“You ready for this?” Tanner asked as I followed the GPS deep into the suburbs. I’d been to Deegan and Haley’s place a dozen times in the past few years, but this felt like the first time all over again. And in some ways, I supposed it was. This was the first time I was bringing someone with me. The fact it was Tanner, only set me that much more on edge.
After today, Deegan wouldn’t be able to pretend he didn’t know I was into guys. I wouldn’t have to act like my world didn’t revolve around Tanner, which it had since long before I pulled up at the curb in front of his building. Tanner was the man all others were measured up against and found lacking.
I placed my hand over Tanner’s and squeezed his fingers. “Yeah. This is going to be good. In case I haven’t already said it, thank you.”
“Thankme? What the hell did I do?” He gaped at me like I was insane.
“You were right to tell me I needed to be the one to reach out to Deegan. He might be the only person out there more stubborn than you are.” They liked to pretend they were polar opposites, but the brothers were more alike than they’d ever see. Extending the olive branch wasn’t something I was only doing for our friendship. They needed to heal and move on, too. “I missed him. It was weird to not talk to him.”
“Whydidthe two of you quit talking? Haley used to tease him about your bromance, and I know you talked a couple of times after you went home, but then nothing.”
“Honestly?” I didn’twantto tell him about that final call, but he deserved to know. I doubted it would surprise him, but he had a much more tender heart than he let on.
“No, I want you to lie to me,” he deadpanned as he rolled his eyes. “Yes, honestly.”
“He worried that you had somehow convinced me to pretend we were together to piss off your parents,” I admitted. The notion that I would have gone along with a fake boyfriend scheme to shock his family was laughable. Itwasthe sort of thing I could see Tanner doing, but not for the wedding, and not with me.
“Is that why he was so chill about us at the reception? Figures, the one time I have someone I actually care about with me, and he thinks it’s all some big fucking joke.” Tanner ground out.
Okay, so apparently we were going with anger to mask the hurt today. Strangely, I could deal with that. “It caught him off-guard, Tanner. He didn’t know I was gay; I hadn’t exactly found a good way to come out and confess to him that I jerked off to images of his little brother, and he’d had one hell of a long day.”
Tanner slumped back in his seat and crossed his arms tightly over his chest. “And now?”
“Now, he knows that shit won’t fly.” I pried his arm free and lifted his fingers to my lips. “It might take him a bit to get used to seeing the two of us together, but I made it clear I won’t put up with him talking shit about the man I love.”
“Did you actually say that?” His mouth fell open, but he sat up straighter. “Man, I wish you’d waited to tell him that until we were standing in front of him. That would have been epic.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “And then you wonder why everyone accuses you of trying to stir up shit. If you want people to accept us, you need to act like the mature adult I know you are.”
“Mature sounds boring,” he scoffed, jutting out his bottom lip.
I quirked an eyebrow. Tanner was cute, but this was a game to him. He pretended to be immature and vapid, so no one got to know the real him. But I saw what others didn’t bother digging deep enough to find. He was a kind man with a tender heart. His life was spent on the offensive, trying to cut others before they could hurt him.
“Fine. I’ll be on my best behavior today,Daddy.” He smirked when I had to adjust myself. The boy knew how to turn me on with a single word in that sweet, innocent tone. I was beginning to regret not letting him suck me off when I laid out clothes for him.
And believe me, he’d tried. When we got to the bedroom, I’d pulled out one of the scraps of lace he’d modeled for me the night it arrived in a care package. He reasoned it was only fair for me to get thefull experienceof him wearing the bikini briefs that barely restrained the hard-on that seemed to be a permanent condition for him.
But no, I was the one whoinsisted we needed to get going. When he asked why I made him dress in sexy underwear if we weren’t going to fool around, I told him it was so he wouldn’t forget who he belonged to if he got uncomfortable.
Just like I had the day of Deegan and Haley’s wedding. Fuck, it was hard to believe that was just over a month ago. It felt like Tanner and I had been together forever in some ways, but maybe that was just because every day dragged on for an eternity when I was waiting for our nightly video chats.
“You’d better behave, otherwise you’ll be going to sleep in the cage tonight and you won’t get to come until I believe you’re truly sorry for teasing me,” I warned. The threat would have held more weight if I wasn’t just as desperate for him as he was for me.
“Yes, Daddy.” He tilted his seat back and rolled his head to the side, watching me as I drove. Tanner usually grew restless when it was quiet, but this morning he seemed content. He still held my hand, and every once in a while I gave his fingers a squeeze to let him know I was thinking of him.
When we pulled up in front of the little bungalow Deegan and Haley had bought cheap and remodeled, my boy tensed. His fingers were curled around the door handle, and I wondered if I would have to pry them free and drag him into the house. This had been his idea—sort of. He might not have known Deegan would insist on the four of us getting together to clear the air, but part of him must’ve had an idea itcouldhappen.
“Come on, sweetheart. It’s not going to be as bad as you’re trying to make it seem,” I reassured him. “Deegan’s not the enemy here. If you play your cards right, he’ll defend us to your mother when she tries to accuse you of turning me gay.”
“I mean, her assumption might not be totally wrong,” he quipped. My brow furrowed, wondering what tangent his mind was going to latch onto. “After all, youdidsay you realized you were gay shortly after I came out. And then there was that morning you woke up next to me and freaked. I believe the word you used was unforgettable. So maybe she’s right.”
I curled my hand around the back of Tanner’s neck and pressed our foreheads together. “Don’t do that, Tanner. You don’t need to put on a brave face with me. I know how badly it hurt to hear her saying that shit and I won’t let it happen again.”
This time, it was Tanner adjusting his dick. There was no hiding his arousal in the skinny jeans I’d paired with a flowy top and heels. The only thing better than Tanner’s ass in jeans when he was wearing his pretty shoes was Tanner wearingnothing butthe shoes.
And maybe the lace. We’d have to test that theory tonight. Maybe I’d have to get him a lace jock that left his ass exposed so I could fuck him in lingerie and high heels.
Great. Now both of us were hard. Tanner’s gaze dropped to my lap and he licked his shiny lips. “You’d better put that thing away, Daddy. I’m pretty sure my brother’s acceptance has limitations, and you dragging me to the guest room would be rude.”
