24. Sage
TWENTY-FOUR
SAGE
NOW
Work sucked. All day it was ridiculously hot.
Standing alongside a road only intensified everything.
Plus, I had to stay and do overtime to cover Everett.
It’s his fifth kid, and while I’m happy he’s all domesticated, it’s annoying when I’m constantly covering for him.
His kids are always vomiting or something, and he calls off.
When I get back to the trailer, it is just after nine-twenty. The trailer is way too hot, muggy, and uncomfortable. Stale air hangs stagnant.
I grab a quick shower, washing off hours’ worth of sweat and dirt. I quickly get dressed in board shorts and one of Mac’s tank tops with the sleeves cut off. I rush through setting up box fans in the windows. It will probably only shuffle around the humid air, but it’s better than nothing.
I hear music before I even see the beach, grateful someone else has control over the music instead of Lizzy. I’d rather not listen to Korean dudes singing about jam, or butter, or any other food for a while.
Instead, Hollywood Undead welcomes me to the docks. Music blaring, I scan over the silhouettes looking for Mac. Everyone is out here tonight.
Even June and her ladies brought down lawn chairs to sit right up on the shore, the lake lapping at their feet. Everyone is trying to escape the heat.
I don’t see Mac anywhere.
Harley spots me first, waving me over to a keg he probably stole from the bar he works at.
“Yo. How’s it been, man?” He pulls me into a one-armed hug, slapping my back.
“Good. Haven’t seen ya in a while.” He hands me a cup full of mostly foam and taps his red solo cup against mine, sloshing the frothy liquid onto both our hands.
“Yeah, you know how it goes. Saw Mac is back.” Harley has always been elusive, constantly pulling disappearing acts.
Vanishing into the city for weeks at a time before popping back up again.
He’s Sawyer’s oldest brother, a few years older than me, so our interactions have always been more casual than anything else.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me you were there that night when Dave beat up Mac?” I take a sip of the beer, the foam tickling its way down my throat. It’s not bad, definitely better quality than the piss beer we usually have. Chilled enough to cool my still heated body.
“It was nothing. Dave was a piece of shit. I was happy to kick him in the balls.” He shrugs with a big grin like it wasn’t a big deal. But it was. They probably saved Mac’s life that night.
“Well thanks, man. If you hadn’t have been there…” My words die on my tongue. The thought of Dave actually killing Mac has bile crawling up my throat.
“No worries.” He slaps my back again. He’s never been a guy who wastes words on small talk.
Only ever saying what he needs to. Direct.
“Mac’s out on the dock with Sawyer, if you were wondering.
” He smiles a knowing smile. I’m not surprised.
News travels fast around here. Everyone is always up in each other’s business.
I search for any sparks of embarrassment.
Any panic that the news of Mac and me might cause.
But I come up empty. I could never be embarrassed of Mac.
He’s been my best friend for forever; in a way this feels like a natural progression.
If anyone has anything bad to say about it, I’ll kick their ass.
“Thanks.” Saluting him with my cup, I start off towards the dock, saying hey to a few people as I pass. The heat from the firepit is way too uncomfortable to stick around.
Luna sits on a log next to Lizzy, staring with admiration at her. I roll my eyes. How Lizzy is clueless to Luna’s crush is mind blowing. Girl is anything but subtle.
When I get to the docks, I pause. Mac sits on the edge, feet dangling into the water, his strong, naked back facing me.
But what has me stopping short is Sawyer.
He sits pressed against Mac’s side, his head tipped against his shoulder.
Sitting too damn close. Their bodies aligned from shoulder to knee.
I don’t see the guy who helped save Mac. All I see is the fucker who flirted and eye fucked him. The guy who apparently had Mac’s cock in his hand.
All I see is the conversation Mac and I never had. The one where we never hashed out what this is between us. Defining lines in the sand to mark boundaries.
Does he think this is just a casual hook up? Is he looking to return to that night Dave interrupted? I feel ridiculous, angry, defensive, and fucking protective of whatever it is we have.
Who the fuck does Sawyer think he is? Pressing himself against what’s fucking mine like a goddamn whore? Because that’s what Mac is. He’s mine, whether we’ve talked about it or not. He’s always been fucking mine!
