“Ah.” Sebastian riles up the crowd while Aidan stands off to the side, shaking his head. Even when his boyfriend is acting like an idiot, Aidan still loves him. Makes me feel like there’s hope for me. “I’m afraid he’ll pummel me on the field if I do that. You’re the safer choice.”
The announcer continues, “Four, three—”
“True.” He gets out his phone. “You can say it, you know. How I’m an absolutely terrible brother.” His laugh makes me laugh, and together, it’s the absolute best thing. God, I want to bottle the sound and carry it around in my pocket for when I’m having a shitty day. The sight makes Kellan look younger, more approachable. Maybe that’s what he needs to return to his joking ways. More laughter.
“One!”
The buzzer sounds as Sebastian touches his dick to the pole, and the runners are off in a horde of flesh. Aidan’s face is in his hands.
“Did you get a picture?” Sebastian calls to Kellan.
“Sure did. But hey, maybe you should put it back in your pants. No one wants to see that.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Some people can’t handle it.” He wiggles his eyebrows and thrusts his hips forward in an unquestionable fucking motion. Wow. Okay. Need to look away.
He starts to pull away from the pole, but his dick remains attached. He tries again, teeth bared in what I imagine is pain.
I see the moment it dawns on Sebastian that his dick isn’t coming off. A look of horror cuts across his features as the crowd quiets, those who remained behind exchanging uncertain glances. “It’s not coming off.”
Meanwhile, Kellan laughs and laughs, moving closer for a better shot. “Hey, Brother. Smile for the camera.”
“You fucker.” He swipes at Kellan, who darts away, then moans in pain as his skin tugs against the cold metal. “Aidan! Fuck. Call a fucking ambulance!” His voice pitches higher, pupils enlarging as the panic overrides all logical thought. It’s completely silent. Then, as one, the group surges toward him, and he screams again as people try yanking him away, except his dick is still attached to the pole and just looking at the thing stretching makes my hand go to my crotch because damn, that looks painful. Sebastian keeps screaming, begging for relief. Aidan jumps into the fray to knock people’s hands away and protect his boyfriend from getting mauled or being felt up.
Kellan is on the ground, tears streaming down his face. He can’t stop laughing long enough to lift the phone.
Sebastian’s screaming goes on for a number of minutes before Aidan chases the creepers away, a fierceness overtaking him that I’ve never seen before. Eventually, Kellan stops laughing. “I’m thinking if he doesn’t get that off, it could permanently damage him.”
“I was thinking that too.”
He sighs, glances around. “You.” He goes up to one of the race participants that has chosen to watch the drama play out rather than compete. “Can I borrow that?” He points to the woman’s water bottle.
“Oh.” She looks confused as she passes it over. “I guess.”
Kellan approaches Sebastian, whose eyes are red with tears. He pours some of the warmer water onto the pole and his brother’s dick, melting the frost.
“Gentle,” says Aidan, hovering nearby.
Sebastian swears and keeps swearing as his boyfriend slowly tugs his skin from the pole. It finally pulls free, and he helps Sebastian back into his clothes as he whimpers like a baby.
Kellan just stares at him. “You’re an idiot.” Then he returns to me and says, “I’m ready to go.”
I’m disappointed he’s ready to turn in this early, but tomorrow is Monday and I know practice is going to be brutal. Knowing me, I’m going to go home and jerk off to the thought of Kellan giving me a hand job, and I’ll do that until I fall asleep. Or I won’t sleep at all.
Squeezing his shoulder, I say, “Sure. I’ll drive you back to your place.”
He gives me a funny look. “You mean you’re not going to invite me back to your apartment?”
Oh, it’s like that, is it?
I smile.
Chapter 19
Noah
The drive to Max’s apartment is quiet, but fraught with tension. I sit in the passenger seat, trying not to look at him, and failing. He drives my car. He has nice hands. Capable. They feel like heaven on my skin. Just the memory sends heat sliding through my stomach. My breathing spikes, causing his head to snap toward me. Our eyes lock for a drawn-out moment before he winks and turns back to the road. I’m blushing. Again. What is coming over me?
The better question is, why am I digging this hole deeper for myself? It’s already so far down I can’t see the light. Is it punishment? Since I can’t actually have something with Max that’s real, am I torturing myself until the gig is up? Is it desperation? For the first time in forever, I feel a connection to a man, and I don’t want to let that go.
