by Ana Ashley
When we were given the go-ahead to start I lined up all my ingredients. The hardest part of the cake was making the caramel that would go on the bottom of the cake tin. I’d had mixed results during my practice at home.
A glance at Tom, and he was lining his tin with butter. His movements were smooth and practiced, but it was the way his top showed his shoulder that had me struggling to look away. I wondered if I looked closer there would be any marks from when I sucked on his skin days ago.
The clearing of a throat got my attention, and I looked at the presenter, who was giving me a chiding look.
I went back to my own cake but it was hard to focus. Tom’s presence next to me felt bigger than himself, and I was aware of every single movement next to me.
My first two tries at the caramel burned. The third was good enough, but I was running out of time, so I placed the fruit on top of the caramel and then moved on to the batter.
There was nothing to do while we waited for the cakes to bake, so we were given the option to sit with our supporters so we could keep an eye on our ovens.
Troy and my dad made room for me between them. I let out a relieved breath as I sat down.
“It looked really tense out there,” Troy said.
“Try doing something you’ve never done before in front of an audience,” I joked as I elbowed him.
“How do you think you did, Son?” my dad asked.
I pursed my lips. “Don’t know, Dad. I guess I’ll find out when I turn the cake out.”
Tom sat with Indy and Ellie on the opposite side of the gym. He was gesticulating like he always did when he was talking about something he cared about. The smile on his face was genuine, open, unlike the smile he’d given me earlier.
What would it take to have him smile like that at me again? My stomach tightened as his gaze met mine across the hall. He froze for a second before he looked at Troy and my dad and waved at them.
“I really don’t know how Tom gets away with wearing those clothes, but they look great on him,” Troy said.
“You gotta own it, Son. Be your own individual,” my dad said, and then he put his hand on my leg.
My throat felt like it had something trapped in it. Was my dad trying to say something with his comment?
The oven timers went off all within seconds of each other, so we all went back to check on the cakes. Mine looked done, so I took it out and put the tin on the cooling rack. We had to wait a little longer for the cakes to cool down enough to be turned over, and that’s when we’d know if we’d done well or not.
God, how had I played football in front of thousands of people before and was reduced to a pile of nerves over a cake?
19
Tom
After the wreck of the last challenge, I was walking on cloud nine with my upside-down cake. Every step had gone exactly how I’d practiced; now all I could do was wait and pray the cake would turn out perfect.
“Are you going to tell us exactly what’s up with you?” Indy said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really? I find that hard to believe,” Ellie said, tickling my exposed shoulder.
I had my game plan going and from Wren’s reaction it was working. He’d nearly dropped his mixing bowl twice, and I totally heard him groan when I bent over to pick up a spoon that had tragically fallen on the floor.
“Sometimes a girl has to pick herself off the floor and dust it off,” I said just as my timer went off. “Time to check on my baby.”
I saw the look they exchanged as I got up, but I couldn’t tell them what was going on.
The main reason I never hooked up with guys in the closet was because I didn’t feel comfortable talking about them behind their backs, whether my friends knew them or not.
With Wren there was an added layer of complication because not only did my friends know him, I’d also come to really care for and respect his parents. Wren had the right to come out to them when he was ready, so even though I wanted to talk to my friends about how I was feeling, I knew I couldn’t.
After the cakes were sufficiently cool it was time to turn them over onto a plate. I crossed my fingers and said a little prayer for it to come out nicely.
The smell alone had my mouth watering. I picked off the parchment paper carefully to make sure it didn’t stick to the pineapple. Once it was all off I couldn’t help letting out a relieved chuckle.
My cake was absolutely perfect. The caramel had a delicious shade of dark amber, and I could see the cake was cooked through even with the moisture from the fruit.
I looked at Wren and his expression was one of defeat. His cake was slightly burned on the top even though the parchment had come off completely. Amy was as happy with her cake as I was with mine, and I looked behind me to see Phil with his head on his hands and half a cake on the plate.
Amy shrugged when our eyes met. Phil’s cake was half stuck to the tin.
Wren stared at his cake as if he was willing it to unburn. I wanted to tell him his wasn’t as bad as Phil’s, but the words couldn’t leave my mouth. We hadn’t spoken since the last challenge, and I hadn’t even seen him in the store.
He looked at me and my cake and then picked his up to take it to the judging table and then left toward the locker room. I did the same.
I found Wren sitting at the back of the room facing the lockers away from the door. His arms were crossed and he was staring ahead like he was lost.
“Wow, Tom, your cake looks so good,” Amy said, picking a plate of food from the table.
“How can you eat? My stomach is in knots,” I said.
“I feel so sick before these challenges I can’t eat, but as soon as it’s over and I can’t control the outcome it’s like a well opens. What I’d die for right now is a slice of your cake, honestly, it looks so delicious I think you won’t have any problems going to the final.”
