Gray squeezed, tightening their embrace. “I think so, too.”
A new feeling landed on Jameson, something confusing and exciting and overwhelming. He thought it might have come from the orgasm, like it was a chemical release making him want to hold Gray forever, and never leave his side. But as much as he felt overwhelmed by a flood of hormones, deep down, he knew the feeling was much more than that.
They were joined, he and Gray. And as the morning birds sang outside the window, Jameson knew that nothing in the whole world would be strong enough to tear them apart now.
Gray
By the timethe evening rolled around, Gray still felt dizzy, thinking about what Jameson had shared with him. His body tingled and ached with pleasure when he thought of entering Jameson, but even more than that, he kept thinking about how much trust Jameson had placed in him, and how desperately he wanted to prove that he was worth that trust.
The last few weeks with Jameson had turned Gray’s world upside down, and he wouldn’t trade them for anything. The two of them could spend years in bed, he figured, and never run out of things to do together. But standing in his own backyard the next evening, with Raiden and Horatio on the other side of a flickering fire, he started to remember what he had been missing, too.
It was one thing to run away, with no plan and no destination. It was a whole other thing to bring Jameson into his own world and remember that the two of them didn’t have to always be a secret.
And around their friends? Finally, there was nothing to hide.
The night was gorgeous, with only a slight chill on the air as the fire crackled and the stars shone overhead. They had dragged the radio out, along with a case of beer and a few lawn chairs. Dee returned from the house, a bag of marshmallows in her hand. She had on a pair of bright purple overalls and an equally purple sweater, all rounded out by a pair of high-heeled red leather boots. As she swung the marshmallows in a circle, she grinned at Jameson, then at Gray.
“Did I just spot a moped by the back porch?” she asked. She swung the marshmallow bag in another wide loop, then tossed it to Gray. “I was thinking of building one of those in the city.”
“It’ssupposedto be a moped,” Raiden said. He had a plain gray Carhart jacket on, and his hands were shoved deep in the pockets.
“Hey,” Horatio protested from his seat on the log. “It is a moped. Or it’s going to be. Don’t doubt my magic just because it’s taking me a while.”
“Horatio’s been building it for a few years,” Gray explained. “It’s kind of a sore subject around here.”
“He wants it to have a double engine,” Raiden stage-whispered.
An empty beer can flew by Raiden’s head, and Gray laughed when he saw Horatio staring across the fire with a smug smile. “I’ll make it a triple engine just to piss you off.”
Dee and Jameson both giggled, and Gray stepped closer to throw his arm over Jameson’s shoulder. They looked to each other with wide smiles. For all the ways Gray used to feel nervous about his friends being such a handful, Jameson had taken right to them and immediately focused on what made the guys so special.
“I just want a single engine,” Dee said brightly. “Don’t you think I’d look hot? Cruising around Brooklyn on my moped, wearing a three-piece suit and checking out the ladies.”
“She’s not joking about the suits,” Jameson said, then rubbed the top of Dee’s shaved head. “Most of them are pink.”
Everyone laughed, and Gray pulled Jameson a little tighter. His body was soft and warm, and beside the glow of the fire, Gray felt the satisfaction of knowing Jameson was safe. “Style icons,” he said, glancing at Dee.
Dee kissed Jameson on the cheek. “Even if no one else knows it.”
“We know it,” Horatio said from across the fire. “It’s cool. Usually, I spend all day staring at these two.” He gestured to Raiden and to Gray with his thumb. “You know Gray wears the same black sweater all winter, I swear.”
“Hey,” Gray laughed. “Don’t knock my sweater. It’s comfortable.”
“Yeah,” Jameson teased. “It almost fits him right, too.”
“I used to dress like you all,” Dee said, nodding at the guys. “Right up until a few years ago, I was all jeans and flannel. Then Jameson started to practice doing makeup on me, and then I started doing it on my own. Next thing you know—”
“She was dressing like a psychedelic businesswoman,” Jameson interrupted with a laugh.
Dee giggled back. “I’m a bartender, at least for now. Might as well take advantage of the loose dress code.”
Raiden crossed to Gray, then snatched the bag of marshmallows that was still dangling from his hand. “Well, no surprise Gray fell for you so fast.” He popped a marshmallow on a stick. “He’s always been a sucker for pretty.”
Jameson bent his knees in a slight curtsy. “I’ll take the compliment, thank you.”
“Don’t make me sound like a creep, man,” Gray protested. “It’s not like I’m trying to chase down every pretty guy who passes through town.”
It wasn’t that he was ashamed of his attraction or anything. A long time ago, he had decided not to take on other people’s bullshit, or at least to try not to, and he wasn’t about to feel embarrassed about loving a pretty man. But at the same time, he didn’t want Jameson to think he was only interested because he was femme. Sure, Gray loved how soft Jameson’s skin was, and the way his laugh sounded like wind blowing through chimes. But he liked Jameson for who he was as a person, and standing by the campfire, he took his hand with a squeeze, just to make sure he knew that.
