Jealous.
Seething.
There’s only one person in this room, in this world, that I want to look at, and touch and be looked at and touched by, and I can’t.
We can’t.
Perhaps thinking the same, Cubby abandons his cock-blocking and shimmies those pretty nipples my way, hands gripping my hips all too briefly to pull my ear to his lips. “I’m tired of hiding. I want that to be us,” he whispers, beer breath not remotely unappealing. “You look so sexy, Jamie. I’m so hard for you. I can’t wait to get you alone this weekend.”
Trying to act unaffected when I’m quite the opposite, I clear my throat and smile.
“Me too.”
Bouncing back to slot between Sam and Cherry, the six of us form a circle, laughter and off key lyrics toCall Me Maybebouncing between us. But in my mind, all I hear Brady’s words,sacrificing part of yourself even when you’re scared and exhausted, and don’t know what the fuck you’re doing. That’s what you’re doing. That’s what makes a family. A team.
The thing, the crop-top wearing person I want most would likely destroy my familyandmy team, but damn it if I can sacrifice us and walk away.
“Happy Birthday, Cub.”
It’s Friday morning. I’ve a slight hangover from Sam’s party, and am dehydrated from Jamie draining my nuts after said party, but that’s not why I’m playing hooky from class.
Since it’s my birthday weekend, and we have no game, James has called in sick too, and we’re spending two naked days at his apartment. Along with several dozen apologies, that’s the fifth time he’s repeated those words. “Promise you’re not upset that I don’t have a pressie for you?” he whispers again, lips ghosting over mine.
“Hearing you call it a pressie is pressie enough. Well, that and eating my ass out, sucking my dick and letting me fuck you in the shower. What more could a man ask for?”
“Something pretty and wrapped?”
“Well, your dick is pretty. Slip him in a condom and then he’s wrapped, too.” He gives me a slap on the chest.
“Haha. Very funny.”
“I know. I’m hilarious. I’m also open to that, by the way.”
“Open to what?” His kisses stall.
“To you … in a condom … in me.”
“Oh.” I catch a flash of color on his cheeks before he rolls from his side to belly, burying his face into his pillow. I take the chance, grabbing my phone from the bedside table and snapping a photo before he can stop me.
“What would happen if I wasn’t?” It’s muffled, but I’m ninety-nine percent sure that’s what he said.
“You mean, if you weren’t into topping?”
“Uh-huh,” he almost hums, nodding with his pink face still hidden. So freaking cute. “I’ve done it, and even though I like to be quite dominant at times, topping just never felt natural to me. So yeah. What would you think?”
Matching his position, I roll onto my own stomach and run my hands through his soft brown curls, releasing a fresh burst of fruitiness. “I would think I never want you to do what you’re not comfortable with. I would count myself lucky for having a big beast of a boyfriend that loves taking my dick up his ass, and I would be proud to have a man who’s secure enough in his masculinity that he can admit he’s a power bottom queen.”
Slowly, he twists to face me, honey eyes wide as saucers. “Boyfriend?”
“That’s what you took from that?” I laugh. “Yes, boyfriend. If you want that, too.”
“You want to be my boyfriend?”
“Of course I do. You’re like my favorite person. You’re funny and grumpy. Sweet and caring. You’ve got a dick thick as a tree trunk. A mouth like a hoover and an ass so warm and tight I could come again right now just thinking about pushing into it. Who wouldn’t want to carve their name into that?”
I have no time to react, before James rolls onto his back, sweeping me into his arms as he goes and sitting me on his hard dick, before pulling me down to lie flat atop him. As he did with his pillow, he buries his face into the crook of my neck and inhales. Moisture drips onto my neck, is he crying? I move to pull away and check, but he shakes his head and pins me to him. “I can’t look at you right now. Just let me say this, okay?”
My stomach does an anguished, slow roll settling somewhere in my throat.
