Pick Me Up

by Rebecca Brochu

  The pattern kept on and Bryce found himself looking forward to the time he spent with Felix every week. He wondered what it would feel like to have dinner with him, to watch a movie with Felix on his couch, with Snarl curled up at their feet. What would it feel like to kiss Felix? To feel his lips, taste him? Was he the type to kiss slow and deep, or fast and rough and all consuming?

  He forced himself to push the thoughts away, to keep meeting Felix’s increasingly childish and amusing pickup lines with sarcasm and laughter. For all that Felix flirted with him, for all of the jokes and teasing, he’d yet to ask Bryce out again. So Bryce kept his thoughts and feelings to himself, enjoyed the time he spent bantering with Felix, and tried not to dwell on it.

  Then, to everyone’s surprise and curiosity, Felix never showed up at the next meeting. Bryce answered all of the curious looks and outright questions from the rest of the staff about Felix’s absence with a shrug, and his own barely concealed worried confusion. The meeting dragged on where it normally went quickly and smoothly, Felix’s absence felt by all it seemed. Bryce had been disgruntled and strangely unsettled by its end. He’d felt uneasy, like the meeting had been a waste of his time without Felix. Bryce’d been all packed up and out of the building faster than he had since the beginning of the school year.

  He walked toward the nearest bus stop, thoughts of a beer and a relaxing evening with Snarl dancing through his mind, when a familiar green car pulled up beside him. A thrill shot down his spine when he recognized the vehicle. Yet another chance to interact with the man occupying so much of his attention.

  “Are you an interior designer? ’Cause when I saw you, the room became beautiful,” Felix’s smooth voice called out. A large grin split the other man’s face.

  “I’m a teacher as you well know, and we’re outside so that one doesn’t work either.” Despite the pleasure that welled up in his chest, Bryce kept his tone dry.

  “Eh, semantics.” Felix dismissed Bryce’s words with a wave of his hand as he leaned out the window of his car.

  “In that case, I appreciate the thought. Although I have to admit I’d be slightly more impressed if your cheesy ass lines were at least situation appropriate.” Bryce stepped closer to the curb, the strap of his bag clutched tightly in one hand while he pushed his hair off his forehead with the other.

  “Really?” Felix asked, wide-eyed.

  “No.” Bryce grinned.

  “Cold and cruel I say, cold and cruel.” Felix shook his head and adopted a mock hurt look. “Since you’ve wounded my pride so terribly, the least you can do is let me give you a ride.”

  “You have absolutely no idea where I’m going.” Bryce smiled.

  “Well, I’m free for the rest of the evening so as long as it’s within the state I don’t really care. Any further than that and I might have to renegotiate the offer into some other ploy to spend time with you.” Felix grinned back, a flash of white teeth crinkled eyes attractively.

  “You’re so subtle I almost can’t see you there.” Bryce debated for a second then made his way toward the passenger door. Felix was kind of sweet and Bryce didn’t feel like walking. He refused to admit Felix had completely charmed him.

  “You could always feel me then.” Felix smirked and arched a brow as Bryce slid into the car.

  Bryce laughed as he buckled his seatbelt, and then gave Felix directions to a corner near his house.

  The ride tuned out pleasant and more entertaining than Bryce expected. Felix proved, once again, to be a good driver, able to hold a conversation while he stayed alert and attentive to the road and flow of traffic. They chatted about everything, from the weather to how Bryce’s new job, and what kind of work Felix did at his firm. The ride passed quickly and when they finally reached their destination, they sat in the car for a moment in silence, both obviously reluctant to end the moment.

  “So uh …why weren’t you at the meeting? If you don’t mind asking, that is?” Bryce asked slowly as he fiddled with the strap of his bag, more hesitant than he’d ever been with Felix.

  “A divorce proceeding between one of my oldest clients and her newest husband ran over a bit. I came here straight from her house so there’d be a chance I could still catch you,” Felix said. He smiled at Bryce, a slow, teasing curve of his lips. “Did you miss me?”

  “Yes,” Bryce said. He blurted out without thinking, and his face heated. His palms dampened as he hurried to cover his unthinkingly honest answer. “I mean, I missed the coffee you always bring me more than you specifically. Good coffee’s hard to come by.”

