Except it wasn’t quite the way it should have been, and Red knew it.
As they talked, Red realized that he liked the idea of Harry a lot, but that there was just… nothing between them. No spark, nothing that made him want to drag the guy home or anything.
That wasn’t Harry’s fault. He seemed nice. Red got the impression they both felt the same way, though.
It was comfortable, but it was a little too comfortable.
There was no tension between them, sexual or otherwise.
That, Red supposed, wasn’t the kind of thing an algorithm could predict. That was so individual that there was no way to know how two people would react to each other until they were actually together.
Still, though, maybe it was worth giving this a chance. Maybe something could grow between them and they wouldn’t have to rely on physical attraction to keep them together.
“So…” Harry played with his now-empty teacup. “Will I see you again?”
Red swallowed. He had to make a decision right now, and he wasn’t ready.
“Uh, yeah, sure,” he said without thinking too much. It was good to keep his options open. It wasn’t as though Harry wanted to get married tomorrow or anything.
Harry’s face lit up, which was nice. He was a sweet guy.
It was just that sweet was really the only word Red could think of to describe him.
He couldn’t help comparing him to Andy, who was sweet in his own way, too, but also funny, and smart, and he… he fit. The two of them just fit together, and Red could hardly believe he was the only one of them who saw it.
But until and unless Andy showed some kind of interest, he couldn’t afford to dwell on the possibility that Andy would see it, too. He had a life to live.
So he’d go on another date with Harry. He could always say no to the next one.
Besides, he wanted Andy to have succeeded. He’d been trying so hard, he deserved to believe that his efforts were paying off.
When Red got home, he found Andy in the kitchen, stuffing a sandwich into his face as though he was afraid it might escape if he didn’t eat it fast enough.
“Hey,” he said, waiting for Andy to finish chewing and swallowing.
“Hey,” Andy mumbled through a mouthful of bread. “How was your date?”
“Uh, fine. Good, actually.”
Andy nodded, swallowing his last mouthful. “Cool. Umm. Can you tell me about it later? I just… I think I’m nearly finished with this stuff.”
“Go work.” Red smiled fondly. He understood that Andy wasn’t blowing him off, which he guessed Andy’s last boyfriend hadn’t. Andy sometimes spent days at a time just watching TV and waiting for Red to come home so they could hang out.
The only difference between him and anyone else was when he chose to work. Honestly, Red kind of liked it. It meant he got to see as much of Andy as he could ever possibly want for a few days in a row, and then they both got a break from each other.
Not that Red ever felt like he needed a break, but he knew he probably felt like that because he kept getting them.
He understood why some people wouldn’t like it, but to him, it was another part of why they seemed to fit so well together.
None of which he could tell Andy without totally embarrassing himself and maybe losing him as a friend—and possibly, losing him as a roommate. Red wasn’t ready to start looking for another new roommate just yet.
Harry was a safer choice. Maybe he’d grow on Red.
Chapter Seventeen
After what had turned out to be five days of pretty much non-stop work, Andy had worked out all the kinks, rearranged the weighting for all the elements of profiles, reworked the interface so people would know what to put in which field, and found a way to grab the data he needed without scaring people.
The result was a completely overhauled app that was now twice the size it had been, but it would all be worth it. Everything he’d learned from trying to find a date for Red had paid off, and Andy definitely owed him.
He sat at the kitchen counter while he waited for everything to finish backing up, sipping a glass of orange juice. He hadn’t eaten a proper meal since he’d started working on the second version of the app, but he’d have time to do so tonight.
Once his screen flashed to let him know the process was finished, Andy logged in with his heart in his throat.
He tried to remind himself that these updates hadn’t been about making himself compatible with Red, but it was impossible not to hope that they somehow had, all the same.
His fingers shook as he typed both of their profile IDs in.
All the improvements he’d made meant that the calculations only took a second or two, and then the screen refreshed to show Andy his new compatibility score with Red.
Zero percent.
Andy slammed the lid of his laptop closed in disgust, pushing it away from himself and folding his arms on the counter to rest his head on them.
The updates hadn’t been pointless. It was important to remember that he had a better app now. It wasn’t about telling himself that he had a shot with Red.
It just felt that way because he’d been so sure that once the system had a clearer picture of what Red was like—of what everyone was like—it would see how stupidly perfect they were for each other.
Except, obviously, they weren’t. Data didn’t lie. His and Red’s data just didn’t work together.
Just as Andy was thinking things couldn’t get any worse, he heard the front door opening.
He remembered then that Red had been out on a date. A second date, no less.
That was proof that he’d been right. He’d been able to find someone for Red.
He’d spent the last year of his life trying to find love for everyone but himself, and now the weight of loneliness suddenly seemed too heavy to bear. Andy wanted to cry at the unfairness of it all, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it in front of Red.
Red would want to know why he was crying, and there was no way he could tell him.
“You okay?” Red asked as he walked into the kitchen.
Sighing, Andy straightened up. “I’ve just been bent over my laptop for a week. Kinda sore.”
That was true as well, though it wasn’t why Andy wanted to crawl into a hole right now.
