Max’s heart slammed his ribcage as Jeremy turned the corner, his red hair like a beacon. He was still a block away, and Max could tell when Jeremy noticed him. Aside from lifting his hand in a wave, his slim body stuttered, and as he got closer, he was smiling broadly.
Fuck, he was gorgeous.
Max met him on the walkway by the door. “Nice glasses.”
Stopping a few feet away, Jeremy touched the new black frames. “Thanks. I like them. It’s nice to be able to see clearly again.”
They stared at each other, and Max realized it was his turn to talk. “They look great.” Then they were looking at each other again and would it be pushy to kiss him? Instead, Max asked, “How’d it go?”
“Good, I think. Glad it’s over.”
“Now we can celebrate. Until you have to study more. But you’re almost done and soon you’ll officially be on vacation.” As soon as he said it, the nagging unease tugged at him. He hated thinking of Jeremy spending Christmas alone. But it would be way too much to invite him to Pinevale. Too fast. Right?
Fuuuuuuck.
Max felt like his head was in the spin cycle on the ancient washing machine he and Honey shared with the upstairs neighbors that clunked way too loudly. And now he was just staring at Jeremy. Time to get his shit together. Take charge.
“You hungry, or do you wanna hang, or do you want to study now and for me leave you the hell alone?” He laughed, but it didn’t feel funny.
“Let’s hang. I need a break before I switch to chem. I’m good for food for a bit. Unless you’re hungry?”
“Nah, let’s chill for while.” Max nodded to the door and followed Jeremy inside.
In his room, they took off their coats and boots, and Jeremy ducked out to use the bathroom down the hall. Max paced the narrow room while he was gone, ordering himself to get a grip. He was supposed to be the experienced one here.
He sat on Jeremy’s bed, leaning casually on the wall under the poster of the periodic table. Jeremy’s pillow was to the right, and under no circumstances was he going to lean over and sniff it. Jesus Christ, he was the captain of the football team—or had been. He’d hooked up with plenty of guys. He was not a freaking pillow sniffer.
But he itched to do it. To smell and touch and taste. Like Jeremy was a drug and he’d gotten a little hit on the phone, and now he was jonesing for the real thing. Maybe it was because he’d had to wait all day Monday and now into Tuesday that it was building up. He just needed it, and then it would be out of his system. Then he could stop acting like he was the horny virgin.
Jeremy returned and kicked off the flip-flops he’d put on to go piss, clocking Max on his bed with a smile and lick of his lips that did nothing to improve Max’s situation. Jeremy asked, “You want a drink?”
He shook his head. “I want you.” Playing games wasn’t his style, so enough small talk.
“Oh.” Adam’s apple bobbing adorably, Jeremy stepped closer to the bed.
“Are you still into experimenting? If you’re not, it’s cool. We can just talk.” It would lead to the most epic blue balls of his life, but Max had to make sure Jeremy was game.
“I’m into it,” Jeremy said softly, thank God. “I’m just nervous. I wish it was dark.”
“I get it. Although you’re way too pretty for the dark. You know how they say to picture everyone else naked when you’re nervous? You’ve seen my dick already, so you’ve got the upper hand.”
He laughed, flushing pink. “I guess that’s true.”
“Can I kiss you again?”
“Uh-huh.” Jeremy nodded. “So we’re gonna…” He waved his hand between them.
“We can do as little or as much we want. We can see what happens.” Max gave him a little smile. “C’mere, Cherry.”
Breathing deeply, Jeremy climbed onto the bed, sitting beside Max, both their backs against the wall.
Max traced a finger over Jeremy’s lips. “You have a nice mouth.”
“So do you.”
They met halfway, kissing slowly at first. Max wanted to haul Jeremy over his lap and suck his tongue, but he let Jeremy set the pace. They opened their mouths, tongues stroking and tasting, and instead of orange pop, it was coffee and chocolate lingering this time.
Leaning back, Jeremy sucked in a breath and smiled shakily. “Been thinking about this nonstop.”
Max tutted. “Thought you were studying.”
“Well, I was. And thinking about this every other second.” His hazel eyes gleamed, and Max loved the ginger in his eyelashes from this close.
“Do you wanna just kiss?” Max ducked to suck on Jeremy’s neck.
“No,” Jeremy breathed, tilting his head.
“C’mere.” Max eased Jeremy over his lap so Jeremy was straddling him. They were both hard, and Max stroked Jeremy’s denim-clad hips and thighs.
They kissed harder now. Deeper. Tongues exploring as Jeremy rocked his hips and moaned. Max could have gripped Jeremy against him until they both came in their jeans, but he encouraged him to rock and set the pace, to do what felt good for him.
They were panting now, and Max was into having Jeremy in his lap. Could imagine his dick buried in Jeremy’s tight ass. He liked being ridden, and it was good even with layers of clothes between them.
Though soon the itch for bare skin was too much, and Max slid his hands up under Jeremy’s sweater, breaking their wet kisses to mumble, “Okay?”
Jeremy nodded, his pink lips spit-slick and parted. After a moment, he leaned back and pulled off his gray sweater, tossing it aside.
“Oh, fuck yeah,” Max said, spreading his hands over Jeremy’s bare back and going right for his nipples with his mouth. He sucked and teased with his teeth, Jeremy’s moaning gasps music to his ears. Jeremy clung to Max’s shoulders, his hips rocking, dick hard against Max’s.
“God, please,” Jeremy begged, one hand tangling in Max’s wavy hair.
“Can I suck you?”
“Seriously?” Jeremy blinked down at him, his new glasses actually fogging as he panted.
“Hell yes. Wouldn’t suggest it otherwise.” He ran his fingers up and down Jeremy’s hard shaft where it strained against his jeans. “I guess if you’d never kissed before the other night, no one’s ever had your cock in their mouth?”
After exhaling a shuddery breath, Jeremy shook his head. “I told you I’m a virgin.”
Max quirked a smile. “I know, but some people define that as penetration. Trust me—I went to Catholic school. I’ve heard some bullshit. My friend Becky still proclaimed she was a virgin even though she and her boyfriend went down on each other all the time. And this one douche in my class tried to convince his girlfriend she’d still be a virgin if she took it up the ass. As if it was all about the vagina.”
Jeremy laughed. “There are definitely issues with that theory.”
“Indeed. So…” Max rubbed Jeremy harder through his jeans, and Jeremy rocked and moaned before turning pink. “You like that, huh?” Max teased. He went back to the light caresses of his fingertips, leaning in to whisper at Jeremy’s ear. “I bet you’ll like it even more when I get your cock in my mouth. It’s gonna be warm and wet, and it’s incredible how tight lips can feel. Bet I can make you beg.”