I’ve always seen him as mine. Almost like an extension of myself.
Someone to protect and treasure. But the feeling going through me now is amplified.
I’ve never felt this enraged by someone touching him.
Not to mention on our dock? This is where I first kissed him! Is nothing sacred? God fucking damnit!
The old wood of the dock groans and shifts when I step onto it.
But it appears they are way too engrossed in their conversation to notice.
I walk with heavy, purposeful steps. They continue to pay me no mind, just continue to have some secret conversation.
My blood feels like lava in my veins. Jealousy makes me see red.
Unhinged thoughts flicker through my head. Ones making it very clear who Mac belongs to. A warning to keep their hands off. Shoving him to his knees in front of everyone here. Making him gag on my cock while they watch.
My thoughts should concern me, but instead, they have lust pumping through my veins. Replacing the lava. Telling me that’s a great idea. I set the empty cup on one of the posts along the dock as I crack my knuckles.
Fuck everyone. Fuck Sawyer and his wandering hands and eyes. Fuck Mac for not telling me what he wants out of this. I’ll make sure he knows what this is. Make it very fucking clear even to this dumbass.
“Hey, baby,” Mac says without once turning to look who was coming up behind him. I freeze, glowering at his back. How did he know it was me?
Sawyer seems to have some sense of preservation. He jerks his head off Mac’s shoulder and turns quickly to see the prowling animal at his back. His black-lined eyes go wide when he sees the anger radiating off me, his body immediately leaning away from Mac.
“Alright…well, good catching up.” Sawyer starts to put his hand on Mac’s shoulder, but stops, his hand hovering over him. Instead, he raises it in surrender. “Right.” He stands quickly, slinking past me as he rushes off the dock.
Mac, the asshole, laughs and finally looks up at me.
“You’re very predictable, you know that?” he asks with so much humor and happiness it almost diminishes the anger. Almost.
“Fuck off. I’m not predictable.” I step closer, towering over him. He only smiles. A mischievous look on his face.
“Sure, baby.” He gives me a disbelieving look with a nod. “Wanna sit with me?” he offers, jerking his head to the spot Sawyer just vacated.
“I have another idea.” Before I can think my next move through, I fist his hair tugging, his head back. His neck bends backwards as I lean down toward him. “You think this is funny? Were you trying to make me jealous?”
“It worked, didn’t it?” He’s smirking, but his eyes are endless pools of black in the shadows. “Want to prove anything?” he taunts. I pull his hair harder, and he hisses out breath through clenched teeth.
“Maybe I do.”
“Then do it. Prove it,” he baits me, and I know I’m going to bite.
“I mean…unless you’re afraid.” All the times that phrase worked on me are astronomical.
All the times I did stupid shit just to prove to this asshole I wasn’t afraid.
I never backed down then, not when I spray-painted a cow, not when I stole games from the store. And I sure as shit won’t now.
“You did this on purpose. Forcing me to react.” All the pieces fall into place.
Mac is a superstitious son of bitch. Always thinking good shit isn’t free. The bad always comes. When shit is going well, he’ll push buttons, start fires, provoke fights, anything he could think of to make everything even out.
When we were fifteen, Dave left, Mom was clean; shit was going too good to be true. For once, no one was fighting over stupid shit, everything was running well. But Mac got a bug up his ass. Convinced things were about to blow up.
So, like any good problem solver, he thought he’d speed things along.
He got into a fight with Dean. I don’t remember what he did to provoke him, but it worked.
He got his ass handed to him. But it helped calm down the anxiety of shit possibly blowing up.
He was able to just relax and enjoy the gift that we had.
It didn’t last long, of course. Two weeks later, Dave came back.
Shortly after, Mom nosedived off the wagon.
But he can never just accept when life is good.
And everything has been going so well. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.
So, if he needs to start a tiny fire to keep the shoe from dropping, I’ll play. I always do.
“No, just taking advantage of an opportunity,” he lies. He set this up. But I’m okay with his white lie. I’ll let him keep it. I’m too far gone. Lost in the idea of forcing him to take my cock in his mouth in front of everyone.