“You want me to, uh…” Red gestured vaguely at Andy.
“You’re gonna have to be more specific.”
“I thought I could maybe rub your shoulders. If you want, I mean. I do it for the guys at the station sometimes. Apparently I have magic fingers.”
“Are you sure none of the guys at the station are gay?” Andy raised an eyebrow.
“Enjoying shoulder massages doesn’t make you gay,” Red said.
“No, but telling another man he has magic fingers is a little gay. More than a little gay, actually.”
“I think they were teasing.” Red settled his hands on Andy’s shoulders, pressing his thumbs hard into the tense muscles.
Andy moaned, feeling knots he didn’t realize he had loosen under Red’s touch. He bit down on his lip to get himself under control, not wanting to give away quite how much he was enjoying this.
“No, I think you definitely have magic fingers,” he managed after a moment, when the worst of the tension was gone and Red’s efforts eased into soothing rather than working the muscles. Red had skills, no question. Andy hadn’t felt this good all week.
Red chuckled, moving his hands up to Andy’s neck. Andy had to bite his lip again or risk letting out a truly pornographic moan.
He hadn’t been touched like this in a long time. It was doing all kinds of great things for him, sending shocks of pleasure out over his skin, all the way down his spine.
Andy blushed as his cock stirred, closing his eyes and willing it not to.
That was a useless effort, though. He’d gone without affection for over a year, and now it only took a little to leave him turned on and needy, wanting more than he was being offered.
<
br /> He couldn’t let Red know that. Not when he’d just found someone he might be able to have a relationship with. The embarrassment of rejection wasn’t something Andy could handle right now.
His only option was to ignore the arousal building in the pit of his stomach, endure Red’s touch until he could safely escape.
Not that he ever wanted to escape. He wanted Red’s hands on him for hours, touching and exploring every inch of his body. He wanted to return the favor.
He wanted Red, and he couldn’t lie to himself about it anymore.
He didn’t need to believe that they were going to ride off into the sunset together to want to fuck him, after all.
That wasn’t giving Red enough credit, though.
No one who’d met him could walk away without being a little in love with him. That was the kind of man Red was. A human puppy dog, so ridiculously easy to fall for.
Andy couldn’t help the way he felt, but that didn’t mean the way he felt was helpful.
“Lucky we already know you’re gay,” Red said. “Or this would be the most epic self-own ever.”
“It’s not really an insult to call someone gay. And I think you know I don’t mean it as one.” Andy shifted to give Red better access to the top of his neck, letting his head hang forward.
“I know,” Red responded softly. “It's been really nice to come home to someone like you.”
Andy's stomach swooped. Red thought he was nice to come home to.
He wasn't sure anyone else ever had. Not so sincerely, and not just for his presence.
Red shifted his hands, releasing a knot at the base of Andy's neck that he hadn't known was there. Caught unprepared, Andy let loose with a heartfelt moan.
He blushed darkly as Red chuckled behind him. Red suddenly seemed too close, so close Andy could feel the warmth of his chest seeping into the slowly-relaxing muscles of his back.
“You're actually pretty toned under there, aren't you?” Red asked.
“Only by accident, I assure you,” Andy said. He wasn't exactly muscular and he knew it, but he was naturally lean. As a teenager, he’d been outright skinny, but he’d since grown into his body.
“Not bad for an accident.” Red moved his hands back to Andy's shoulders, squeezing rhythmically.
“You know, if firefighting doesn't work out, people would pay you a lot of money to massage them.”
“Enjoying it?” Red murmured, sliding one hand up the back of Andy's neck. Andy barely suppressed a gasp, biting his lip again as ripples of pleasure flowed through him.
Somehow, Red knew exactly where to touch. Andy was sure he wasn't doing it on purpose, but that didn't make any difference to the way his body was reacting.
“Enjoying doesn't even begin to cover it,” Andy said, impressed by how even his voice sounded.
He was going to need a cold shower after this.
Maybe ten cold showers.
“You haven't told me about your date, yet.” If he forced himself to confront the fact that Red was unavailable, maybe he’d have an easier time keeping himself under control.
Red cleared his throat. “It was fine, but I never felt like he was really interested in me. I don’t wanna see him again.”
“Oh.” Andy swallowed. “Well, his loss.”
“Thanks.” Red paused in what he was doing, resting both of his hands on Andy’s shoulders. Andy was about to ask him if there was something wrong when he felt Red step closer, close enough that his chest was pressed up against Andy’s back.
He swallowed again. He had to be misreading the situation. This couldn’t be…
“Andy,” Red murmured, so close he barely had to make a sound. “Can I keep touching you?”
Andy let his eyes fall closed. He knew he should say no. That was the smart thing to do. Say no, walk away, give them both time to cool off.
That wasn’t what he wanted, though. He wanted Red to keep touching him.
Against his better judgement, Andy nodded. Red made a soft, happy sound that Andy wanted to hear every day for the rest of his life, and leaned in closer.
The hairs on the back of Andy’s neck stood on end as Red’s breath ghosted over his skin, the sudden sensation making him shiver. A tiny, needy whimper broke free as Red’s lips made contact.
