Action

by Quinn Anderson

  Evan was stroking him sloppily. If he managed to get a decent rhythm, Pete would come. Or if he hit his prostate in just the right way. Or, honestly, if a light breeze came along. He couldn’t tell Evan this while his hand was covering his mouth, but he didn’t need to. Evan would take care of him, make it good for him. He knew it.

  Just then, Evan’s pace faltered. He pulled out of him only to drive back in, making the sink Pete was gripping shudder on its foundation. He repeated the motion, and Pete was thrown a few inches forward from the force of it. Pleasure sizzled up his spine as he was filled to overflowing. He moved his free hand from the sink to the mirror, bracing himself. It rattled in its frame, but he hardly noticed.

  “Pete, I’m gonna come,” Evan said through gritted teeth. “Are you . . .?”

  It was too late. Evan cursed and thrust home one last time, as deep as he could go, before he stilled. He bit down hard on the junction between Pete’s shoulder and neck, whimpering as he came. The blossom of pain made the pleasure all the more vivid, like a bright, burning star in the night sky.

  Watching him pant and whimper through his orgasm did Pete in. A few sloppy pulls on his cock later, and he liquefied. Pete’s orgasm ripped through him, overwhelming him. He bit down on the heel of Evan’s hand in an attempt to stifle the moan that resonated in his chest. Even with the makeshift gag, he was positive someone had to have heard him. Pleasure that explosive and incendiary couldn’t be contained.

  Thankfully, his come mostly landed in the sink. If it had gotten on his clothes, he would have been in serious trouble.

  Evan recovered faster than he did. He sucked in a breath. “Wow, that was amazing.” He kissed the spot he’d bitten. “I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

  Pete made a muffled noise.

  “Oh, shit, sorry.” He pulled his hand away from Pete’s mouth, trails of saliva connecting it to Pete’s bruised-red lips.

  As they watched the strands snap, he was positive they were both thinking the same thing: If there were a camera around, that would have been a perfect shot.

  “I’m fine,” Pete answered. “Better than fine, actually.” He fidgeted. “Though I’d like it if you’d please get out of me now.”

  Evan obeyed, pulling gently out and throwing the condom into the toilet with a wet plop.

  “Dude, there’s a trash can right there.” Pete sighed. He flushed it. “Inconsiderate customers always throwing all sorts of weird shit in there.” Despite his words, he could feel a smile stretching his face.

  Evan chuckled and let his hand fall to his side. Pete snatched it up a second later. “I didn’t break the skin, did I?”

  “Nah, I’m fine.” He smirked. “These are some battle scars I can be proud of.”

  “Me too.” Pete kissed him.

  Evan tucked himself back into his pants. “We should go. If they’re not already missing you, they will soon.”

  “You’re right.” Pete scrambled to clean himself up and put his apron back on. He glanced at his reflection. His hair was a mess, his lips were dark, and he had a distinct just-fucked flush that nothing but time could get rid of.

  He groaned. “Well, this ought to be fun.”

  Evan sidled up behind him and pulled him into a hug. “Was it worth it?”

  Pete’s stomach flopped strangely. Not in a bad way, exactly. He just felt sort of . . . light, but also nauseated. He didn’t know how to describe it.

  “Yeah,” he said. “Worth it.”

  They exited the bathroom with Evan walking a few steps ahead. It wasn’t much, but it was all they could really do to suggest they hadn’t just left together.

  When they rounded the corner to the main room, everything was pretty much as they’d left it: empty and quiet, though now Joshua was arguing with a customer about how much cinnamon constituted a “dash.”

  Joshua fell silent when they appeared, however. His eyes narrowed as he looked between them. Pete’s face instantly burned. He must’ve heard them, or at least noticed their prolonged absence. He expected Joshua to make some sort of lewd remark, but for once, he didn’t. His eyes did linger on Pete’s neck, however. Fuck. He undoubtedly had a mark that was purpling by the second. He flipped his shirt collar up and tried to look innocent.

  Evan touched his elbow. “I gotta get going.”