“Get on your knees.” I release his hair and let him slowly pull his feet out of the water, slowly rising up onto his knees at my feet as he bites his lip and looks up through his eyelashes. He draws out every movement into a tease, a show meant only for me.
My cock is rock hard, tenting my board shorts. All blood rushes south so fast, I almost feel dizzy. Or maybe it’s seeing him on his knees that makes my head spin.
“You wanna fuck around?” I undo the string holding my swim trunks up and let them fall to my feet. The fact that I’m now flashing everyone we know, including fucking June, is not even a deterrent.
My dick pops up in the air by his face. “Well, asshole, you found out. Now fucking suck.” His hand circles around the base of my cock in a tight grip, his eyes never once leaving mine.
Taunting me with his sly smirk, he gives me a chance to back out.
No way in hell am I backing down now. Not when my dick is so close to his mouth.
I wish there was light out here so I could see every single detail.
The moon only provides the bare minimum.
His mouth wraps around my cock head, sucking me into the warm, wet heat of his mouth. His cheeks hollow out as he pulls me deeper inside his mouth.
“Aw f-fuck,” I stutter, dropping my hand to his head for balance.
Because fuck me, my mind is spinning. He feels so good.
Hottest blowjob of my life, and it just got started.
His head bobs up and down, taking more and more of my length with every pass.
I hit the back of his throat, air gushing from my lungs in a panted breath.
Bringing me to the edge way too fast for my liking.
“Touch. Yourself,” I grit the words out, unable to think beyond his mouth. With his free hand, he pulls himself out. I again curse the darkness for stealing the ability to watch closely. I only see his arm pump between his parted thighs.
He slobbers on my cock, working his hand up and down in time with his mouth. Saliva drips from the corners of his mouth and land on the dock. It’s so hot and messy.
His throat constricts around me with a swallow, and I lose it. I don’t even have time to warn him before my cum is shooting down his throat.
Fucking hell. Starbursts shoot across my eyes, and I force him to swallow over and over. My hips jerk, pushing him to take more.
He doesn’t seem to mind; his arm continues pumping frantically between his legs. His release hits my shin. He pulls back, sucking in air, while drops of saliva mixed with cum run down his chin.
My knees hit the old wood, and I slam my mouth to his. Tasting myself on his tongue. Never thought I’d enjoy the taste of my cum, but mixed with Mac, it’s fucking delicious. I’m delirious, lost in his mouth. The taste, the feel of his tongue. I’m a goner.
“Fuck, baby,” he pants against my lips, still trying to catch his breath. The two words sound raw and deep.
It doesn’t take long for reality to come raining down on me. I just fucked his mouth. In front of everyone. I must let my fear show. He moves back, resting his ass on the heels of his feet.
“You gonna freak yet?” Mac asks, and I shake my head. “Having some regrets?”
“Nope. I’m more concerned with the fact that June just saw my dick than her watching you give me a blowjob.
” He laughs, but it cuts off abruptly, his head twisting to look over where June sits near the edge of the lake.
They are lost in the shadows, just black outlines against the backdrop of the fire.
“Shit, I forgot she was here.” We both laugh at that, but quickly stuff ourselves back into our shorts nonetheless. “Should we just jump in the lake? Swim to a new town? Change our names to Seymour and Stuart?” He laughs, glancing back at June.
“Calm down, Stuart. The lake is more of a large pond. It’s dark. At best, they saw our shadows get freaky.” I sit back and look over towards the beach, then to June and the other ladies. From here, I seriously can’t tell if anyone just watched us or not.
“Fuck you. You’d be Stuart, you dick.” He smacks my abs with a playful swat.
“Ha! No way, you’re a Stuart.” Fucking Stuart pushes me into the goddamn lake. I tip back, arms pinwheeling before I’m splashing into the water. I splutter and spit out a mouthful of green lake water, treading the waves as I glare. Mac just laughs hysterically.
I can’t hold onto my anger for once. Not when Mac is smiling. Not when he just gave me the best blowjob of my life. Not when I’m so damn happy.
Shit.
Something bad is gonna happen, isn’t it?