30. Chapter 30 - Callum
Tomorrow. I wasn’t thrilled with that announcement, but I wanted to stay true to my word and distract Paxton from obsessing and fretting all night.
By the time we got back to his house, we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other and it was a mad dash to his bathroom once we stepped inside, peeling clothes off along the way.
Paxton’s shower was big, big enough for both of us to fit comfortably, with two shower heads mounted on the tile walls, fogged glass doors standing open.
He turned the water on and the spray rained down on the tile floor.
As the bathroom began to fill with humidity, we kissed frantically.
It occurred to me that this was likely one of the last—if not the last—time we’d be alone together before I left for the East Coast and home, and then my trip a few days later.
I playfully shoved him backwards into the shower, my body already aching to be touched and my hands desperate to touch him.
He stumbled in and I followed, and soon we were laughing and kissing with water streaming down around us, raining on our shoulders and backs.
We kissed for a long time, for what felt like forever, my hands mapping out Paxton’s body while he gripped my lower back tightly.
Paxton’s body began to rock forward, grinding against mine as the tension built around us. “Touch me,” he begged after a while, and I nodded, reaching my hand between us to slowly, gently stroke his hard cock.
He groaned and nodded, fucking into my fist as I stroked him. I placed a hand on his hip to control his movements, to slow him down, and he whined in my ear. “More. Please.”
I chuckled in response and kissed him with slow, controlled, deliberate movements of my mouth and tongue against his. Even though I’d sucked him earlier, he tried hard to rush, to take control, to bulldoze my plans of making this last. I laughed again and shook my head. “Slow.”
Instead of the whining complaint I expected to hear from him, he dropped his forehead to my shoulder and nodded. A moment later, he reached for my cock, too, stroking it with a few quick, determined pulls. I had to move my hand to his wrist. “Slow,” I reminded him.
Paxton huffed impatiently. “I want you.”
“Let me make this good for you.” I was tempted to edge him, to show him just how good going slow could feel, but instead, I gripped him more tightly, dragging my thumb over the sensitive spot under the head of his cock and teasing his slit, which was leaking precum in long, sticky strands.
Paxton groaned against my shoulder and bit down gently, sending electricity shooting straight through my own aching erection.
After another few moments, I turned us so the water wouldn’t be in my face as much when I hit the floor, and I sank to my knees.
“Fuck,” he murmured reverently.
I parted my lips and let him breach me, sucking him down to the base almost immediately. A pleased hiss escaped him, making me grin around the heaviness on my tongue. I wanted to wring as much noise from him as possible, and then I wanted him to suck me down and let me come in his mouth.
I bobbed my head, caressing his balls with one hand and bracing against his thigh with the other.
Paxton seemed to be enjoying himself, his sounds growing louder and more insistent every time I sucked him to the back of my throat.
The noises coming from him began to pitch up and his beautiful, normally heavy balls began drawing up against his body.
Without warning, I pulled away, making Paxton huff and groan again. “Come on my chest,” I said. “I want to watch you.”
His brown eyes darkened, burning with a lustful fire as he took his cock in hand and nodded, looking down at me.
“Slowly,” I reminded him.
With a single nod, he locked his gaze on mine and looked at me the whole time as he stroked himself off.
He fucked into his fist as he twisted and worked his erection.
My own cock was leaking and hard between my thighs, neglected.
I assured it that it would be taken care of soon and focused on Paxton’s hand as it picked up pace.
“I’m coming,” he said finally, quietly, and I leaned back to give him space. Just a moment passed before his release hit me, splashing on my chest and shoulders, Paxton groaning as he came.
When he’d wrung himself out completely, he reached for me and pulled me to standing, fucking into my mouth with his tongue and pulling new, sweet moans from my chest. A few moments of kissing and he was spent, leaning hard against the shower wall to catch his breath.
It didn’t take long for him to rally. “Jesus,” he murmured, reaching for my cock.
I let him take me in his hand, melting into his touch.
In seconds, he was on his knees, sucking me down, fast and hard.
Paxton clearly had no interest in going slow this time and I didn’t blame him.
The white-hot heat that was burning in my gut just increased with every touch.
He was taking me deep into his mouth, my cock pressing against the back of his throat, his muscles tightening around my crown as he swallowed.
He hummed happily as I squirmed under his touch, beginning to rock forward and fuck into his throat, and he moved a hand to my ass and gripped the muscle, dragging a finger between my crease.
Paxton’s finger found my hole and between his fervent sucking and the gentle teasing at my opening, I knew I was done for. I gripped the longer hair on top of his head. “Paxton.” My tone was a warning.
