Chapter 5
Leon
After the day I’ve had, I need to unwind.
Early morning, terrible interview, then the lingering guilt that I couldn’t shake all day. I’ve been irritable and unproductive because of it.
The first thing people see when they look at me is someone large and rough, but as my friend Rafe likes to point out, I’m a softie at heart. Letting people down rubs me all wrong.
Strokers is busy enough that I shouldn’t have an issue hooking up. I could thank God or some shit because I really need a release. And hopefully tonight is more successful than the weekend.
The music is loud, but not to the point where my eardrums are humming, and as I glance around, a few people catch my attention. It seems like a promising start to the night.
The stools at the bar are full, so I grab a drink and hang out by the side of the dance floor, sipping my beer slowly.
I’m not in any hurry, and I watch the men dancing near me, letting a slow hum of interest start to build.
I know tomorrow I’m going to regret the lack of sleep, but while getting off is great, I love the intimacy that comes with it too.
No feelings, just a mutual love of sex and then physical closeness afterward.
I let people know up front I’m a cuddler. If they’re not into that, they’re not getting into me.
I’m about to head back to the bar for another drink when my gaze lands on a guy sitting there.
He’s big, exactly my type except for that ridiculous mustache, yet it frames a pair of lips that would look amazing around my cock.
I’ve made up my mind to approach him when someone else quickly slides into the recently vacated stool at his side.
Someone I recognize.
What the hell is Auggie doing here?
Like an asshole, I’d made assumptions that he swung the same way as me, but I’d also assumed he’d be back in Portland by now. He’s the last person I expected to see again. Ever, actually.
And even though I owe him exactly nothing, I’m compelled to head in his direction anyway.
He doesn’t notice me as I approach. He tugs on one of his reddish-brown curls, his large, green eyes focused on the man I’d been checking out. I can imagine Auggie would have his pick of guys in this place. His tight little body is on full display with a shirt and shorts that cling to his frame.
It’s not something I’d normally notice, because he’s not the type of guy I’d generally check out. But now I’m looking … he’s pretty, I’ll give him that.
“Not stalking me again, are you?” I ask as I reach him. When he first approached me at the festival, that’s one of the first things he said. I’m not stalking you. Like that’s a totally normal thing to say.
He spins on his chair, and his whole face burns red. “L-Leon.”
“Take a breath, k—” I stop myself from calling him kid again.
He might be a bit innocent-looking, but he’s only three years younger than me.
And actually … with what he’s wearing, he looks nothing like a kid.
I can understand why the guy I’d been planning to approach is now glaring daggers at me.
“Chill, Auggie. Neither of us needs to be wearing that drink.”
He laughs awkwardly. “I’m still so sorry, by the way. It was a total accident, and if there’s any damage, I’m happy to pay for—”
“I’ll tell you what. Buy me a drink and we’ll call it even.”
Relief seems to take over his entire body, and that bright smile of his reappears.
I swear the hot guy is ready to kill me.
Aw, well, I’m not going to say no to a free drink, and who knows? Maybe I can find the guy and make it up to him later.
Auggie flags down the bartender, and mustache stares at the back of his head for a beat before shrugging and moving away. There goes my chance. But hey, free stool.
I slide into it and turn my attention to the man sitting next to me. He’s all big eyes and flushed cheeks, and when he turns his overeager attention back on me, I immediately soften toward him.
“You okay after today?” I find myself asking. I’d been prepared to ignore what happened, but I genuinely want to know.
His stare drops to the bar top. “Yeah, just one of those things, right?”
My bullshit sensors are in overload again. “Right.”
“Besides, plenty more fish in the sea …”
“I think that refers to dating.”
“Don’t see why it can’t apply here.”
Okay, he’s got me there. “True.”
When the drinks arrive, he nudges mine toward me and props his chin in his hand. “Did I stain your floor?”
“Nah. Nothing a little sanding won’t fix. Seriously, don’t worry about it.”
He watches me for a moment. “Since I’ll probably never see you again after tonight, can I tell you something?”
“Shoot.”
“I’m a total screwup,” he says on a sigh. “That’s why Dad won’t hire me and why I don’t have any references. The few places who have hired me haven’t kept me around for long, and none of them are anyone I want a potential employer talking to.”
“I kinda got the, ah, clumsy impression.”
“What could have given you that idea?” His tone is flat, even as he looks mortified.
I can’t help it—I start to laugh. “Is that how all your interviews go?”
“Only the good ones.”
“Poor Auggie.”
For some reason, the disappointment on his face melts away. “I know, feel sorry for me.”
“Nah, something tells me you’ll be okay.”
“Well, you were literally my last hope, so I’ll have to be okay doing something else with my life.”
“Oh yeah, like what?”
“Maybe I’ll take up sculpting. And be a, umm, sculp…tist?”
“I think they’re called artists.”
“Are they?”
I snort. “I don’t know. But you should probably figure it out before you print business cards.”
“I guess it’s back to the drawing board.”
I sip my drink quietly for a moment. “What do you want in a job?”
