1. Colton
Colton
The partition slammed down. “Colton, if you don’t stop your leg tapping, I’m never going to fall asleep.” The exasperated voice came straight from my best friend’s mother’s mouth.
I gave her my best sheepish grin. “Apologies, Heather.”
Her face softened, then she asked, “I’m assuming it has to do with the benefactor who upgraded our seats to first class?”
She was correct. It did, and he did. Upgrade our seats, that is.
I wasn’t even supposed to be on this flight to Tampa.
I should have been headed back to Texas with my family after the London Olympics.
But when Zephyrus "Zeph" Jones—NFL star and my digital crush for the last few months—finally invited me on an official first date, my lower brain completely took over.
Escorting Heather home while my best friend Cam helped his boyfriend move was just a convenient, albeit truthful, cover story for my family.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Heather sighed. “You obviously need to talk about it, so spit it out, handsome. We’ve got our own little cubby here. Plenty of privacy.”
She was right. Aside from the dull roar of the jet engines and the incoherent mumblings of other passengers, we were alone.
“I’m just nervous is all. I haven’t been on a date with a guy before.”
“Have you been on a date with a girl?”
I inwardly cringed at the memory. “Back when I was a tenderfoot.”
“Well, you’ve seen movies, right? It’s quite simple. I’m assuming he told you his plans?” She took a sip of her wine and looked at me expectantly.
“We’re having dinner.”
“Well, there you go. Dinner and conversation. Easy peasy.”
“Easy peasy? What do we talk about?”
“What have you been talking about all this time? I thought it had been months?”
I immediately thought of all the dirty things he’d texted me and his enormous black-
“Sausage roll?”
I glanced up at the flight attendant, confused and embarrassed. Thank god I didn’t answer her truthfully.
“We’re trying some new food items out to see how well received they are.”
Heather and I both took a sample and I asked for a beer, and despite only being twenty-two, he didn’t ask for identification.
“I retract my earlier question,” Heather said once the attendant moved on.
“I know what you’ve been talking about, but I’ve got news for you, Colton.
Relationships are about more than sex. You’re going to have to talk about your lives, your interests, your plans.
That’s how you really know if you’re compatible. ”
She had such a reassuring tone and her advice made sense. “Have I ever told you how swell you are, Heather?”
She seemed lost in thought for a moment when the beer arrived, so I took a big swig before adding, “Thank you. I guess I’ll get started on a list of things we can talk about.”
“Well, you can definitely thank him for the upgrade. That sausage was delicious, and the wine was free. Cheers to that!” She lifted her glass to clink it against my bottle.
“Can do, Heather.” I couldn’t help but think of brief silence earlier. “Was there something else?”
“Promise me you’ll be honest with him if it turns into something real. Communication is important. I can’t help but think that Cam and Luke might’ve reunited sooner if they had only…I don’t know. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
I reached out for her hand, which she gave to me, and I squeezed it. “Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
Her words had my wheels turning. Could this really be something serious? Did I want that?
Yes.
Would my own mother give me the same advice?
I hope to God she would.
But I’d have to tell her I was gay before that could happen.
One hurdle at a time.
Right now, my first date with a famous NFL player was next.
“So, is he meeting you here?” Heather asked as we left the shuttle behind and made our way to the escalators. I’d visited Cam in Tampa often enough to become familiar with the airport.
“Oh no. He’s not out yet either. Cam and I might be the only people who know, honestly.”
She nodded.
“He said the transportation would be obvious.” I lifted my duffel bag, threw it over my shoulder, and met her gaze. “What?”
“It’s all very mysterious. Has me wondering, that’s all.” She lowered her voice. “How famous is he?”
“Now, now, Heather, don’t be greedy. You already had what you’re gonna get.”
“I’m just teasing. I hope it’s a wonderful date—oh!” She smiled and nudged my shoulder. “I’d say that’s pretty obvious.”
