“I really need one?”
“What if Mike wants to stick his tongue up your ass?”
Tommy gaped. “Why inhellwould he wanna do that?”
Ben sighed. “I keep forgetting, you don’t watch porn.”
Tommy snorted. “Well, ifthat’swhat happens in porn, I don’twannawatch, no, sir!”
There was suddenly a knowing look on Ben’s face. “Give it time,” he said with a smile.
This was getting a little too real. “Seriously, Ben?”
Ben gave him a sympathetic glance. “Yeah, seriously.” He hesitated. “You want me to come with you to the drugstore?”
Tommy thought about it. “No,” he said after a moment. “If I’m old enough to have sex, then I guess I’m old enough to suck it up an’ go get it myself.”
Ben nodded in approval. “The important thing is to make sure you’re squeaky clean—insideandout.”
Tommy swallowed again, hard, and Ben patted his knee.
“It’s gonna be fine. There’s always a first time. Besides, you may not even need the condoms, but like I said, it pays to be prepared. Never assume your date is gonna have them—you have to take responsibility foryourbody. And if he does wantto fuck, you make sure one—or both—of you is wearing one. You got that?”
Tommy had to smile at that. “It’s okay. I had the ‘putting the condom on the banana’ class in high school too.” Human Development classes hadreallygotten interesting at that point.
“One final piece of advice?” Ben smiled. “Enjoy it. Remember, it’s supposed to be fun.”
“Was your first time fun?” Tommy wanted to know.
Ben chuckled. “We were both virgins, we didn’t have a clue, and yeah, it was fucking hilarious. At least Mike knows what he’s doing. Well, he should, given his age.” He winked. “You might like to find that out, once and for all, this weekend. Consider it homework.”
Tommy had the impression he’d have far more important things on his mind.
Chapter Thirteen
Mike tooka last walk through the house, checking everywhere was clean and tidy. The meal was in the slow cooker, and the potatoes au gratin were ready to shove into the oven. All that was left was to steam the broccoli and warm the bread through. The round glass table in his dining room was set, silverware and wineglasses gleaming, and the chairs had clean cotton covers over them. In the bedroom, he’d put fresh white sheets on the bed, and a white throw was on top of the ottoman. The house positively sparkled.
He glanced at his watch. Tommy should be arriving any minute. Mike was amazed to find he was nervous. He thought back. When was the last time he’d had someone to the house? Not since Dirk, that was for sure. He felt the usual twist in his gut; Dirk had been pretty special. No, more than that—Mike had really thought he’d found a life partner. When he’d discovered how Dirk had been keeping his feelings quiet about Mike’s career, it had been a real blow.
Sunday night, Kevin had asked, quite casually, if Mike intended to let Tommy know about the porn. His first reaction had been that Tommy didn’t need to know. They were only gonna have sex, for Christ’s sake. It wasn’t as if Mike wasproposing. Kevin had pursed his lips, making it clear he thought Mike was making a mistake. Mike shook his head at the recollection. Kevin could be such a queen.
The doorbell rang, and Mike almost jumped out of his skin.
Fuck.I need to calm down.
He walked into the hallway and opened the front door. Tommy stood on the step, dressed in the same jeans he’d worn on New Year’s, a white shirt, and the black leather jacket. Mike was pleased he hadn’t gotten rid of the scruff on his jawline. It made Tommy looksosexy.
“Come on in.”
He stepped to one side to let Tommy enter. Tommy glanced around him, one hand rubbing against his jeans-clad thigh, the other clasping an overnight bag. Mike held out a hand.
“Give me your jacket and I’ll hang it up for you in the hall closet.” When Tommy dropped the bag to the floor to remove his jacket, Mike gestured to it. “Shall I take this from you and put it in my room?”
Tommy blinked. “Uh… sure.” He nibbled at his lower lip, handing Mike both his jacket and the bag.
Mike pointed to the living room. “Have a seat, and when I come back, I’ll get you a drink, okay?”
Tommy nodded and entered the room. Mike put the jacket on a hanger in the small closet and then hurried into the bedroom, where he placed the bag on the chair at the foot of the bed. When he returned to the living room, Tommy was gazing at the fireplace from his seat on the couch.