  “Okay.” Pete kissed him.

  Evan pulled him in for a deeper kiss that lingered on Pete’s lips long after it ended. Evan turned like he was going to leave, and Pete’s chest twanged strangely.

  “Before you go,” he blurted out, “I have a question.”

  Evan stopped a foot away. “Shoot.”

  “Were you really a Boy Scout?”

  “I was. Does that surprise you?”

  “No, I’ve come to expect such things from you.”

  “Then I’ll have to try harder.”

  Pete took his hand and sighed. “I’ll miss you.”

  Evan opened his mouth only to shut it again. It looked like he was debating with himself. Before Pete could ask if something was wrong, Evan turned back, kissed him, and said, “I’ll miss you too.” He waved good-bye, and when he did, Pete saw the faint marks from his own teeth still on Evan’s palm.

  That wasn’t an image he was going to forget anytime soon. Something tugged strangely at his insides: that same light, dizzying feeling he’d been experiencing a lot lately. Before he could identify it, there was a voice at his elbow, “You two are not subtle at all.”

  Pete jumped. “Jesus, Joshua, you startled me.”

  He ignored Pete’s comment. “What’s up with you and mega hottie?”

  Pete turned atomically red. “Uh, I was just showing him around, and—”

  “That’s not what I meant. Although, that was also not subtle.”

  Pete blinked. “Then what?”

  Joshua sighed in a long-suffering way. “If you don’t know, I’m certainly not going to tell you.” He flounced away in the direction of the customer he’d abandoned. “Get back to work, lover boy.”

  Pete dutifully obeyed. He figured he owed Joshua some obeisance after the stunt he’d pulled. If it weren’t for his sore muscles and pervading feeling of satisfaction, he wouldn’t believe he’d actually done that. Or that Joshua had left him off so easy.

  The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Pete drove home just as the sun was setting over the glittering, metallic cityscape. He said hi to his mom, scarfed down some dinner, and spent the next few hours reading before bed. As soon as he lay down, however, his head filled with thoughts of Evan. It made him smile even as he ordered himself to sleep.

  He finally dozed off, and his dreams were as full of Evan as his thoughts. In them, he swore he could feel Evan’s touch, hear his voice, see the radiance of his smile.

  Just before dawn, he woke up, gasping and coated in sweat, and sat straight up in bed. His eyes landed on his window, where the parted curtains granted him a view of a handful of dying stars, the last ones to survive the burgeoning light of the sun.

  He’d probably never be able to look at stars again without thinking about Evan: his warmth, his playful eyes, his laughter, and the way he made Pete feel like he could do anything, be anyone, the way he inspired and excited him, and—

  “Fuck,” he panted. “I’m in love.”

  “Are you sure?” Raj leaned closer and squinted at him.

  “Yup,” Pete answered, “I’m sure.”

  “Are you sure you’re sure?”

  Pete made an exasperated noise. “Yes. I’m in love. Totally and completely in love with a guy who’s not even my boyfriend. And you know how I know? Because that is precisely the sort of awkward mess I would get myself into.”

  Raj sat back in his desk and whistled. “Fuck, man. I almost can’t believe it. The times, they are a’changing.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it.” Pete waited for Professor Mejia to turn his back before he nudged Raj with an elbow. “I bet you regret ditching our Monday class now. You could have heard the juicy
news a whole day sooner.”

  “Not for nothing, buddy, but that party was totally worth it. You should have come. Besides, we couldn’t have talked during Whiton’s class. I’m pretty sure I’m going to fail her midterm.”

  “We’re all going to fail her midterm,” Pete soothed.

  “Not you, smarty-pants.” Raj shoved him, prompting the professor to look their way. They fell silent and waited, stock-still, until he turned back to the board.

  Pete paused long enough to jot down what Professor Mejia was saying about automated algorithms before leaning back toward Raj. “What do you think I should do?”

  “Hell if I know, man. I’m still processing the fact that you have a lover.”

  “Can you please not call him that?”

