Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Charles
My hands are shaking as I push open the door to Hush Hush and pause. It’s almost completely dark inside and, thankfully, silent. Out of all the times we’ve hooked up, we’ve only been unlucky twice, which is good odds considering Hush Hush is a well-known hookup location.
I’m deep in the basement of the Jeremiah building, in a forgotten storage room, and even though we’ve been here a fair few times before, it doesn’t stop my pulse from kicking up that little bit faster.
The fear mixes with lust in a way that makes my cock way too hard.
I’m always here before him, and I cross to what I think of as our corner between some shelving and a wall.
There’s enough light in here that the shadows look creepy, but not enough for us to see each other’s faces clearly.
Just shadowy features, strangled gasps, and warm, smooth skin for me to replay every damn night while I’m strangling my dick.
I’d thought this was over. That we were going to keep going about our days pretending like this had never happened between us, and when I got his text this morning, I’d been groggy and half-asleep, so I’ve been checking my phone all day to make sure it was real.
Sure, over the last few months, I could have been the one to text him, but I’m never the one who instigates our booty calls.
It’s not that it’s a rule—not like how we don’t use each other’s names—but I always knew if I started texting him when I wanted to hook up, he’d be getting messages every night.
So it was better to restrain that urge than let it override me.
Before we took on the executive roles we have within our fraternity houses, I’m not even sure he knew I existed. We didn’t exchange a single word, but even as a pledge, he caught my attention.
Cool, calm, confident. The three C’s that led me to my very clumsy offer to help him relieve tension last year. The words had just … come out, but once I’d said them, there wasn’t anything I could do but set my jaw and meet his eyes.
It was the first time I felt like he saw me. The familiar flutter in my chest exploded as he glanced around Deja Brew, then leaned in and said in that sexy, deep voice, “Hush Hush, eleven o’clock. We’ll … I dunno. Pretend like we’re strangers. And Charles, don’t, ah, tell anyone. Okay?”
I’d immediately agreed, and that was the night my fantasies came true.
I’m not someone who hooks up often, even though I’m not short on options, but after that first time with him, I knew nothing else would live up to it.
The door creaks, and a sliver of light fills the room before a shadow ducks inside and the door closes again. It could be anyone, but I know those footsteps, and as soon as he’s close enough, I grab his shirt and tug him in.
“It’s me,” I say.
“Hey …” I can picture the soft grin he’s wearing by the way he says the word. It’s light, welcome. Missing the layer of snark that comes with our frat meetings. “I wasn’t sure you were, you know … still interested.”
“Oh, no. I’m fine. Totally good.” I hate the way I turn into an idiot around him. “I didn’t realize it had been so long.” Like hell am I telling him how much I missed every one of those fourteen weeks I didn’t get to have him like this.
“Neither did I. And with finals coming up, we probably won’t be able to catch up again. My schedule is jam-packed.”
“Mine too,” I say to distract from how much that hurts.
I don’t like saying goodbye to anything, but to him?
There are still a few months of frat duties for the two of us, but it’s not the same thing.
Here, it’s just us. This is the version of him I like best. No armor, no bickering, only his fingertips lightly trailing over my cheeks.
I swoon at his touch and thank the world for forgotten storage closets stopping him from seeing the effect he has on me.
“So.” He takes a step, pressing his body against mine and trapping my hands between us. “Last time, then.”
My heart is going fucking crazy, and I wish that bastard would play it cool. But no, instead, my hands are starting to shake again. “Sounds like it.”
“Okay.” He grinds his hard cock into my thigh, and I swear my eyes roll back. “How are we doing this?”
I almost, almost ask him to touch me, just this once. But there’s a reason I’ve avoided it all this time. There is no way in hell I’ll be able to walk away so easily if he gets me off. “Why mess with a good thing?”
His soft laugh is all the encouragement I need. I nudge for him to pull back an inch so I can feel my way down his abs to the waistband of his pants.
Hot damn, he’s wearing sweats.
I cup him over the soft material, and my head falls back against the wall on a groan. I’ve missed this. The heat, the weight, the feel. He’s perfect in every way, and if this is the last time, I’m going to have to make it worthwhile.
