Page 7

Chapter 7

Devil's Bargain

"What?" Wally stared at Logan, utterly frozen.

"You help me bring my grades up," Logan began, closing his eyes as if not being able to see meant he could dodge the sliding tackle headed his way. "And I'll — I'll let you, uh, do stuff to me."

Wally barked a laugh, sharp and loud in the quiet room." 'Do stuff ?'" Wally scoffed. "You can't — Sweet baby Joseph on a fucking bike. Just what in the hell is that supposed to mean? You can't seriously think — "

Logan bit his lip, seeing the entire house of cards he'd been betting on wobble. "Uh…"

"Oh my God," Wally said in a low voice as he scrubbed his hands over his face. "You do , don't you? You're here asking for my help, in exchange for — What? Say it, Logan. What exactly is it you're talking about here?"

"Um…sex stuff?" Logan whispered, not meeting Wally's eyes.

"SEX STUFF? Logan . God." Wally took a quick step back, a meaty thunk sounding in the small room as his shoulders hit the bunk frame. "What… I’m gay , not pathetic. Why the fuck do you think I'd take you up on that? Why the fuck do you think I'd take you up on that?"

Logan leveled a look at him. "Because I was there when you had that epic break-up with your boyfriend in senior year, even if back then I didn't realize that's what you and Lee were. And I've heard you complaining about all your hookups and dates since, although you weren't specific about the — the details. But you said no when I offered to check over your dating profile and give you tips. You didn't want me seeing you're on Rockr or something, right?"

And here it was apparently Wally's turn to get flustered, his eyes flicking everywhere but Logan's own.

"Shut up," he muttered. "You don't know anything."

"No?" Logan pressed, using every advantage his years as a fullback gave him to push his way inside Wally's space, crowding him up against their bunk bed until they were practically nose-to-nose. "I've seen you watching me, Wally. Didn't realize why — I thought you were looking to start working out or something. S'why I asked if you wanted to get in on my protein powder order and split the shipping. But that wasn't it, was it?"

He didn't miss the way Wally's eyes had grown huge, or how his breathing was coming fast and shallow now. Logan leaned in closer, swallowing harshly. Trying to ignore the unfamiliarity — not bad, just… just different , he told himself — of the body against his as he dropped to a whisper.

"Just think about it. Anything you want," he murmured in Wally's ear. "Any way you want, any time you want… just as long as I don't have classes or homework or team stuff. No photos, nothing illegal — "

"This is Texas," Wally interrupted in a strangled voice. "Lotta things are illegal here, straight boy. More than you might think."

"Well…" Logan frowned, thinking it over more carefully as he chose his words. "Nothing that could lead to anyone finding out, I mean. Can't have a public indecency charge or something. And nothing goes… inside me. But everything else? It's on the table."

"Lot of restrictions there, hot stuff," Wally murmured, hands coming up to grip Logan's biceps tightly to keep from overbalancing. "Sounds like you'd be the one having all the fun. Not convinced why you think I should accept your oh-so-generous offer."

"Because it's the only one you're gonna get from me," Logan breathed against the shell of Wally's ear. "And I'm pretty sure I'm the only offer you've got at all."

Wally stiffened under him, anger flashing in those dark eyes.

Oops. Time to try something else

Logan pressed in closer, trying to remember all the things girls had ever said that'd worked on him.

"Just think about it. You helping me, me helping you? Bet I can make you feel real good, Wally," Logan murmured, putting extra emphasis on Wally's name, and rolling his mouth around the syllables to turn it into a breathy little gasp. "Don't you wanna find out?"

And he felt it: the moment Wally gave in; his whole body relaxing, opening against Logan's own. Victory surged hot and fierce in Logan's chest, hopes soaring that his plan worked. That —

"You're a dick," Wally hissed, shoving Logan away — hard — sending his heart crashing back down to Earth with a painful lurch.

No!

Somehow, Logan had been so sure that this absolutely insane gambit would actually work. Mostly because it had to work. He didn't have any other options. But, Logan hadn't stopped to consider what would happen if his roommate — oh, God — said no, had he? Hadn't let himself stop to consider any of it really, so desperate to keep his place on the team that he'd —

"Wally. Wally, please," Logan begged, reaching out for Wally like a drowning man. "I need — "

But then Wally was surging forward again, fingers sliding firmly through Logan's hair as he captured Logan's mouth in a rough kiss, his body pressed hard and flat against Logan's own.

Logan grunted, his hands going automatically to Wally's hips to steady himself as he told himself to kiss back, sensing it was a test.

