Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
HARLEY
“That went well,” I said, watching him from the corner of my eye as we cleaned the apartment after our friends left. “How do you feel about coming out to them?”
“Relieved? Anticlimactic?” He shrugged. “It all felt almost too easy, too normal.”
“That’s a good thing.”
As we continued cleaning, our orbit seemed to shrink. My hand went for an empty pizza box just as Ryker’s did, my knuckles grazing the back of his hand. He flinched back like he’d touched a hot stove, then immediately tried to act casual.
A minute later, we were at the sink doing dishes, and our shoulders bumped. Neither of us moved away. The water kept running, the soap suds piled up, and the air between us grew thick enough to bottle.
Ryker’s gaze kept finding mine for a split second before skittering away to focus on a smudge on the counter.
He’d open his mouth like he was about to say something, then snap it shut and go back to wrestling a paper towel from the roll as if it were a mortal enemy.
Our usual silence was easy, but something else was clearly on his mind.
I rinsed out a glass in the kitchen sink. “You seem antsy.”
“A little.” He fidgeted with a dish towel, folding it into a square, then immediately unfolding it, starting over. “I want to try something new tonight.”
“I’m listening.”
Ryker took a deep breath as his eyes fixed on the towel in his hands. “Can I give you a blow job?”
The glass I was rinsing almost slipped from my fingers. Of all the things I’d expected him to say, that wasn’t anywhere on the list. I turned off the water and faced him fully, searching his expression for any sign of joking.
“Are you serious?” I asked, unable to keep the surprise from my voice.
He stared down at the dish towel, a telltale flush creeping into his cheeks. “Yeah, I am.”
“Ryker, you don’t have to do that,” I said, reaching out to touch his arm. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. But I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
He looked up at me with quiet determination. “I appreciate that, but I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I saw you with that guy in our living room before spring break.”
A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “So you did enjoy the show.”
“Don’t get cocky.”
“Too late for that warning, snookums.” I moved closer, sliding my hands up his arms to rest on his shoulders. “Are you sure about this? Because in all seriousness, I never expect this from you, right now or ever. I don’t want you doing something only because you think I want it.”
“I’m sure,” he said, his voice steadier now. “Plus, I’ve been doing some research.”
I blinked. “Research?”
“Yeah, when I was hiding in the bathroom alone.”
A laugh bubbled up, escaping before I could stop it. “Please tell me you didn’t watch porn for tips. Those guys have dicks that make even mine look small.”
Ryker scoffed, some of his nervousness giving way to familiar banter. “You’re such a liar. No one’s that big.”
I smirked. “What did you watch? Pizza delivery boy gets extra tip? Plumber lays more than pipe?”
Each suggestion made Ryker’s expression more exasperated, which only encouraged me to continue.
“’Sexy alien probes willing Earth specimen? Lumberjacks compare the size of their wood? Prison guard performs thorough cavity search? Firefighter shows rookie how to handle his hose?”
“Stop,” Ryker muffled into his hands. “It wasn’t anything weird. Just normal stuff.”
“Define normal.”
He shrugged with a charming blush. “Regular guys doing regular things. Nothing weird. And I read some articles, too.”
I couldn’t contain my laughter. “Only you would turn a blow job into a research project.”
“How else was I supposed to understand what I’m doing?”
I gave him a hug. “That’s sweet, in a nerdy, Ryker kind of way.”
“Thanks, I think?”
“It’s definitely a compliment.” My grin was impossible to smother. “But the best way to learn is through practical application. I’m free now, unless you’d prefer to schedule an appointment. I’m also available next Tuesday between—”
He cut me off with a light shove. “You’re outrageous.”
“And yet, here you are, volunteering to put my dick in your mouth.” I grinned, pulling him closer. “So who’s the outrageous one, really?”
Ryker’s laugh was soft and genuine, the nervousness in his eyes giving way to something warmer. “Touché.”
“We can go as slow as you want and stop anytime. No pressure.”
He nodded, leaning into my touch. “I trust you.”
Those three simple words stole all my smart-ass comebacks. For years, I had been wild about Ryker. But him letting me in was everything I had ever wanted.
I kept my tone light despite my swelling emotions. “Would you prefer the couch or bedroom for your first foray into dick-sucking?”
“You’re really not helping with the nerves,” he complained with a huff that ruffled his bangs.
“Sorry. Bedroom it is. It’s more comfortable, anyway.”
