Learning Curve

by Jaxon, Andi

  David sighs and looks at Alex with boredom. “Really? I assumed he was Alister’s landlord.” Everyone chuckles when he shakes his head and sits back down, muttering something about where they went wrong with him.

  Moving into the kitchen, Alister leans in to kiss his mother’s cheek. “Hi Mom, this is Ben. Ben, my mother, Jane.” The short, willowy woman with light blonde hair and a skirt that twirls around her ankles is completely at home here in the kitchen.

  “I’m so glad to finally meet you!” she says, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. I try not to tense up, but she squeezes my ribs, making me wince.

  “Oh no, I’m so sorry!” she says, letting go of me instantly. “Do you need anything?”

  “I’m okay, did you say finally? Finally, meet me?” Alister and I have only been seeing each other for a few weeks, two months tops.

  Her laugh is soft and twinkles. “Yes dear, that’s what I said. I’ve been trying to get Alister to bring you to dinner since the first week of the quarter.”

  Turning to him, I see his cheeks are tinged pink. For the first time, he’s embarrassed. “You told your family about me?”

  Alister wraps his arm around my waist again, carefully pulling me into him. “That first time, they bombarded me until I told them about the student that caught my attention on the first day of school. After that, I was forced to give weekly updates.” He shrugs like it’s not a big deal. “My family doesn’t care that I’m gay, though Alex does love to give me a hard time and has an endless supply of gay jokes.”

  Before I can respond, Jane is kicking her sons out of the kitchen. “It’s time for me to talk to him, you’ve had him all to yourself for weeks,” she informs Alister, who lets out a sigh and walks away.

  “How are you doing? The boys have told me some of what you’ve recently gone through.” Her gaze softens, becoming maternal.

  “Oh, they did?”

  “I’m a child psychologist, I’ve worked with kids in the foster care system for almost forty years now, there isn’t much I haven’t heard at this point. They still come to me when they need help, when they need to process. Your recent trauma was very hard on both of them, for different reasons, of course.” She goes back to stirring the pot on the stove. A whiff of chicken broth hits me, my stomach instantly revolting, violently.

  Spinning on my heel, my hand over my mouth, I look around for a bathroom and hurry toward a hallway. Behind me, I can hear Alister and Jane calling my name. Alister makes it to me first, pushing a door open and flipping on the light as I hit my knees in front of a toilet. My head is spinning with memories of Dan—frigid temperatures, the stench of cigars and burning flesh, and searing pain.

  My stomach empties into the bowl, my ribs screaming as they are forced to contract. “Ben? Are you okay?” Alister kneels behind me, gently rubbing my back and puts a cool, wet washrag on my forehead.

  My entire body is shaking as I fight through the memories to get back to the present. “I’m sorry.” The words automatically tumble from my lips. I’ve caused a problem, offended his mom, and I don’t know how to make it right. The first response is always to apologize. I’ve been conditioned to do it.

  “Sorry for what? Being sick?”

  Leaning back into the warmth of Alister’s chest, I turn my head into his neck and inhale a deep breath. Cinnamon and nutmeg help clear the fog from my mind.

  “I can’t eat dinner.”

  “Are you sick? I can take you home.” His hand comes up to feel my face, checking for a fever.

  “No, it’s soup.” I know I’m not making any sense, but I can’t get the words out right. A knock on the door startles me, causing Alister’s arm to pull me closer to him.

  “It’s okay, you’re alright.” He opens the door, and I can see Jane’s skirt over his shoulder.

  “How’s he doing?” Her voice is full of concern.

  “I’m not really sure, can I get some water and bread or crackers?” he asks.

  The door closes, and I close my eyes. “I can’t eat chicken soup.”

  The door reopens, and I’m handed a dinner roll and a bottle of water. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome, dear.” The door closes again, and she’s gone.

  “So, no chicken soup.”

  “Whenever I was being punished, the only thing Dan would give me to ward off starvation and dehydration was chicken broth.” Why can’t I just be normal, be like everyone else?

  “Jesus,” he mutters under his breath, hugging me tightly to his chest. “Okay, no chicken broth. We can do that.”

  A tear trickles down my cheek and onto his shirt. “I’m sorry,” I whisper and take a drink of the water.

  Alister’s fingers lift my chin, my eyes meeting his. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You’re a survivor, and we’ll get through this, I promise.”

  “I love you.”

  He smiles a soft smile. “I love you too. Now let’s get out of here.”

  I nod my head, and we stand, leaving the safety of the bathroom and head to the kitchen where Jane is putting the cover back on the soup pot. “How are you feeling, dear?”

  “Better, sorry about that.”

  “No need to apologize, you did nothing wrong,” she says matter-of-factly.

  “Mom, Ben can’t eat chicken broth, can I make him a sandwich or something?” Alister quickly steps in to help me.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know that. I will remember that for next time. I can make a sandwich, or I have leftovers if you would rather have that.” She starts pulling containers out of the fridge and stacking them on the counter, pulls down a plate, and fills it with more food than I can possibly eat. “Have a seat in the living room, and I’ll let you know when dinner is ready.”

