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AUSTIN

O h. No.

Not again.

I crack my eyes open, though I already know it’s not a dream I’m currently experiencing. I really do have my best friend’s arms wrapped around me, his morning wood poking into the small of my back. His bare, warm chest pressing against the skin of my back.

I fell asleep in his bed again. I’d planned to go home after dinner, but Vaughn talked me into a walk before the sun fully went down and then wanted to watch Netflix in his bed afterward.

I should have gone home. I know that, but the temptation was just too great. So I stripped out of my hoodie, shirt, and jeans—down to my boxer briefs—and watched shamelessly as Vaughn did the same.

We’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember. I’ve been waking up to Vaughn’s boner poking me for years now, but while his is a simple morning wood most guys experience, mine is not so innocent.

I can’t stop fantasizing about my best friend, and he has no idea. “Vaughn.” I wiggle in his arms, but he just tightens his hold on me, pushing his hard dick even harder against my back. And fuck my life—my own cock twitches hungrily between my legs.

What I wouldn’t give for him to actually mean it. But I know he’s dead to the world right now.

I try again. “Vaughn, I have to get up.”

“Sleeping,” he says, wiggling even more against me and holding me tighter. The guy is going to kill me. Seriously. I might stroke out if he doesn’t stop touching me. He’s an affectionate guy. Always has been. Loves to cuddle and snuggle, this big, oblivious moron.

Said with love, of course.

“You have to wake up. We have school.”

“Don’t wanna,” he mumbles against the back of my neck, sending needy shivers throughout my body. I’m going to need at least an extra ten minutes this morning to jerk off before school or I’ll be hard all day.

Shit, I probably will be anyway. And ten minutes is a great exaggeration because I’m already close to being there.

“Vaughn, come on. Let me go.”

“No way. Warm. Stay.” My heart squeezes tightly in my chest at his request, and I have to close my eyes and try to remind myself he doesn’t mean it that way. We’re friends. He’s straight. Totally and completely straight.

This is so unhealthy.

“I have to go home and change before school.” I grab his forearm and try to pry it off me, but he just laughs and holds me tighter. Damn jocks and their delicious, stupid muscles.

He’s starting to stir more and more awake, but he doesn’t release me. “You should just bring some clothes here and leave them.”

“Sure. You won’t live with your girlfriend, but you’d be fine with me moving in here with you.” That’s right, folks. He has a girlfriend. And I’m lying here in his bed that smells like him, with his arms wrapped around me.

I tried to make it sound like a joke, but I feel him stiffen behind me before he finally lets go and sits up, rubbing at his eyes. “You know that’s different.”

Do. Not. Look. At. His. Chest.

I have to force my eyes to stay on his face—which, if I’m being honest, isn’t much better. Vaughn is absolutely perfect every-single-where. His face is movie-star handsome with high cheekbones and a strong jaw. Full red lips and dark-blue, soulful eyes surrounded by long inky lashes. It’s not fair. He should have some sort of flaw, but he doesn’t. Trust me, I’ve looked.

“Sure,” I grumble because of course it’s different. We aren’t in a relationship. He’s in a relationship with Vanessa, and he doesn’t want to live with her. But I’m just his buddy. His pal.

Goddamn, I need to get a grip.

I start to leave his bed, but he stops me with a hand around my wrist, keeping me there. “What’s wrong? You seem grumpier than normal this morning.”

And... I just looked at his chest. I mean, that’s just not fair. He’s sculpted. I mean everywhere. He has strong pecs with just a hint of dark chest hair with pink dusty nipples and then stupid—and I mean stupid —abs. Six of them. Defined and perfect with a light dusting of dark hair trailing from his belly button down to the top of his tight, black boxer briefs.

Holy shit, I could come just looking at him.

“I’m fine,” I say, pulling my arm away gently and standing up, then grabbing my shirt and hoodie to cover my crotch because my dick is still 100 percent hard, and I’m hoping he doesn’t notice. “I just hate being late. I didn’t mean to fall asleep last night.”

He shrugs. “We’ve been sleeping over at each other’s house since we were five. It’s no biggie.” He lies back on the bed, reaching his arms up and covering his eyes with them, leaving his body on full display for my traitorous eyes. His biceps bulge, and I want to lick them.

Yup. Time to go.

“Take my truck, and then come get me.”

I have my own truck but rarely drive it because Vaughn likes to ride together. Austin and Vaughn. BFFs. Forever and always. Even if I die a little inside when I think about how we’ll never be more than that.

“You better not be late.”

He waves me off, snuggling back into his pillow.

“Vaughn.”

“Won’t. Promise.” He’s starting to drift off again, but whatever. I’ll drag his ass out of bed when I’ve showered and maybe gotten a little smidge of relief. I wave a quick goodbye to his amused-looking parents and hop into Vaughn’s truck, driving the quick mile down the road to my house.

When I walk through the front door, I see my mom sitting on the sofa, sipping her coffee, wearing a similarly amused look as Vaughn’s parents did. “Stayed at the Montgomerys’ again?”

I shrug, feeling a blush creep over my cheeks. “Yeah. Sorry.”

She waves me off easily because, of course, she’s unbothered. “Oh please. I think your friendship is so cute. And besides, you’re eighteen.” Yup, I’m officially an adult with a ridiculous crush on his best friend.

It’s so not cute. Sometimes, it’s crippling, feeling this way about my best friend. I try to tell myself it’s because I’m gay and I live in a small town that still believes in traditional values . Whatever the fuck that means. That I’m just fixating on Vaughn because he’s good-looking of course, but he’s also the best friend I’ve ever had. I’m safe with Vaughn.

Unless I mess it up and let him know about all the crazy feelings I have about him. Feelings that are unrequited.

Feelings that are dangerous.