At the other end I saw Wren’s shoulders tense up. What was wrong with him? Hadn’t he seen Phil’s cake? Surely Phil wouldn’t go to the final after presenting a cake that was half in the baking tin.
We were called out to get the results. Amy held my hand and smiled. She was really nice, and I hoped after this we could meet up for a coffee and be friends.
As soon as the results were announced Wren bolted while I went to meet my friends on the bleachers. Indy caught me winking back at Wren after he sent me an angry look. I wasn’t even sure why he was angry at me when we’d both gone through to the final.
“Don’t play with fire, Tom. You’ll get singed.”
“Or maybe I’ll get burned and it’ll be twice the fun,” I teased.
Jonas and Troy came over on their way out to congratulate me.
“I hope you understand this means you have to bake for us in the store,” Jonas said.
I laughed. “Is that with the approval of the boss?”
He gave me a strained look. “She has me on rabbit food these days. And she found all my jelly bean hiding places. I have no life anymore.”
“Careful, Jonas, you’re sounding as dramatic as me when I don’t get my way.”
“You haven’t seen the half of it,” Troy said.
I smiled as they walked out of the hall. Phil sat with his wife, who was consoling him.
“Hey, Phil. Sorry it’s the end of the road for you,” I said.
“I’m kind of relieved to be honest. I wanted the prize money to take Janet on a cruise, but I’ve been so stressed. I figured putting in more hours at work would earn me the same money even if it took a little longer.”
“That’s the spirit. I hope you get to your cruise soon.”
I left them and joined Indy, who was giving us all a ride back into town.
My first job when I got home was to wash up the mess I’d made practicing my cake. Once that was done I got in the shower and let the stress of the day wash over me. I even used my favorite sparkly soap and cleaned extra thoroughly.
My cock perked up while I was clean
ing myself, but my stomach won that battle, so I got out of the shower and settled in front of the TV with a slice of cake after putting on an old T-shirt and sweatpants.
I was jolted awake by a knock on the door. The sky outside was dark. I looked at the clock on the wall and saw it was already past ten in the evening.
The knock became more insistent, and in my groggy state I opened the door without thinking.
“Wren?”
“You didn’t ask who it was.”
“What?”
“You can’t just open the door without asking who’s on the other side.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, but I went from half-asleep and confused to wide-awake and confused.
“Only residents have a key to the front door of the building. How did you get in?”
“I had a late delivery to one of your neighbors.”
I crossed my arms and waited for him to tell me what the hell he was doing knocking on my door. He scanned me up and down, his eyes darker than I’d seen them before.
“What do you want, Wren?”
He ran his hands through his hair and let out a frustrated groan.
“Can I come in, please?”
I stepped aside. I smelled his soap as he walked past. My cock twitched in my underwear from the memory of the last time we were together.
“Why did you do it?” he asked. His voice bitter.
“Do what?”
He walked toward me but stopped at arm’s length.
“You know what.” His voice was low and deep and it went straight to the right places. I bit my lower lip and then soothed it by passing my tongue over it.
Wren’s eyes tracked my every movement.
“You picked that outfit to make a point. You didn’t just throw it on, did you?”
The tone of his voice was accusatory, which put my back up straight away, even though I knew he was right.
“I make no secret that I love fashion and I was feeling confident about the challenge so I dressed accordingly.” There. That was a good argument. Right?
He stared at me. The silence was like a third person in my small apartment. I was about to give in and apologize when Wren spoke again.
“Do you know why I am in the competition?”
I shook my head.
“Because Mason’s is struggling financially. Because my parents need a goddamned break, and because they’re one unexpected expense away from having to let you go.”
My stomach sank all the way down to the ground and into the apartment beneath mine. Hell, it was six-feet under with how stupid I felt.
“I had no idea, Wren.”
He walked toward the window and looked out.
“I don’t want to fight with you,” he said, rubbing his short scruff.
My whole being wanted to be with Wren, touch him, comfort him, and do all the things that made the damned glitter snow globe in my belly shake.
I shook my head. My body was coiled tight in anticipation as I took two steps closer. Even from the short distance I felt Wren’s body radiating heat.
He turned around and his eyes went from sad and doubtful to warm and hopeful.
We both moved at the same time, our mouths clashing together in a war for dominance. Wren picked me up and I wrapped my legs around him while I gripped his short hair. He groaned when I tightened my hold on him and I took the chance to plunge my tongue into his mouth.
“Tom.” He groaned as he put his mouth on my neck and sucked so hard I knew I’d get an instant hickey.
My cock was as hard as a fucking rock, and I felt his against my stomach. “Fuck.” I wanted him so badly I couldn’t even articulate.
“Where’s your bedroom?”
His eyes were lustful, dark pools of need. I nodded toward the end of the hall and kissed him again. He was strong enough to carry me, so I got busy undoing the buttons on his shirt. He put me on the floor and I finished opening his shirt and went straight for his jeans.
