by Jerry Cole
“I had a great time.” I turned to lock the door and pressed Keller against it, kissing him softly. I wanted him. My body wanted him and ached to move closer, so I slipped a hand around his waist to draw him against me. His cock was hard against my thigh, and I took a deep breath as I pulled away for a second. I knew mine was pressing against his lower belly and paused for a moment to imagine what could happen here. Keller kissed me again, and there was so much need in his kiss that I knew he’d do anything I wanted.
We made out by the door for a while and eventually moved to the couch, breathing heavily. “I haven’t felt this much like a teenager in a long time.” I laughed as Keller chuckled.
“I’d like to think we’re not that far from it.” His hopeful tone made me laugh again. I knew he was twenty-four like me and around the same stage of life. Apart from his recent move, Keller was settling in nicely.
“We’re not past our prime. How does that work?” W both agreed, and Keller reached for my hand. “I’ll admit that I want you, Keller. I do, more than anything. I just don’t want to jump in and have you disappear.” He looked at me with curious eyes. “My last relationship started similarly. I stayed in it longer than I should have and found him with someone else. Even though I knew we weren’t great, it hurt. I feel this is completely different, but I’m a little scared to get hurt again, or to hurt you possibly.”
“I’m sorry, Micah. That happened to me back in California before I left, so I get it. I think we both want things between us to be different. We can take this slow and get to know each other.”
“I’d like that.” I smiled at him and leaned in for a soft kiss. “Have you always known that you were gay?”
“I suspected early on but wasn’t active in any way until middle school. All my friends had girlfriends that they only saw at school, and I fell into that. It meant nothing to anybody and often ended before anything even happened. I just knew I wasn’t attracted to girls. I did sleep with my best friend Tara, in high school, and it just didn’t feel right. That was in junior year, and I never tried it again. We both knew that it was something special between us, but beyond that, it wasn’t for me. It was awkward if I was honest. It sounded like it was like that for everyone, though.”
“Still friends?” I asked as our hands locked together, making me feel safe.
“She was killed by a boyfriend three years after graduation. He was an asshole, and she was trying to leave, but he didn’t let her.” The pain in his voice was severe and I squeezed his fingers gently as he sucked in his breath.
“I’m sorry.” I knew that the words were simple, but I hoped he heard the sincerity in my voice. I never knew what to say in situations like this. It felt like the words were almost empty when Dad died, and people were just struggling to say something.
“I’ve had a few years to come to peace with it. He’s in prison for life, so that helps.” Keller focused his attention on me. “When did you know?”
“Ah, well, that was definite in middle school. I suspected in elementary, but unlike most of the boys around me, I wasn’t in any rush to find out. I liked hanging with my friends.” He laughed and nodded. “Anyway, I did the same thing you did in high school, only it was the head cheerleader, and her boyfriend was in the house. It wasn’t worth the ass-kicking it got me nor the reputation. I knew after that I liked men. I just seemed to ride the wave of my reputation for the remaining years, and every girl hit on me, and most guys hated me. Being that we were raised here in Colorado, it sticks with me. The band doesn’t help that at all, which was why I thought my relationship was helping me more than hurting me. I dropped off the radar during that time. Now, I’m single and kind of lost.”
“I’d like to change that.” Keller offered and kissed me again. “I am not interested in anyone else and cool with taking this day by day. It feels worth it to me.”
“Me, too.” One soft kiss led to several long, deep ones, and we decided to go to bed and sleep. That turned into more kissing and touching, and I couldn’t help but jerk him off after he went down on me. We couldn’t stop ourselves, and both fell asleep heavily once we kept ourselves from taking things farther.
Trey and I were all about the sex, and our nights together didn’t mean that much. He usually left early, or I came home to do work that I could easily do at his place. It didn’t make sense looking back now. Going to sleep wrapped in Keller’s arms felt good as much as waking up in them. I felt content and happy as we chatted for a few minutes before getting up to make coffee.
We dressed at my suggestion because, like most mornings, there was a knock at the door. It was quieter than usual, and I grinned at Keller. “There she is. This is kind of something that we do. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” He sipped his coffee, and I walked to the door and opened it. “Morning.” I smiled at Mallory, and she raised a brow at me. “Come in. We were just figuring out breakfast.”
Mallory smiled and walked in, smiling at Keller. “Good morning. I’m the annoying sister that spends a lot of time with her brother.”
“I like that. I have twin sisters that I’m close to.” She widened her eyes, and I shot him a warm look. He didn’t call them stepsisters. That could be such a difficult relationship for some, but Keller handled it with ease.
“Twins? How old?” She asked as she got some coffee and sat down at the breakfast bar.
“Sixteen. That’s why I moved here. My stepmom got sick and needed help, and my dad is an asshole that leaves families behind.” He shrugged without much emotion, and she scowled.
“That’s shitty. Our stepdad is incredible. He treats Mom like she’s a queen and considers us his own.” Mallory looked at me, and I glanced at Keller before shaking my head quickly.
“That’s good. I hoped that Dad might improve when he met Evelyn and had the girls, but some things never change.” Understanding hit that the girls were his stepsisters and warmth filled her gaze.
