7. Jake #4
Allen gripped his thigh, and Jake could feel the anger radiating off him. “And have I ever told you that I fucking hate Christmas?”
No, but that would explain why Allen had been so grumpy.
“At least the family thing is only on Christmas Eve,” Riley said, his voice cutting through the tension, instantly shifting the atmosphere into something more cheerful. “I’m expected to visit all the time, and I love Jake’s family, but they can be intense sometimes.”
Allen turned in his seat to face Riley. “Thank you for speaking up. I know that wasn’t easy, but it was nice to have backup.”
Jake knew it wasn’t a dig at him, and he agreed with Allen’s praise. That’s why he loved Riles; he had been putting himself between him and his parents since they had been rebellious teens.
“Thanks, babe,” Riley said, using his annoying flirty voice.
Allen made a noise of disgust and straightened in his seat. “Are you really straight?”
Riley repeated Allen’s disgusted groan. “I don’t know. Apparently, ten million dollars might be enough to sway me.”
When Allen stared at Jake, Jake shook his head, silently begging him to drop it. He ended the conversation by switching the radio station until he found something that wasn’t playing Christmas music, which greatly improved Allen’s mood.
The drive to Riley’s place was much more enjoyable than the one to his parents’ house. By the time they pulled up in front of the apartment building, the mood had brightened enough that Jake felt the tension unwind from his shoulders.
“Have fun, you two,” Riley called out with a cheeky wink, waving as he hurried inside.
Jake glanced at Allen, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Your place?”
Allen’s cheeks burned a deep, vivid red.
Jake frowned, concern flickering in his chest as he gently pressed the back of his hand against one flushed cheek, worried that Allen might be coming down with something.
“We need to talk,” said Allen.
Fuck.
“About what?” Jake muttered.
What had he done? Had meeting his parents been too much?
“About us,” Allen clarified. “You’re going to ask me to be your boyfriend tonight, I’m going to say yes, and then we’re going to fuck.”
Jake accidentally let his foot off the brake, and the car lurched when he panicked and stomped it back down. “I…am?”
Allen bit his bottom lip, worrying it between his teeth for a few painful seconds before nodding. “I don’t know. Are you?”
He was. He totally fucking was.
Riley’s apartment was a quick drive from Allen’s place, but the trip felt endless despite Jake nearly speeding through the mostly empty streets. Allen swung between bursts of laughter and curses, playfully smacking Jake every time he took a corner too fast or toyed with running a yellow light.
He was first out of the car when he put it in park, so eager to get to Allen’s apartment that he was slipping on patches of icy snow.
“Slow down!” Allen called out, gasping through laughter as he fumbled for his keys to let them into the building. “You’re like a puppy about to go on a walk.”
Jake wasn’t going to slow down. The moment they stepped into the building, he swept Allen into his arms and started hauling him up the three flights of stairs, careful with each step so neither of them took a tumble.
“Holy shit!” Allen grabbed onto him tight, staying as still as possible to make the climb easier. “Are you fucking crazy?”
Maybe. Definitely.
He refused to put Allen down so he could unlock his apartment door, which earned him a string of curses and grumbles while keys were fumbled with and locks were opened. Jake carried him over the threshold, bringing them straight to Allen’s bedroom, forgetting to take off his boots.
“Wait—” Allen shoved his arms against Jake’s chest. “I need to like, prep and—”
Jake lowered Allen gently onto the bed, then sank to his knees in front of him, wrapping his arms around Allen’s waist as he blinked up at him. “Please—” He stopped to catch his breath. “Please be my boyfriend. I love you—I want to marry you—”
Allen swiftly clapped a hand over Jake’s mouth, a teasing smirk curving his lips as his eyes sparkled with amusement. “Whoa, settle down, big guy. This is already moving fast for me. How about you give it a full month before you start throwing around the idea of lifelong binding contracts?”
That wasn’t a no.
Jake’s heart pounded so loudly it felt like a drum inside his skull. “I know I don’t always say things the right way, but I’m serious—about this, about us. I don’t care if it’s moving fast. I know your feelings might take longer to catch up, but please—let me try to win your heart. I’ll do—”
Allen cut him off with a kiss, stealing the breath from Jake’s lungs. It started fierce and possessive, tongues brushing and fingers gripping hair, but it quickly melted into something softer and yearning.
Jake tasted the faint hint of candy canes on Allen’s lips and leaned in instinctively, deepening the kiss just enough to chase that lingering sweetness, to memorize it.
When they finally drew apart, Allen was stretched out beneath him, his breath unsteady, and his eyes bright. Jake hovered there for a moment, his head spinning fast enough to make him sway.
“I don’t want you to have to win me,” Allen murmured, fingers brushing over Jake’s swollen lips. “I just needed to hear you say it because you really are as quiet as a mouse sometimes.”
Jake swallowed hard, the weight of the moment suddenly crashing down on him. “You’ll be mine?”
Allen’s expression crumpled, and he let out a ragged sigh. “Against my better fucking judgment, yes.”
Jake began to smile, but then jumped when Allen snagged a lock of his hair and tugged it.
“Just so we’re clear, that means you’re mine, too. And I reserve the right to tell your father to fuck off from this point moving forward.”
Jake could work with that.
He tried to go in for another kiss, but frowned when Allen pushed him away. “What?”
“Don’t get petulant with me, Valero,” Allen snipped. He didn’t stop pushing until they were both standing again, and Jake was staring at him, confused.
Allen huffed and put his hands on Jake’s chest, spinning them around and shoving him onto the bed, reversing their positions.
“You’re going to sit here like a good boy, and I’ll be back in twenty minutes,” said Allen, leaning down and squeezing Jake’s cheeks between his hands. “I mean, at least take your damn boots off before you get comfortable. I expect you to be naked when I return.”
Jake gave a shaky nod, head spinning as all the blood in his body rushed to his cock.
Pants had never felt so uncomfortable.
Allen smirked and threaded his fingers through Jake’s hair, giving a playful tug before pulling away. The teasing gesture charged the air between them as he turned, walking off with a slow, confident sway that made it impossible for Jake to look anywhere else.
He sat and watched Allen disappear down the hall. The echo of his footsteps faded, leaving only the faint creak of the floorboards and the sound of Jake’s harsh breaths.
He stared at the empty doorway for a long time, mind blank and body humming, before letting out a shaky laugh. Jake raked a hand through his hair, still feeling the ghost of Allen’s touch.
Allen was his boyfriend. Allen had said yes.
Grinning, Jake pushed himself to his feet, stripping off his clothes in a hurried, careless blur, pulse pounding with anticipation for Allen’s return—and whatever might come next.