  Felix’s face went soft and gentle. Bryce stilled when Felix cupped his shoulder.

  “Have dinner with me, Bryce. Just the two of us. I’m asking you out on a date, a serious date. No jokes, no teasing. I want to get to really know you. I want the chance to let you really get to know me. No games, no bullshit. You and I, some food, and the opportunity to talk without a gaggle of curious teachers hovering over our shoulders. What do you think?” Felix asked him, barely above a whisper.

  Bryce thought about how badly his last relationship ended. About the debt Trey left him with. He thought about not wanting a one night stand or casual sex, and not being able to afford the drama that often came with a relationship. Then he thought about Felix, the way his body felt against him the night at the club, the way he brought him coffee and smiled, the way his jokes and pickup lines were horrible and endearing all at the same time.

  “Yeah.” Bryce sounded too breathy for his liking so he cleared his throat. “Yeah, I think I’d like that. A date, that is. Dinner and a night out with you. I think … I think it’d be good.”

  Bryce flushed at the way Felix smiled, not wide and bright like before, but soft and sweet and private. Like it was meant only for Bryce. Bryce liked that smile more than any other expression he’d ever seen on Felix’s face.

  “So,” Felix said. “Does this mean you’ll tell me where you actually live, or do I just need to pick you up on this corner tomorrow night at around seven?”

  Chapter Five

  Bryce was nervous, he wasn’t ashamed or afraid to admit that. He’d been single, hadn’t dated or come close to dating since Trey walked out on him. He was more than a little frazzled about going out with Felix, and it only got worse the closer it got to seven. He’d showered, scrubbed himself down with a surprising viciousness, and torn through his closet twice in an attempt to find something to wear.

  Halfway through dissecting his wardrobe for a third time, he’d broken down and called Jamie for advice. Jamie laughed at him, told him it was about time he went out again and then put him on speaker phone with Maddy. Together they debated the appropriate attire. They finally all agreed on a pair of fitted slacks and a more casual button down shirt Bryce had in his closet, a nice outfit Maddy and Jamie had gotten for him the Christmas before, and something he never wore to the school.

  He dressed, tried to calm down, and found himself still nervous when a knock sounded at his door around ten minutes till. Snarl went crazy like he always did, as Bryce took a moment and brushed his hands down the front of his shirt. He made sure he had his wallet and his keys, and then opened the door and stepped out onto his small porch. He locked the door behind him, and then took in his date for the evening.

  Felix looked as sexy and captivating as always, hair messy around his face like that night at the club, clothes pressed and sharp, but more relaxed than the suits Bryce normally saw him in.

  “Hey.” Felix smiled, blue eye crinkled happily at the corners as he scrubbed a hand across his freshly shaven jaw.

  “Hey,” Bryce said back. He felt stupid at the way he stood frozen on his doorstep as his nerves thrummed and anxiety curled in his stomach.

  “So,” Felix said, drawing the word out for a bit. “Was there a rainbow around here today?”

  Bryce furrowed his brow.

  “Must have been ’cause I just found the treasure I’ve been looking for.” Felix beamed at him.

 
Bryce barked out a laugh. “I thought you said this date was going to be serious?”.

  “Oh, it is. I plan to woo you like you’ve never been woo’d before. But it officially broke the ice, didn’t it?” The lawyer grinned down at him again as he offered Bryce his arm.

  “True.” Bryce had to admit Felix’s one ridiculous line already helped him relax.

  “See, I told you those lines had a use. Now we can enjoy the rest of the night without any awkwardness that comes along with first dates.” Felix lead Bryce around to the passenger side of the car, opened the door, ushered himself inside, and then made his way around to the driver’s side.

  Bryce buckled his seat belt, already looking forward to the way the date would end. Felix might be worth breaking a few of his own rules for.

  Bryce figured out quickly Felix was serious about the wooing. The lawyer stepped up his game quickly and noticeably, and Bryce found himself drawn in.

