Page 17 of Aftermath #1

17

"I have a suggestion for tonight," Austin said, clearing his throat. He threw the pizza crust into the box on the coffee table and shifted on the bed, facing Cam fully. The sheet around his hips parted a little, exposing his thighs.

"Sounds serious." Cam smirked and grabbed another slice of pizza. "Don’t ruin shit now that I'm in a good mood."

Austin snorted a chuckle. "Yeah, you're as jolly as Santa." He shook his head, getting back on track. "Spend the night with me in your bedroom."

In the past two months, a lot had changed. For the better.

Austin liked his new two-bedroom apartment just five minutes away from Cam's house, Riley had made plenty of friends at her new school, things between Austin and Jade were civil, the house had finally been sold, the flashbacks and nightmares had gotten easier to deal with, Riley was in love with her new rat of a dog, Nacho—a black Chihuahua—and Austin was back to work.

He had routines. There were schedules. Sometimes it got hectic, but he made sure there was time to relax, too. He religiously went to all his sessions with Gale, and he'd found a workout regimen that made him feel better. It involved running, swimming, and kickboxing, all of which improved his health, both physically and mentally.

When Riley was with her mother in Delano, Austin barely left Cam's house, and they found plenty of time to see each other when Riley was with friends or had after-school activities. But he wanted more… God, he fucking longed for it.

It was last month that Cam had—during sex—mumbled, "I want it all with you." And it had triggered Austin's desires for the same to morph into demanding cravings. Sometimes, it was all he could think about.

He didn’t want to hide his relationship with Cam. Although, hiding wasn’t exactly right. It was just Riley. And Jade, but she didn’t really count anymore, did she?

Austin had told his parents, which was actually a fond memory, at least in comparison to many others who'd "come out." There was no denying that he'd been nervous, mainly because he'd always been close to his mom and dad. If they didn’t approve, it would hurt greatly.

He recalled the tense silence that followed after he admitted that he'd fallen for the man he'd been locked up with. Then his dad had broken the silence.

"You know, son, most men who hit their forties battle their little midlife crisis by buying a Porsche." Griffin gave his son a pointed look. "That could work for you, too."

Austin let out a quiet, shaky laugh. He was relieved. If this was the response, he considered himself lucky.

"Oh, honey." Maggie suddenly looked disapproving. "If this is some phase, I hope there's no boy's heart out there you're going to crush."

This definitely wasn’t a phase. Austin loved the man next to him beyond words, and now he was finally ready to move on. He wanted Riley to meet him, he wanted silly things like holding Cam's hand in public, and he wanted to make sure it was all heading somewhere.

As stated, he liked his apartment. He didn’t love it. And he'd chosen it in Cam's neighborhood for only one reason. To be closer. The apartment was temporary. At least he hoped it was.

"No," Cam eventually said. "I'm not ready. The bedroom's too small—I'll f-feel suffocated."

"Have you even tried?" Austin shifted closer and cupped Cam's cheek. He didn’t force Cam to look him in the eye, but he needed contact. "Gale thinks you should try."

"Fuck what she says," Cam spat out, throwing his pizza slice into the box on the table. "You know, I don’t see why it fucking matters—"

"It matters," Austin insisted quietly. Pushing Cam back against the bed, Austin moved over him, hovering closely. Only a sheet separated their naked bodies. It was Saturday, and their favorite pastime was to fuck each other like crazy and just lounge around. No need for clothes then. "It matters if we want more."

Cam looked up at him strangely. "More?" He scooted up the bed, Austin following, and seemed willing to hear him out. "More what?" There was cautious hope in his eyes.

"Of us," Austin admitted. It was about damn time to lay it all out there. "Let me start by saying that I don't want to renew my lease in four months." He thought that would give them a good amount of time to get used to more .

There was only the matter of making things official. Austin had already spoken to Cam's parents on the phone, and while they didn’t know his true label, they weren't stupid. Landon and Jules had figured out the obvious without confirmation. Gale probably had her guesses. His parents knew and wanted to meet Cam.