As I led him to my room, I couldn’t help adding, “Just so you’re aware, I grade on a curve for first-timers.”
“Great, I’m already regretting this.”
“No, you’re not.” I turned to face him, walking backward through the doorway. “You’ve been thinking about my dick for weeks. Admit it.”
“Fine,” he conceded, following me into the room. “But only because it was so in-my-face that day.”
The joke was too easy. “And now it can be in-your-mouth instead.”
He rolled his eyes. “Your dirty talk needs work.”
“Oh, I’ve got plenty more where that came from.” I stood at the foot of my bed. “Want to hear my extensive collection of penis puns? I’ve been saving them for a special occasion.”
“Absolutely not.” Despite his protest, his hands rested on my hips.
The moment deserved seriousness. “You know I’m joking around to help you relax, right? This is a big deal, and I appreciate you want to try this with me.”
“And it’s working, mostly. I’m still nervous, but I want to do this with you.”
I gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m honored.”
His embarrassed expression was so cute. “Don’t make it weird.”
“Too late for that.” I reached for the hem of my shirt. “Should I get naked, or would you prefer to unwrap your present yourself?”
Ryker’s eyes darkened. “I’ll do it.” He hesitated before lifting the fabric.
I raised my arms to help him pull it over my head, watching as his gaze traveled over my bare chest. “See something you like?”
Instead of the eye roll I expected, Ryker nodded. “Yeah, I do.”
The honesty in his voice made my skin prickle. My entire fantasy life starring Ryker had been built on witty comebacks and flirty banter, but his quiet sincerity was a sneak attack I was completely unprepared for. “Relax. There’s no wrong way to do this.”
“There are definitely wrong ways to give a blow job.”
“Okay, fair. No teeth is generally a good rule.” I grinned at him. “But beyond that, it’s all about what feels pleasurable. And I promise to give you feedback.”
“Verbal or non-verbal?” he asked, a hint of his own playfulness emerging.
“Both,” I promised. “Lots of moaning, probably some begging when I’m getting close.” I reached up to brush his hair back from his forehead. “Seriously, though, anything you do will be great.”
“You can’t possibly know that.”
“I know you, and how much we both want this. That’s all that matters.”
I watched with rapt attention as he hooked his fingers into the waistband of my jeans and tugged. Watching him take charge was sexy as fuck. It wasn’t the hesitant, flustered Ryker I was used to teasing. It was a man on a mission, and that mission was my dick.
My briefs followed, leaving me naked before I reached for his shirt, pulling it over his head and then working on his pants. His hands joined mine, our fingers tangling as we worked together to strip him bare.
When we were both naked, I sat on the edge of the bed, my erection standing at full attention from the anticipation alone. Ryker knelt between my legs, a position that was almost too much for my brain to process.
His eyes widened as he stared at my erection. “Holy fuck. Seeing this from above versus eye level is like the difference between seeing a shark on TV and finding one in your bathtub. Did you get bigger specifically to intimidate me on my first attempt?”
I bit my lower lip to hold in a chuckle. “It responds to your attention. Consider it a compliment.”
He reached out tentatively, wrapping his fingers around my shaft. His touch was gentle, exploratory, and absolutely maddening.
“You have more dick than I have mouth. This will never work,” he muttered, shaking his head. Then his expression changed, a determined set to his jaw. “No, I’m going to do this.”
I tried not to sound too eager. “I could lie down on the bed if that would help. It might give you a better angle.”
“That won’t help. A shark is still a shark whether you’re viewing it from a boat, underwater, or at the aquarium. The only difference is how much you’re panicking.”
If my concern hadn’t been warring with my amusement, I would have been rolling. “Are you panicking?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. His eyes locked onto my hard-on as if it was the final boss in a video game he hadn’t leveled up enough to face.
“Yes, but in a good way. Kind of like how people pay to swim with sharks in those metal cages. They’re terrified by the teeth chomping on the bars, but still there voluntarily. ”
Laughing probably wasn’t the ideal reaction when someone’s staring down your dick with equal parts fear and determination. “I can’t decide if your shark analogy is the worst compliment or the best insult I’ve ever received.”
He snorted. “I guess I should thank you for having a dick that inspires marine biology metaphors. It’s very helpful for my first dive.” He continued examining my erection with the bewildered fascination of someone who’d ordered a small coffee and received a giraffe instead.
“Why do you look as if you’re contemplating coming at it from the side like you’re eating corn on the cob?” I teased, unable to contain my amusement.