Page 131 of Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal
I push at his hand, causing him to laugh. “Not anymore.”
He takes my hand and brings it to his mouth, where he presses a sweet kiss to my knuckles. “I’m glad I can fulfill everything you need.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“So are you.”
“How am I ridiculous?” I ask as I wrap my lips around my banana—seductively—and take a bite.
His lips purse as he stares at me. “For the love of God, don’t make me hard when there’s a Pop-Tart on my lap. I’ll never be able to look at them the same.”
I let out a low laugh and then repeat, “How am I ridiculous?”
“Well, I’m glad you asked, because last night, I experienced something that was utterly ridiculous, and I have questions.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to hear this.”
He takes a bite of his Pop-Tart—a huge bite—chews, and then says, “That thing you did with your thumb on my balls last night—that should be illegal.”
“You’ve never had that done to you before?” I ask, kind of shocked.
“Uh, no. Never.”
“Have you ever had your balls played with?”
“Not so much,” he answers. “I mean, a little bit of a brush here and there, but you were all in last night.”
“Uh, yeah, because that would be like... you going down on me but then touching nothing else. Sure, it would feel nice, but to have you playing with me in other ways is what heightens the orgasm. Sheesh, that’s like... oral 101.”
He snorts and then covers his nose. “Shit, I didn’t know there was a class. Let me guess, you aced it?”
“Aced it and started teaching.”
“Well, aren’t I a lucky guy? So glad I fetched you from your cottage.”
“Fetched me? Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“I don’t know, has a nice ring to it.”
“I prefersaved,” I say. “Because that’s exactly what you did.”
“I was worried,” he says, growing serious. “Glad I checked, because last night... it was special, and not because of what we did but because of what you said to me.” His eyes meet mine as he speaks his truth, which is so refreshing. “It means a lot to me that you trust me, that you believe what I told you last night. Idon’t know why Dwight thinks I did all those things to him, but I didn’t, and I’m grateful that you believe me.”
“I’m sorry that I second-guessed you?—”
“Don’t.” He shakes his head. “Don’t be sorry. You didn’t know. You just believed what Dwight told you, and that’s fair. He’s a relative and the person who helped you move out here. Why wouldn’t you believe him?”
I stare off into the fire. “I’m just wondering where he came up with that. I mean, does he really not like you that much that he would make up lies?”
Atlas scratches the side of his cheek, his nails rubbing against his jaw creating a sandpaper-like sound. “I don’t know where he got that from. As far as I can remember, there was beef when we were on the basketball team together, and it just seemed to grow. We weren’t friends. He was a dick to me, and I’ll be honest, I was a dick right back. I’m not proud of it, but I was also a high school boy with nothing better to do than puff my chest and try to have the upper hand. But I never did anything maniacal like he’s saying. So, fuck, I don’t know where it comes from.”
“Definitely something I want to figure out, but maybe not when things are so... raw.”
“Yeah, probably best.” Atlas picks a crumb off his plate. “How long is Dwight gone for?”
“A week,” I answer.
“A week, huh? That brings us right up to a couple days before Christmas.”
