My words seemed to get him going more and he jacked harder and faster. “I’m going to come, Aaron!”
The first jet of cream exploded out, splattering my chest. Just as I felt the wet heat, another hit me, then another. Soon, his release painted my torso, and I moaned.
When he came back down to Earth, he gave me a weak smile. “That was incredible. And seeing you covered in my…is…is just so hot. I can’t believe you asked me to do that.”
I shrugged. “I want to be yours, Jeff. It’s like…like…” I suddenly felt embarrassed.
“Like what?”
“Promise not to laugh, but it’s like you’ve marked me. Made me yours. Claimed me.”
“I love that. Love that you want to be mine.” He took a deep breath. “I want to belong to you, too.”
I pressed my lips against his for a moment, then climbed off his lap. “I’m going to get cleaned up.”
“What about you?”
“Not right now. It might seem weird, but I just wanted this time to be about you.”
He scrunched up his face. “Are you sure?”
“We have tonight,” I reminded him, and he smiled.
As I walked upstairs, I hoped we’d have many, many nights ahead of us.
* * * *
By the time his mom pulled into the driveway, we’d started our second movie and were cuddling—well, making out and cuddling. But as soon as we heard the door, we put ourselves at opposite ends of the couch.
“Hey, boys! Pizza’s here,” she called. “Come ‘n’ get it.”
We headed into kitchen, which already smelled like pepperoni, tomato sauce, and green peppers. She opened the box on the counter and I saw she’d gone for the supreme deluxe.
Jeff and I grabbed plates and made our way to the table. Weird, but normally we would’ve sat next to each other and not thought a thing about it, but now we automatically put the table between us, directly facing each other. If his mom noticed, she didn’t say anything.
She grabbed milk and glasses, then passed them around after she poured.
“Honey, can you get some napkins?”
Jeff hopped up and took some from the counter. “Anyone want red peppers?”
“I do,” I told him.
He snatched the plastic container and handed it over.
“Thanks for going to the store today,” Judy said. “Were you able to find everything?”
Jeff had his mouth full, so I answered. “Had a little trouble finding the coffee pods you wanted, but finally did. Why Keurig?”
“I ordered a Keurig from Amazon yesterday. This old thing is acting up.” She gestured to the current coffee machine, looking a little worse for wear. “Do you drink coffee, Aaron?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Not too often. I get my caffeine from Mountain Dew.”
She chuckled. “Well, that’s a bad habit, too. But I suppose you’ll be living on caffeine when you’re away at college.” She set a slice of pizza on her plate. “Oh, that reminds me! We’ve got to finish your application tonight, okay?”
Nodding, I took a bite, savoring the flavors on my tongue. Nothing beat a really good pizza.
“I hope we can be roommates,” Jeff mentioned before finishing his milk.
I swallowed. “Me, too.”
“So what else did you guys do today?”
My face heated. “Watched movies.”
His mom chewed her pizza, glanced between us, then folded her arms and braced her elbows on the table. “Are you two dating?”
Shit!
My heartbeat thundered in my ears and heat spread down my neck. Jeff went pale and looked ridiculously guilty. How did mothers always figure things out? Even mine had known before she passed.
“Jeff?” Her tone brooked no argument.
His shoulders sagged. “Yes.”
She sighed. “I can’t say I didn’t see this coming.” She rubbed her brow and gave us a smile. “I’ve watched you two dance around each other for years.”
My jaw about hit the floor.
“First of all, you’re both eighteen and about to graduate. I like you, Aaron, and I think you’re good for each other. So don’t take this the wrong way…”
My heart sank. Was she going to insist I stay with my grandparents?
“Mom—” Jeff began.
“Let me finish. I’m fine with you dating. More than fine, actually. I’ve thought for years this might happen. But I don’t think you should be roommates in college. That’s an awful lot of pressure on the two of you when you’re both so young.”
Relief flooded through me and I gave Jeff a half-smile. He looked relieved, too, and smiled back.
