good.” Cole’s fingers popped open the button on my shorts. “Jesus, you’re beautiful.”
I shivered in the cool air of his house. “Less talking, more kissing.” I chased after his mouth, only for him to shake his head. “No?”
“I want to see all of you,” Cole reminded me.
I yanked my shorts and underwear down to my thighs, my cock slapping against my stomach, the tip glistening with pre-cum. “You mean this?”
“Fuck.” Cole gasped, his blue eyes growing wide. He stared at me for a second. “I’ve never...I don’t...Tell me what to do.” He swallowed nervously as his cheeks heated. “I’ve never been with another guy like this other than kissing.”
Heat pooled in my belly. That stupid asshole who stole his first kiss from me didn’t have the chance to take this, too. At least I could claim something as mine.
“It’s okay, Casanova. We can go as slow or fast as you want.”
“I want...” Cole licked his lips. “Jesus, I want to touch you. I want to put my mouth on you. I want you to put your mouth on me. I just—”
I cut him off by kissing him again before he got lost in his head.
I wanted to make this good for Cole. I dragged my hands up his chest, scrunching his shirt up, then pulled back so I could tug his shirt over his head.
I took a moment to admire his chest, which was covered in thick hair, and then we were all lips, teeth, and tongue as we fought for control before Cole let me have it.
I felt like I was on fire, like I was going to burst into flames when Cole’s big, heavy hands roamed all over my back.
He dug his blunt nails into my muscles, and I moaned into his mouth.
My dick ached, my balls were full, and I wanted Cole so badly it hurt.
I had jerked off to thoughts of him night after night when I was sixteen, had dreams of doing something just like this until he broke my heart.
And now that we were finally together, I didn’t want the moment to end.
“Baby, please,” Cole whispered. He cupped my head between his hands and tilted my head up; his blue eyes dark with lust.
I smiled at the endearment. “Please, what?” When he didn’t say anything, I reached for his pants. “You want me to touch you?”
“Yes.” He groaned.
“Say please again.”
“Please, please, please.”
Jesus fuck, he was needy, and I was here for it.
I managed to get his pants unbuttoned, then slipped my hand inside and wrapped it around his length.
The sound Cole made was like nothing I had ever heard before.
Loud and breathy, and it went straight to my own cock.
His skin was hot to the touch, velvety and smooth, and I hoped there would be a next time so I could get on my knees to worship him like he deserved.
“You’ve got a nice dick,” I told him.
“Reed, holy shit. I’m not going to last. That feels amazing,” Cole warned. His mouth found mine and then he pushed me against the door. We hadn’t made it any farther than the foyer of his parents’ house.
I sucked on his tongue. “You want to come for me?” I purred.
“Yes, please, God, yes,” Cole whimpered, but then he whined when I slipped my hand from his shorts. “Reed, baby, what are you doing?”
I smirked at him. “Trust me.” I tugged his pants down his thighs, moved closer, spit in my hand and then placed both our dicks in my palm. “There we go.” My eyes rolled back as pleasure roared through my body. “Feels so good.”
“Holy shit.” Cole gasped. “That feels...Holy shit.”
Yeah, holy shit. I rose on my toes and captured his mouth again, jerking us together.
A low moan vibrated through Cole’s chest, and I knew he was going to come.
That’s what I wanted. I wanted him to completely lose himself for me.
I glanced up to see his face, to watch as pleasure overtook him.
Cole’s eyes grew wide, then clamped shut.
His body tightened and then he coated my hand and both our lengths with hot, sticky ropes of cum.
His hands gripped my hips as I joined him, my release hitting me by surprise.
And then I was suddenly terrified that Cole was going to freak out, tell me we shouldn’t have done this, and that I should leave.
But he cupped my jaw, leaned down, and slid his lips over mine.
“Does that mean you enjoyed it?” I hated how my voice trembled.
I was supposed to be the confident one. I had done this countless times before.
Not that I enjoyed being the hookup kind of guy, but lately, in New York, I found guys, got off, and left it at that.
But I wanted something serious. A summer fling sounded like fun, but I wanted more.
I just wasn’t sure if Cole was into that.
The bright smile that spread over his face told me all I needed to know. “When can we do that again?”