“Little tease,” he growls in my ear, then drops his mouth to the dip between my neck and shoulder. He bites and nips, slightly rough chin scraping my throat as he sucks his way up to under my jaw. A shaky moan parts my lips, and he chuckles.
Then his hand closes over my cock.
I almost choke on my sudden inhale, and before he can do much more than squeeze, I drop to my knees, bringing his sweats down with me.
The phantom feel of his hand on me has me scrambling to work open my fly as I lean in and wrap my lips around him.
The first salty taste on my tongue sends my brain fuzzy, and I know we’re supposed to be pretending as though we’re hooking up with a complete random, but even in the dark, I can picture him.
Zeke with his light brown hair and unwavering stare. I wish I knew what that stare looked like while I was on my knees for him, but even without ever having seen it, I know it would be intense enough to steal my breath.
I start to work over his cock. He’s so fucking hard, soft skin stretched taut, and I take my time licking and sucking and drawing out all the delicious noises he makes. Every time together is new and exciting.
“You’re so good at that,” he says, widening his stance and leaning forward.
My gaze flicks up to his shadowy form looming over me. He’s got one hand planted on the wall behind me, and I make out his other as it moves and settles on the back of my head.
Zeke—oops, no, I can’t think of him like that down here—ah, his fingers tighten, taking control the way I desperately crave.
His hips buck forward, and even though it’s been a minute, he clearly hasn’t forgotten my complete lack of deep-throating skills.
His thrusts are shallow, fast, and each little hint of salt on my tongue tells me he’s getting close.
Dammit.
No. It’s been a while, but this can’t end so soon.
I stroke myself as I pull off him and duck my head to lick his balls. They’re pulled tight and ready for release, and even though he won’t be able to see me, I know he’s trying to. His head is tilted down, and my hair threaded through his fingers is starting to sting.
His hand leaves my hair and trails along the side of my face until he reaches my mouth. His thumb slides inside, hooks behind my teeth, and jerks my jaw down. “Open,” he rasps.
I’m weak to resist him.
My mouth opens, and I’m equal parts embarrassed over how easily I complied and how desperate I am to taste him again.
He forces his cock inside with one thrust, hitting the back of my mouth but backing off before he triggers my gag reflex. His hand returns to my hair as he fucks my face, and all I can do is kneel there and take it.
Gladly.
Always.
My hand speeds up, jerking myself hard and fast, my mind playing images of what Zeke looks like standing over me. Those muscles … his tats … his parted pink lips.
“Oh, shit,” he gasps, sinking into my mouth one last time as his cock jerks with his release. Bitter, salty cum floods my mouth, and I swallow it all, eyes rolling back as I get myself closer and closer.
Zeke gives my hair a tug, and I pull off, but instead of stopping there, he tugs again. “Come up here.”
His words are so soft, I almost miss them. But I’m too close to stop now. Not with the way his voice hits me behind my ribs, sending shivers over my body. I press my face to his abs, feeling my orgasm creep closer, images of Zeke on a constant loop, doing filthy things to me.
“I-I’m close …” I gasp as he gently strokes my hair. The action is so soft and sweet I can’t stop the way I inhale him. Press closer. My thighs shake.
“I want to touch you,” he says.
“Oh shit, Zeke.”
My cock throbs, and I’m barely quick enough to catch the cum. My brain has turned into goo, and when I stop coming, my forehead is resting on his hip, and I never want to move.
Zeke hauls me to my feet, and this is the part I love, almost more than the sex. When he kisses my hair and tells me how good it was.
Instead, he steps back.
My gut sinks.
“Thanks for that.” He clears his throat. “It was a good arrangement.”
Was.
Fuck.
“Ze—”
His palm closes over my mouth. “Don’t make this weird.” But judging by his tone, I already have. “Just two total strangers helping each other out. It’s been … nice.”
Good? Nice?
My eyes close as he releases me, but I’m smart enough to hold back my whimper.
I said his name.
The air around me shifts as he moves for the door, and when he pulls it open, I get a quick flash of his features. Proof he was here.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
My words are eaten by the creak of the door closing behind him.
Fuck.
I guess that’s it, then.