I hadn’t been so nervous since my first university ball game, which for me meant stress baking—a lot of stress baking. Mac had loved it for the first couple of days. After weeks of sweets being around the apartment, one day he’d cursed me for making him fat as he swiped a cookie on his way out the door to go to the gym for the second time that day.
Eli had also benefited from my stress reliever. I brought over endless containers of sweets for our next two movie nights. We watched Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. I didn’t love the prequel trilogy as much as the original one, though they improved with each movie and I still really enjoyed seeing more of the story. Hayden Christensen was whiny, but he was pretty damn cute, so I let it slide more than Eli did. Stealing glances at him whenever he got frustrated was a favorite of mine.
He continued to sit next to me on the couch, even when Prince wasn’t adorably hogging the space at the far end. Being that close to him was exhilarating. I noticed that he had more flat moles on his jaw, just tiny little speckles that I wanted to kiss and nip at until he—nope. I promised myself I wouldn’t go there and I was trying really fucking hard not to break that. Aside from the stray thought here and there and some, uh, involuntary physiological responses, I’d been doing okay.
My will had been seriously tested a week ago while we were watching Revenge of the Sith. Prince had climbed in my lap for the first time while I was on the couch, waiting for Eli to come in with some spinach dip he made. By the time Eli came in, Prince had made my lap into her personal doggie bed and was curled up in a tight little ball. Eli all but melted when he saw us and even took a picture to show Eve, whom I’d come to know as his colleague and best friend. I hadn’t been back to Red Right Hand since our initial meeting, so I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting her. She sounded like a good person from how Eli spoke of her. Knowing he had someone else who cared for him helped put my mind at ease when I wasn’t around. It wasn’t that I thought he needed me—I wasn’t that self-involved—but everybody needed someone at least some of the time. I hoped I would be able to be that for Eli, and I was glad that he already had someone. He never talked about his parents or any siblings, which I took as a cue to leave the subject alone.
Twenty minutes into the movie, Eli had reached over my lap to pet Prince and my blood turned to ice as panic set in. With his hand moving that close to my dick, I was unable to control my bodily reaction. I’d shifted Prince onto Eli’s lap and quickly excused myself to the washroom to calm down. I’d done my fair share of questionable things in my life, but jerking off in a friend’s bathroom because I was sexually frustrated was a box I’d yet to check—and one I’d rather not. After a lot of cold water and reciting recipes in my head, my dick decided to cooperate with me and I was able to rejoin Eli and Prince. Eli had paused the movie and was on his phone when I returned, looking all too unnatural in his posture to have been casually checking the device. Knowing him, he’d picked it up when he heard the toilet flush to be polite and pretend he’d been distracted while I was gone. I didn’t want him feeling awkward about his actions, so I addressed the situation with a lie, because there was no way I could say “sorry I popped a boner like a horny teenager and had to bolt.” In that instance, feigning sickness seemed to be the lesser of two evils, so that’s what I went with. After assuring Eli that I was okay, we resumed the movie and Prince crawled back in my lap with a sleepy huff. It was due to sheer force of will that I didn’t have to dart away for the rest of the movie while Eli was petting his dog.
When I got home that night I went straight for my room and jerked off twice while biting my pillow to keep quiet. Mac not so discreetly told me to put music on next time or he was going to record audio of me “pleasuring myself” and save it for a prime opportunity. Knowing him, that meant the next time our friends were over and he was drunk. I’d have been horrified if it had been anyone else, but Mac had walked in on me doing much worse over the years, so this was nothing. I baked him a dozen macarons as an apology and giggled while he mumbled compliments peppered with expletives as he ate them all.
A few days after my peace-offering macarons, I found myself in the finished kitchen of Eat Cake baking even more—along with cakes, pies, cookies, and brownies—to test the functionality of my new equipment. I’d just pulled out a sheet of coconut chocolate chip cookies when my phone rang from across the kitchen. I made quick work of sliding the cookies onto a cooling rack and answered the call before it reached voicemail, offering a breathy generic greeting.