“We’ll talk about it,” Jeff promised while I nodded my agreement.
She could be right, but I didn’t want to think about that now. I was just so glad she was letting me stay. She and Jeff were my family now. They were what kept me grounded throughout the whole disaster that had become my life.
“Well, school’s tomorrow, so don’t stay up too late, boys. I’m heading to bed early to read and finally get a good night’s sleep. Clean up the kitchen for me, okay?” She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “I expect you both to stay in your own rooms at night. You may be eighteen, but you’re living under my roof. Understand?”
We both nodded.
Jeff grabbed another slice of pizza, then rounded the table, taking a seat next to me. “Want another piece?”
“I’m stuffed.”
“Can’t believe she figured us out!”
“I know. But then again, my mom knew, too.” I remembered that last night we’d spoken in the hospital. “Did I ever tell you what she said about you?”
He shook his head.
“She told me you were a good man.”
His eyebrows raised. “She did?”
“And she was right. You’ve been here for me through everything.” I twined my fingers with his. “You are a good man, Jeff.”
He blushed. He was so damn cute, I kissed his cheek.
“I’m glad we figured things out.”
* * * *
Later, after we’d cleaned the kitchen and finished the movie we’d started before dinner, I headed upstairs to take a shower while Jeff did homework.
In the bathroom, I stripped and looked at myself in the mirror. I gripped my dick. Would Jeff find me as sexy as I thought he was? I wasn’t as long as him. I wouldn’t call myself small, but he was at least an inch longer. My balls were less hairy, too. Did he like a lot of hair?
I turned on the shower and waited for the water to warm while I thought about this afternoon. I had wanted to see Jeff come, and God, it was unbelievably sexy, but I’d also felt shy about letting him see me. I mean, this was Jeff, my best friend for the last five years. It was all so crazy. My life was crazy. Yet, things were going relatively well now, although I had a lot left to decide. The house, the possessions, college. Not to mention prom, then graduation.
I climbed into the shower and closed the blue-and-white-speckled curtain, letting the water run over my shoulders.
Things were going to be different. But had I been happy with the way my life had been going before? I had always been scared of my father. Scared he would hurt my mom or my sister. If I were honest, I had been scared he’d hurt me, too. If he’d found out I was gay before he went to jail, he might have killed me. My stomach roiled at the thought. He’d made so many nasty comments to me over the last couple of years. While I shouldn’t have let them bother me, I always did. It hurt more than I wanted to admit
To be fair, I did have a few good memories from when I was a kid. Remembering how he used to pretend to be the “tickle monster” and chase my sister and me around the house until he caught us brought a tiny smile to my face. Maybe there was a time he’d actually loved me.
Suddenly, guilt stabbed at me, and I couldn’t believe I was thinking good thoughts about the man who killed my mom. A sob tore from my throat and I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened and I
gasped for air, but my lungs wouldn’t work.
My knees gave out. I slumped to the shower floor and braced my hand on the wall. My world began to gray, and I hit the wall with my fist before I gave in to the swirling darkness.
* * * *
“Aaron! Aaron, wake up!”
I was dripping wet, the air cold on my skin. I shivered and tried to open my eyes, but they seemed heavy.
“Aaron!”
I heard Jeff through the fog and concentrated. It took everything in me to force my eyes open. My vision was blurred, but I turned toward the sound of Jeff’s voice.
“Oh, my God! Thank God!”
Why am I wet?
Suddenly, I was being lifted and wrapped in something. It felt like a towel, but much bigger. A blanket made of terry cloth maybe? I closed my eyes as we walked across the hall into Jeff’s room. I opened my eyes again, and this time it didn’t require as much effort. Things seemed clearer and I looked up at Jeff. I was on his bed and he was drying my hair. I grabbed his wrist.
“What happened?”
“I heard a thump and thought maybe you needed shampoo or something, so I came to the door. When you didn’t answer me, I found you on the shower floor.”
