“It is. Not just the practice, but all the attention. I’ll bet Cliff is meeting the big donors to the school, these guys who want to be around the top athletes and always come with strings attached. They say jump, and the school says how high. A lot of ass kissing. And I’m sure there’s some weirdness on the team since a freshman is leading them. Definitely some power struggles there.”
“Shit.” Brennan’s head spun just thinking about this. He didn’t have to live it.
“Yeah. But if there’s anyone who can handle being thrust into this situation, it’s Cliff. He can handle anything. You haven’t seen it, but Cliff is the definition of unflappable. He just handles things, doesn’t crumble under pressure. He has his shit together. Unlike me.”
If only that were the truth. Brennan knew the real Cliff, the one the world - not even his own brother - got to see. Cliff knew how to put on a strong face, but Brennan thought about what he must be feeling when nobody was looking. He tried so hard to be perfect for everyone, and now he had to be. Brennan wanted to envelop him in a hug and make the world disappear.
* * *
Brennan couldn’t go homeafter margaritas. He kept thinking about what Alex had told him.
He went to Cliff’s dorm and texted that he was outside. It was late, and Cliff was probably asleep. Most of the dorm lights were out. He felt bad for waking him, but he had to let Cliff know he wasn’t alone. He had to check on him.
Cliff buzzed him into the building. Brennan climbed the stairs and walked down the hallway, his breath becoming more labored, his heart yearning more and more to leap out of his chest. He found himself running the last few steps to Cliff’s room. He had to see him. Cliff opened the door, and Brennan pulled him into a kiss. Fuck the open hallway. Fuck the basketball team.
His lips were salty and soft, just as he remembered. He melted into them. Cliff looked up at him with those big eyes, stress and exhaustion lining his face. Inside the room, he held Cliff in a hug and rocked him softly.
“Hey.” Brennan cupped his face with his strong hands.
“I’m sorry I’ve been MIA.”
Brennan shushed him with a kiss. “You don’t have to apologize for anything.”
Cliff rested his head on his chest. They rocked in the middle of his room, Brennan wrapping his arms tightly around Cliff’s body. His shampoo scent filled Brennan’s nose and calmed him. Cliff was home for him.
“I’m tired.”
“Then let’s go to bed.” Brennan rubbed a hand over his hair. Cliff looked up, and their lips met in a soft, comforting kiss.
“I always get the best sleep when I sleep next to you.”
Brennan let out a rumbling laugh. “Me, too.” Brennan kissed him again. “I missed you this week.”
“I missed you, too.”
He took off his jeans and jacket and spooned Cliff on his bed. The faint sound of a car driving in the night filled the silence. Brennan kissed Cliff’s shoulder. He held him tight, squeezing him as if he were making a wish. He wanted only good things for him. He wanted to do this every night with Cliff, although he didn’t know how that would be possible. Cliff was a star athlete in the closet with a brother whose friendship he could lose.
Cliff fell asleep in seconds, his steady breathing pushing his back against Brennan’s chest, then pulling it away. His body was warm and comfortable like a towel fresh out of the dryer. Soon, Brennan was drifting into sleep, his last thoughts were picturing if things were possible. If he and Cliff could be together all the time. He imagined cheering him on at games and taking him out to dinner to celebrate and Alex jokingly telling them to get a room. With Cliff in his arms, Brennan believed anything could be possible.
* * *
Sometime later,Brennan woke up to Cliff grinding his ass against his rock hard cock. It was still dark outside. Brennan’s cock stretched his boxer-briefs to their extreme. He couldn’t tell if Cliff was awake or having a vivid dream. He let out soft moans that drove Brennan wild.
Brennan kissed him along his collarbone.
Cliff craned his neck and kissed Brennan hungrily.
“Your boner woke me up.” Cliff smiled, squinty-eyed with sleep.
“And your first thought was to dry hump it?”
Cliff flipped his body so they could face each other and make out properly, their cocks poking at each other. Moonlight and the glow of campus lighting peeking through the blinds lit Cliff’s face.
“Thank you for being here,” Cliff said.
“I want to be here. You’re a hard guy to get a hold of.”
Cliff wasn’t laughing.