Yeah, Austin was fucking nervous about it, but he had promised himself not to be content with content anymore. He wanted to take risks in order to get what he yearned for. He wanted to come clean to Riley about the man she only knew as Dad's friend. Not that they'd met yet, but it had been discussed. With both of them. Cam wanted to meet her, and Riley wanted to meet Dad's friend who had a cool dog named Bourbon Mulligan.

"You—" Cam broke off, his mind spinning.

"I promise I won't push you," Austin murmured. "But will you at least think about it?" He paused, reminding himself that Cam wasn’t made out of glass. He could handle the truth. After all, Austin wasn’t the only one who made progress each day. It was clear that Cam loved his work, and he was putting in many hours at Landon's garage. At home, he was at ease. He liked his space, but he didn’t need to have all the lights on anymore. He hadn't had a cigarette indoors in weeks, and…things were just better. "I want there to be a bedroom for privacy," he continued quietly. "We'd need it if…if we weren't alone in the house." He raised a brow.

"Oh." Cam swallowed. "You want—you want more. That way." He hesitated. "What about Riley?"

"I want you to meet her." He lowered his face and kissed Cam lightly. "As my partner. As someone I want in my life permanently."

At last, Austin didn’t have a single doubt about his feelings and intentions.

There was a time everything had confused him, but even then, he hadn't been able to stay away.

"I knew I'd find you here," Austin chuckled, slowly limping toward Cam who was standing just outside the ambulance bay smoking a cigarette. Austin wondered who he'd bribed to be allowed here, and it wasn’t the first time. But they all did everything they could to avoid the press.

Eight days ago when they'd returned to Bakersfield, Austin wasn’t the only one who had collapsed from sheer exhaustion. With news crews camping outside the hospital, the men had been blissfully unaware and sedated. Bullets had been removed, bones had been reset, countless tests had been done, blood had been given, and nutrition was being pumped into them intravenously.

Cam grunted and took a deep drag from his smoke.

They were both wearing protective sunglasses that made them look like freaks, but they were needed. Especially in broad daylight with the sun directly overhead.

"My gums still hurt." Cam ran the tip of his tongue over his front teeth. They felt smooth and clean now, but it was still painful to brush them.

Austin knew the feeling. "Are you nervous?" he wondered as he reached Cam. It felt better now—to be close to his former cellmate. For more than one reason, he was happy to be out of his hospital gown. Now, he tucked his hands into the front pocket of his sweatshirt; it was all he could do before his hands did something else. Something he couldn’t understand or explain.

"Too many people up there." Cam shrugged one shoulder. "You okay?" He eyed Austin behind his shades.

"Under the circumstances," he answered vaguely.

Truth was, he was far from okay. He felt like a ticking time bomb.

Having Riley update him on the news around the world by reading the paper to him was one thing. It was a whole other matter to listen to Jade go on and on about the police investigation and what had happened in Bakersfield while Austin and the others had been missing. Anger kept building up inside him, and he didn’t know what to do with it.

Five months and three days. That was how long he'd been in that basement.

"Don’t bullshit me." Cam took a final pull from the cigarette before stubbing it out under his shoe. "Not me , Austin." He shoved the butt down in his pack, then pocketed it. "Talk. What's up?" He placed a hand on Austin's shoulder.

Austin swallowed, feeling awkward and out of place. "Nothing's up. I'm all right."

"Yeah." Cam's mouth formed a small smile. "I can see that."

"His name was Ben," Austin blurted out. He exhaled harshly and dragged a hand over his clean-shaven face. "Ben Stahl. That—that was his name." And he, that psychotic madman, had been counted as one of the victims. In the papers, he had been reported missing around the same time Cam was. His mother had gone to the police, stating that she hadn't heard from her son in days. Like the rest of the guys, Ben Stahl had had his fifteen minutes of fame while the police searched for clues. "They've done pieces on him—interviews with his family, honorable shit about what a kind man he is…was."

"I know." Cam had heard about it, too.

