Chapter 26
Auggie
Icould get used to this. A big, warm body wrapped around me. His breaths hot against my shoulder, his soft cock resting on my thigh, the chest hair pressed to my ribs …
Trying not to wake Leon, I shift and snuggle farther into his arms. Last night was incredible, and with nowhere to be today, I’m hoping he’s up for a repeat.
A whole Sunday to hang out and enjoy each other sounds like a dream, and I refuse to get my hopes up. I won’t push for more.
As much as I might want it.
Because it’s becoming harder and harder to ignore the fact I’m falling for him.
How could I not? Yes, sometimes I might act like an idiot, but I’m not actually one. Leon is a total catch, and I’ll take what I can get while I can get it—it’s just lucky for me that he really likes my dick.
Last night was incredible. Sure, I’ve always wanted to top, but that was beyond what I’ve ever imagined. Seeing his powerful body moving on top of me, feeling him clenched so fucking tight around me …. it’s lucky I held out as long as I did.
Yeah, there’s no way I’m going back to only bottoming. Not after that. If there’s one thing I can thank Leon for, it’s that I won’t be bullied into thinking my dick is too big ever again.
Leon shifts in his sleep and grunts a little as he presses his face into my neck before nipping his way up and along my jaw.
“Morning,” he murmurs, clearly not fully awake yet.
Faking a confidence I don’t feel, I turn and slide an arm around his back until we’re chest to chest. “Morning. How do you feel?”
“Sore. Incredible.” His voice is husky with sleep. Slowly, he blinks open his dark gray eyes and meets mine. “You?”
“I can safely say, and with no exaggeration, that was the best sex I’ve ever had.”
His laughter is warm. “Glad to have been of service.”
I hesitate, a little unsure of how much to actually say here. My gut is bursting full of nerves, and my chest is bursting full of feelings, but those are being locked up tight. “I thought, maybe, well … it could sort of be fun to … do it again.”
“Sure.” He goes to roll on top of me, but I pull back before he can.
“Regularly, I mean. Like, I wouldn’t be opposed to a casual friends-with-benefits type of thing where we have a lot of sex and also spend time together and work together—”
“Sure—”
“But also maybe don’t see other people while we’re sleeping together.
” I rush to get that out there, because I’m pretty sure it’ll be the deal breaker for him.
Yes, he can agree to more fucking easily enough, but exclusivity is probably too close to a relationship for him to be comfortable.
I get that. But it’s a nonnegotiable for me, because even if I can’t have him in a permanent capacity, knowing he’s out with someone else will make me see green.
“Auggie …”
“I get if you don’t want to, and that’s fine, but also I think last night proved I’ve maybe got a teeny bit of a jealous streak, and if I know you’ve been with someone the night before you’re with me, I’ll constantly be wondering how I compare.
Did he suck better dick than me? Is he bigger than me—”
“I can safely say no one I’ve met is bigger than you.” He gives me a sexy smile. “And I fucking love the way you suck my dick. I really gave it to you last night, and you didn’t even try to pull away. It was incredible.”
I frown at him. “You know what I mean. I’m not exactly the most confident person, and knowing that you need more than me to keep you satisfied will be a real blow to my barely existent ego.”
“Okay.”
I’m not sure what that word means. Like, the definition, yes, but in this context …
“It’s fine if you need time to think about it.
And I’m not asking to be dating or anything—I’m not naive.
And then when this isn’t working anymore you—or me—whoever can call it off, and we’ll both be total grown-ups about it, because obviously we know what this is. ”
“And what is this?”
“Ah … convenience? Hot sex? Companionable friendship?”
His eyes are doing that thing where they look like they’re teasing me. “Sure thing, Auggie.”
I swallow roughly. “See, you’re saying all these affirming things, but I was expecting a fight on it, and you’re not elaborating, so now I’m not sure what’s happening here.”
“It’s clear to me.”
“Is it? Well, it’d be great if you could, I don’t know, fill me in? Tell me what’s happening in your brain? Because I seem to be doing all the talking, and I’m not really sure when I’m supposed to shut up.”
“Well, that’s something new and different for you.”
I pin him with my best I’m not playing look, but apparently it’s not as ferocious as I think it is.