  The ride to the restaurant was filled with light-hearted chatter, snatches of small talk that put Bryce at easy instantly as he fell back into the comfortable rhythm he and Felix had developed between them over the past months. The restaurant, a quiet upscale Italian place Bryce had passed by a thousand times but never set foot in, ended up being as calm and tastefully decorated as he’d always imagined. The service proved to be excellent, prompt and discrete, the food delicious and the wine rich and heady.

  Still the most captivating thing about the dinner was Felix. All charm, his comments were quick-witted and his stories interesting. Bryce responded in kind, glad his sarcasm was still very much enjoyed and appreciated. Felix trailed his index finger down the back of Bryce’s hand, linked their fingers together on the table top casually for a few moments, and even wiped away a bit of sauce from the corner of Bryce’s mouth with the pad of his thumb.

  Afterward, Felix offered his arm again and instead of taking him back to the car, led Bryce down the sidewalk. He bought them both an ice cream cone from a sidewalk vendor Bryce was surprised to see so late in the evening. They made their way to the local park, and strolled down one of the nicer jogging trails as they ate their treats and chatted. Still, a tension simmered between them, slowly building since dinner. Since they met, if Bryce was honest with himself.

  Bryce was aware of being seduced, it was obvious it in the air between them. In the way Felix looked at him, blue eyes heavy, mouth curled up at the corners. Bryce couldn’t find it in himself to care, to worry about anything but the way Felix made him laugh and smile, the way he made his stomach churn with a happy sort of nervousness.

  He was tired of denying himself, tired of lonely dinners and cold nights. Tired of all of those things. He’d found a new job, finally found a new chance at living good. He was ready to take another chance on love, ready to explore things between him and Felix. So he let himself be pulled further in, let down his guard, and let himself laugh and smile and lean into Felix’s warmth like he’d wanted to for weeks.

  A couple of hours later, they finally managed to find their way out of the park and back to Felix’s car. The ride to Bryce’s house passed quietly, but surprisingly comfortable. Bryce enjoyed himself. Being around Felix made him happier than he’d thought. He almost loathed the inevitable moment when the night came to an end.

  “If I kissed you, would you punch me?” Felix asked. He looked down at Bryce where they stood outside his front door.

  The porch light Bryce had turned on before he left shined down on them.

  Bryce laughed, low and breathy, and watched the way Felix’s eyes went dark. Felix’s hand on his shoulder tightened before loosening.

  “Maybe,” Bryce said. He wasn’t serious, but was somehow unable to keep from teasing Felix. Low heat curled in his stomach, anticipation running high through his veins.

  “Cold and cruel. Not sure if I want to risk it when I know how vicious you can be,” Felix said. He swooped down and did it anyway.

  Felix’s mouth was soft against Bryce’s, his lips thin but soft. When Bryce opened his mouth for the welcomed thrust of Felix’s tongue, he tasted faint traces of chocolate and coffee. The kiss went hot, but stayed sweet with Felix in control, his mouth a hair shy of too gentle as he tangled his fingers in Bryce’s hair. Felix tilted his head and changed the angle of the kiss, made it deeper, hotter, a shade or two rougher, and Bryce groaned into it.

  Bryce finally pulled back far enough to look up into Felix’s eyes. He stared at him, searched his gaze for a moment, and then had to admit he’d already made his decision. He’d made it as soon as Felix asked him out.

  “Come inside with me?” he asked softly.

  Felix’s eyes went wide then narrowed slightly. “You sure, Bryce? Because I don’t want this to be a one-time thing, I don’t want casual sex with you. If we do this, then I want us to do it right.” Felix’s face was serious, gaze sharp and attention focused.

  That same warmth curl worked its way through Bryce’s chest, all because Felix wanted what he wanted. It was glorious.

  “Oh yeah, I’m sure. We want the same thing, and we’ve known each other for months now. I’m tired of not admitting what I want, tired of not having you when it’s all I think about,” Bryce said, his voice low and steady, his gaze direct. He wasn’t ashamed of what he wanted, not now, not ever.

  “So, I guess it’s safe to say those lines actually did work.” Felix grinned down at him, expression delighted, but filled with heat.

  “Shut up,” Bryce said. The words came out as more of a huff before he reached up and pulled Felix back down into another heated kiss.