I turned to see what she was looking at—a crowd at the bottom of the elevator. Amongst those waiting stood two well-dressed gentlemen holding signs that read ‘C. Walker’ and ‘H. Kane’.
Well, damn.
“Howdy.” I walked up to the man holding my sign. “I’m Colton, this is Mrs. Kane. We’ve gotta get our bags, then we’ll be back.”
“Of course, sir.”
Heather and I speculated while waiting.
“You really think he sent a car for each of us?” Heather asked.
“I reckon.”
“You’re probably right. It gets you to him faster. It’s almost eight o’clock.”
I glanced at my phone, and his last reply.
Colton: Landed.
Zephyrus: See you soon, stud.
I couldn’t help the flutter in my stomach. I felt silly getting all worked up over a dude. After all, we’d only met in person once, but damn…a private car service. I could get used to being treated like that.
After ten minutes, both our suitcases had arrived, and we said our goodbyes. I was now in the back seat of a huge limousine, completely free to resume my leg tapping full force. I was not dressed up enough for this.
The privacy divider was up between me and the driver, so I was alone. Zeph had left a note, along with a bottle of Johnny Walker.
In case you needed to settle some nerves. I’m having at least a glass right now. Thought the name was appropriate. ~Z
Fuck it.
The Olympics were over. I had a medal. I wasn’t going to get blasted, but a glass would definitely lower my nerves. It was just dinner but I felt like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Sweet Jesus, it’s Blue Label.
My throat predicted the burn as soon as I poured the whisky into the glass. The smoky hints of vanilla and honey suckle filled my nostrils before I could cap the bottle.
Damn. I had a beer on the plane, but this was different—the first sip was lightning. Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker as they say.
I really did not want to show up to dinner half in the bag, so I opened the mini fridge and popped a can of ginger ale to dilute it. Leaning back in the seat, I took a breath, another sip and closed my eyes, willing myself to relax.
This was dinner. With Zeph. The man I had been chatting with for months.
The art history major. The man who sent me a weekly dick pic, so, according to him, I wouldn’t forget what it looked like.
He was also the man that said he was going to explore my hole with his tongue until the only thing I could scream was his name.
I was not expecting to go all the way tonight, but my cock wouldn’t be disappointed if that’s how it panned out.
I felt the car roll to a stop and heard the front door shut.
This was it.
I downed the rest of the drink, savoring the burn, and waited for the door to open. I didn’t want to fuck anything up.
“This way, Mr. Walker. I’ll be waiting for you, so your bags can stay in the trunk.”
“Thank you.” I gave him a nod and glanced around to see we were in an alley. I guess it made sense I wasn’t going through the front door.
“Just through there.”
I nodded again and made my way inside, wiping my sweaty palms on my shorts. July in Tampa was muggy even for me, but I was soon met with a blast of air conditioning and breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t need to add excessive sweat to the list of things to worry about.
I was already nervous enough.
Through a dimly lit maze of back rooms and the kitchen, filled with the rich scent of roasted garlic, I finally found the restaurant…
and it was empty, save for one table in the middle of the room.
Zeph, clad in a suit and tie, stood for me as I approached.
His locs were tied together to keep them out of his face and his lips broke into a smile as soon as we made eye contact.
Damn.
I quickened my step. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me what to wear. You’re all gussied up and I’m in a t-shirt.”
“It’s fine. I wanted to impress you, and you’d look handsome in anything. I'm honestly more concerned with what’s under the t-shirt.”
Zeph closed the gap quickly, gripped my neck with one hand and pulled my body close to his with the other. “I’m gonna kiss you now.”
I barely had time to nod and lick my lips, and his were on mine.
It’s cliche, but I melted into his frame. I was tall for a gymnast, but I wasn’t anything compared to him. He had at least six inches on me. Even with all my muscles, I felt very small.
Our tongues met and my cock started to harden. I couldn’t help but smile.
“What?” Zeph asked.