I went and got coffee and leaned against the counter as easy conversation filled the room. It was tempting to ask him to dinner tonight but after one date? We were taking it slow or at least attempting to. Once the topic came around to food, we agreed that bacon and eggs were a great breakfast. We all managed to help in the small, crowded kitchen, but it was fun.
“I need to pick up that cake on the way to Mom’s tonight. I ordered it this morning.” Mallory was buttering toast as she spoke, and I noticed curiosity flick across Keller’s face.
“That’s fine. We just have to leave about ten minutes early, right?” I asked, and she nodded. I looked at Keller and smiled. “Sunday dinner at Mom’s house. She tries to do it every couple of weeks.”
“Nice,” he said as he piled more bacon on a plate covered with napkins. “We’re lucky if we’re all home for dinner on any given night.”
“Remember those days.” Mallory laughed. “We were busy as kids, and Micah got his license as soon as he could to get us around. Mom was married by then and had help, but she was a successful artist that worked a lot. Micah still took me everywhere that I needed to go.” She gave me a big smile, and I stared at her for a moment.
We finished eating, and I told them to put the dishes in the sink. I didn’t want to worry about them right now and thought that spending time with Keller sounded better.
Chapter Five
Keller
I felt good when I was with Micah. He was every bit the gorgeous local rock star I heard about when I moved here and took my breath away when we met. Once we sat down to talk, I realized that there was a lot more to him than just the rumors. He was close to his family and best friends with his younger sister. He spent a lot of time with her and even worked with her to get her freelance career going.
He had a charisma onstage that seduced the entire room. I was a victim of it that first night and managed to crash into him when I approached him for an interview. It was just water and not something worse like beer, but I knew I just humiliated myself. I was glad that
he moved past it and agreed to coffee and an interview. I was happy that he let me kiss him and I asked to see him again.
The main rumor about him revolved around the fact that he was gay, but a lot of women still tried to convert him. They flirted with him everywhere, and I didn’t blame them. Those big, blue eyes were mesmerizing, and his crooked smile won me over the first time that I saw him. There was nothing wrong with a talented singer fronting a great band with some fans that took it a bit too far.
I wanted to ask him out and get to know the real Micah. Asking for his number took every bit of courage that I had, and I breathed easier when I got what I wanted, choosing to steal a kiss at the end of that night.
I felt like an asshole calling him early in the morning after wanting to see him. I had the day and night before and resisted as I tried to figure out the rules of dating. I previously had a two-year relationship back home that I was invested in, with no interest in being free. Liam was a good guy, and we had a future, or so I thought. I found out that he was sleeping with a couple of other men around the time I knew that Paula needed help. It was easy to leave since I seemed to have nothing holding me there.
I loved Colorado and considered staying even before I arrived. Getting the freelance gig sealed the deal, and I hit the ground running when I went to see Linger Longer play at the bar—asking him to coffee just made sense, given our surroundings.
It was worth calling him when I saw Micah in running clothes. His shorts were loose, but his shirt was fitted and damp over his muscles. I wasn’t the only person checking him out, but Micah seemed indifferent to the attention. He focused on me throughout the conversation, and that pushed me to ask him to dinner for that night.
Here we were in the morning at his house. I didn’t think we’d actually sleep or have breakfast with his sister, but everything felt natural. I didn’t want to overstay my welcome, but morning turned into the afternoon, and we ended up back in bed, cuddling and discussing the night before.
I was aware that he was leaving late in the day and made an effort to get ready to go. Micah watched me from the bed, and the air between us felt heavy. “It’s late notice, and I get if you can’t do it, but would you like to join me for Sunday dinner tonight?”
I paused and looked back as I held my shirt in my hands. “Do you mean that?”
“Mallory loves you, and my mom will, too. It’s casual there. The only hard part is that her mother-in-law is there, and her health isn’t great. Mom is taking care of her, and she does great, but it’s hard work.” He shrugged, and I smiled.
“I’d like that. I can go home to shower and change and meet you back here.” I smiled, and he nodded. “Great. Thank you.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
He got up and walked me to the front door, giving me a long kiss before letting me go. I walked to my car with a huge smile on my face and slipped into my car. I was meeting his family.
I showered at home, jerking off as I remembered how he felt in my mouth the night before. I’d gladly make Micah cum any time that he asked and dropped my head back as I released against the shower wall. He was just as happy to satisfy me based on this morning, and I knew that I was falling under his spell.
I dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt since he assured me it was casual. I fixed my hair and shaved a bit before slipping my feet into some chucks. I locked the house and told Mom to get some rest as she was still recovering from the cold that the girls brought home. I didn’t need to stay here but enjoyed their company. I wanted to be around for the girls and do what their father refused to do for them.
I drove back to the duplex and parked on the curb. I assumed that we’d take one of their cars and locked up before jogging to his door. Mallory opened it with a beaming smile and hugged me. “I’m so glad that you’re coming with us. I wanted him to ask.” I hugged her back after a moment of surprise and walked in as Micah told her to let me get through the front door, at least. He was wearing jeans and a cotton long-sleeved shirt with the same boots from the night before. His hair was a tousled mess as always, and the first thing I wanted to do after seeing him was slip my hands in his hair and kiss him.
