Chapter 12 #2
“Of course he’s not a bad person. A man who takes care of his sister like that, who sticks around after the crap people gave him, can’t be a bad person. But that has nothing to do with his ability to draw trouble.”
“Trouble is my middle name.”
“Then you have very cruel parents.” She tilts her head toward the door. “Go on, I can handle this. Some have started yawning already. It won’t last long.”
He doesn’t know if Will is even out there yet, but if not, he should be soon. Unless he changed his mind. Owen doesn’t allow the thought to blossom. That kiss didn’t come out of nowhere. It felt loaded, filled with purpose.
“Thanks, Francie. I owe you one.” He grabs his backpack and quietly makes his way to the exit before anyone can speak with him. As the organizer, he should stay until the end, but as the man who is supposed to meet Will Thomas, he should leave right now.
It’s a beautiful sight seeing Will’s red truck parked in front of the library, and even more beautiful seeing Will sitting inside. Owen walks over, grabbing the strap of his backpack nervously. He opens the passenger door and climbs inside.
“I didn’t see anyone else leave,” Will says.
“I didn’t wait until the end. Francie said it was okay.”
“It was a very good event. Julie was ecstatic. She really did mean that she expects a follow-up.”
“Yeah, I got a feeling she’s not to be messed with.”
Will lowers the handbrake. “Guess you’ll need to settle on messing with me.”
Owen’s heart beats faster. He can get used to flirting with Will, but he never pictured him as the flirting kind of guy.
Well, he also assumed he was straight for a while.
Ever since they first met at Rodie’s, Owen’s perception of Will has been constantly challenged and eventually altered, but always in a positive way.
He can’t quite shake Francie’s warning, but she also confirmed what Owen wholeheartedly believes—Will is a good man, and what is more important than that?
“How long until we reach your house?” Owen asks.
“Should be about five minutes.”
“Too long without a kiss, I’m afraid.”
Will turns to watch him in the dim light of the car. “Is that so?”
“I have a medical condition, you see. It’s quite severe.” He catches himself a second too late. How selfish of him to make such a joke to a man whose sister actually has a severe medical condition?
Luckily, Will plays along. “I can’t take the risk, then. Come here.”
This time they kiss slower, and Owen loves how Will kisses with his hands and not just with his mouth. The way he gently holds Owen’s head feels so nice.
“Are we in the clear with your medical condition?” Will asks, his mouth still close to Owen’s.
“Yes, for now, but we must hurry.”
Will begins to drive, sticking to the speed limit, but just barely.
Owen wants to strike up a conversation, but he’s too nervous to speak.
He holds his hands in his lap, trying to calm down, or he might say something silly or childish.
He wishes to have more confidence in himself, but when it comes to intimacy with someone he likes, it doesn’t matter how Owen looks or how good he is at sucking cocks—he transforms back into the awkward kid who never dared strike a conversation with strangers.
They take a turn to the right and drive up toward a small house between the trees. When they park, the porch lights come on. There are flowers in front of the house—not many, but they look well taken care of.
“Home,” Will says, nervousness in his voice.
Owen opens his mouth to ask if Will has second thoughts, but he doesn’t want to risk hearing that he does, so he opens the door and steps into the chilly air. The town center is not far, but it might as well be miles away with how secluded Will’s house feels.
They walk to the front door, their feet making the wooden floor creak.
Will unlocks the door and turns on the light inside the house.
The living room is simple, with one couch and one comfy-looking armchair.
There’s a large window behind the couch covered with white curtains.
The kitchen is to the right, small but enough for cooking a decent meal.
The bedroom must be to the left, but it’s dark now.
Next to the family photos on the wall, there’s the poster Owen made for the book club. It looks very big hanging on the wall.
“It’s a simple house, but I like living here,” Will says, the nervousness in his voice still present.
Owen turns to face him. “I love simple. I’ve been called that many times.”
Will frowns. “As a compliment?”
Owen laughs. “Nah, but who cares? You have a beautiful home, and not because of my poster.” He points at the guitar hanging on the wall. “When was the last time you played?”
“Well, based on the dust I can see from here, I’d say it’s been a few months. Wasn’t really in the mood.”
“Are you maybe in the mood now?”
