Chapter 04 AARON
Sadie turns to us with an assessing gaze. “It goes without saying, but I’m going to say it, anyway. I had an idea. If you aren’t comfortable with it, please tell me.”
Devon and I have completely opposite reactions, and the difference is comical. Where he’s cautious, I’m extremely fucking excited. What sort of scheme has she come up with that might make us—him, specifically—uncomfortable?
“Uh, what kind of idea?“
Devon flexes his fingers, then seems to remember we’re holding hands. He pulls away with a glance in my direction that’s either nervous or annoyed.
Likely both.
I breathe a quiet laugh. Kitten’s claws are out again.
Sadie walks over and lifts her camera. In the picture she shows us, my fingers are tucked under Devon’s chin as he looks up at me. I’m so focused on the subtle part of his lips that it takes me a moment to notice the way she’s framed his car in the background.
“The car fits the theme so well,“
she explains, then turns around and focuses on Devon. “How would you feel about using it in some pictures?”
He fidgets with his skirt, and I fight the urge to reach over and pull it from between his fingers. “How so?”
She flashes a reassuring smile to counter his wariness. “I’ve got so many ideas. Outside the car, maybe sitting on the hood?“
She lifts the end of the words, turning them into a question as she gauges Devon’s reaction. “And some that could be inside, especially with the top down.”
Devon continues to gnaw on his lip while glancing at his car. The paint job shimmers from a recent wash in the evening sun. Even without knowing its significance, he obviously takes meticulous care of it.
I rest my hand on his lower back, and he tilts his face in my direction. “Tell you what,“
I say as I lean in, “if we scuff it, I’ll help you buff it out.”
“Oh?“
he counters, though he’s slowly losing his sass. “How do you plan on doing that? It’ll be dark when we leave here.”
“You’ll just have to give me your number so I can make good on it.”
He rolls his eyes, but a pleased pink tints the apples of his cheeks.
“I’ll consider it,“
he says, and I try not to let my optimism show on my face. I’m nothing if not stubborn, and I’ll be damned if he’s going to leave me without a way to contact him.
“If you don’t give it to me, I’ll have to park at that stop sign and wait for you to go barreling through again.”
“Oh my god,“
he groans with a laugh. “If you get it, it’s only because it would do me good to have a mobile car wash at my beck and call.”
“That it would.“
I wiggle my brows. “Shirtless car wash, on demand. Think of the benefits.”
“What are the benefits besides a clean car and a shirtless hottie?”
“Those aren’t enough?!” I demand.
He rolls his eyes again, fighting a smile as he turns to Sadie. “Yeah, we can use it.”
“You’re sure?“
she asks, and he nods more confidently this time.
Sadie claps her hands with another of those excited squeals, and we head over to the car. She returns to her creative process, kneeling and holding the camera up as she tries to find the best angles for the shot.
“Alright, Devon,“
she says from behind the lens. “I’m going to have you sit on this corner, right over the headlight.”
He lifts himself up, careful not to risk the paint job by moving too much. When he settles, his spread knees flash more of that pale skin on the inside of his thighs.
“Bend your knee… yep, just like that. See if you can rest the end of your heel on the tire? Back a little further. Right there.”
Sunlight forms a halo around his frame, and as my eyes flick up to his, I realize he’s watching me watch him.
“Aaron, step between his knees and lean all the way in.”
We’re nearly face to face as my arm bands his waist and rests on the top of his ass.
“Like this?“
I ask, and his eyes don’t leave mine as she encourages me to run my palm along the front of his calf. His hand lands on my chest, and his gaze flicks down as his thumb grazes my nipple through my shirt.
A low grunt leaves me as he meets my eyes again.
“Careful,“
I tease as my fingers flex against his lower back, nudging him a fraction closer, “or you might destroy my modesty here.”
Another blush blooms across his cheeks, but he smirks and does it again, his thumb circling slower this time. I tug him nearer and his knees part wider, skirt sliding further up his thighs to expose more smooth skin.
“Aaron,“
he hisses as his fingernails dig into my chest through the fabric.
“Fair’s fair.”
“I can’t hide anything in this outfit!”
“You saying there’s something to hide, pretty boy?”
He groans as he squirms. “Don’t call me that.”
“You like it,“
I tease, and it earns me a glare. “Okay, fine. No pretty boy. There is something else I’d like to call you, though.”
“Is this some cheesy pickup line?”
I laugh as he fights a smile, but I shake my head. “No, no. I’ve been thinking about this since we had that revelation earlier. I think you’ll appreciate it.”
“Doubtful, but I’m too curious to interrupt you now.”
I lean even closer, and his eyes flare as the tips of our noses rub. “Rolling-stop rash.”
He barks out a surprised laugh and rests his head on my shoulder. “It really took you this whole time to think of that, didn’t it?”
“It sure did,“
I say as he continues to chuckle. “I’m not as quick on my feet as you, but I am determined.”
“I’ve noticed,“
he mutters as he lifts his face again, and he’s wearing another of those blinding smiles that crinkles his eyes.
“While we’re discussing determined… how about that number?” I press.
He gives a toying flip of my suspender. “I’ll consider it.”