  Heading to the couch with Alister, I feel a sense of relief telling me everything is going to be okay. That I’ve found somewhere, I can belong, where I’m accepted, and cared about. I don’t need to give an explanation for why I can’t or won’t eat chicken broth, it’s just accepted. Just like that, I feel like I can have a family.

  Epilogue

  ALISTER - JUNE - GRADUATION DAY

  Half asleep, I feel Ben move against my back, his dick hard and cradled between my ass cheeks. We’ve been sleeping naked since we discovered being skin to skin helps with his nightmares. All his physical injuries have healed, but the psychological damage we take one day at a time. He’s getting better, has more good days than bad ones, and talking to a therapist has been wonderful for him. My mom recommended someone, and the two of them clicked at their first meeting.

  Ben moans behind me, his hips pressing harder against me. He’s never taken me, but I’m happy to let him. Reaching back, my hand finds his head and tangles in his hair, using the leverage to pull him closer. “Take what you want. I trust you.” My voice a growl. A whimper leaves his lips, his hands gripping the skin at my hips. My hand doesn’t leave his hair when I roll onto my stomach then up to my hands and knees. He gets to his knees and sits up, still gripping my hips and thrusting against my ass. Reaching for the side table, I grab the lube from the drawer and hand it back. When he hesitates, I look back at him. He’s fighting with himself, I can see it clear as day, as lust, fear, and uncertainty all fight behind his eyes.

  “Ben.” His eyes snap to mine at his name. “Do you want to fuck me? Right now, at this moment, is that what you want?”

  “Yes.” His answer is quick, no thought needed.

  “Then do it.”

  He takes the bottle, flicks the cap open and dribbles some in between my cheeks, the cold liquid making me shiver. Spreading my legs to give him better access, he drags his tip through the moisture and lines himself up. The anticipation is killing me, making me tense, but when he pushes against the tight ring of muscle, I lean back into him. “Oh fuck,” tumbles from my lips, the burn and stretch both pain and pleasure. My butt stops when it hits his hips, and my head drops to hang from my shoulders. I have to force myself to be still, to
not take control—he needs this.

  Ben’s hands caress my back, giving me time to adjust to the cock in my ass. “Please move. Please, fucking move.”

  He takes pity on me and pulls almost all the way out, the slide made easier by the lube, the friction leaving stars bursting behind my eyes. When he pushes back in, it’s harder this time, faster, going deeper. His groans feed my lust, I want him to feel good, and I want to be the reason. Within a few thrusts, he finds a rhythm that hits everything right. My orgasm is building, my balls heavy and drawn up, my cock hard as steel and hasn’t been touched, but that won’t stop the explosion.

  Ben jerks and loses the smooth slide, his orgasm erupting inside of me, almost leaving me hanging. Grabbing my cock, I fist it tight, stroking only twice before shooting cum onto the sheet under me. Breathless and sated, Ben collapses next to me on the bed. A lazy smile lifts my lips even with my breathing and heart rate through the roof. It takes me a minute, but I make my way over to Ben and kiss him, a soft, lazy kiss.

  “Let’s get in the shower,” I say against his chest, biting his nipple. His back arches and a hiss leaves his lips.

  Slowly, I force my body to move and walk into the bathroom to turn the water on. I take care of business and am leaning against the sink when his eyes appear over my shoulder, looking devious.

  “What are you up to?” My eyes meet his in the mirror.

  “I just fucked you.”

  I chuckle and smirk. “You did a damn fine job of it too.”

  His teeth sink into the meat of my shoulder, forcing a hiss from me this time, before he steps under the spray. I step in behind him, watching the water cascade down his body. The burn scars don’t detract from the perfect lines of his body. He’s started working out with me and is eating right, so he’s filling out with lean muscle like a swimmer’s body, long and lean, but strong.

  My hand reaches out, tracing the lines of muscle on his chest and abdomen, cupping his length and stroking it to hard again. I can’t get enough of him. I came not five minutes ago, but I want him again, this time with me in charge.

  “Oh fuck.” Ben’s whine turns my semi into raging steel. I need him now. Grabbing a fistful of hair at the back of his neck, my mouth ravages his, demanding entrance with love bites and nips. Letting go of his cock, my hand slides around to cup his ass, grinding our hips together.

  His arms slide up my chest, playing with my nipples before hooking around my neck. Against his lips, I say, “Up,” while my hands cup the back of his thighs. Jumping up, his legs wrap around my waist, and I lean his heated back against the cool tile. Grabbing shampoo, I lube up his hole and push my way inside, giving him no prep work. Ben’s lips rip from mine, a moan crawling from his throat as I fuck his ass. My hands cup his ass cheeks, using them as leverage to fuck him the way I want to—hard and out of control. I want him mindless with lust, not able to think about anything but my cock buried deep inside of him.