"It pisses me off," Austin whispered, looking down. "I'm so fucking angry, Cam."

"Whoa, dude. Did you just drop the f-bomb?"

Austin smiled weakly.

Cam sighed and stepped closer, his other hand touching Austin's elbow. And Austin felt how the fingers curled to fit the shape of him. He closed his eyes, battling an indescribable yearning inside of him. He didn’t get it. He didn’t understand a thing of what was going on.

"We'll make sure everyone finds out he's not so innocent," Cam reasoned and closed the distance between them. He hugged Austin to him, who in turn hugged Cam back fiercely. "There's no way we'll let the world think he's a victim, all right?"

Austin nodded into Cam's neck, allowing himself a moment where he didn’t even try to be strong. Sooner or later, he would return to Jade and Riley, and he would put on a mask. He'd be father of the year and husband of the…well, he was decent, anyway.

Too soon, Cam was angling away from Austin, starting with his hips and then loosening his arms around him. Austin took that as a cue to man up and move away.

"Sorry," he muttered, averting his eyes.

"Don’t mention it." Cam's voice was oddly husky.

A lot had changed. A lot had been explained. Almost every truth had come out.

It was time for the last of Austin's. "I want you to meet her as the man I love."

He definitely wasn’t expecting anything in return, and he had a feeling Cam needed a minute or two to let this settle, so Austin stopped talking for now and just focused on the beautiful body beneath him. He kissed his way down to the cock he'd had inside him countless times since the first time a couple months ago. He sure as hell never thought he'd become addicted to a cock.

"Austin…" Cam mumbled.

Austin hummed and sucked Cam's cock into his mouth, feeling it hardening with each stroke. They'd had sex this morning, Austin being the top, and now he wanted it the other way around. Because Cam as a lover…Christ, he was intense. He was ferocious, rough, yet focused on Austin's reactions and needs.

The minute Cam was done thinking, their roles reversed. Austin ended up on his back and watched as Cam's dominant side surged forward. Damn sexy . Reaching for the lube on the table, Cam returned to Austin, who spread his legs and pulled his knees up like a wanton slut.

"I need to fuck you," Cam muttered into Austin's neck. His long fingers soaked Austin's hole and pushed inside, immediately finding his prostate.

"Oh, Jesus." The level of pleasure always blew Austin's mind. He fisted the sheets and watched helplessly as his dick thickened and grew longer without even being touched. Cam kept rubbing that spot inside him with the pads of his fingers until Austin was panting and bucking his hips. "Please, Cam," he gritted out. " Fuck me ."

Cam slowly pulled out his fingers, then lubed up his hard cock. About a month back, they'd gotten tested, and there was no better feeling than fucking raw. It had only been a formality, an end to all the tests they'd gone through, but the results gave them the chance to feel everything now. Supporting himself on one hand next to Austin's head, Cam guided his cock to Austin's ass and filled him in one thrust.

"Fuck," Cam exhaled harshly, dropping his forehead to Austin's collarbone. They were still for several heartbeats. And when Cam began to move, Austin was even more helpless than before. With their foreheads touching, Cam shoved his cock in and out of Austin's tight ass, and for once, Cam maintained eye contact. His silver eyes darkened with lust, and Austin found the gaze fucking scorching.

Cam slid his fingers into Austin's hair, fisting it, and angled them for a deep kiss. He spoke quietly with their warm lips touching and the tips of their tongues teasing. "I love you." He thrust in harder and groaned. "I love y-you so fucking much, Austin."

Austin hissed and pushed back, his face contorted in extreme pleasure and relief. "God, I love you." The burn Cam's cock caused only intensified everything that was amazing, and to add love to that mixture proved to be almost too much for Austin. Grabbing Cam's face, he pulled him down and kissed him hungrily. "Make me lose it."

"I will." Cam sat up slightly and placed Austin's left leg on his shoulder. Then they both watched as his slicked-up cock disappeared into Austin's ass. "Stroke yourself," he commanded huskily. "Stroke that thick cock—let me watch you."