That's the deal, right? Any way he wants. Besides, it's just a kiss. If I can't handle this, then…

As Wally's mouth opened against his, Logan sensed a hardness growing against his thigh, the unmistakable presence of Wally's cock solid and warm and insistent. It was unexpected —

But then, so was Logan's own body's reaction.

He shifted to relieve some of the increasing pressure from his jeans, unable to stop the moan that slipped from his throat. Eagerly, Wally swallowed it up, his hand finding Logan's cock and cupping him roughly through his pants. Reflexively, Logan ground into the welcoming pressure. He only came to his senses as Wally's other hand curled around Logan's, tugging insistently until Logan found himself holding a handful of Wally's jean-covered erection as well.

And… and okay, he reflected as Wally's tongue teased across Logan's bottom lip. This is… Of course, this is going to be part of it, too, right?

It wasn't anything Logan shouldn't have expected, if he'd actually thought this plan of his through.

Nothing I can't handle , Logan told himself as he let his own tongue slide along Wally's, enjoying his startled gasp and mirroring with his hand what Wally was doing to Logan's own cock, because — Holy fuck

"Oh, this is gonna be good," Wally whispered, finally releasing Logan for air. "But there's going to be some rules of my own, hot stuff."

"Huh?" Logan asked dizzily, almost surprised to find Wally still plastered against him, even as he ground himself into Wally's hand. His lips felt swollen, his chin tingling where Wally's 5 o'clock shadow had rasped the skin. And yet…

"Only fair, right?" Tugging the drawstrings of Logan's hoodie tight, Wally smirked, stepping back.

Logan nearly groaned out loud as the sudden loss of contact — before remembering Wally was a guy, and Logan wasn't supposed to be into this stuff enough to miss anything at all.

"Fine," Logan bit out instead. "What?'

"Number one," Wally said, holding up his hand tauntingly to tick the numbers off on his fingers. "I get the bottom bunk. I'm tired of banging my toes on the ladder in the dark when I have to get up and piss."

"Okay," Logan agreed quickly. Considering his own offer, he could live with that — provided the rest of Wally's list stayed just as tame. "And… number two?"

Wally's expression turned sharply unpleasant, like he'd just bitten into something bad. "College is supposed to be a chance for new beginnings. Specifically, it was supposed to be my chance to get away from you , and I'm not going to let you keep ruining it."

Logan winced.

"You call me Oz," he continued. "In here, out there. And you get everyone else to call me Oz, too. I don't want to hear anyone call me 'Wally' ever again."

Yeah. That…that's fair

"I can do that," Logan promised him. "What else?"

Wa — Oz hummed, considering. "This 'no penetration' stipulation of yours — is that 'except for mouth-to-mouth kissing', or are we talking prostitute rules?"

"What?"

"I get that you think not sucking my cock or anything somehow makes this less gay — " Oz said, rolling his eyes.

" It's not gay, because I'm not gay," Logan gritted out.

" — or heteroflexible, or however you've rationalized this to yourself. But I like kissing, and it turns out that you aren't completely terrible at it," Oz mused, tilting his head to watch Logan's reaction. "We don't have to French or whatever if you aren't into it, but I gotta say, after that? It's gonna be a hard pass from me without it. But I need to know what counts, because technically you just violated your own rule even with that open-mouthed vanilla stuff, if you define 'penetration' as swapping spit."

"You're being ridiculous."

"I'm not the guy playing one-sided gay chicken to get his grades up. So, kissing: yes or no?"

"Kissing's…fine," Logan grumbled, his face flaming. Oz wasn't the only one who enjoyed kissing, and that lip ring of his… Logan had a girlfriend with one once. He'd always liked the way the metal felt, pressing into his lip as they kissed. Liked the sensation of it on his dick too, that time she'd tried blowing him. Made it kinda exciting to feel one again, even if it was Oz's thin lips instead of a girl's. "So, that it, or…?"

Logan's mouth snapped shut at the ' of course not ' look Oz shot him.

"Number five is that we have to tell each other about any other partners we hook up with during our arrangement. I'm already on prep and get tested regularly. Your health is up to you, but I'm not going to risk catching something just because your messy ass is slutting it up all over campus."

"…Fine," Logan agreed, relieved to hear Oz didn't expect him to give up sex with women while they were doing this. "And?"

" And ," Oz said with the air of a king making a decree, "Number five is that I reserve the right to make a number six in the future."

Logan eyed him, considering. "And what if number six is something I won't do?"

"Then you say no, and our deal's off."

"That easy, huh?" Logan replied, gripped by the feeling their bargain was anything but.