“Panic.”
“You had a panic attack?”
I nodded. But I’d never passed out from one. Was this normal?
“I’m getting my mom.”
“No,” I begged. “Please. She’s probably already asleep anyway.”
He looked torn me. “You can’t keep having these and not get help.”
I knew he was right, but for now I just wanted to go to bed. I felt drained.
He dried me with what turned out to be a large beach towel, then tossed it to the floor. I didn’t care that I didn’t have on boxers, I just crawled under the blankets and curled up on my side.
The last thing I remembered was Jeff placing a kiss on my cheek before sleep came to me.
* * * *
He nipped at my chin and I whispered his name. “Jeff. I need you.”
Jeff groaned into my mouth as his tongue took possession. I moaned and arched against him.
His hands slid down my body and cupped my ass, and I ground against him. His lips moved from my mouth to my neck and I—”
“Aaron?”
“Mmm,” I moaned. “More. I need more. Make me yours in every way, Jeff.”
“Aaron?”
I reached for him but he was gone. I glanced around and couldn’t find him.
“Aaron!”
I stretched out, taking my hard cock in my hand.
“Aaron, wake up!”
My eyelids fluttered and I felt irritation at whoever was shaking me. When I opened my eyes, the haziness started to clear.
“Aaron. It’s me. Jeff. You were dreaming.”
When I finally came around and realized I was stroking myself in front of him, heat flooded my face. Fuck!
“Hey, it’s okay. You’ve been asleep for a few hours.” He smiled at me, and I melted inside. “It sounded like a really good dream. I didn’t want to wake you, but you were getting loud and I was afraid my mom would hear.”
Again.
“I’m so embarrassed. I don’t talk in my sleep anymore. Why does this keep happening now?”
He looked surprised. “You’ve talked in your sleep as long as I’ve known you.”
“What?”
“I mean, not every night, but often enough that I figured it’s common. Most of the time, I can’t tell what you’re saying. Although one time I was pretty sure you thought you were piloting the Enterprise.”
I grinned. That sounded like a dream I’d have. Relaxing, I leaned onto my pillow.
“So, you want me to make you mine? In every way?” he teased, but his eyes flashed, obviously turned on.
“Yes. But not tonight.” I rolled onto my side. “Your mom could bust us.”
Jeff chuckled and pulled the cover around my shoulders. “That’s fine. But soon.” His hand massaged my hip. I remembered I didn’t have on boxers and I liked the way his hand felt on my skin.
“Take off your boxers,” I whispered, feeling bold.
I didn’t need to ask him twice. He wiggled out of them so fast, I almost laughed. My amusement died the moment he slid up behind me and pressed his hard dick against my ass. Just along my crease. I wiggled my buttocks, almost squeezing him between my cheeks.
“Don’t tease me,” he warned, but I knew he wasn’t mad.
I wiggled again. “What?” I asked, feigning innocence.
He wrapped his hand around my hard dick and began stroking. It felt amazing and a moan escaped my lips.
“You like that, baby?” His hot breath swept across my ear.
I trembled. “God, yes.”
“Do you like when I call you baby?”
“Yes!” I cried as his hand brushed the top of my dick. “Fuck, that feels good.”
“What else do you like?”
I tried to concentrate, but all I could do was feel. Feel his hand on my cock. Feel his breath on my skin. Feel his chest pressed against my back. What did I like? “Anything you do.”
He suckled my neck and as he stroked faster. “I want you to come, baby.”
That did it for me, and my balls tightened as electricity lit me up. In seconds, I shot hard all over the sheets and his hand. I let the pleasure roll over me in waves. Colors lit up the back of my eyelids and I cried out his name over and over, as quietly as I could, until I begin to fall from the sky and come together again.
“That was fucking amazing,” I told him.
He pulled back and grabbed the towel from the floor. Once he cleaned his hand, he wiped me off, then the sheets.
“Sorry.”
“For what? Being sexy? Being so hot you made me come?”