“Fine.” He sighs and drops a kiss on my shoulder. “Last night was … amazing. And yes, I want to do it again, because apparently, when it comes to you I—”
A knock on my door makes him cut off. He lifts his head. “Should you get that?”
“Nope. Go on.”
He tickles me, and I jolt. “Go get the door.”
There’s another knock, and I frantically shake my head. “Let them think no one is here and leave.”
“Or you get rid of them quickly and get that sexy ass back to bed.”
Well, with an argument like that … “Don’t go anywhere.”
He tucks his hands behind his head. “Not planning on it.”
Those four little words shouldn’t make me as happy as they do. I have no idea who the hell would be visiting me when the only person who’s ever been here is currently in my bed, but I quickly pull on a pair of sweatpants and make for the door.
If it’s a salesperson, they’re going to be getting the grumpy Auggie special, because it took so much out of me to say all that to Leon, and right when he was about to tell me his side, we’re interrupted.
Okay, universe, how is that fair?
I’m a good guy—is it really too much to expect to be cut one break? Just one. Just one that ends with Leon permanently in my bed.
I sigh and run my hand back through my hair, trying to get it to sit right. I might want to give this person a piece of my mind, but I won’t, because frankly, I don’t want to ruin anyone’s day. I guess I’m a doormat like that.
A quick glance at the clock shows it’s almost eleven. Yikes. At least this person isn’t being a complete asshat. I force a pleasant expression.
But when I open the door, the smile immediately drops from my face.
“Fuck.”
“Good morning is a more appropriate greeting, I’d think,” Dad says.
Mom steps past him and pulls me into a hug that I stiffly return. “How dare you leave it so long to come and see me.”
“I was planning on driving down today.” I wasn’t. “You ruined the surprise. But quick, if you jump back in your car right now, we can pretend like this never happened and I can still surprise you for dinner.” Please. Please get back in that car.
Dad goes to say something, but I cut him off.
“Or lunch. Yes, lunch, let’s do that. I’ll grab my wallet, it’ll be my treat, yes. This is perfect. Just let me—”
“What’s going on, August?” Dad’s tone leaves no room to argue. He steps past me into the apartment, and Mom gives me a worried look as she follows. Dear freaking God. My gaze flies to the bedroom door where I can hear Leon moving around.
With any luck, he’s heard them and is currently in the process of shimmying down the drainpipe. Do I even have a drainpipe?
Can Leon shimmy?
Shit.
Really should have thought this through.
“Auggie?” Leon’s and Mom’s voices mix together, and my eyes fly wide, even as Dad’s attention snaps to the bedroom.
“You have company?” he asks.
“Umm, no.” I raise my voice. “No company. No one here. Only me. Alone. Totally solo and definitely not entertaining company of any kind.”
Leon appears in my doorway, and thank fuck, he’s dressed.
Not that it matters considering he’s leaving my bedroom on a Sunday morning.
Hellooo, sleepovers.
“Kieran.” Leon nods at Dad like he’s not surprised to see him. Which means he heard us. And came out anyway.
Good-ie.
“Dad, Mom, you know Leon.” The false bravado in my voice is fading fast. “And now that we’ve all met, how about that lu—”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Dad hisses. “I warned you. I warned you what I’d do if you slept with my son.”
“Ruin my business? Go right ahead and try. It’s not illegal.”
“It’s unethical though.” Dad lets out a bitter laugh. “I guess this explains so much. Why Auggie still has his job after that forklift incident, why he’s been ignoring my calls all week and hasn’t given me an answer on my offer.”
I quickly give Dad my stop talking immediately eyes, but apparently they’re lost on him.
“What offer?” Leon asks.
“The offer to work for me as a foreman and learn how to run the business.”
No, no, no. “I think if we leave now, we might even catch the brunch specials at Harvey’s.”
“Auggie …” Mom shakes her head.
“They do banana shakes.” My voice is so strained everyone turns and looks at me, which is way too much attention. My cheeks are getting all hot, and there’s that telltale pounding in my ears that happens right before I pass out. When was the last time I ate? Drank water?
“Hey, it’s okay.” Leon’s familiar scent washes over me as he steers me to the couch. I flop down on the cushion and immediately start to feel better.
I pin Dad with a glare. “Who I sleep with has nothing to do with you.”