All logical, reasonable thought left Andy’s brain. He wanted Red. He wanted to strip Red naked, hold him down, and have his way with him.
Or the other way around. Honestly, he wasn’t fussy about how he got off, as long as he did.
Especially with someone as hot as Red. He hadn’t given him that profile title for nothing.
One of Red’s hands moved from his back to his stomach, and then straight to his crotch without further pause. He jumped at the initial contact, shocked by Red’s sudden forwardness.
“Is that not okay?” Red asked, his voice still soft.
“It’s fine. Just a surprise.” The last thing Andy wanted was for Red to feel as though he had to stop. If Red stopped now, he really would burst into tears.
“Are we going too fast?”
Andy remembered, after a momentary lapse, that this was Red’s first time. Probably. He didn’t know for sure what the whole size and shape of Red’s sexual history was, but he’d always had an air of inexperience about him, so it felt safe to assume that he didn’t really know.
That had no right to be as hot as it was. Andy had never been the kind of man to pursue virgins for the sake of it, but Red… Red was a special case.
Besides, this was something Andy could give him. He’d had his own first time with a friend, and it had been gentle and exploratory, and remained a good memory. He knew not everyone had that luxury, but Red could. Red’s first time could be with someone he trusted.
Decision made, Andy shook his head. “No, not going too fast. Just, y’know, pro tip: if you grab a man by the crotch without warning, he’ll probably jump.”
Red laughed, a hint of nervousness in his tone. “Okay. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Andy paused, and then swung the bar stool around so he could face Red.
He’d been afraid to at first, afraid that making eye contact would break the spell they both seemed to be under, but it had the opposite effect. Red’s pretty blue eyes were dark, his cheeks flushed crimson.
Andy wet his lips, reaching out to pull him in for a kiss. Red was beautiful. Whatever justifications Andy could make, he’d grab and hold onto. This was too good an opportunity to pass up. He wanted it too badly to walk away.
Red made a soft, needy noise as their lips connected, shuffling closer to Andy, close enough for Andy to wrap his legs around Red’s waist. In this position, he could feel that Red was hard as well.
It had been a while since he’d been the cause of that. Andy had almost forgotten how good it felt to know that someone else was aroused by being around him.
Andy hummed into the kiss, rocking his hips just a little against Red to keep him interested. Kissing Red made his stomach swoop, his heart flutter, but he needed to tell himself this was just about sex.
If he was going to do this, he couldn’t afford to get any more attached than he was.
While his mind was elsewhere, he was brought back to the present by Red lifting him clear off the bar stool. He wrapped his arms around Red’s shoulders for support, holding onto him tightly.
He could definitely tell himself this was about sex. Red was incredibly hot.
“Yours, or mine?” Red asked, shifting his grip on Andy, but clearly not struggling with his weight.
“Mine has lube,” Andy responded, too intensely turned on to weigh up the pros and cons any further.
“Yours it is,” Red agreed.
Andy could hardly wait to get him naked.
Chapter Eighteen
“I wasn’t joking when I said you could have any gay man you wanted if you just put a shirtless profile picture up,” Andy murmured, settling himself on top of Red’s hips and splaying both hands on his stomach.
> Red had been right about what it would be like to have all of Andy’s focus on him. He’d never felt so special in his life.
“Can I just have the one I’ve got right now?” Red asked, still barely able to believe this was really happening. He’d been in a daze while Andy undressed him.
“I dunno.” Andy trailed his fingers lower, tracing the crease of Red’s thigh. “Are you gonna ask nicely?”
Red wet his lips. “Please?”
A smirk spread across Andy’s features. “I like you like this,” he said, finally curling his fingers around Red’s cock.
Even though he’d been anticipating it, the sensation was too much for a second. Red gasped, taking in the warmth of Andy’s hand, biting his lip as Andy increased the pressure, catching the sensitive spot just under the head with practiced ease.
“I’m not sure about your sexual history…”
“Drunken handjobs in clubs I was scared to be seen in,” Red offered. He’d had a long time to distill it down to the basics, and he never wanted to go back to that. It had been an important part of his journey, but he didn’t want to walk away from sex feeling guilty and afraid anymore.
This was already way better. He knew he had nothing to be afraid of with Andy, and he was past feeling guilty about being gay now.
“We’ve all been there,” Andy said, twisting his fingers to make Red’s breath hitch again.
For a moment, Red had been worried that Andy would get weird and overly sympathetic about it. Knowing that Andy had been through the same thing, that he wasn’t alone, that was exactly what Red had needed to hear. That made him feel more normal than he had in a long time.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Andy smiled wryly. “I mean, I can’t speak for literally all gay men, but…”
Red understood what Andy meant. They’d had similar experiences, and that was so good to know. Seeing how comfortable Andy was with himself and knowing that he’d been unsure once, too, meant a lot.
“I’m glad I met you.” Red cleared his throat. He didn’t want to seem too emotional—this was supposed to be about sex, after all—but he was genuinely glad he’d met Andy. Without him, he’d still be afraid to approach other guys.
Red Hot Page 8
