6. Caleb
6
CALEB
M arcus stood in the doorway, shirtless, with tiny beads of water dripping from his body like diamonds under the sunlight. His skin glistened, highlighting every curve and contour of his muscled physique. It felt like I had stepped into a Calvin Klein model shoot; the view was too good to be true. It took every ounce of my self-control not to stare and resist the urge to trace the lines of his abs with my fingertips.
If football didn’t work out, he had a future in print, runway, and fashion modeling. There was not one ounce of fat on his body, and whenever he moved, it felt like he was flexing for me. He was bringing out my inner desires, a side of me I had locked away after Bradley.
All I wanted to do was lick him from head to toe. I looked down at his feet because I couldn’t do ugly feet. God, please let his feet be ugly, because if they are, this might save me from giving this boy my ass on the first day of meeting him alone. I had purposely prepared myself, just in case we wound up getting intimate. I looked down at his feet, and apparently, God had no intentions of hearing my prayer because he had beautiful and well-manicured feet.
“It’s good to see you, Caleb; nice chucks.”
“Nice to see you too, Marcus,” I said, avoiding complimenting his body. I had misread signals before and didn’t want to embarrass myself. I stepped into Marcus’s house and understood why he might keep his sexuality a secret. If I were in his position, I’d want to do the same. Not because I would be ashamed of my sexuality, but because there was no way you could authentically be who you were in this house. I couldn’t walk three feet in any direction without seeing a reference to Christ or Christianity.
Religious paraphernalia was everywhere. Bibles, pictures of black and white Jesus, and crosses hung on every wall. Bible scriptures were plastered in quotes that hung above the doorways, and Christian music played softly in the background. I love God, but this was overzealous for even the most hardcore Christians. I think I stared too long at the decor because he began apologizing.
“Sorry about all the church stuff; my mom is a minister and is serious about God.”
“Is she okay with an openly gay guy being in her home? I know a lot of Christians have firm beliefs about the subject of homosexuality, and I don’t want to be disrespectful.”
“Don’t worry about it, she’s at bible study, and afterward, they always go out to dinner. We’re good till about midnight.” This was red flag number two. I was not about to fall for a straight jock whose mom was a religious fanatic. I’d worked hard to accept myself for who I was, and I would not go backward for a cute, sexy, kind jock to whom I’d been fantasizing every night since our first meeting. My eyes darted to Marcus in his sweats, and my anxiety subsided. Why did he have this effect on me?
We settled in the living room, books spread out on the coffee table. I was focused, explaining concepts with such enthusiasm. I watched him intently, his face staring at me as I spoke.
“Marcus, are you even listening?” I asked, teasingly.
“Uh, yeah, of course,” he stammered, cheeks flushing slightly. “You were talking about... um...”
I chuckled, unable to contain my amusement. “The symbolism in ‘The Great Gatsby.’ You’re hopeless.”
“Hey, I’m trying,” Marcus protested, grinning. “It’s just... you make it sound so interesting, it’s easy to get lost in it.”
I shook my head, smiling back at him. “Well, let’s try to keep you on track then. How about we take a break?”
“Oh, yeah!” Marcus exclaimed, jumping up. “I’ve made some cookies. I’ll get them.”
As Marcus brought over the plate of cookies and glasses of milk, I couldn’t help but appreciate the gesture. The cookies were perfectly baked, golden brown with chocolate chips that glistened under the kitchen light.
“These are amazing!” I exclaimed after taking a bite. “Did you make them?”
“Yeah,” Marcus said, sounding proud. “I remembered reading in the yearbook that you liked chocolate chip cookies with oat milk.”
I looked at him, feeling a mix of surprise and something more, but I couldn’t quite place it. “You remembered that?”
“Of course,” Marcus replied casually. “I wanted to make you feel welcome.”
“Well, you succeeded,” I said sincerely, taking another cookie. “Thank you, Marcus. This is really thoughtful.” We continued chatting as we ate, the conversation flowing effortlessly between us.
“So, what made you transfer here?” I asked, genuinely curious about his story.
Marcus hesitated for a moment, then decided to share more openly. “I got expelled from my old school. My ex-girlfriend cheated on me with a guy and then they started spreading rumors about my sexuality. It led to a fight between us.”
I listened attentively, my heart going out to him. “That sounds tough. Betrayal and rumors can be cruel.”
“Yeah,” Marcus agreed quietly. “It wasn’t easy starting over. New school, new faces... and the fear that my sexuality might get me into trouble again.”
I nodded sympathetically. “It must have been hard.”
Marcus looked at me, a mix of vulnerability and determination in his eyes. “Yeah, it was. I... I’m bisexual. And the rumors weren’t really rumors after all. He embarrassed me in front of the entire school by telling the senior class I liked my ass licked during sex and that Samantha and I experimented with dildos. That was supposed to be a private moment between us, and she shared our intimate secrets with a guy who could do things for her I could not.”