"Cam," Austin grunted. He fisted his aching cock and stroked it to match Cam's pace. "I need more."

Cam smirked faintly, a bead of sweat trickling down his chest. "I know what you need."

After several minutes of hard fucking, Cam replaced his cock with his fingers. At first, Austin started to protest; he wanted that cock inside him, but when his prostate was being massaged again, he shut his mouth. His head swam, the ecstasy assaulting him from every angle.

"You're so close, baby," Cam murmured.

Austin nodded minutely, his eyes locked on Cam's cock. They were both stroking harder and tighter with every second that passed. Perspiration made their bodies glisten. Every straining muscle showed. Oh, yes, yes, yes . Austin let out a low moan as his insides coiled up.

When Cam applied pressure to Austin's prostate again, he lost it completely. His back arching, Austin gasped out a curse as his cock pulsed out streams of come. At the same time, Cam's orgasm hit, too. Moans and groans mingled, and they both released onto Austin's body.

Despite being physically healthier than ever before, Austin was exhausted. Right now, the only thing he wanted was to feel Cam pressed up against him and relax. Cam luckily had similar plans, and after they cleaned off, they snuck under the sheets and just enjoyed each others' bodies.

"I'll try," Cam said after a while as he lazily traced his fingers along Austin's spine. "The bedroom thing—I'll try."

Austin smiled and kissed Cam on the forehead. "We can always have the door open when we sleep. And if it doesn’t work…we can buy a pull-out couch for the living room." That way, they could have their privacy in the bedroom, and then when it was time to sleep, Cam could do what felt best.

Three times in the past two months, Austin had accidentally startled Cam awake, which had led to him attacking Austin. For those reasons, he knew it was good they still had time to adjust.

He didn’t want to imagine someone else waking Cam up and receiving the same treatment. Austin could handle it; he understood it and had a way of calming Cam down quickly. But Riley? Austin would never risk it. However, if Cam at least slept in the bedroom, Austin could tell Riley to never disturb Cam.

"I like this," Cam whispered, averting his gaze to Austin's shoulder. "Um, when you talk like—I like when you say things as if you live here. I like it."

Even though Cam had just said he liked it, Austin suddenly felt like a fucking idiot. His thoughts were way ahead. Sure, when you had children you needed to plan ahead, but he'd barely started to let Cam in on those thoughts.

"No rush," Austin promised. "We have time. And if you're not ready in four months—"

"Why are you backtracking?" Cam's eyes slid to Austin's, and he scowled. "Don’t be an idiot. I don’t like idiots." He said it so matter-of-factly that Austin wanted to smile. "Just 'cause we haven't talked a lot about this doesn’t mean we haven't been heading in this direction for a long time now."

Cam was right. From the first night they'd been intimate, they had been devoted to each other without a single word uttered about it.

"I barely use the second bedroom," Cam said cautiously. "I mean, if Riley likes me…"

"She will love you." Austin's chest expanded. A million thoughts rushed through him, but first and foremost, it was the relief that made him feel damn near giddy. He could never forget when Riley said she had no desire to watch Mom and Dad meet others, but Austin remained hopeful. She was handling the divorce better now, and because Austin and Jade made sure to put Riley first without spoiling her, Austin was confident that she would come around.

"You can't know that." Cam glared and lay back, facing the ceiling. "I'm no good with kids. I don’t know any kids. I don’t have any social skills."

"With Riley, you won't need any," Austin reasoned. "She's easy to please. And not to make her sound like a materialistic brat, but you have a cute dog and a pool; she will love you." Even in late October, it was in the higher eighties, and they didn’t exactly have a pool at their apartment.

"You gonna bring the rat over, too?" Cam had met Nacho once when Austin had taken him for a walk, and while Bourbon thought the little thing was a cool toy, Cam wasn’t impressed. Neither was Austin, but it was what it was. "I'll sit on him, and then Riley will run away screaming." He threw an arm over his face. "Fuck."

Austin couldn’t help it; he laughed. He laughed hard .