Chapter 5 #3
“Well, for the next six months, you’re going to have amazing sex with me, go on fun dates, and be supported as you figure out what’s next for you—and us.”
Noah’s breath caught, and Aspen pressed back into his arms.
“Uhm, yeah. That…sounds perfect,” Noah said, burying his face in Aspen’s neck.
Aspen waited a beat to see if he had anything more to say before deciding it was time to lighten the mood.
“But as far as what are you going to do right now, you’re going to tell me all about your week, and then feed me,” Aspen said, reaching for the shampoo as Noah dropped his hands to grip Aspen’s hips.
“We texted all week.”
“I know, but I didn’t get to see you! Let’s never do that again.”
“Never go without seeing each other for six days?” Noah asked as he kissed the side of their neck in a way that was definitely not conducive to them getting clean.
Aspen batted him away with sudsy hands. “Yes!”
“We used to go much longer than that when you were with Ethan.”
Aspen groaned and did a, probably ill-advised, trust fall back into his arms.
“Asp—”
“Let’s not talk about the bad times right now. How’s Charlie? You went to see him and the puppers this morning, right?”
While Aspen was relatively indifferent towards dogs, they knew how much Noah loved them and how much he loved Charlie.
One day, Aspen would meet the infamous dog dude, but they’d been aware for a long time that this was one of the few things Noah did that was only for himself.
Even if it hadn’t been Aspen’s intention, they’d had an entire marriage to themself.
They fully respected Noah keeping parts of his life separate, even though Aspen had no intention of ever keeping anything for only themself again.
“Actually, I was meaning to talk to you about that. He might need some help with the shelter, and he asked if you'd be able or at all interested in lending a hand.”
Oh, well, so much for keeping them separate.
Noah went on to explain, in more detail than ever before, the background of the shelter, as well as Charlie’s financial situation and the rather bleak outlook for continuing to run the shelter as it was now.
In that time, they finished showering, dried off, and Noah put on clean clothes while Aspen grabbed a random assortment from the pile of things they always seemed to leave at Noah’s house.
“So, all that to say, do you think you’d be up for helping with some of the marketing? I promise, you don’t have to walk, play with, or touch the dogs in any way. But maybe at some point, once all this stress with the loans and grants is over, you two can finally meet?”
Aspen had been sold on the idea the moment Noah brought it up, but the thirty-five-minute pitch and heavenly-smelling omelet he was making didn’t hurt his case. “Of course, babe, I’m happy to help. And I don’t hate dogs. I’ve just had some traumatic experiences walking them.”
They weren’t really traumatic, they just sucked, and Aspen had done enough sucky things the past two years that they didn’t want to do anymore.
“I know, Asp, and again you don’t have to–”
“But I would. For you. And Charlie, my long-distance bestie,” Aspen said, grinning up at Noah as he rolled his eyes.
“I know you joke, but I genuinely feel like I’ve told both of you enough about each other over the years that you basically are long-distance besties. Aside from the fact I’m certain you two would get along, you could also always compare notes about me and all my bullshit.”
Aspen wished they were taller so they could deploy their newly acquired superpower, but alas, they were short as hell. “Come down here so I can kiss you and stop you from saying nonsense,” Aspen said, grabbing for Noah’s face even as he attempted to flip the eggs in the pan.
“Aspen–”
“Come here!”
Aspen managed to pull him down sideways and smooshed their lips together in a vague approximation of a kiss. Noah grumbled the whole time, but after he got the omelet flipped, he wrapped a wiry arm around Aspen’s shoulders and kept them pressed firmly to his side as he finished cooking.
The rest of their day was spent lounging around, beginning to discuss some ideas for Charlie’s shelter, as well as dancing around the subject of when they’d have sex again. Aspen was happy to just go with the flow, but they knew Noah liked a plan.
Finally, as Aspen hugged Noah goodbye, they said, “How does Friday night look for you to teach me how to use a strapless strap by blowing me?”