  “Please Alister, harder.” His head is thrown back against the wall, eyes squeezed tight, as he begs me. I’m all too happy to oblige.

  My pace picks up, thrusting into the hot, slick ass that grips me perfectly. “You were made to take my cock.”

  “Yes.” His whine almost pushes me over the edge.

  “Marry me.” The words fly from my mouth mid-thrust.

  “Wha…what?” It takes him a second, but his eyes meet mine, my rhythm never faltering.

  “Marry me, make me the happiest man in the world.” My words are grunts, barely recognizable.

  “Yes!” he shouts as the angle changes, hitting him just right. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you. Now fuck me like you mean it.”

  Harder and harder, I’m slamming into him, taking him like the savage he brings out in me. At this pace, it doesn’t take long for him to cum, spraying both of us with the sticky, hot liquid. The tightening of his ass around my cock pushes me over the edge and I fill his ass with my seed. I collapse to my knees, my dick still buried in his ass as we sit on the floor of the shower. The hot water is pouring over us, relaxing us even further.

  “Were you serious? About wanting to marry me?”

  “Of course I was serious.” Sitting up, he searches my face. “I love you, Ben. I can’t live without you. I want, no, need you to be mine in every way possible.”

  A smile covers his face, shines in his dark eyes. He cups the back of my head and kisses me soft and slow, then lays his forehead against mine. “Ditto.”

  I chuckle then kiss him quickly. “We better finish up before the water turns cold.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you warm.”

  BEN

  “Congratulations class of 2019. You did it.”

  The stands erupt with cheering, and we all stand from our chairs in caps and gowns. With my diploma in hand, I make my way through the throng of people to the meet up location I set up with Alister. It takes a while to get there, but eventually I see the smiling face of my fiancé surrounded by his family and my best friend. Running for him, I wrap my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

  “Congratulations, babe. I’m so proud of you,” he says before kissing me.

  “Thank you.” The smile on my own face is bright and full of happiness.

  Taking a step back, Kristen tackles me, shrieking, “We graduated! I can’t believe we’re finally done!”

  “Now we have to get jobs and be adults!”

  The Bennet family congratulates me with slaps on the back and hugs, Jane with happy tears in her eyes. When everyone is done, Alister pulls me to his side with an arm around me.

  “We have an announcement to make,” he starts, smiling down at me. Everyone stops talking and looks between us. “We’re getting married.”

  Another round of congratulations and hugs ensue, and my heart is full and happy.

  Kristen grips my head in her hands, forcing me to look a her. “Do you believe me now?”

  “Believe what?”

  “That you’re fucking worth it.”

  I smile at her, my throat clogged with tears as I nod. I pull her into a tight hug and she squeezes me back just as hard.

  I’ve finally found a family, been accepted as one of them, and I’m loved. This amazing group of people took me in, damaged and broken, loved me at my worst and helped shape me into the man I am today. I will always be indebted to them, they’ve done more for me than they realize, and it’s a debt I won’t ever be able to repay, but I won’t ever stop trying. This family chose me, and it’s so much better than what a lot of people are born into.

  Acknowledgments

  I honestly don’t know how to start this. AJ Alexander always writes the acknowledgements and I added some shit in there when she’s done. This time, she told me to write it my damn self. Ass.

  This book would never have gotten finished if AJ hadn’t of scheduled me a release date, cover reveal, and time with our amazing editor Jenny Dillion. Without her pushing me, it would have sat at 10K in my WIP folder.

  Ashley from The Laundry Librarian and my sister in law Kayla, thank you so much for alpha reading. You guys read the roughest version of this book, were able to wade through the jacked up spelling and grammar, to find the story. The feedback you two gave me was invaluable.

  All my Beta readers, thank you. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart. You have zero time to read and give notes, yet somehow, you managed it. I would be lost without you.

  Jenny Dillion. Editor in Chief. Supervisor. Friend. I take all of your feedback very seriously. Rarely do I find myself disagreeing with a comment or note that you make in my manuscripts. I never would have gotten started without you. I love you so much. And thanks for fixing all my misused words.

  Hubs. My rock, my anchor, my sanity. You are the MVP for putting up with my crazy ass. I can’t thank you enough for taking the kids so I could hide and write. Thank you for putting up with ‘butt fucking' jokes for months. Without you encouraging me, this book never would have happened.

  Most of all,
the readers. I can’t thank you enough for reading my baby. This book has such a special place in my heart, the emotions came from my own life and poured out onto the pages. I hope you love my boys as much as I do.

  ~ Andi

  About the Author

  From Dyslexic kid with a love of Algebra to a published author, no one is more surprised than I am. I love to write about tortured pasts and hot sex, a happily ever after that has to be worked for. My stories tend to be a little dark but with some comic relief, typically in the form of sarcasm.

  Want to know more about Andi Jaxon? Follow me on social media or subscribe to my mailing list to receive the latest information on new releases, sales, and more!