Nineteen
Blaine
The packets of pasta shells are mocking me. I know they are because I feel so out of my depth it’s unreal.
Me? Cook? It’s a disaster waiting to happen, it’s a miracle if I don’t burn toast, let alone manage to cook a full meal. I once managed to set the fire alarm off at the practice facility when I attempted to toast a bagel.
But I want to do something to help Alex. Hearing his heart breaking story earlier had my mind racing of ways I could help, especially knowing he wouldn’t take any money. My mom always told me that sometimes, a heartfelt gesture can mean the world to someone, so I wanted to do just that.
Except now I’m wondering what the hell I’m gonna cook without setting both Alex’s kitchen on fire and potentially making him sick.
I scan the aisles in the supermarket, wondering if there is something easy but fulfilling I can whip up for Alex and his brother, but the longer I stare aimlessly at the rows of food, the more nervous I get.
“Maybe I should just order a takeout.” I say to myself.
And great, I’m now talking to myself in the middle of Whole Foods.
I look down at the sad bottle of wine in my basket and sigh. Maybe a takeout will be the best option. Admitting defeat, I pay for the bottle of wine and head back to my car, ramping up the heat as a cold shudder takes over my body. Winter in Chicago is brutal for my Californian roots.
I scroll through the various options on GrubHub and settle on a Chinese takeout me and the boys often order from and order a mix of dishes: noodles, rice, dim sum, a few different chicken and beef dishes, a couple of sides and a soup for Jacob.
Once I’ve set the delivery to Alex’s address, I drive to his house and park down the street.
Alex opens the door with a bright smile on his face, and my heart somersaults in my chest. Seeing him smile doesn’t get old. I still feel that same warm fuzzy feeling in my chest every single time.
“Hey,” he greets me with a kiss before stepping aside to allow me in.
“Hey, beautiful.” I grin when his cheeks flush.
I toe off my sneakers while Alex takes my coat to hang up, and when he turns around, I wrap my arms around his waist and bring him close to me and claim his lips with mine. He sags against me, his warm, soft hands cradling my face.
Pressing a kiss to his nose, I rest my forehead against his and lose myself into those bright blue eyes. “How’s your day been?”
“It’s been good. This really hot guy came to help me out today.”
“Oh, yeah? How hot are we talking?”
“Super hot. Like I’m surprised the room doesn’t go up in flames because he’s that hot.” His eyes sparkle with mischief.
“Well, baby” I begin, taking his hand in mine and lacing our fingers together, “you’re so hot, you’d make the devil sweat.”
His blush travels up from his neck to the tips of his ears as he ducks his chin against his chest. I place a finger under his chin and lift his head to face me again, “honestly, you’re that hot I’d walk into traffic if you were on the other side of the street.”
Pressing another kiss to his lips, I hold up the wine. “I thought I’d cook but then remembered I suck at cooking so I’ve ordered a takeout which should be here in forty minutes. I ordered Jacob a chicken noodle soup, is that okay?”
Alex’s eyes soften. “That’s really kind of you, thank you.” He then glances around, chewing nervously on the inside of his cheek. “I’m… I’m sorry about the state of the house. We haven’t been able to decorate since my grandparents passed, it’s kinda dated.”
I take in the decor for the first time, having not even noticed when I walked in because all I could see was Alex.
Yeah, it’s a little dated. Cream walls, rich mahogany wood, and a lot of floral patterns.
It’s definitely not the kind of decor you’d associate with two guys in their twenties, but I’m not one to judge.
I’m about to open my mouth to offer to help with getting it redecorated when his finger lands on my parted lips.
“Whatever you’re about to say, no, but thank you.” He removes his finger and replaces it with his lips, then takes my hand to lead me further into the house. We stop in the lounge where the Edmonton v Dallas game is playing on the television.
“I need to take a shower before food arrives.” He says, “make yourself comfortable, I won’t be long.” He plants a kiss on my lips then disappears down the hall.
I gaze around the living room. There are framed photos on the wall, along with a bookshelf overflowing with old paperbacks.
One of the photos catches my attention. It’s of a couple with two kids.
They must be Alex’s parents. All four of them are wearing bright smiles.
Alex’s mom has her arm around his middle, he looks maybe four or five years old, that smile is wide and cheesy, covered in the ice cream he’s holding.
My heart pangs in my chest. For Alex and Jacob having lost their parents so young, and for his parents not being able to see the incredible people they’ve become.
There’s another photo from what must have been Alex’s graduation, Jacob standing proudly beside him, but the sadness is evident in their eyes.
The heartfelt conversation we had earlier solidified the fact that Alex is different than people I’ve dated before.
He isn’t with me for the money, or the status, or the fact I’m a hockey player.
He likes me for me , and damn, did it make me feel like King of the fucking world that this beautiful guy, who has been through so much heartbreak in his life, sees me as someone he wants to spend his time with.
Taking in all the photos, I wind up wandering down the hallway.
Stopping at every photo to take it in, then I come across his room.
My eyes landing on his unmade bed, and my thoughts going back to that night after our first date where he fisted his cock until he came with my name on his lips.
I sit on the edge, smoothing my hand over the cover before leaning in and inhaling his scent on the pillow.
My dick gives an excited twitch against my fly, and as I sit upright again, I notice a puck on his bedside table.
The warmup puck from the night we met.
I grin, picking up the rubberized disc in my hand and toss it in the air. I can’t believe he kept it.
“Be careful with that, it’s my favorite puck.”
His voice startles me. The puck drops to the floor with a thud and my head snaps up, and when I see him, my tongue lolls out my mouth like a dog. He’s standing in the doorway in just a towel.
Just a towel.
Water droplets run down his chest before disappearing beneath the terrycloth. I watch in avid fascination as he walks to his dresser and pulls out some briefs.
“You’re killing me here!” I groan.
Alex looks over his shoulder, a playful smirk spreading across his lips. “You’re the one who came in here, I can’t just stay in a towel.”
“I wouldn’t mind if you just stayed naked.”
He snorts and shakes his head as he drops the towel, exposing that perfect, peachy ass and I let out another groan, pressing down on my throbbing erection in my jeans as he pulls on the tight black briefs in his hand.
“You’re such a tease, how do you expect me to get through dinner now?”
Alex walks over to me once he puts on some sweatpants and stands between my legs. Placing my hands on his waist, I slide my hands around to grab a handful of that peachy ass he teased me with, then I practically purr like a cat when he runs his fingers through my hair.
My head tilts back, closing my eyes as the sensation of his nails against my scalp causes tingles to travel from my head to the tips of my toes, the hair on my body standing to attention like I've been shocked.
“I’m sure you’ll manage.” He leans down to kiss me, threading his fingers through the strands of hair on the back of my scalp.
I grip hold of his waist and pull him onto my lap before laying back on the bed.
We make out like we’ve got all the time in the world.
My hands exploring the soft skin of his back, feeling the curve of his spine and teasing handfuls of his ass.
I could kiss him forever and I still wouldn’t feel satisfied.
The food arrives shortly after, and we feast on the most delicious food, then lay on the couch to watch the last of the hockey game. Alex curls into me, his head resting on my chest, his hand on my hip. His soft snores fill me with so much happiness, the back of my eyes burn.
He’s so fucking special.
I want to do everything with him. I want to give him the world. I’d do anything he asked of me and more. Anything as long as I get one of his smiles and see those blue eyes sparkle.
I would burn the world for him and walk right into the flames.