Chapter 38 #2
He shook his head, those cerulean eyes flickering between Simon and me.
“You don’t need to apologize. I get it… I really do.
It’s not… easy to bring up what’s been done to you, or the ramifications of what you did to keep yourself safe.
It… I-It doesn’t change what happened if you think about what you could’ve done differently, but it’s a never-ending cycle. ”
“We love you,” I offered, hoping it would ease his nerves. “And hearing that you experienced what I did… It just… It hit a different spot.”
He smiled, but it wasn’t full of his usual brightness. “I understand. I love you both, too.”
Simon cleared his throat. “We do, Oren, and I’m proud of you always. You did what you needed to. You survived to meet Thorne. You survived to meet all of us, so don’t you ever disregard yourself like that.”
Oren nodded, quickly brushing his tears away with his fingers. “Thank you… f-for not judging me.”
“I never will,” I whispered. “You and I are more alike than you realize, Oren.”
“Yeah… I guess… guess we are…”
Simon sighed. “I can’t stand this.”
Oren flicked his attention to him. “What? What are you—”
His words were cut off as Simon approached him, yanking against his shirt to pull him in for a hug. Patting his back, his other hand tilted Oren’s head against his chest. “I’m sorry you’ve never been able to tell anyone.”
As if that’s who he really needed to acknowledge him, Oren wailed, wrapping his arms around Simon. He responded in kind, continuing those light back rubs as Oren allowed himself to feel the weight of his past. And as he relinquished those tears, Matt and Lev appeared, turning their attention to me.
“Well… this is an interesting sleepover breakfast,” Matt muttered, brushing a few tears from his own cheeks.
Thorne stepped out of the small bathroom, sliding the door shut behind him. “I leave to take a piss, and suddenly everyone is crying. What happened?”
Oren was the first to laugh; the sound warbled from his recent sobbing. “Me…”
Raising his brows, Thorne glanced over the group. “Well?”
“Simon and Oren hugged it out, and well, your fiancé started crying after,” Matt replied, leaning against Lev. “It was sweet.”
“Oh, shut up, Matt,” Simon muttered as he pulled away from Oren. “He was standing there like a sad puppy, and I’m not going to leave my best friend hanging. But I do think your assistance is requested for the rest, Thorne, as Liam and I need to head out.”
Oren wiped the rest of his sorrow from his face, but the lingering effects were still there.
He was okay, but I knew that mask well, as I still used it frequently.
Harboring more than he wanted to allow himself to feel, I had no doubts Thorne would help him through the rest like Simon would with me.
“What? To go fuck?” Matt asked, cocking his head. “Why the sudden—”
“Yes.” Simon shrugged. “Any other questions?”
At everyone’s silence, Simon glanced at Oren once more. “Call or text if you need me tonight, or any night. I’ve got you, Oren, but I think Thorne’s always going to take good care of you.”
Oren headed toward Thorne, nearly melting into his touch as he wrapped his arms around him. Thorne tucked him against his side, planting a gentle kiss on the top of Oren’s head, which yielded his infamous vibrant smile. “Mhm.”
My lips curled upward at the sight, as their love was something I’d come to admire.
They’d experienced turbulence, been tested on multiple fronts, and still, regardless of it all, came out of the darkness together.
The gentle touches they shared and how they looked into one another’s eyes always made me emotional, because the depth of their longing was something I’d always craved.
And, in catching passing glances from Simon, I started to believe that I had found it.
Once his best friend was good, he turned to me. “Ready, sunshine?”
Nodding, I offered him a soft grin. “Yes. Ready whenever you are, honey.”
“You two are so adorable I’m going to vomit,” Thorne groaned, waving toward the front door. “Don’t let it hit your ass on the way out, Simon.”
“Ha, love you too!” He yelled, already heading toward the exit.
I followed, pausing beside Oren on the way. “Thank you. For everything.”
Oren bit his lip, that glossiness returning to his irises. Offering me a dip of his chin, he gripped Thorne a little tighter.
“See you guys again soon?” Levander asked, his query carrying a slight hint of concern.
“Of course,” I hummed. “Simon told me all about the sleepover that I apparently slept through, so I’d like to have another. When I’m more conscious, you know?”
Beaming, Levander nodded. “Sounds good.”
I mirrored his expression before offering everyone one final wave, moving down the hallway toward Simon. His gaze fixated on me, and I caught that same glint that Oren and Thorne carried with one another, a sight that immediately caused my heart rate to increase.
“Ready?” I teased, knowing he’d been waiting on me.
He rolled his eyes, but that playfulness was exemplified. “Get moving, because I’m ready to catch you.”
I moved in front of him, and he pinched my ass, earning a squeal from me. “It’ll be too easy a task!”
“Hit me with a crutch then. You’re a fighter, always have been.” Opening the door, he gestured outside. “After you, you gorgeous bottom.”
Tossing a pout his way, I maneuvered the single step before making my way to the truck. “You’re such a bully.”
“And you’re a cock tease,” Simon added, unlocking the truck and opening the passenger side for me.
“Are you going to do a good job of stroking the stick on the drive home?” I asked, swinging myself into the seat. “What is it that you always say to me? Oh yeah. Like a good boy.”
Simon chuckled, but his tongue swiped against his bottom lip. “Ha, that was a good one, Liam. After all, a good boy like you knows exactly what I want.”
Not giving me time to answer, he closed the door and walked around the truck to the other side.
Hopping in, he started the engine before glancing at me.
“Since you want to play this game, I’ll play.
We have about thirty minutes until we arrive home.
I want you to stroke yourself, but if you cum, I’m not touching you. ”
“W-What?” I breathed, glancing over at him.
Shifting gears, the truck rolled forward as he let off the brake. “You heard me. Stroke your needy cock while I drive. If you cum, I won’t touch you at home.”
“But… I-I haven’t touched myself in a while. I’m worried that I’ll cum quickly, and I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Hand on the wheel, his other reached over to squeeze my thigh. “Then take it slow. You can take pauses if you need, and I’m sorry if my words frightened you. Even if you do cum, I’ll still want you when we get home. I’ve missed you too much to deny either of us something like that.”
“O-Okay,” I whispered, slipping my sweatpants and briefs down just enough to touch myself. Wrapping my fingers around my shaft, I stroked my semi-hard cock, and a shudder left me. “Like… Like this?”
Simon glanced over, and his hold on my leg tightened. “Mhm, just like that.”
Resting my head back against the seat, I continued my ministrations, admiring the way Simon’s jaw feathered as he took a handful of greedy glances at me. It was his pleasure I thrived in, but most of all, it was his touch, his tongue, his mouth, his everything that I craved.