“Do more than consider it,“
I whisper, dropping my playfulness for a moment as his smile falters. “You got away once. I don’t want it to happen again.”
He’s vulnerable, like he’s finally realizing this isn’t just me teasing for the sake of a laugh.
Sadie stands and signals that we’re done with this pose as she flips through her camera. “Good grief, you two are intense! I’m going to need a cold shower after this.”
“You’re not the only one,” I mutter.
Devon breathes a quiet laugh as he shimmies forward, and I help him slide off the hood. His eyes stay on mine as I hold him there, waiting for him to catch his balance.
“Good?” I ask.
“Yeah,“
he responds with a soft pat to my chest. “Good.”
“Alright,“
Sadie says, hands on her hips as she examines the sky. “Devon, could you move the car so it’s facing the sunset?”
“Sure thing,“
he says as he steps away from me, and he repositions the car until she gives him a thumbs up.
“Both of you in the back seat,“
Sadie commands, and I follow Devon to sit on the bench. “Aaron, put your arm across his shoulders. Devon, sit a little taller so I can see your face around those muscles.”
I chuckle as we both get into position. Sadie stands behind the car, with her camera low on the trunk. I imagine we’re mostly silhouettes with the sun setting beyond us.
“This will be our last set,“
she says as she pulls her face away from the camera to meet our eyes. “Do whatever you’re comfortable with. Pretend I’m not here, and just act natural.”
“Natural,“
Devon repeats with a scoff. “I’m so awkward. I don’t know how to be natural.”
“You aren’t awkward,“
I argue, and he levels me with a skeptical glance. “You aren’t! Aside from our, uh, unfortunate initial meeting… and the improper accusations that came afterwards… okay, and the colorful names you called me…“
I grunt as he knocks me with his elbow, then grin wider. “You’ve been…”
“Awkward,“
he mumbles.
“Sweet,“
I correct, and his eyes flick to mine as I run my fingers through the hair on the nape of his neck. “You’re sweet, Dev.”
His throat moves in a swallow as he fidgets with his skirt again. “You’ve made today really fun. I was nervous on the way, but this has turned out to be a lot more enjoyable than I expected.”
“Why’d you sign up if you didn’t think you’d enjoy it?”
He shrugs. “The idea was great… a way to celebrate these things in my life. My Gramps and my identity. It was my middle finger to the world’s stupid standards and expectations, you know? If I want to put a skirt on and take pretty pictures with a hottie, then I should be able to do it without second-guessing myself. I shouldn’t need society’s permission to be my authentic self.”
“Hottie, huh?” I ask.
He shakes his head with a groan. “That’s what you took from that?”
I shrug, staring at his profile as he looks forward. “I like the authentic you. The rest is just noise.“
My thumb drifts through his hair again, and he pushes out a heavy exhale as he tilts his body towards me. “We’re supposed to be acting natural.”
“Yeah,“
he agrees as his eyes flick down to my mouth. “What, uh… what feels natural right now?”
“Well,“
I say, drawing out the word. “This has kind of been a date. A good date, if you ask me, and we’ve ended up in the back seat...”
He snorts and rolls his eyes as his cheeks turn pink.
“Would it be too forward to say I want to kiss you?”
He glances at the lens behind us as he nibbles on his lower lip. “In front of the camera?”
“I’ll be honest, Dev,“
I say as I scoot closer. “This photo shoot will probably be done in fifteen minutes and we’ll be alone… but I’m kind of tired of waiting. How many people get to have their first kiss captured?”
“First kiss implies there will be more to follow.”
I grin as I tilt my head and inch nearer, and he mimics my motion until we’re breathing the same air. “You read my mind, pretty boy.”
“Don’t call me that,“
he whispers, and I chuckle as we meet in the middle. The kiss is sweet and tentative. Testing the waters and comparing the reality to the fantasy that’s been building in our heads this whole time. It’s gentle pressure and warm breaths, closed eyes and far, far too short.
Devon pulls away, but he doesn’t go far. His lips are slightly parted as his gorgeous blue eyes open, and we stare at each other for a few heartbeats before he grabs my shirt and yanks me back to him. I smile against his kiss and give him more this time.
More pressure.
More fingers laced through his hair.
More sounds, pouring from his throat and mine.
The soft whir of the camera shutting down pulls me from the moment, but Devon grips my shirt harder then lingers there for a few seconds longer. When his eyes creep open, they’re questioning, but I give him a relaxed smile as we separate.
“Wow,“
I whisper, and his tongue swipes between his lips, like he’s gathering the last taste of me that remains.
“Yeah,“
he whispers back. “Wow.”
“Alright, you two,“
Sadie says softly. “We’re done here.”
I squeeze Devon’s neck before I climb out of the back seat and help him out, too.
We talk to Sadie for a while, enjoying her company for a few more minutes. She tells us when to expect a message with our images, and shares some of her travel plans as the sky darkens. At one point in the conversation, Devon brushes my pinkie with his, like he’s too shy to hold my hand. I do it for him and weave our fingers together.
Eventually, Sadie leaves, and then it’s just the two of us in the dark.