Will places his hand on Owen’s head, stroking gently.
“Do you really hate this town so much?”
Will sighs. “I hate the memories that hide everywhere I go and the people who refuse to move on. I had a great childhood here, even though I couldn’t be openly gay. Later, when I had my first—and last—boyfriend, it was even better with Joel, but then it all fell apart. I haven’t been truly happy here since then.”
Owen knows he has no blame in the way this town has treated Will, but he still somehow feels guilty, maybe because he likes living here and he likes the people.
“Would you be willing to talk about your ex?”
Will tenses—Owen can sense it by his leg alone. “It’s not the kind of thing you and I should talk about this evening. But when I do share it with you, I’ll be honest. You have my word.”
“I believe you.” He kisses Will’s knee. “I really likeyour legs.” He runs his palms over the tight calf, enjoying the light-brown hairs. Will’s crotch is very close to Owen’s face, but the crown is back hiding in the boxers. “Can I slide closer to your cock?”
“If you want to.”
“Of course I do, but do you?” He knows that someone like Will, with very limited sexual experience with anyone other than his ex, might be taken aback by Owen’s openness, so he’d rather be careful instead of assuming things.
“I appreciate you asking,” Will says, sounding like this is important to him.
“I know you haven’t done this much with other men, so we can take it as slow as you want.”
Once more, Will tenses, the reaction strange enough to make Owen raise his head. “What is it?”
Will’s eyes seem distant. “I’m not as pure as you think, Owen.”
“What does that mean?”
Will looks away. “Just that you shouldn’t assume things. We all have a past.”
Owen thinks of his own past, of getting so high he couldn’t remember his own name, of going down on people in restrooms for money and drugs, and very recently—of killing a man in a dark alley before leaving his body behind. “I’m also not pure.”
Will gives a small smile and strokes Owen’s cheek. “Quite the pair we are.”
“Quite. I’m going to say hello to your cock now, okay? To present myself properly.”
Will nods. “I’d like that. Mind giving me your shirt?”
“You want to wear it?”
“I want it to stop covering what I’ve been waiting to see since you first walked into Rodie’s, but only if you’re comfortable.”
Owen rises on his knees between Will’s legs. “Take it off me.”
Will leans forward and holds the bottom of Owen’s shirt, slowly raising it until it slips past Owen’s head.
“I hope you didn’t expect Will Thomas’s level of physique,” Owen says, self-conscious even though he’s not shy about his looks.
Will’s eyes dart across Owen’s exposed chest and stomach. “You’re a damn pleasing sight, Owen. May I touch?”
“With me you don’t need to ask; the answer will be yes.”
“I don’t want to assume.”
He takes Will’s hand and places it on his chest. “Assume.”
Warm fingers slide across Owen’s skin. “You’re so smooth.”
“Do you like it?”