“Evenin’, little brother. Didya forget me already?” my eldest brother’s voice greeted, thick with the accent I’d shed years ago.
“Hey. What’s up, O?”
Owen sighed into the phone and told me about the new calves that were born a few weeks ago. Calving season meant he’d been even busier than usual, tending to the mothers and new additions to the herd. There were always some who were born underweight or got sick and needed extra care. He updated me on Mason and Chase, my other brothers, and all the goings on around town I’d have been privy to had I not moved away. I loved my family dearly and I enjoyed working on the ranch, but it wasn’t the life I wanted for myself, and I always knew that. My parents weren’t happy when I told them I was moving away for university, but they supported me and respected my decision all the same.
“How’s your bakery coming along? Mama said you had some guys in doing some work a couple weeks ago? Ya coulda called us to come help.”
“I appreciate that, and I know you guys would have come, but y’all have your hands full enough out there.” My brothers had always been supportive of me, even after I came out. Hell, especially after I came out.
“S’ppose you’re right,” Owen drawled. I could practically see him shrugging as he often did when he conceded.
“Why don’t y’all come visit me once the calves are a bit older and things calm down?”
“Ah’ite. I’ll get to talk’n’ta the boys and find a time. You and Mac been gettin’ on all good?”
I rolled my eyes and groaned internally. My brothers were supportive to a fault, but they didn’t believe me when I told them Mac was just my best friend. I doubted they’d even heard me any time I mentioned he was straight. Mac didn’t help matters by not discouraging my brothers’ theories any time they’d met. “Mac is his usual self, so we’re fine. He made me a website for the bakery in exchange for a chocolate cheesecake. And I, uh, met someone new.”
“You don’t say? Got yourself a fella finally?” Owen’s voice took on a brighter tone.
“No, it’s not like that. We’re just friends.”
“But I reckon you’re fixin’ to change that.”
I sighed. There was no point in trying to lie to Owen—he always knew. “I really like him, O. He’s not gay, though. I think I’m destined for unrequited love,” I muttered.
“Love, huh? You that sweet on him?” Owen asked.
Shit. Was I? I’d been trying not to think about it, but that didn’t change my feelings whatsoever. “Yeah, I think I’m fallin’ for him.”
Owen was quiet for a few moments, likely shocked at the sincerity in my voice. Aside from a high school boyfriend, he hadn’t heard me say I loved anyone before. I had plenty of healthy relationships, but love had never been a factor. Fear of commitment was not an issue for me, I just didn’t click in a way I saw as long lasting with any of my former partners. With Eli I felt a spark. I knew things could be different with him. I knew from the first moment I spoke to him ten years ago.
“Tell me about him. I got lots’a time t’night.”
Eli texted me a couple of nights later while I was playing Call of Duty with Mac in his room. I’d been losing miserably and was glad for the excuse to take a break. I went to my room and collapsed on the bed with a fresh beer in hand and opened my messages.
E: Hi… Just a couple quick things. I secured you an interview with someone at Chicago magazine next Tuesday. I’ll tell you more about it when I see you
E: And I was checking to see if you were still coming over to watch Rogue One on Friday? No problem if you’re busy
Hooooooly shit! Chicago was the biggest lifestyle magazine in the city. This interview was a huge fucking deal and not at all something I was expecting. My thumbs flew across the touchscreen fast enough that the auto-correct worked overtime.
B: ARE YOU SERIOUS?! You’re the fucking best!
E: I am being serious. I wouldn’t lie to you or joke about this
Ugh, he was so adorable.
B: That’s amazing. You’re amazing. Thank you so much
E: You don’t have to thank me. It’s my job
B: You’re too humble
B: Don’t even try to deny it
E: …okay
B: I’m totally still coming over on Friday btw. Do you mind if I come by a bit earlier?