“Want to take my car? We need to get a cake.” He smiled at me, and I nodded. Mallory bounced out of the house and took the back seat after gesturing for me to take the front. I watched as Micah started the car and drove into town, his hand draped over the steering wheel as he laughed at something Mallory said. She ran into the bakery, and we waited in the car, smiling at each other as we held hands.
“Thanks for asking me to come,” I whispered as he gave me a crooked smile.
“I think you’ll fit in, and my mom would bug me about it anyway. I know her.” He spoke softly, and I felt like we were in our own world.
“Did they meet the ex?” I felt odd mentioning him, but I could keep the past where it belonged.
“Yeah. They told me after the breakup that they never liked him. You know how that is.” I chuckled since I was aware of that from my past. “They will like you as much as I already do.” I looked at him and leaned in for a quick kiss, not wanting to get caught.
“You two are too cute.” Mallory got into the back, and Micah rolled his eyes. She secured the seat belt, and Micah looked back to make sure the cake was secured. We drove to a nice neighborhood in the center of Aurora, and he parked in a long driveway. I got out to take in the ranch house that was spread out over a large patch of grass and smiled.
“Did you grow up here?” I asked as Mallory smiled.
“No. We had this dinky townhouse when Dad died since it was all we could afford. We made it work, though.” A wistful expression crossed her face. “This is the house they recently bought when Nana moved in. They had a smaller one before that.”
The front door opened, and a woman that looked strikingly like the siblings that stood beside me rushed out to hug them. She still called them her babies, and that made me smile as I looked on. “Mom, this is Keller. This is my mom, Irene.”
“Keller. It’s nice to meet you.” She glanced at Micah before shaking my hand with a warm smile. “Please come in.” Once inside the house, she led us through an open living room to a spacious kitchen. An older woman sat in a recliner, and Irene introduced us to Olivia, her mother-in-law. “She made dinner tonight. I just have to get a salad together, and Mal brought dessert.”
Mallory followed her to the kitchen, and they put the cake away and talked about the rest of the meal. She had given her kids quick hugs when we were in the house and now rested her hand on Mallory’s shoulder. I looked around the house, noting several family photos on the walls. I looked at Micah, who shook his head slowly, making me laugh. “Later.” I mouthed as he rolled his eyes.
His stepfather Rick came home with some bags from the store and hugged the siblings before shaking my hand. He kissed his wife, then pressed a kiss to his mom’s cheek. The house smelled amazing by now, and my stomach growled as I watched them pull out two large trays of lasagna and replace them with some bread. There was a salad in a bowl sitting off to the side and several options for drinks. “This looks incredible,” I murmured to Micah as I watched the action.
They set the table, and Rick helped his mother to a seat before sitting at the head of the table. We took our places, and I smiled as I looked around at the happy faces. This was a family full of love, and it showed. Irene gave me a warm smile and told me to help myself as their guest. Micah grinned as I complied, and I felt my heart twist in my chest.
She asked about me through the meal, and I explained what brought me here. I watched as she shook her head sympathetically at the part about my dad. “I’m sorry.” She told me as I shrugged.
“He was never a great man. I love the girls, so I’m fine with staying here. They’re at a tough age right now and dealing with high school.” I smiled, and she nodded.
“Rick was amazing with these two at that age. I know their father would have been there if things hadn’t gone the way they di
d. He saved our lives.” She stared at her husband, and he bowed his head with a soft smile.
“It was my pleasure, baby.” I wondered if my stepmom thought that my dad was going to be this man for her when they met so many years ago. She had two daughters after a rough divorce and hoped for happiness. I sipped my water as anger toward my father rose to the surface. I had to remind myself that my mom was happy and remarried back in California.
We finished the meal, and I insisted on washing the dishes. Micah offered to help, and we carried them to the kitchen before pushing our sleeves up. “That was good. I love your family.”
“We’ll get some leftovers. It’s Mom’s thing. We can eat it at my house.” He smiled at me. True to his word, Irene came in and started loading helpings of the pasta into Tupperware. I chuckled and finished the dishes, stacking them in a rack to dry.
We joined them in the living room to chat before dessert. Irene wanted to know all about the work that Micah and Mallory were doing and loved that they worked together. She supported the move so close to each other since Micah always looked after his sister. We cut the cake an hour after eating, and Micah went to help Rick with something in the backyard. Irene smiled as I pushed my plate away, swearing that I would never eat again.
“You make him happy. I understand that it’s new with you two, but he needed to smile. The last one was never good for him.” She shook her head and looked over where Mallory was talking to her Nana. “That girl had a bad guy in her life as well. I thought Micah was going to kill him, but she left him. That was around the time they moved into their houses. He’s protective of Mallory and she of him.”
“I’ve noticed that. It’s nice. I’d be like that with the twins if they dated a guy like that. They’re only sixteen, so they focus on school more.” She nodded.
