15
They tried to play it cool. Linc let Avery escape the bedroom first, and then he followed thirty seconds later. The hallway was empty, so maybe no one noticed. Well, no one except Vasquez. She stood with her arms crossed and one eyebrow arched as Avery and Wanda blew air kisses and said goodnight. Linc hovered far enough away to look like he was not thinking about tackling Avery onto Vasquez’s living room carpet—even though he totally was. Time to go, before he abandoned all discretion entirely.
They drove in separate cars. Linc followed Avery’s taillights like a beacon. His skin was a bundle of electricity, and only a miracle kept him from running a stop sign or clipping Avery’s bumper in his agitation.
As they stood at Avery’s front door, Linc stuffed his hands in his pockets. He’d gone home with guys, but nothing had ever felt like this. His past experiences were simple. Limited. A quick fuck and then they were strangers again. With Avery, the moment felt so full. The possibilities were overwhelming.
And the immediacy was terrifying. They wordlessly walked into the living room; Avery sucked on his injured lip, and Linc’s feet suddenly felt like cement.
“Would you like something to drink?” Avery said.
“Do you have anything besides spinach water?”
Avery’s nose wrinkled. “There’s still a few beers left. And I have rainbow chard...um...water?”
Linc laughed. He stepped forward, letting his hands slide across Avery’s hips, kissing him slowly. “Why do you drink that stuff?”
“It’s good for you.”
He growled as he nuzzled at Avery’s ear. “Are you going to be good for me tonight?”
Avery shuddered. His body melted against Linc’s. “Yes. I hope so.”
He so would. He didn’t have to do anything besides be who he was. Soft and eager, his mouth meeting Linc’s like it was meant for kissing. It would all be so good.
“Bedroom.”
“Already?” Avery squeaked.
Linc froze. “Why not?”
“I just—it’s fine.” He reached up to kiss Linc, but his body held something new now—a nervousness in the way Avery pressed himself closer, pushed harder. Their feet bumped together, and Linc stumbled before pulling them both upright.
“Hey. Stop.”
“What?” He bit at Linc’s lip, but Linc pulled his head back.
“What’s wrong?” Linc said.
Avery sighed impatiently. “Nothing. You’re here. I’m here. No one wants spinach water. What could be wrong?”
Linc held him close, because he didn’t want Avery to think he was shutting this down, but he needed answers first. “What’s wrong?” he repeated.
Avery’s eyes narrowed, like he might argue, but instead, he sagged and rested his head on Linc’s shoulder. His hand was underneath Linc’s T-shirt, running nervous circles over his belly.
“I don’t know—I’ve never...I don’t know how to do this, okay?”
Linc’s heart stopped. “What?”
Avery slithered out of his grasp and slumped to the couch. “I—I fooled around a bit in college. In dorm rooms. But, like. It was always—” He buried his face in his hands.
Linc was going to need more words very quickly before his head exploded with all the possibilities—good and bad. “It was what?”
“It was all so awkward. Like we thought we were in porn, except none of us had ever had sex before.”
Linc wiped his mouth to hide his grin. “Okay...” he said slowly. “And?”
“But it was only ever blow jobs and hands.”