“Something physical, or at least varied. My attention span is way too short for sitting at a desk all day. Preferably outdoors.”
“What about … fisherman?”
“Gross.”
“Sports coach?”
“As well as clumsy, I’m exceptionally uncoordinated. Next!”
“Umm … miner? Logger?”
“You’re terrible at this.”
“Remind me which of us has a job.” I keep my voice kind so I don’t bring him down again.
Auggie orders two shots, and I’m not about to turn down free J?ger. We both throw them back, and I watch Auggie cringe through his.
“It’s no use. At this point, I should cut my losses and go into porn.”
I choke on my drink because that’s the last thing I was expecting an innocent-looking guy like Auggie to say. His eyes are starting to look a bit glassy and unfocused though, so I guess the alcohol is talking. “There’s a market for everything, I suppose.”
“Hey!” He gives me a little nudge. “I’ll have you know I’m quite confident in what I have.”
And even if Auggie isn’t my type, I’m red-blooded enough to recognize he’s sexy as hell in a twink kinda way. “Send me your OnlyFans and I’ll show my support.”
“Why?” He leans a little closer and wets his pink bottom lip. “I could give you a free show tonight.”
“Tempting as that is, my tastes are a little more rugged.”
He deflates. “Of course they are.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that guys like you never go for guys like me. Maybe if I go into porn, I’ll finally be able to fuck a guy large enough to break me.” He shudders, and I have to admit the imagery he paints is hot enough to pique my interest.
“That your type, huh?”
“Undeniably.”
“Mine too.”
“Hmm, maybe we need to go and track down the hottie with the big mo’. See if he’ll play with both of us.”
“Holy shit.” I start to laugh as Auggie gets up as though he’s going to go and look for the guy, but he stumbles right into me. I close my arm around him and steer him back to his stool. “You’re …” I pause as I try to find the right word. “More confident than you were today.”
His grin unfurls, and when he turns, he’s sitting so close his knee rests between mine. “Alcohol helps. Also, you’re no longer holding my dream job in your hands, so the pressure to impress you isn’t as strong.”
“Maybe the pressure is what gets to you.”
“Maybe. But I can’t turn it off. When I meet people who I want to like me, my brain turns into a mess of words I struggle to sort through, so what comes out of my mouth is usually a reflection of that.”
“You could have a shot before your interviews? Use it to calm yourself.”
“If I wasn’t a total lightweight, that would be a great suggestion. But as it is, I’m already seeing two of you.”
“Yikes.”
“I’m enjoying it. Double the sexy.”
“It’s a pity I didn’t hire you. I could get used to all this flattery.”
“You should write it in the contract.”
“I think that’s called sexual harassment and, oh yeah, it’s a crime.”
Auggie lets out a half-assed attempt at a chuckle and starts to lean forward. At first, I think he’s making a move, and I’m honestly not sure how to react, but then his head lands heavily on my shoulder. “M’tired.”
“It’s only midnight.”
“I didn’t sleep last night. Too nervous.”
His words tug at something deep in my gut. “Why was it so important to you? Is this a trying-to-make-daddy-proud scenario?”
“No. More …” He’s quiet so long I think he’s fallen asleep. “When I think back to my childhood, those were my favorite parts. The sun on my neck, the smell of sawdust in my nose, dirt under my nails. Dad and I made a tree house when I was nine, and I still go out there to think sometimes.”
He leans heavier into me, and I realize I’m rubbing his back. I’m not sure when I started, but it feels weird stopping now. “You can still build things even without it being your job.”
“I know. It’s just what I always saw for myself, so it’s hard not to be disappointed.
” Auggie wriggles a bit closer, and when he presses his face to my neck, I feel him take a long breath.
“You smell so good.” His voice comes out deeper than usual, huskier, and it stirs the need to get off.
My cock twitches with interest, and when Auggie’s hand lands on my knee and slowly starts to slide up my thigh, my erection starts to grow, like it’s trying to close the distance to his touch.
I snatch up his hand before he can reach it.
“Please …” His voice is raspy, and the begging gets me all the way hard.
Then he says exactly what I need to hear.
“I’ll let you use me however you like.”
Auggie might not be my usual type, but I’m only human. If my dick’s not going to complain, then I can’t think of a single reason why this shouldn’t happen.
Until I get to my feet, tug him after me … and Auggie all but falls into my side.
He starts to giggle uncontrollably, and as he trips over his feet again, it sends my erection to a sudden death.
He’s way too drunk to follow through with anything.
I manage not to feel too shitty as I lead him outside to get an Uber and take him back to Sunbury.
He’s passed out before we reach town, and while there’s only a handful of places he could realistically be staying, I have no idea where to take him, and I’m not about to spend my night hunting them down.
If I’m not going to get laid, I’m sure as hell getting some sleep.
The Uber drops us at my place, and I half carry his weight upstairs before dropping him on my mattress.
This is just my luck.
All I’d wanted was someone to take care of my needs.
And now I’m stuck taking care of someone else’s.