I shrugged. “You’re a lot bigger than I remember.” I blushed realizing he could think I meant his cock.
Zeph chuckled and took a step back. “You’re just as cute as I remember. Have a seat,” he said, offering me a chair.
A server came and filled our water glasses and took our drink order. I opted for a sweet tea. Now that we were face to face, my nerves had somehow vanished.
With no one here, I doubted I’d have much chance of being recognized, but I had to ask. “How can you be sure the server isn’t going to say anything? And by the way, I can’t believe you bought out the entire restaurant.”
Zeph shrugged, but answered. “It happens more than you think, actually. I use NDAs and a big cash bonus to help them keep the secret. It’s worked so far, and it’s what my agent suggested.”
“You buy out restaurants often?” My curiosity was genuine.
“I didn’t mean that. I do not, actually, but none of the guys I’ve been with have spilled the beans yet. Most of them are like me.”
I nodded, extremely jealous of those guys. I couldn’t help but wonder how many there had been. I had only been with one—if jacking Cam off counted. That was when I was desperate for him to like me, and before he told me about his history with Luke.
Of course, I had fingered myself many times. I even stuck a few ice cubes up there too. But after seeing Zeph’s huge cock during our video session, I’d spent many nights wondering how I could possibly take it, and hoping Zeph’s tongue had magical stretching properties.
“That’s why this place is safe.”
“I’m sorry. Why is it safe? I was daydreaming for a second.”
“Of me, I hope?”
The heat rushed to my face unwillingly.
“You don’t have to answer. Your face did that for me.” He shook his head and smiled. “You’re gonna be so good in bed, I can tell. They way you’re already responding to me. And to answer your question, it’s safe because I know the owner. He’s got my back.”
He was good at reading body language, because he added, “Not that we have to sleep together tonight. I don’t want to rush you. I know you have less experience.”
I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t stop picturing his abs flexing, plunging his hard cock deep inside of me while I squeezed his ass cheeks and screamed, ‘Harder!’.
It sounded like heaven.
“I mean it. No pressure. If you decide to stay over, I can sleep in the guest room, or I’ll wear sweatpants. Whatever you want.”
“I’ll have to see what I feel like later. I’m…obviously attracted to you, but-”
“You don’t want to seem like a slut.”
Now it was my turn to chuckle. “Something like that. I guess I hadn’t realized how experienced you were. I’m a tad worried I won’t meet your expectations.”
“Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, Colton.”
I couldn’t help the shiver when he said my name. Sweet Jesus, I have it bad already. My eyes were immediately drawn to his smile, then I glanced up and we made eye contact. His dark brown eyes were looking almost through me.
My heart rate wasn’t going to be slowing down any time soon, that’s for damn sure. I needed to change the subject.
“So your agent knows about you? Does anyone else?”
Zeph thanked the server who brought our drinks along with a basket of fresh bread. He waited for them to leave before continuing. “Just my agent, and the guys, of course.”
“Aren’t you worried someone will say something?”
Zeph laughed. “It’s not like it’s six guys a week. You jealous?”
“I was never really good at sharing.”
Zeph’s eyebrows shot up before taking a bite of the bread. I helped myself to some as well, and took a sip of the tea. I had almost forgotten it was there.
“The more the merrier.”
I choked, then coughed, recovering slowly.
“You okay, Colton?” Zeph came around the table, knelt down, and put his arm on my back. “Slow breaths, babe.”
He rubbed my back as my breathing returned to normal. I finally felt ready to speak again. “I’m not experienced enough to know what to do with one guy, let alone more than that.”
“If that’s something you want to try later,” Zeph whispered in my ear, “we can most definitely do that.” He returned to his seat once I’d stopped hacking. “Sorry, I know I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s just…your body is hypnotizing.”
I wasn’t hungry anymore.
I wanted to go back to his place immediately.
His fantasies sounded hot, and I wanted nothing more than to earn more compliments from this man.