E: Sure. I’ll be home by five thirty
B: See you then
I arrived at Eli’s apartment building at quarter after five and waited down in the lobby. He breezed in about ten minutes later and stopped dead in his tracks when he laid eyes on me.
“Hey,” I greeted.
“Hi. You’re, uh, wearing shorts,” he said as a flush crept up his neck from under his shirt collar.
I was indeed wearing shorts. And an orange-and-red tank top with low-cut sides. “I am. Are they too short?” They hit about mid-thigh, which was too short for my tastes for casual wear, but for running or swimming trunks it was the perfect length.
“No, no. It’s not that. I’m just wondering why? I mean, you’re allowed to wear shorts. You just look… sporty.”
His face twisted as he cringed at his words, eliciting a laugh from me. I closed the short distance between us and slung my arm over his shoulders before I even realized what I was doing. He went stiff for a moment then relaxed, and turned to me questioningly. “Relax, Eli. I look sporty because I was hoping I could join you and Prince on your run.”
“Oh. Yes, of course. She’ll love that.” He grinned at me, and I got lost in the sea of those rich brown eyes.
My gaze traveled down to his jaw and the few days’ worth of stubble just starting to obscure those smooth, little moles that I wanted to kiss so desperately. He swallowed, and my eyes tracked the movements in his throat, all the way down to the hollow. He had more moles peeking out from under the collar of his shirt and—Lord help me—I wanted to know every mark on his body.
“We should go upstairs and grab her,” Eli said, breaking me from my daze.
“Oh. Yeah.” I dropped my arm from his shoulders, hoping he didn’t notice how I’d subconsciously tightened my hold on him while I was… distracted. It would have been great if my face didn’t give me away either.
“You can leave your bag inside. Come on.”
We went up to Eli’s apartment, dropped off our stuff, and I hooked up Prince on her leash while he changed into a T-shirt and basketball shorts. Once we got outside, he took Prince over to some grass for a quick pee while he stretched. Five minutes later we walked over to the Lakefront Trail and set off on a light jog.
“You don’t have to go easy on me, you know.”
Eli turned to me and smirked. “You sure you can keep up?”
“Probably not, if I’m being honest. But Prince is used to the exertion, so let’s find out.” I knew good and well that I couldn’t keep up. We went faster and harder, but while I was a disgusting sweaty mess, he looked like he’d just run up a single flight of stairs and was mildly winded. I knew he had to have some killer endurance and stamina, though I didn’t quite expect to get smoked so badly. Eli must have known how the run would go and held back. Both he and Prince were just dandy when we got back almost an hour later. I was considering whether it was plausible that I developed asthma over the past hour.
When we got up to Eli’s apartment, I died. I succumbed to the jelly feeling in my legs and all but fell to the floor, and was assaulted by Prince licking my face relentlessly. My mock-protests only made it easier for her to lick my mouth. I was too damn tired to move away and didn’t really care anyway, so she continued until Eli stopped laughing enough to call her away.
“Are you all right?” he asked, staring down at me with an easy smile.
I held up my right hand and gave an “OK” sign before letting my hand drop gracelessly to the floor. “I’m good,” I panted shamelessly.
“Come on.” Eli held his hand out to me. “Let’s get you up and in the shower. I’m assuming you have a change of clothes in your bag?”
I nodded because it was all I could muster and reached up for his hand. My fingers twitched as his ran gently over my palm and wrist. The contact ignited my sense of touch, making my skin feel hot and hypersensitive everywhere his fingers grazed. I wondered if he could feel it because I could have sworn that my skin was on fire. Eli eyes scanned me up and down before he grasped my wrist and helped haul me to my feet. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have said that he checked me out, but I knew that was wishful thinking.
“Thanks,” I scraped out, still feeling fuzzy from his simple touch. I locked eyes with Eli and nearly got sucked into a daze again, but he turned away.