The confession hung in the air between us, and I felt a surge of respect for his courage. “Thank you for telling me,” I said sincerely. “That must have been really tough for you.”
Marcus nodded; his expression serious. “It was. I’ve always been afraid of how people might react. It’s not easy being open about it, especially in my house.”
“I understand,” I replied softly. “You shouldn’t have to hide who you are.”
Marcus smiled, though his eyes were still troubled. “Thanks, Caleb. It means a lot to have someone who understands.”
As our study session continued, the atmosphere grew more relaxed. We shared more about our lives, our dreams, and our fears. Each revelation seemed to bring us closer together, and I couldn’t deny the growing connection between us.
“Hey, Caleb,” Marcus said after a while, looking up from his book. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” I replied, curious. “What’s on your mind?”
Marcus took a deep breath, adjusted his sweats, and licked his juicy red lips. “Are you into me? Am I your type?”
The question hung in the air, charged with tension. I felt my heart race as I considered how to respond. “Why do you ask?” I said softly, my voice trembling slightly.
“Because I need to know,” Marcus said, his gaze intense. “I like you, Caleb. More than just a friend. And I need to know if you feel the same way.”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “Marcus... I do like you. A lot. But I’ve been hurt before, and I’m scared of falling for another jock who might not feel the same way.”
Marcus leaned closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’m not like them, Caleb. I promise you that.
I’ve been scared too, but being around you makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. I want to give this a chance, if you’re willing.”
I felt a rush of emotions—fear, hope, and an undeniable attraction. “I want to give it a chance too,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. He took a cookie off the plate, dipped it in the oat milk, and placed it toward my lips.
I took a bite.
“How does it taste?”
“Very good,” I said.
“I’m glad you like it,” he said.
My insides were smiling as I took a seat and brought out my English book. I could feel his eyes watching my every move. Why did he have to show up in my life right after I had healed myself? Is the universe testing me to see if I’ll fall for the same mistake that put me in this rut in the first place? I read somewhere that our mistakes keep returning to test us if we don’t pass them the first time. Was this my lesson in a better, kinder, sweeter package? I avoided his minty eyes. I couldn’t say no to those eyes.
He stood up, pulled me toward him, and then put his hands around the small of my back. We were so close I could smell the cocoa butter lotion he had applied liberally to his skin. He lifted my chin and kissed me.
I could have melted into a puddle. His lips were the perfect combination of softness and wetness. “Will you be my boyfriend?”
I wanted to say no, but I couldn’t. This guy had a hold of my heart.
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
“You’ve made my year.” He kissed me again, but this time, he grabbed my ass and slipped his tongue in my mouth as he rubbed his hands up my shirt and pinched my nipples. His hands excited my body. Soft moans escaped my lips, and I covered my mouth out of shock because I’d never had a guy make me feel this way without sex being involved. He wanted me. This was a step in the right direction.
He removed his pants. There he stood in his boxer briefs with his massive dick print on display. I wanted to jump his bone. Never in my life had I seen a physique so perfect. He was muscular and ripped. I stared so long that I could sense Marcus’s discomfort. “Is there something wrong with my body? Do you not like it?”
Was he serious? Did he honestly think anyone could look at his body and find something they didn’t like?
“Marcus, your body is perfect,” I replied. His entire face lit up like a Christmas tree, his dimples like expensive and elegant ornaments.
“You want to go upstairs? My mom won’t be home for a couple hours.”
“Sure,” I replied. He picked up his pants and extended his hand. When I grabbed it, waves of pleasure rushed through my body like electricity. Marcus led me up his spiraled and dusty stairwell. I held on to him tight, fearing that if I didn’t, I might fall. I thought we were going to the second floor, but I was wrong.
It appeared we were in an attic that had been turned into a bedroom. It wasn’t small, but it wasn’t big either. It was the right size for someone to have one other person over, but three would be a crowd. The brown walls were mostly bare. A few football posters and jerseys hung on one wall while baseball caps hung on another. One weekend and a nice sea green paint to match his beautiful eyes could give this place some pizzazz.
Marcus locked the door, pushed me against it, and commenced to remove my shirt. I didn’t stop him, but I quickly crossed my arms and covered my lean frame. My body paled in comparison to Marcus’s well-developed physique. Insecurity consumed me.
“Why are you covering up your body? Do you want me to stop because if you’re not into me or don’t want to move forward, I’m fine with that.”
“It’s not you. I’m a little self-conscious about my body, especially in front of you and all your muscles.”
“I like you because you’re not like me, and I think your body is perfect. You’re the antithesis of me. Did I use that right?”