Oz shrugged. "Sure. Why not? It'll be hilarious to see what finally makes you chicken out. So…when do we get started?" he asked, and Logan swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.

"Whenever you like," he rasped, repeating his earlier offer.

"And however I want, right?" Oz purred, rolling his shoulders to push up against the bedframe, before stalking toward Logan as if he were some hunting cat. "With your little asterisk, of course."

"Yeah," Logan grunted as Oz paced a circle around him, a hint of devilishness in the smile twisting up those lips, making something twist deep inside Logan's belly in answer. "So, is that a yes?"

"Oh, it's a yes alright." Oz laughed darkly. "Logan St. James, the star of San Morado High, here in my bed, saying he'll do anything… Well, almost anything I tell him? You're going to come to your senses in the next couple of hours, straight boy, and I'll never have a chance like this again. How could I pass it up?"

Stopping in front of him, Logan watched warily as Oz stepped back, folding to sit on Logan's — on Oz's bunk. Logan stayed standing, spine stiff as he waited, wondering exactly what the hell he'd just agreed to as Oz's gaze dragged slowly down Logan's body, calculating and hungry.

"Strip," Oz finally ordered, leaning back on his elbows.

"Uh…"

"C'mon straight boy, don't be shy. Drop trou already," Oz said, making an impatient 'hurry up' gesture with his hand. "I wanna see what I'm working with."

Logan grimaced, but sighed. This is what he'd signed up for, wasn't it? He grabbed the bottom of his hoodie, intending to yank it over his head —

"Stop," Oz commanded when it was only halfway off, Logan freezing to obey.

"Slowly," came Oz's voice from outside the hoodie's enveloping cocoon. "There's only one 'first time'. Make it good."

Logan clenched his teeth together, but slowed down as he finished pulling the sweatshirt off, before dropping it on the floor.

"Much better. I mean, if we're going to do this, then let's do it right," Oz grinned, looking like the cat who'd eaten the whole damn canary. "Puck, play Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On ."

Logan's face flamed as the little speaker began playing the well-worn song.

"Unless…" Oz drawled, smirking. "You aren't getting cold feet, now — are you? Or is it the music? Is it too slow for you? Should I play something faster, like It's Raining Men ?"

"No!" Logan hissed, fighting down the embarrassment. The house had been empty when he'd arrived, and with any luck, it should stay that way for a few more hours while all the guys were enjoying the party. But if a few came back early and overheard? It'd be a lot easier to lie and say Logan'd had a girl up here if Marvin Gaye was playing, rather than answer the teasing questions that'd no doubt be inspired by the far campier song.

"Then get on with it already," Oz said, shifting his feet and letting his legs fall open so Logan couldn't miss the bulge tenting his jeans.

Glaring at Oz, Logan yanked up the hem of his shirt, embarrassment nearly choking him as Oz let out a wolf whistle, then laughed. But damnit if that didn't send Logan's competitive streak running red hot.

If Oz is looking for a show…

Oz's eyebrows shot up as Logan attempted adding a little roll of his hips, flexing his shoulders as he pulled his shirt off too. He wasn't confident it was a good performance, but good enough would do. And judging by the way Oz was shifting on the bed, licking his lips as he reached down to adjust himself, Logan was feeling hopeful he'd at least earned a passing grade. Oz hadn't stopped him, or called out some new direction or taunt. That had to be something, right? Whatever. Logan tried not to feel self-conscious as he dropped his shirt to the floor to join his hoodie.

"Damn," Oz said appreciatively. "Come here."

Logan stepped forward as instructed, sucking in a sharp breath as Oz's fingers trailed lightly down the planes of Logan's abs. "You're shredded."

"Yeah," Logan mumbled, glancing away as he fought to hold still. As he fought down the unexpected urge to lean into Oz's hands. "You've seen me changing in here before."

"Sure, but I was trying to be cool, wasn't I?" Oz replied. "Didn't need my roommate freaking out, thinking I couldn't keep it in my pants around him. Now I get to touch ."

Biting back a moan as Oz did just that, Logan commanded his body not to react as Oz's big, warm hands slid across Logan's belly and sides; reaching up to cup his pecs like they were tits or something; smoothing down the hair that grew along Logan's chest and trailed down his stomach.

Some of the guys shaved, and Logan had considered it. But now, with the way Oz was carding his fingers through Logan's chest hair? It felt… It felt good, making Logan's eyes drift shut under Oz's worshipful hands.

"Wake up, sleepyhead. Still need these pants off," Oz teased, hooking his fingers in the waistband of Logan's jeans.

Eyes open, Logan swallowed again, nodding as, with trembling hands, he reached for his belt.