Will crosses his arms, pursing his lips, the same lips Owen now knows how they feel and taste. “I might be able to make it work, as long as you don’t expect a Springsteen kind of show.”
“I was thinking of something more intimate than a Springsteen concert.” Owen gathers the courage to ask, “Would you mind playing in your underwear? It will help with my condition.”
“Is that a different condition?”
“Yes. I have a few.”
Will looks at his guitar, and Owen worries he was too blunt. In Kansas City, hooking up with someone rarely involved much talking. It was rather sleazy and unfulfilling, and that was why Owen started doing sex while on drugs. That made the not-talking part less important.
Will says, “I wouldn’t want to disappoint my audience.”
Owen smiles in relief. “It’s already shaping up to be the best show ever, and mind you—I’ve seen Madonna live.”
“Was she also in her underwear?”
“Of course.” He takes a step forward. “May I help you prepare for the show?”
Will nods, his Adam’s apple moving. “Okay.”
With not quite steady hands, Owen unbuttons the highest button on Will’s shirt, then moves to the lower one.
The light-brown hair on Will’s chest becomes visible, and Owen’s mouth waters.
Another button and another one. Will’s stomach is flat and smooth, with clear traces of abs.
The following button reveals his treasure trail, and the final button shows where that trail leads.
Owen holds his breath as he removes Will’s shirt off his shoulders, revealing what he spent hours imagining.
The drawings he did of the man feel unflattering now that he has the real version in front of him.
“Oh, Will.” He should play it cool and not make him uncomfortable, but he can’t control his mouth. “You have the most beautiful chest. Your nipples are bigger than I thought.”
Will laughs. “How much thought did you give my nipples?”
“Ask me no question, and I’ll tell you no lies.”
“I see.”
“May I touch?”
Something passes in Will’s eyes, almost like gratitude, though Owen can’t understand why such a question would cause that.
Will gives a single nod, and Owen places his hands on his chest, hoping his palms aren’t too cold.
They must be, because Will’s nipples harden immediately.
The hair on his chest is soft and so well-proportioned.
Owen traces the curves at the side of Will’s chest, where the muscles meet his broad shoulders.
He slides his hands down to hold each bicep, squeezing gently.
He continues exploring until he reaches Will’s strong hands.
Their fingers interlock, and Owen dares to picture the two of them holding hands while walking in town.
It makes him nervous, but he still likes to imagine it’s possible.
“You have thick fingers,” Owen says. “My mom likes to say I have the lean fingers of a pianist or a thief.”
“Or a painter.”
“Yeah, that’s better than a thief. May I take your pants off?”
Another flash of gratitude in Will’s eyes. “I’d like that.”
Owen gets down on his knees. He unties Will’s laces and pulls off his shoes, then removes his dark socks.
His hands are even less stable than before as they close around the single button of Will’s jeans.
It opens easily, and then comes the zipper, sliding smoothly to reveal Will’s gray boxers.
With no air in his lungs, Owen pulls the jeans down over Will’s strong legs.
With nothing left on him but gray boxers that are barely covering his erection, Owen looks up to meet Will’s gaze. “Hello.”
“Hey.”
“Thank you for inviting me over.”
“I wanted to invite you sooner.” He takes a breath. “I needed to solve something before I could.”
“Is it solved now?”
Will nods, but his eyes betray his doubt. “Yes.”
“Where will you play for me?”
“I don’t have a strap for the guitar, so I best do it sitting.
Let me just clean it up a bit.” He walks to pick up the guitar and takes it to the kitchen area, where he uses paper towels to gently wipe the dust that gathered.
Owen remains on his knees, watching Will’s body from the side.
The way his strong legs lead to his ass promises more wonders to discover, but Owen is content with what he’s seen so far.
It takes a really greedy man not to be content.
“Good enough,” Will says and turns to Owen. “You’re going to stay down there?”
“Yes.” He clears his throat. “I mean, I’d like to watch you from the floor. It will make it feel like you’re on stage.”
“In my underwear?”
“Like Madonna.”
Will chuckles and goes to sit on the couch. He spreads his legs and adjusts his boxers, but they still struggle to keep his erection fully covered.
Owen walks on all fours until he reaches the couch. He settles on his ass, his legs crossed. He could stay in his underwear as well, but he likes having Will be the only one of them who’s bare. For now.