“Little boy thinks he’s funny, huh?”
“Me? No, not funny at all. I mean, maybe a little funny.” I smirk. He presses his pelvis into me, his dick growing harder and harder by the second. “Well, that’s certainly not comical.”
“I want to tear your ass up,” he says, low and menacing.
“I deserve it and I’ll take it like a champ. But later.” I lift onto my tiptoes, kiss his nose, and duck under his arm. I sprint out the door and slam it behind me.
The gang cackles from two feet in front of me, where they’d been attempting to listen in.
“You guys are such pervs.” I push my way through and walk straight into the kitchen to pour a large glass of wine.
Hours later, things settle. We’re all snuggled up in my living room. Jarrett and Fernando on either side of me on the couch, Archer sitting on the ground between my legs, with Cato and Brie on the love seat.
“So, Archer, you’re all moved into your place?” Brie asks.
“I am.”
“I thought for sure you’d end up moving in here,” Fernando says.
“We thought about it, but we’re taking it slow. He only signed a six-month lease, so we can reassess then,” I explain.
“Plus, I’m only downstairs. It’s not like I’m clear across town.” Archer rubs my knee.
He ended up staying with Sara for a whole month after her suicide attempt. She was ready for him to leave by week two, but she also understood why he was hesitant. Plus, I kept him over at my house as much as I could to give her some space. She and I have become fast friends. We have absolutely nothing in common and are in completely different stages in life, but we share a bond formed in tragedy and heartbreak. She’s the sister I never had.
“Was Sara excited for the move or was she nervous being on her own?” Brie lifts her glass of wine to her lips.
“She was excited. She’s found herself some mom friends she met through the pre-k the kids go to and she has her job, she’s ready to be on her own.”
“What friends?” Jarrett’s brows rise, ever curious about everyone in town.
“Eliza, for one,” I say.
Everyone’s eyes dart over to Brie. Eliza is Hank’s ex-wife and Brie is Hank’s ex-girlfriend and Hank is a homophobic psychopath.
“Oh, me and Eliza are cool. We’ve had lunch a few times to talk about what a piece of shit Hank is.” Brie waves us off.
“You think you’ll come to next month’s sleepover?” Fernando claps Archer on the shoulder.
“Fuck no. You guys ruined your chances of being blessed with my company after that speedo incident. Girls and gays night will be down one gay.”
“Aw, don’t be like that.” I rub his shoulders, working the muscles that strain every day while he’s working.
“Matter of fact, I’m out. I have work tomorrow.” He stands up and stretches.
“You can’t go. It’s a sleepover.” I whine.
“You’ll be fine without me.” He bends down and kisses the top of my head, then turns to Jarrett. “Don’t be snuggling too close to my man tonight.”
“Oh, sweetie. He doesn’t do it for me. Now you, on the other hand.” He waggles a finger up and down Archer’s body. I lean over and smack his arm. “Ow.”
“Bye, guys.” He waves on his way out the door.
“He’s so swoony. Did you see the way he kissed Kian’s head? I want that.” Cato sighs dreamily.
“Your turn will come.” I yawn. “I think I’m ready for bed.”
“Me too,” Fernando says.
“Good night. You all know where everything is.”
Jarrett and I climb into my memory foam, king-sized bed and I flip off the lamp on my nightstand.
“I’m happy for you,” Jarrett whispers.
“Things are much different than last month, huh?”
“Very different. Now we just need to find me a boy toy who likes middle-aged power bottoms.”
“It’ll happen. Have you been setting your intentions?”
“Every night.” It’s quiet for a moment and then he asks, “Do you love him?”
“I think so. For as much as I thought I loved Jax, my feelings for Archer are much stronger.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. You and Jax had puppy love, it just felt so intense because it was your first time for everything.”
“I see that now. All I do is look at Archer and I want to cry because I’m so happy. He’s not open with his emotions, he doesn’t tell me how much he cares, or send me sweet text messages, but he does things in a quiet way. You know? Like he sets my kettle at night because he knows I like tea in the morning. Or he takes my car in to get the tires rotated and the oil changed. Things he knows I avoid doing.” I smile, thinking about how he came unhinged when he found out I hadn’t had my oil changed once since I bought the car. “And his dick is fire. He’s forty, but I swear he’d go all night if I could.”
“Then what are you doing in here with me?”
“Sleepover night.”
“If I had someone to dick me down, I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t be in bed with you.”
“Rude.”
“It’s true.”
“You wouldn’t be upset?” I ask.
“Not even a little. Go get you some.”
I flip on the lamp, jump from bed, and drop to my knees.
“What are you doing?” Jarrett asks.
“Found ’em.” I hold up the undies. “Think he’ll put these back on for me?”
“Hand to God, if you two ever make a sex tape, you better leak it my way.”
“Bye, bitch.” I wave.
“Bye.”
I sneak out the front door, careful not to wake Fernando, who’s snoozing on the couch. I take the stairs down a floor and use my spare key to unlock Archer’s front door. I quietly close it behind me and am shocked to find Archer sitting on his couch, whiskey glass in hand.
“Jesus Christ, you scared me. What are you doing still up?”
“Waiting for you.” He takes the last sip of whiskey and sets it down on the antique coffee table he got from Jarrett’s shop.
“How did you know I’d show up?”
“I know you.” He grabs my hand and pulls me toward his bedroom.
“Are you saying I’m predictable?”
He stops and turns around, taking me into his arms. “Kian, you are the biggest surprise of my life. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” My voice is shaky and full of emotion.
He leans down and kisses me sweetly. No tongue, just his soft lips moving against mine. It melts me to my core, turning my insides to mush.
“Now take off your clothes and lie flat on my bed with your head off the edge. I’ll be fucking your throat for that stunt you pulled earlier,” he says in a low, guttural tone. “And I don’t want any of your topping from the bottom. I’m in control tonight.”
“Yes, sir.” I salute and he slaps my ass as I strut past him.
My insides melt for a whole new reason as I strip and get into position, but in my head, all I can think is, words. He gave me words.