  “I’m just teasing you. It’s my sacred bro duty. I was beginning to think I’d never get my shot. Not that I thought you were incapable of landing a boyfriend, or anything. It’s just, from what you said the last time we spoke, I wasn’t sure you and what’s-his-face were gonna work out.”

  “Evan,” Pete supplied.

  “Right, Evan. Does this mean you’re over all your misgivings about him? Because if so, that is some mighty fast turnaround.”

  Pete fiddled with the pen in his hand. When he spoke, his voice was quiet but certain. “Yeah, I’m over it. Looking back, I don’t know how I ever thought he was like my dad. Or Christopher. He’s nothing like them, and I was too jaded to see it.” He paused, a smile tugging at his lips. “He sure didn’t let me be that way for long, though. Every step of the way, he was breaking down my walls. Keeping me on my toes. Surprising me into being honest with myself. He’s incredible. I don’t know how I resisted for as long as I did.”

  Raj laughed. “Jesus, you really are in love. Which begs the question: what are you going to do about it?”

  “I’m not sure.” Pete looked at Raj thoughtfully, his eyes drifting to the silky black hair. Pete had always thought Raj had the most beautiful hair he’d ever seen, and that was still the case, but now Evan was a close second, what with his messy locks that were perfect for grabbing a handful.

  Pete shook his head, dispelling the image before he could cause a public incident. “The thing is, I don’t know what Evan wants.”

  “Don’t you?” Raj gave him a sidelong look. “I’ve never even met the guy, and I’m willing to bet he’s got it bad for you.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure he likes me, but that doesn’t automatically mean we’re going to have a committed relationship. We haven’t even known each other for a full month. I couldn’t tell you his favorite color.” Although, as soon as the words left his mouth, Pete thought, I bet it’s green.

  Raj shrugged. “So, get to know him better.”

  “Well, of course. I want to know everything about him.”

  “Problem solved.”

  “But I also need to figure out when is the right time to have the ‘I love you’ conversation.”

  “Tell him now.”

  Pete gave him a sour look. “It’s not that simple.”

  “Why not? You’re working yourself into a froth when you should relax and let things happen. Love isn’t complicated unless you make it that way.”

  Pete worried his bottom lip. “What if . . . what if he doesn’t feel the same way, though?”

  “Then he’ll tell you. And it’ll suck, and you’ll probably be totally heartbroken.”

  “Thanks, Raj,” Pete grumbled.

  “But,” Raj continued, “he’ll appreciate that you were honest with him, and I seriously doubt he’ll stop seeing you over it. If he doesn’t feel the same way, he will soon. I know it’s scary, but if you want your happily ever after, you gotta take some risks.”

  Pete eyed Raj suspiciously. “When did you get all wise?”

  “I’ve always been wise, my Padawan.” He stretched back in his seat and folded his arms behind his head. “But for real, I’ve been in and out of more relationships than you’ll probably have in your life, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes. But time and time again one thing has held true: being honest is never a mistake.”

  “Huh.” Pete fell silent.

  Raj turned his attention to his laptop, ostensibly catching up on all the notes Professor Mejia had written. Pete could tell he was giving him a chance to gather his thoughts. The trouble was, his thoughts might as well have been a herd of cats for how easy they were to manage.

  Finally, he said, “You’re right.”

  Raj glanced at him, fingers poised over his keyboard. “I am?”

  “Of course, though it’s one of those easier-said-than-done situations. I swear, sometimes being me is so frustrating. I know I should tell him, but when I think about actually doing it, my stomach flips.”

  “You can do this. I know you can.”

  Pete racked his brain. “Maybe I should do something special? Like, take him out to dinner and then tell him?”

  “That’s a great idea,” Raj said mildly. “As long as you’re not just planning that so you can stall.”

  Pete grimaced. “Saw right through that, huh?”

  “Yup. Though I do think it’s a good idea to do something special. Sure beats blurting it out after you’ve just accidentally invited your ex to her little sister’s bat mitzvah. Remind me to tell you that story some time. Anyway, are you doing anything for your birthday next weekend?”

