Page 73 of Burning Deceptions
“And we both know that’s a lie for two reasons. One, I text you my coffee order at the ass-crack of dawn. You’ve yet to have it ready for me.” The habit of getting up early to help with my siblings had never changed. Didn’t mean I wanted topeoplethat early, though.
Luke snorted and rolled his eyes. “Thanks for telling me the area I need to work on. And the second reason?”
“I don’t wear pajamas. The professors would kick me out of class for showing up naked.”
That got him. He’d been about to take a step back, away from me, but froze in his tracks. He licked his lips, then glanced around us. “You sleep naked?”
“Picturing it?”
“Of course.”
We stared in silence. Hopefully, his thoughts were straying as filthy as my own. Him naked, under sheets, getting the blow job alarm he deserved.
“Text me your aunt’s address, and I’ll pick you up this time.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. It’s the least I can do for my bo—”
I barked a laugh. “Come on, you can say it.”
Luke cleared his throat. “Boyfriend.”
“Damn straight.” I nodded and spun on my heels before the limits of my restraint met their match.
The trip to Aunt Penny’s was frustrating, considering the hard-on that wouldn’t stop pulsing. When I got in, I beelined for the shower and jerked off to wild fantasies of Luke, whispering his name as I unloaded. Before joining everyone for supper, I took a selfie of my relaxed grin and sent it to Luke.
The face of the man who just got off to thoughts of his boyfriend.
His reply was an image of his hand with stripes of jizz covering it.
Luke
To great men who think alike.
Wasitinsanetoneed someone you hadn’t known for long? Perhaps. Supposed that made me insane.
On the surface, there should be nothing we had in common. We’d barely scratched at the little things, like our morning routines or our preference for books over movies, but did we need to have more in common than not? Could we get along by simply getting along? We found each other attractive and were able to have a conversation with ease. Already, this was more than I’d anticipated from a relationship.
I might never be able to explain the power Asher held. How his well-timed smile or well-intoned word opened my eyes and lungs. How he heightened my senses and pulled me out of the dull gray world I’d made for myself. But not being able to explain it didn’t make it less valid, didn’t make the draw to him less intense, nor did it make this drive to be the man he wanted any less essential.
When I’d texted him this morning that I was on my way, the response had been a slew of mangled letters I’d hoped was affirmation he was awake and would be ready. He’d sent a pin ofhis location before passing out last night, and the place was easy enough to find.
Just as I stopped at the curb, a form, hunched and hidden deep in the hood of a Cressmann U sweater, detached from the shadows of the front porch of an older farmhouse-style home and trudged toward my Range Rover.
“You’re sure this is okay?” Asher asked when he opened the door, glancing around. The street was all but lifeless at this time on Sunday morning.
“Yes, I’m sure. I don’t think anyone here will recognize me.” I hated the way that sounded. “Asher, you do understand that I’m not embarrassed by you, right?” He nodded, but it wasn’t as convincing as I’d like. “I don’t care how young you are. You’re more mature than many my own age. And I don’t care about your family history or anything my parents would.”
Asher smiled and nodded again. “You’re not out. I have to keep reminding myself, but I do understand. My best friend isn’t out.”
“Jamie,” I said as if to prove I listened to his every word. I might not have all the cousins memorized yet, but Jamie was important.
“Jamie. Yeah. His daddy used to beat on him because he was a little outwardly gay once, so I understand the need to hide that part of yourself.”
“Jesus.” What was it they said? Things could always be worse? At least my parents wouldn’t beat me if they knew. Not physically, anyway. “I want to know you, Asher.”
He lowered his brows. “I don’t …”