“He’s your boss.”
“And he’s been completely clear about keeping work and”—I can’t say the word sex to my parents—“this separate. I trust him. When will you start to trust me?”
“When you start making practical decisions. You can’t sit there and tell me that you actually want to be an apprentice earning next to nothing a week. I’m offering you the world, and instead of jumping at that opportunity, you’re putting who you’re sleeping with first.”
“That’s not—”
“Isn’t it? You think Leon doesn’t know you’re too qualified for this job? You think he isn’t taking full advantage of your knowledge and your naivety and playing you exactly where he wants you?”
“Screw you, you son of a bitch. I don’t take advantage, and I don’t play people.
” Leon runs a hand through my hair. “I’m going to take off, because as far as I’m concerned, your parents aren’t part of our conversation.
” Then, bold as fuck, he presses a hard, claiming kiss on my lips. “Call me when they’re gone.”
I numbly watch him go, bracing myself for Dad jumping up and hitting him or something ridiculous.
Silence follows the sound of my door clicking closed.
I finally meet Dad’s stare. “Why are you like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you have to put me down all the time?”
He looks like I’ve hit him. “I would never—”
“Always.” I push to my feet and turn my glare on my mom.
“And you stood there and let him. I’m not naive.
I don’t let people take advantage of me.
And how dare you walk into my home and embarrass me in front of someone I actually really like.
Not even romantically. I have so much fucking respect for Leon, and for him to hear you say all that …
” My voice trails off, and I can finally pinpoint what all this emotion building up in my chest is. Betrayal.
My voice cracks. “You’re my parents. Parents are supposed to support their kids and want the best for them, but all you want—”
“We do want what’s—”
“I wasn’t finished,” I cut Dad off. “You know why I won’t take your bullshit job offer?
Because for years, it’s all I’ve ever wanted.
I’ve begged you for the opportunity, and you’ve never given it a second of thought.
Then when I find somewhere I’m actually happy, with a job I feel amazing doing, suddenly you want to take it all away. ”
“Honey …” Mom rushes forward, and even though I’m pissed at her too, I let her hug me.
Because while she has been silent today, I know she’s not always like that.
I know she loves me. And I know Dad does too, but I’m completely and totally done with taking his shit.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry if you’ve been made to feel that way.
The only reason we made the offer is because we miss you so damn much.
I’d do anything to have you home again.”
I shift my stare to Dad, who looks uncomfortable. “That part is true,” he says.
I shake my head. “Should have thought of that before I left.”
“Listen to yourself,” Dad scoffs. “Want to know why I get so mad? You want what I’m offering—that’s the reason you haven’t said no yet.
You know being here is bullshit, and you know you’ll get bored of being an overqualified apprentice.
The only reason you’re still here is because of him.
Let me guess, he loves you?” He shakes his head. “Not naive, my ass.”
My teeth grind together. It hurts because what he’s saying is partially true. If Leon loved me, I’d move the earth for him if he needed me to. I’d give him literally everything, because when I’m in, I’m one hundred percent in.
But I do it with full knowledge of my actions.
I’m loyal and proud of it.
That’s a far distance from naive.
The other part is, I do want what Dad’s offering.
“I could never work for you,” I say. “That’s why it’s a no. And if you need it in writing, I’m happy to provide that too. Is that a solid enough answer for you?”
“For fuck’s sake, August.” Dad massages his temples. “What happens when you break up? You’re just going to deal with being the boss’s ex?”
The fact he’s said when makes me want to dig my heels in. “Yes, I will. Because despite what you might think, I am professional. I love my job. And I’d really like it if you could get the hell out of my house, thanks.”
“I don’t know what to do with you,” Dad mutters.
“You don’t need to. This is my life.”
“It is,” Mom hurries to say. “But we’re still your parents.
Business stuff aside, we love you. So we’re all going to go and have lunch and talk about other things.
” She shoots Dad a look. “No business, no boyfriends, nothing that will start a fight. I didn’t drive all the way up here to not spend the day with you. ”
I almost roll my eyes. I almost tell her that she should have thought about that before Dad started pounding on my door this morning.
Instead, I sigh. “Fine. We’ll have lunch.” I point at Dad. “But control him, or I swear to God, I’m out.”