  “Damn, I’d nearly forgotten. I guess I should. Got any suggestions?”

  “Throw a party. Invite everyone you know, namely me and Evan. That way I’ll get to meet him.”

  Pete tapped his chin. “You know what? That actually sounds like a plan.”

  Raj’s mouth dropped open. “Really? So, it’s true. Love can change a man!”

  Pete waited for the next time Professor Mejia wasn’t looking and then smacked Raj on the shoulder. “Keep in mind, everyone I know consists of like five people, including my mom. But yeah, I think a party is the way to go. It’ll give me a deadline. I’ll have to tell him before then.”

  “Why?”

  Pete laughed. “If he’s going to meet all of you, I need to do something to lock him down first. And I can’t tell him at the party. Just imagine me trying to proclaim my love in front of an audience.”

  “Oof, good point. Though I still think you’d manage. Love has a tendency to worm its way out of your heart and into your mouth no matter how hard you try to contain it.”

  “That was almost poetic.”

  “‘Almost’? You insult me. So, if this hypothetical party did take place, when and where would it be?”

  “Um.” Pete thought about it. “My birthday is Monday, so I guess the Saturday after that? At my place?”

  “Will your mom be cool with that?”

  “Oh, she’ll be thrilled. Any time she sees me interacting with other humans, it’s like Christmas.”

  “Then it’s settled.” Raj reached across the aisle and clapped him on the back. “Text me later this week to let me know it’s still on, and I’ll be there. I’ll bring booze and my scintillating personality. And possibly a camera so I can take pictures as proof that our very own Pete Griflow actually threw a party.”

  “Very funny.”

  They spent the rest of the lecture trading banter under their breath and, occasionally, paying attention. By the time it let out, Pete felt much more confident about the whole situation. He studied in the library until just before two in the afternoon and then worked a shift at the Globe. While there, he invited Sana to his party, which served a double benefit: once he’d invited people, he couldn’t back out.

  No sooner had the invitation left his mouth, than she declared nothing in the world could keep her away. She launched into an in-depth discussion of drinking games and themes that Pete was thankfully not required to participate in. Her enthusiasm was contagious, however, and Pete allowed her to talk him into doing a nineties theme in honor of the decade of his birth.

  “Now that you can drink legally, you’ll hav
e to rely on your old memories instead of forming new ones,” she informed him.

  “Looking forward to it,” he replied. She rattled off a list of things she intended to bring: snap bracelets, gel pens, Pokémon cards, and more. If she remembered even half of them, it would be a better party than Pete could have hoped to throw on his own. By the end of his shift, he was in such a good mood, he might have invited Joshua had he been around.

  When he got home, he found his mom sitting at the dining room table with a copy of Gone with the Wind. Like mother, like son.

  “Hey, kiddo,” she said when he walked through the door. She bookmarked her place and swiveled in her seat to face him. “You look chipper. What’s up?”

  “I have a favor to ask.” He approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Can I have a party next Saturday for my birthday?”

  “Here?”

  “Yeah.”

  She gave him a knowing look. “Why not at a restaurant? Or more appropriately, a bar?”

  He shuffled his feet. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

  She pressed her lips together; the upturned corners told him it was with mirth, not displeasure. “Of course you can. Should I expect a raging house party? Maybe order a keg? Have paramedics on standby?”

  “It’ll just be me and a few others, I promise.” He gave her a quick hug. “I’ll clean the whole house beforehand and everything. And I’ll owe you one.”

  “Not at all.” She patted his cheek. “I’m excited to meet your friend. I like him already.”

  “I like him too.” He excused himself up to his room. Once there, he pulled out his phone, took a deep breath, and sent the most important invitation of them all:

  Want to come to a birthday party at my place?

  He scrolled through his recent texts with Evan as he waited for a response. It mostly consisted of silly photos and random movie quotes (Evan’s doing), but there were other messages interspersed that made Pete’s heart flutter.

  I miss you.

  When can I see you again?