I palmed the outline of his cock and looked up to see him staring at me.
“Did you know I could see your jock strap through those fucking jeans?” He shrugged the shirt off and pulled my T-shirt out. “You picked that top because you knew I’d think of nothing else but your soft skin.”
He bent down to take my nipple into his mouth, so I pushed him onto my bed and straddled him.
“That’s better,” I panted.
His hands went straight to my ass as his mouth turned my nipples into sensitive peaks. He pulled my sweatpants and underwear down, leaving them trapped just over my knees, and wrapped his hand around my already-leaking cock.
“Honest to god, Wren, if this doesn’t end up with you balls deep inside me I’m going to kill you.”
He chuckled. “Is that what you want?”
I put my hands on his face and tilted it up. My hungry mouth met his as I pushed him again so he was lying down. I snaked my way down his body to remove his pants and mine. As I moved back up I kissed every inch of his thick muscly thighs until I reached my prize.
“You have the best fucking cock I’ve ever seen.” I gave it a slow stroke before I lowered my mouth onto the crown and sucked hard.
Wren cursed and I took more of him deeper into my throat, making sure to stop before it was too late.
“You’re such a fucking tease,” he said as he turned us over and placed his heavy body on top of mine, grinding our cocks together.
I let out a noise that was something between a contented sigh and a frustrated moan.
“Please, Coco, I don’t need to eat or sleep, just keep his body like this on top of mine forever.”
“Wish granted,” he said, and I opened my eyes wide.
“Did I say that out loud?”
“Uh huh.”
“Then keep my mouth busy before I say more stupid stuff.”
“Your mouth will be plenty busy, baby, but I want to hear all your stupid stuff.”
Right then in that moment I lost a little piece of my heart to Wren and was pretty sure the rest would follow soon, so I did as Tom does.
“Are you going to fuck me already or what?”
20
Wren
“Patience,” I said, leaning back on my knees. My cock stood painfully hard, so I stroked it, putting on a show for Tom. “When you turned up wearing those jeans I nearly came on the spot.”
“You liked what you saw, huh?” he said, biting his lip as he turned around and arched his back to give me the best view of his ass.
“Do you know what happens when I get riled up?” I lifted his hips up, which gave me a better view of his eager little hole.
Tom reached out for my hand and sucked on a finger, closing his eyes as if he was doing it to my cock. He may as well have for how much I was leaking.
“Hmm, show me…” He released my finger with a pop and lowered my hand down to his ass.
I circled his rim, adding a little bit of pressure. Tom closed his eyes and let out a moan.
“Where’s your lube?” I asked.
He gave me a devious smile and pointed to the bedside table.
“Are you hiding any toys in there, Tom?”
“Not exactly hiding when I’m telling you where they are.”
I opened the drawer and gasped when I found a range of butt plugs of different sizes. I pulled out the lube and picked a small plug.
He chuckled. “Interesting choice.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“I was wearing that one the first day you saw the jeans.”
My eyes went from the plug to Tom’s ass to his face. “But you were wearing a jockstrap.”
It was his turn to raise a brow. “You were looking, were you?”
“Baby, your ass was in front of my face all day wearing a glue-on pair of white jeans. But I never thought you’d be wearing a plug.”
Fuck, could I be any more turned on by this man? I got off the bed to take a condom from my wallet.
“You’re a boy scout,” he
said, stroking his cock slowly and putting on his own show.
“Nope, but I’ve wanted you since your first words to me were the name of the perfume I was wearing. I will always be ready for you.”
I lubed up the plug and lined it up with Tom’s hole, and then I covered his body with mine, kissing him as I pushed the plug in. I wanted to take in every breath, every moan out of this man as I filled him up.
“That’s it, baby, take it all in. Stretch your sweet tight hole so I can take you all in one go.”
His body trembled beneath me. His hands were wrapped tight around my back as if he never wanted to let me go. I already knew how it would be when it was me inside him, and I couldn’t wait to feel his tight heat around my cock.
“One day, I want you and the plug in me.”
I would have come on the spot from his words if I hadn’t been so focused on him that I’d neglected my own cock.
Five seconds was all it took for me to put the condom on and add a little more lube to it. His hole twitched when I took the plug out, and he let out a little moan of frustration.
“Shh, baby. It’ll be okay soon.”
Despite my promise to take him in one go, I’d been afraid to hurt him. He was incredibly tight and my dick wasn’t the smallest. He felt incredible around me, so hot, tight, perfect.
“Fuck, Tom…are you okay? Can I move?”
“Please, please.”
I’d been with a few men, and some had even been short relationships that had gone nowhere, but moving inside Tom, feeling his legs wrap around me as he tried to match my thrusts in an attempt to take more, was unlike anything else I’d experienced before.
“I want to ride you,” he said.
I grabbed his waist and without leaving his tight heat I moved us so I was almost sitting up on the bed with Tom on top of me.