Noah choked on air, and Aspen waited until he nodded jerkily before they gave him a campy salute and sauntered back to their apartment.
Time moved both fast and slow that week, work flying by as it always did, only for the evenings to drag on forever.
Usually, they’d spend their evenings with Noah or one of their other friends, but Noah didn’t drop by their place or invite Aspen to his.
Aspen should have predicted that Noah would need clearer instructions on how this trial period would work, but it had been his idea in the first place.
Aspen had specifically asked him not to go six days without seeing each other again, but they didn’t want to pressure him if he was trying to establish new boundaries.
Aspen managed to remain strong until Thursday evening, when they ended up on his doorstep.
“We don’t have to have sex to hang out, right? We didn’t exactly discuss that as part of the trial, but… I don’t think I want that,” they said, shuffling back and forth from one foot to the other.
They hadn’t bothered to wear shoes, and their fuzzy ferret socks almost matched Noah’s grizzly bear socks.
Noah had been the one to start their sock-gifting tradition in college.
Every birthday and gift-giving holiday was like a competition to see who could give the other person the most outlandish fuzzy socks.
Aspen’s previous birthday gift had been ones that looked like Legos.
“Asp, I… I’m sorry,” he said, hanging his head in a way that was so sad Aspen had to rectify it immediately.
They pressed up as high as they could go on their toes and booped his chin with their nose.
He wrapped his arms around their shoulders and nuzzled his face into the soft hairs on the side of their head.
“There should never be any requirements or expectations around us hanging out. I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. ”
“I accept your apology,” Aspen said easily. “Now feed me.”
Noah led them into the apartment with a hand on their back. He kept his hand, or an arm, on Aspen all through ordering pizza, sitting on the couch, and turning on the show they’d been watching.
“I know I said there aren’t any expectations around hanging out, and I meant that, but…can we still kiss even if we’re just hanging out?” Noah asked after the skip credits button appeared for the second time on screen.
Aspen had been wondering the same thing, but since they’d been the one to show up on his doorstep, they figured he should make the next move. Now he had, Aspen didn’t need to be asked twice.
Aspen crawled into his lap, and they proceeded to make out through the rest of the next episode, finally settling down to snuggle and kiss sporadically through the final two episodes of the season.
Friday was a lot less awkward than Aspen had been expecting, possibly because they’d gotten their awkwardness out on Thursday.
Noah made them a light dinner before leading Aspen into his bedroom and going through a college-level course on strapless straps.
He had one he’d apparently used once and decided never again, but he also had seven browsers open on his laptop to show Aspen all the other options out there.
Aspen didn’t end up liking the blow job or the strap.
The bulb that went inside them didn’t fit right, and they hated that it was a garish orange color.
Noah saved the evening by offering to blow Aspen without the strap.
They’d never seen stars from pleasure before, but that changed the second Noah’s tongue worked its way under the protective hood on their dick.
They screamed and had to bite Noah’s pillow to get through the amazing things he did to them with his tongue.
Later that night, or possibly early the next morning, Aspen woke up incredibly horny and tried to quietly get themself off, but Noah woke up and gave them one of the best sleepy hand jobs of their life.
He was ruthless with his pressure, and then he got his mouth on one of Aspen’s tits, and it was over.
The next day was much like the previous Sunday, lazy and relaxed, with slow kisses and lots of cuddles.
They started watching a new show, and in the middle of episode four, Noah received a confirmation email that the order for Aspen’s new strap was being processed.
Noah promised a redo on the blowjob whenever it arrived.
While Aspen accepted the offer, they also threatened headlock retribution if Noah avoided them until then.
“I promise, regardless of when it arrives, I’ll make it a point to see you throughout the week like we usually do,” Noah said, stroking his fingers down Aspen’s spine before gently squeezing Aspen’s ass.
“Okay…the butt squeeze was very convincing. Can we play with some of your other toys on Friday again?” Aspen asked, and Noah sealed the deal with a long, languid kiss.