“Seriously?”
He looked a little embarrassed. “It was so hot when you were begging me in your dream. Then when you came it was…just hot. I couldn’t help it.”
I kissed his cheek. “It all feels like a dream somehow.”
He pulled me close. “Yeah, but it’s not.” He grinned. “I know. I just can’t believe we’re finally together. I wanted to tell you for so long.”
“I think it was good that we waited until now. It feels right. And now I can’t wait to see you dressed in a tux at prom.”
“What color do you want to wear for the cummerbund? Or would you rather wear vests?”
Since I hadn’t really thought about it and I could tell he had, I wanted him to make the decision. It seemed more important to him. “What do you think?”
“A cummerbund.”
“I’m good with that. What color?”
“I was thinking of a dark purple.”
“Sounds great. Do you want me to wear a matching cummerbund or a purple vest?”
Jeff thought about it for a while. He was really into this. “Would you be okay wearing a vest?”
“That sounds fine.”
“Great! Let’s make sure we get the tuxedos rented this week. And we’ll need to buy tickets at school, too.”
Yawning, I nodded and curled into his arms. Sleep was winning the battle and I gave in. It was easy to sleep when Jeff held me. I closed my eyes even as I knew he was still awake, probably going over the tuxedo ideas in his mind.
Chapter 10
The next few weeks flew by as we closed in on graduation. Studying for finals on the nights off work became a regular habit. We had some of the same subjects, so we worked hard at quizzing each other until the material was burned into our minds.
We had turned in my college application, so all we could do was wait. Jeff had already received an acceptance letter a few weeks before the night we found my father beating my mom, so if I wasn’t accepted, we’d be separated next fall. I’d have to attend community college my first year. For now, we tried not to focus on that possibility.
We didn’t really share our relationship with others, but apparently we weren’t very
good at hiding our feelings because everybody in school seemed to know about us within a couple of days. Once the news spread, we experienced a few days of uncertainty, but we held our breath and nothing happened. No retaliations. No name-calling. Nothing.
I credited Russell Adams, to be honest. Jeff agreed. Russell was that one guy in high school who nobody wanted to go against. And he’d made his view clear in the lunch room that day. Regardless, we weren’t naïve enough to think everyone was happy for us, but those who weren’t kept their opinions to themselves.
The afternoon we bought tickets for the prom, we headed to the tuxedo rental place—Max’s—to be fitted. Jeff spent a long time choosing the right color for my vest and his matching cummerbund. Apparently he didn’t want to go with purple anymore.
I bit back a smile and let him make the decision. Unconcerned about what we wore, I sat back, playing a game on my phone while I waited.
A text popped up, and I grinned.
Pamela: Hey Bro.
Me: Hey. What’s up?
Pamela: Grandma is driving me crazy today. She wants me to wear a dress to your graduation. Do I have to?
I laughed out loud and Jeff turned to me. I raised my phone. “Pamela.”
“Tell her I said hi.”
Me: No. But if it is really important to Grandma, why don’t you wear one? She doesn’t ask for much. Jeff said hi.
Pamela: Tell him I said hi. But I don’t want to wear a dress. I want to wear slacks and a blouse.
Me: That’s fine. I’ll try to talk with her.
Pamela: Thanks. Love you.
Me: Love you too.
My little sister was becoming independent. When younger, she used to love getting dressed up, but her tastes had changed. I didn’t care what she wore any more than I cared about the color of the vest, but I’d call Grandma and talk with her about it.
Jeff finally finished. We left the store and headed toward the parking lot. He grabbed my hand. I’d noticed how often he liked to touch me. Holding my hand. Patting my shoulder. It was sweet, and I loved it.
* * * *
Later, after going home to change for work, we pulled into the movie theater parking lot. When my phone pinged, I pulled it from my pocket, surprised to see the district attorney’s number pop up.
“Hi, Aaron. This is Laura Morgan.”
Holding On Page 20
