Chapter Fifteen #2
Something stirred inside Xavi. Something he didn’t quite have a name for.
But something shifted inside him, right there under the Iowan night sky, while thousands of stars exploded above their heads like a myriad of distant lights.
Lulu was a fucking revelation as he sat there crouching, his fancy city clothes such a contrast to this historic backdrop, and yet he looked…
perfect. Before he realized it, Xavi asked, “Who are you?”
Lulu looked at him, stunned, his dark eyes wide, drinking up his face.
Then he chuckled lowly. “What do you mean, ‘who am I?’ I’m Lulu.
You okay over there, mano?” Lulu dug his front teeth into his bottom lip, squashing a smile.
“It’s not that cold tonight. You didn’t get frostbite of the brain or something, did ya? ”
Frostbite of the brain. Such a Lulu thing to say, and still, this version of Lulu, crouching before him, was so different from the Lulu he usually saw.
Or perhaps not. Perhaps Xavi had just been blind for a long time, putting Lulu into a box, just like Xavi put everything else in his life into neat boxes, too.
Just like he’d apparently been blind to the fact that Lulu was attracted to him.
Xavi took a step inside the bridge as Lulu got up from the ground, tilting his chin, gazing up at him.
“You’re… different.” Xavi narrowed his eyes, while his throat suddenly felt raw with emotion.
“I am?” Lulu reached for him, placing his hand on Xavi’s shoulder in a barely there touch. “How?”
“I don’t know,” Xavi swallowed, his gaze shifting between Lulu’s face and the floor. “You’re not… You’re…” He shifted on his feet, unable to put into words what he meant. How Lulu made him feel right now. Because it was Lulu leaving him speechless, no doubt about it.
Taking a step closer, Lulu linked his arms around Xavi’s neck, his body so close against Xavi’s that he could feel Lulu’s heart beating through his jacket. At least, it felt like he could.
“No one is just one version, oso. A person has so many sides and facets, not just one fixed version. I do too.”
Xavi nodded carefully, his lungs squeezing for their next breath of air. Lulu was unbearably close to him—his scent, his touch, the feel of him, everything consuming Xavi. Lulu stared at him, his glorious features half cast in shadow, the other half lit up by the lights on the bridge.
“I never saw it,” Xavi whispered. “I don’t think I ever really saw you, cisne. I’m sorry.” He was. He was truly sorry. Perhaps if he’d seen this side of Lulu sooner, they wouldn’t have wasted so much time.
“That’s not true.” Lulu’s features softened as he leaned in, speaking the next part against Xavi’s lips.
“You’re the only one who’s ever truly seen me, Xavi.
” A gasp spilled from Xavi’s lips, then it drowned when Lulu’s lips met his in a soft kiss.
Humming against Xavi, Lulu closed the space between them, his body melting into Xavi’s.
Instinctively, Xavi reached for him, wrapping his arms around Lulu’s waist, locking them together.
Lulu chuckled, his cold fingers caressing the back of Xavi’s head, as his tongue dipped out, carefully tracing the outline of Xavi’s bottom lip.
Fuck, this was truly happening. Again. Xavi hardened instantly, his body threatening to overflow with desire.
If he didn’t rein himself in, he’d probably have Lulu under him within seconds, fucking him into the precious, old timber boards.
Lulu probably wouldn’t object, what with the way he was moaning into Xavi’s mouth right now, his pelvis riding Xavi’s thigh, but Xavi didn’t want their first time to be like this.
He wanted it to be special and not the result of a spur-of-the-moment thing.
He didn’t want Lulu to regret it. Fuck, their first time.
Never in his wildest dreams had Xavi ever imagined that a first time with Lulu would be within reach, but now…
“Fuck, oso, you feel so good.” Lulu’s voice came out raspy as he tore himself away from Xavi’s lips momentarily, his eyes swimming with lust, his lips so deliciously pink and puffy.
“I want you so much. You have no fucking idea, do you? What you do to me? Totally clueless.” Lulu shook his head, like he was mostly talking to himself.
Adjusting himself, his gaze dipped to Xavi’s crotch before he looked back up with a smirk.
“Clueless, my ass,” Xavi gritted, before pulling Lulu in by the furry hood of his jacket, and plunging his tongue into Lulu’s mouth.
Good thing he was holding on to Lulu, because Xavi felt him shake against him as Lulu’s legs nearly gave way beneath him.
Reaching around, he grabbed the back of Lulu’s thigh and pulled him even closer against him.
Their mouths were working of their own accord by now, a tangle of probing tongues and messy kisses.
It wasn’t pretty, and it definitely wasn’t movie-worthy, but it was real, and it was them, and it was everything Xavi had ever wanted, because it was Lulu.
Lulu whimpered against him, his hips thrusting up against Xavi’s.
Tilting his head, Xavi dove deeper, their teeth clashing as he invaded Lulu’s mouth.
Fuck, he smelled so good, like the sum of everything lovely in this world.
Like summer days in the neighborhood, when the faint sound of the ice cream truck drew all the kids out into the streets.
Like Sunday basketball at the park with the guys, the harsh July sun beating down on their backs, sweat trailing down their tanned bodies.
Like pineapple and coconut drinks on the roof of Xavi’s apartment building, mixed in with the sharp smell of melting tar as soft Cuban jazz notes spilled from the portable speakers.
And then, just when Xavi thought he was about to lose himself, a thunderbolt tore through the night as the sky opened up and raindrops blasted against the roof of the bridge.
Lulu jumped in his arms as his body started trembling, but Xavi didn’t let go.
He held him close as the night exploded around them in torrents of rain.
“Shit,” Lulu breathed against his lips. “Did you do that?” He blinked at Xavi.
“What?” Xavi laughed.
“Was that you? Was that us? Because that was a real fucking kiss, wasn’t it, oso?”
“Yes,” Xavi said, his voice spilling over with emotion and want. “Yes, that was a real fucking kiss, cisne.”
“Do it again.” Lulu leaned in, his lips coasting along Xavi’s chin. “Do it again and never stop.”