  Felix ended the kiss then, pulled back and nudged Bryce forward to unlock his door. While Bryce was busy, Felix slid up behind him and dropped nipping kisses on the side of his neck. Bryce shivered and fumbled with his key as Felix chuckled, low and warm, behind him until he finally managed to get the door open.

  He gestured for Felix to wait on the porch for a second as he slipped inside. He petted Snarl, reminded himself to introduce the two of them later, and then let the dog out into the fenced in yard. Felix waited for him underneath the light of the front porch. When Bryce got back, he noticed the way Felix looked, hair disheveled and mouth slightly swollen. Bryce couldn’t pull him forward into the house and another kiss fast enough.

  They were noticeably wilder then. Their hands roamed over each other as Felix closed the door with his foot, and crowded Bryce against the nearest wall. Felix tugged at Bryce’s shirt until it slipped out of his waistband, and wasted no time in getting his hands on Bryce’s skin. He traced his way across Bryce’s stomach and up his chest. Felix raked Bryce’s nipples with his nails. Bryce gasped and bucked his hips up as he broke the kiss. His cock pressed against his zipper painfully as he panted up at Felix.

  “Bedroom.” Bryce practically rasped the word out. He groaned low and deep in his throat when Felix’s mouthed at his neck, his tongue skating along his skin before he nipped him sharply.

  Bryce pulled Felix’s shirt completely off then tugged at the fly of his pants as they stumbled towards his bedroom. Felix’s hands were just as busy, and by the time they managed to get to Bryce’s room, their shoes and socks were abandoned somewhere behind them. They stood at the end of his bed, panting, and stared at each other for a moment, and then Felix moved. He pushed Bryce, who fell back against the mattress, legs splayed and pants riding low on his hips.

  Before he realized what had happened, Felix was on his knees between Bryce’s thighs. He worked Bryce’s zipper down, urging him to lift his hips. Felix tugged Bryce’s pants down and off. When Felix mouthed the wet spot his cock left on his underwear, Bryce moaned. Felix pulled Bryce’s underwear quickly, and then he was on Bryce with no hesitation, mouth wrapped around the head of his cock as he sucked.

  Bryce’s wrapped his hands around the bars of his headboard, dug the back of his head deeper into his mattress, and moaned. Felix showed him no mercy, setting a fast rhythm as he moved his mouth up and down the length of Bryce’s cock. Felix swi
rled his tongue around the head in a way that drove Bryce insane, making him feel like he was going to shake apart.

  One of Felix’s hands slid up between his thighs, and Bryce shivered when a knuckle brushed against his balls. The pad of one of Felix’s strong fingers pressed firmly against Bryce’s hole. He made a noise low in his throat and spread his legs further, welcoming Felix deeper into the curve of his thighs. He liked the way Felix took control, liked the way he went intense and focused like he had that night in the club, in that way Bryce had only gotten to glimpse on occasion.

  His mind blanked out when Felix pressed until the tip of his finger slipped past the ring of muscles, just far enough for Bryce to feel the burn of it, and then he pulled back. Bryce groaned in denial and bucked his hips up in demand, but Felix seemed determined. He pulled back off of Bryce’s cock, gripped him by the hips with both hands, and urged him up and over until he was on his hands and knees.

  “Lube?” Low and rough, Felix’s voice made Bryce squirm.

  “Bedside table.” Bryce words were little more than a gasp as he tried to resist the urge to rub himself against his sheets.

  Felix’s hands disappeared for a moment, and Bryce registered his drawer being opened and closed. Then came a rustling of cloth and the sound of plastic being torn, the small click of a top being opened, and finally Felix was back. Felix’s bare legs rubbed against Bryce, and he shivered at the knowledge that Felix must have shucked his pants along the way. All he wanted to do was turn around and take him in, see what Felix looked like all bare and flushed and hungry. A slick finger pressed past his rim again and Bryce didn’t bother focusing on anything else. He couldn’t.

  Felix slid his finger all the way inside, the lube slicking his way and making it easier. Bryce pressed back against his hand. His breath hitched and he squeezed his eyes shut. It hurt in a way he’d missed more than he realized. Felix gave him a moment to get used to it, and then he was relentless as he pulled back and added a second finger, and then a third, deep inside after only a few thrusts.