“Hmm?” He grinned up at me and bobbed faster, the sounds of him sucking my cock making me warm inside.
“I’m close,” I warned. “Oh God, I’m so close.”
He gave another happy hum as he took me deep into his throat and thrust a finger into me. I was a goner. I came a moment later, unloading pulse after pulse into his mouth, Paxton swallowing as much as he could.
When he rose to his feet, I pulled him in for a deep kiss. Paxton wrapped his arms around my shoulders as we kissed and I pulled our hips flush together, noticing that his cock was trying to rally already.
A few moments later, I pulled away from the kiss and sighed happily. “Ready?”
“For what?”
“To get out of the shower and spend the rest of the day worshiping each other?”
Paxton laughed. “Fuck yes.”
***
Late that next morning, we made our way to town hall once again, ready to hear the verdict.
There was a larger crowd at town hall that Tuesday than I’d expected.
I was a little shocked at how many people were rallying around Paxton and Celestial Cask.
I guess this town isn’t so bad after all, I let myself think.
The council took their seats as Paxton and I sat in the second row again, but this time at the end, the rest of the row filled with townspeople.
Barbara Traylor called the meeting to order and quickly, the room hushed.
“Hello everyone. I know we’re all here to see the results of the vote.
Let’s just get on with it, shall we?” The audience murmured its agreement and the council nodded.
“Okay, then. We will have a vote between Clark and Ramsey’s plan, or Mr. Lowell’s plan to expand Celestial Cask.
There is also the option to abstain. All those in favor of the Clark-Ramsey plan? ”
Three town council members raised their hands. My stomach fluttered with possibility. Had we done it? We needed four votes. If anyone abstained, we were sunk.
“And those in favor of Mr. Lowell’s plan?”
Four members, including Barbara Traylor, raised their hands.
We’d done it. A cheer rose up in the town hall, and I took Paxton’s hand as Barbara spoke into the mic. Pax immediately squeezed me as our fingers tangled together.
“Okay, okay. Quiet please. A few closing remarks.” When the room quieted, she continued.
“This has been a hotly contested issue and we appreciate everyone’s time and energy on this topic.
” She turned her focus to Paxton. “Mr. Lowell, we’ll be in touch with you to discuss the purchase of the parcel of land and how to move forward with the expansion, including permits and licensure.
Thank you all for attending. Have a great day. ”
Noise rose up in the room again as people began to filter out and leave, chatting about the win—or loss, depending on where they stood on the issue. Paxton looked at me, his brown eyes shining, a huge smile on his face.
“Thank you,” Pax murmured. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
I pulled him into a tight hug. “I lo—” Realizing what I’d been about to say, I choked on the words. “I love this—for us. You. For you. This is amazing. Congratulations.”
When he looked at me again, his eyes were damp. “I mean it. Thank you.” Paxton stepped back, pulling out of my arms. “We should probably get going. Do you want to go celebrate?”
“Actually,” I mumbled, feeling nauseated, stomach churning. “I should head home. I have a lot of packing to do, and I promised my parents I’d have a farewell dinner with them. Can I… I mean, can we see each other tonight? After?”
Pax kissed me once, quickly, and nodded. “Yeah. Definitely. You can’t leave without saying goodbye.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
***
We’d carpooled, so I made my way home from Paxton’s house a little while later and as I pulled into the driveway of the rental house, I realized the nauseated feeling hadn’t gone away.
This felt like the worst thing I’d ever decided to do, to walk away from Paxton and Celestial Cask and Foggy Basin.
I made my way inside and started packing, tears stinging my eyes as I folded clothes and stuffed things into my suitcases.
When I’d left all those years ago, escaping Jacob and that disaster of a relationship, nothing had felt more right.
Moving to the East Coast had been a respite, a welcome change, a breath of fresh air.
Now the idea of going back to my apartment made me feel sick, on so many levels.
I didn’t want to get on another plane, not without Paxton.
When I tried to envision myself traveling around the world, writing and tasting, it couldn't have felt more wrong.
There was no world in which I could leave Paxton behind in Foggy Basin and feel content.
It’s only for three months, I assured myself. Three months is nothing. You’ll be back before you know it. I tried to picture myself sitting on a plane without him, having breakfast in Denmark alone, tasting palm wine in Nigeria with only my notebook by my side.
As tears began to fall, I knew I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t have both. I couldn’t be with Paxton and travel the Fermentation Trail and hope to come back in three months. It would be far too painful—for both of us.
I had a decision to make. I picked up my cell phone and dialed.