“Nah, like I told him, I need to keep my distractions to a minimum until I know how my classes are gonna go.” His tone was flat and I knew he was parroting the words his dad had preached at him. Joel was a great guy, but he was insistent that a college degree was a necessity if you wanted to get anywhere in life. “Maybe in the spring, once things settle down a bit.”
I shrugged because there was nothing else to say. If he played, I’d be in the stands as often as possible, just as I had been throughout middle and high school. Well, I’d been there until everything started to change and I was too worried about someone learning my secret. I hated myself for missing out on what wound up being the last games he ever played.
“Hey, we’re heading over to the bonfire. You guys coming?” Chris asked. I looked to Gabe and he nodded. It was like a case of body-snatchers; him wanting to stay and me wishing he knew how badly I wanted to head back to our room. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but it’s gonna be fun.”
Gabe turned, resting a hand on my hip. “You up for it?”
No.It turned out organized, forced socialization was draining.
I shrugged. “Yeah, we can check it out.”
So much for all that compromise my mom drilled into my head. The smile Gabe flashed before telling Chris to lead the way turned me into a puddle of lovesick goo. I promised myself I wouldn’t spend the entire year being Gabe’s little puppy, following him all over campus.
Fun, it turned out, was a bit of an overstatement. The bonfire was little more than students passing flasks to spike their drinks as they talked about all the parties they’d heard about for the weekend. Definitely not my scene.
The only upside was Gabe and I laid out a blanket near the edge of the circle. I was testing the waters, because eventually I’d have to find the balls to come out. Both of us leaned back, and I inched my hand towards Gabe’s behind us until our pinkies touched. His eyes shone in the firelight when he looked at me, but it was more than that. He let out a contented sigh and I realized these small changes might be enough for now.
A while later, I leaned closer to him. “You about ready to get out of here? I think we could have a much better time back in our room.”
“Yeah?” He wiggled around on the blanket, drawing my attention to the bulge in his shorts. No questions about wherehewas hoping tonight would go. I wanted that, even if I couldn’t come out and say it.
For a moment, I closed my eyes and leaned in, wanting to feel the stubble of his jaw abrading my skin as we kissed. Someone cleared their throat behind us and I shot back. The lust in Gabe’s gaze was briefly replaced by disappointment that I couldn’t let myself just be with him.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. He shook his head and stood to face Chris. The guy had a knack for turning up everywhere at the wrong time.
“You guys heading to the after party?” he asked. It seemed strange for a senior to invite freshmen to parties, but maybe that was how this school worked. After all, this wasn’t high school.
“Nah, I’m about done with human interaction for the day,” Gabe announced in the way only he could without coming across as a huge dweeb. “We’re gonna head back to the dorms.”
“Oh, sure.” Chris raised an eyebrow as he looked between us. He traced his tongue across his lower lip when his gaze landed on Gabe, and I felt a possessive urge building inside of me. He wasmyboyfriend, and I wasn’t a fan of other guys checking him out. Of course, other guys wouldn’t know they were doing anything wrong if I didn’t do more than rattle the closet door every once in a while. “Maybe next weekend.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Gabe told him. He snatched up our blanket and shoes. I followed him to the boardwalk, leaning on him for support as I rinsed my feet.
“You could’ve gone to the party,” I told him, not wanting him to feel like he had to go wherever I was. Once school started, there’d be plenty of time when we’d be on our own.
“I could if I wanted to,” he countered. “Turns out, I have amuchbetter proposition on the table for tonight.”
“Yeah? What’s that?” I asked, a teasing lilt in my voice.
Gabe leaned in, nipping my ear where anyone could see, and it took everything in me to keep the anxiety at bay. “Unless I’m mistaken, I’m pretty sure this sexy guy invited me back to his room for some naked time.”
“Mmm, that does sound enticing.” I cautiously reached out to brush the back of my hand over his prick. “You should probably get back to his room before he chickens out.”
Gabe took off at a sprint, taunting me about being too slow. I scooped up the blanket he’d dropped and took off after him at a leisurely pace.
My stomach flipped, knowing this was the first time we’d truly be alone since arriving in Wilmington. Well, our first time ever, really, since we’d always had to worry about parents in the past. He’d said we’d go at whatever pace was comfortable for me, but I knew I could easily be swayed to go further because I wanted him to be happy. I actuallyhopedhe tried nudging me out of my comfort zone because, left to my own devices, I’d waffle forever.
The drive back to campus was quiet, but there was so much sexual tension in the air, I was surprised Gabe didn’t find the first dark parking lot available to strip me. The Jeep lurched to a stop and he got out, rushing to open my door. Gabe reached for my hand as we made the walk across the parking lot. While we waited for the elevator to our floor, he lifted our joined hands and kissed my knuckles. “It’s going to be fine.”
“Huh?”
“Just because no one else will be in the suite, don’t worry about what we do or don’t do. All I want is to be with you and chill. Total relaxation. That’s the goal for tonight.” The elevator doors opened and I followed him inside. Gabe leaned against the back wall and it felt right to slide in next to him. He slid his hand around my waist and pressed a chaste kiss to the side of my head. “I think I’m going to like living here with you.”
“Back at ya,” I said, cringing because it sounded stupid to my own ears. All too soon, the doors opened and the panic returned. Or maybe it was simply anticipation for what was to come, not only in the next few minutes, but over the course of the next four years. Turning down Duke to go to school with Gabe was a good plan.
The music we heard as soon as we got off the elevator grew louder as we approached our room. It was obnoxiously loud once Gabe unlocked and pushed open our door. Apparently, we weren’t alone in the quad.
“This doesn’t have to change anything,” Gabe reassured me. He pulled me closer so my back was pressed against his chest. I groaned when he ground his dick against my butt. “I want you, Trev. We don’t have to do everything tonight, but I can’t wait any longer to at least feel you.”