“Yes,” I replied, again holding back laughter. I found it cute that he was attempting to use big words to impress me. He unfolded my arms, wrapped his arms around my waist, and sucked on my nipples.
“Oh, Marcus, that feels so good.”
“You like that, Lil man?”
“Yes, Marcus,” I replied. He leaned his ear to my chest and listened to my heart. It was beating so fast.
“Calm down, baby; it’s okay. I got you.” I took some deep breaths and watched as Marcus got on his knees and unbuttoned my pants.
“What are you about to do?” I asked. He put his finger against his lips, motioning for me to be quiet. He pulled my shorts to my ankles and smiled when he saw my hard dick in my underwear.
“You’re a leaker.”
“What the hell is a leaker?” I whispered. He grabbed my dick and pointed to the wet spot on my underwear.
“You leak pre-cum.” Next, he pulled my underwear down, and his eyes bucked excitedly as my dick fell out of my underwear. “Damn, Caleb is packing.” He grabbed it with his hands and examined it from all angles. His soft hands felt so good against my dick.
“Are you negative?” He asked.
“Huh?”
“Are you HIV negative?”
“Of course; I’ve only had one sex partner, my ex, and we only had protected sex. Marcus stopped what he was doing and looked up at me.
“You’ve never had unprotected sex?”
“No,” I replied.
“Not with a man or a woman?”
“No, why is that so hard to believe?”
“I just find it odd that someone as kind, sexy, and smart as you have found no one you’d wanted to experience that intimacy with yet.”
“I just care about my health and don’t want to make a dumb decision that affects my life forever. What about you? Are you negative?”
“Yes, I get tested regularly because of sports.”
“Have you ever had sex with a guy?”
“No, I’ve only been with girls. You’re the first guy I’ve ever got intimate with, and yours will be the first dick in my mouth.
Marcus took my dick and put it in his mouth, and my eyes rolled to the back of my head. I grabbed the door handle to keep my knees from buckling so I wouldn’t fall to the ground. My dick was extremely sensitive. “You like that, Caleb?”
“Fuck yeah, Marcus,” I replied. Marcus pulled down my pants, grabbed my naked ass and pushed his mouth over my dick. He was determined to swallow it whole. For a guy that had never done this before, he was sure doing a spectacular job. I grabbed a handful of his curls and bounced his head over my dick, like I had seen in porno movies.
He sucked it with absolute ease. He then took it out of his mouth, hit my dick across his face, and put it back in his mouth. He lubed my dick with his spit, but stopped when he heard a familiar noise. He jumped off the ground, ran to the window, and pulled the curtains back.
“Fuck my mother’s home. I got to get you out of the house, now! If she finds you in the house this late without her permission, I will be in deep shit.” I pulled up my shorts and headed for the door, regretting that I had put myself in this situation. “Not that way. You gotta go out of the window.”
“Are you kidding me? The journey to loving myself has been long, and I’m not willing to hide for the sake of anybody.”
“Caleb, I’d never want you to give up your happiness for me. This is temporary. Please, give me some time. I might lose everything if my sexuality comes out. Please. It’s not that high up. You can jump or just wait on the roof until she falls asleep.”
I knew this situation was hard for him, and I also understood what was at stake. Marcus had really seen the ugly side of life and this scholarship and his place on the football team were his ticket out of poverty. “How long is that going to be?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but if you do this, I promise I will make it up to you. If my mother catches you here, Caleb, I will be in deep trouble.”
I hated he was making me do this, but things would not be good for either of us if his mother caught a boy in his bedroom, especially a boy dressed in rainbow colors and with a pride bracelet on his wrist. I fastened my pants and put my shirt back on, shook my head in dissatisfaction, climbed out of the window, and moved out of its view. A few minutes later, I heard his mother’s voice.
“Why are you so quiet up in here? Are you doing something you don’t have any business doing?”
“No, Mother, I’m just studying for my English exam,” Marcus said.
I could hear everything because he had forgotten to close the window.
“Why is the window open? You got some girl hiding out here or something.”
“No, Mom, I was just hot.”
“Then turn off the heat. I’m not heating the entire neighborhood.” I heard footsteps approaching the window.
Fuck, she was about to look outside!
I only had one choice to keep from exposing Marcus’s secret. Jump.
I shook my head, took a deep breath, and jumped off the roof. As I fell through the sky about fifteen feet, I knew I would break something. I landed on my feet but twisted my ankle. I kept my mouth closed despite the immense pain and quickly crawled toward the house so that I would be out of view.
When I heard the window shut, I pushed myself off the ground and limped to my car, a block down the street. I had literally fallen for a jock and probably broken my ankle. I was failing the test the universe had sent me miserably, and I had a tough decision to make.