“No problem. I’ll, uh, order some Chinese food to have with the movie. You like the Mongolian beef, yeah?” Eli had gotten so much better at maintaining eye contact when he spoke to me over the last couple of months. Seeing him so clearly frazzled after he hadn’t said something awkward was strange. I raised an eyebrow in question. His gaze remained anywhere but on me. Whatever it was, he clearly didn’t want to talk about it, so I left it alone, grabbed my bag, and headed for the shower—which I took cold.
Nine
Eli
I’d just finished an hour-long meeting with Andrea, going over every detail of Bryan’s file and campaign. She’d told me she trusted me to make the best impression possible and thankfully didn’t leave me with any parting orders. I left out that we’d become friends and stuck exclusively to our working relationship, which seemed to satisfy her.
Talking about Bryan in a professional, almost clinical manner felt wrong to me. Bryan was so much more than just my client. I didn’t know exactly how to define what he was for me, but I knew the label of “client” was insufficient.
Everything surrounding Bryan was a bit of an enigma to me. He wasn’t at all how I thought he should be, in all the best possible ways. Instead of being a threat, he was kind—patient and attentive and never dismissive or judgmental. He was very much like he was the first time I met him.
I was ready to pass out or vomit before he came over and introduced himself with a smile and flash of his dimples. He’d asked me if it was my first time, and I had burned hot with embarrassment at being identified as a virgin so easily. He nudged my shoulder and told me not to worry about it, that his first time was nerve-racking too, and that it got easier. He distracted me by talking about a movie he’d recently watched with Paul Walker and some sled dogs that had made him cry. I told him I had a new puppy I rescued, and that she was sick which was why I was there that day. Bryan’s eyes had lit up at the mention of a puppy, and he’d asked to see her after the shoot. I said yes after talking a bit more, and I agreed to grab a burger after the shoot too.
Then we filmed the scene, and I—
Why am I thinking about that night?
I hadn’t thought about the details of that night in years and had the memory buried so deep in my subconscious that I’d nearly convinced myself it was a dream. Or so I thought. I started dredging up scenes from that night after I saw Bryan last week when he met me for a run. I could tell before that he was extremely fit, but that outfit… those fitted shorts and that muscle shirt left very little to the imagination. I found myself taking in his appearance and thinking he looked good—really good. I wanted to tell him, then I chickened out and instead said something stupid. That was typical for me, and Bryan didn’t even blink twice, thankfully.
I caught myself taking in his appearance again while
I helped him up off my floor. He looked… different somehow. New, perhaps. Bryan was attractive in a way I hadn’t really noticed before. I’d gotten caught up in just observing him, though I wasn’t sure why I’d done it in the first place.
That day we went running mixed with my straying thoughts to when we had se—
No. I still couldn’t bring myself to think about the actual act. I did what I had to do to get Prince healthy and that was where that story was supposed to end. But Bryan, he… complicated things. Understanding why that might be so was as much a mystery as the man in question. I’d try not to stress over it. I liked what we were, and it was only natural that I wouldn’t fully understand it; I’d never had a guy friend like him before, so I didn’t know what to expect. Asking him crossed my mind, but I decided against it.
My reverie was disrupted by my email notification sounding off on my computer and phone. Paige Turner of Chicago magazine emailed me to confirm the date and time of Bryan’s pre-launch in a week’s time. I typed out a quick reply then sent Eve a text, thanking her once more for connecting me with Paige. I spent the rest of the day working on other files and ended up staying at the office for an extra half hour to finish some research I was doing for a hair salon opening in Lakeview in a couple of months.
By time I got home, I felt more worn out than I normally did, but I took Prince out anyway and made a mental note to pick her up some new toys. During my run, my thoughts drifted back to Bryan, which only served to confuse me further. In turn, I felt guilty for not giving Prince my undivided attention after being at work all day. She really didn’t seem to mind and enjoyed our run all the same, but I felt like being distracted wasn’t fair. I made an effort to pay more attention to her after we got home, but I was powerless to control my dreams that night.
Princes of the Universe Page 8
