Page 64 of Inside Out
“I’m so relieved this is over,” Rome said with a sigh. “I’m looking forward to auditions next week.”
I just happened to glance across the gym and caught the POS group staring at us. I figured we hadn’t heard the last of them, but I wasn’t about to let them ruin our night. “Want a date for the football game tonight?”
“That would be a first for me,” Rome said. “There was no way I could’ve gone with a boyfriend when I was in high school.”
“It wasn’t acceptable when I was in high school either, and that was only ten years ago,” I pointed out. “I didn’t officially come out until I was in college.”
“It’s a date then.”
Beneath the full moon and the Friday night lights, Rome and I cheered with the crowd as the Blissville Bulldogs beat the East Carter Cardinals twenty-eight to zero. Somewhere in the fourth quarter, I had an epiphany that was bigger than the victory over hate and our cross-county rivals. I, Julius Aaron Shepherd, was in love with Rome Fancy Pants Bradley.
The following night was the homecoming dance. I had signed up to chaperone before we started dating and regretted the loss of a quiet Saturday night at home together. I couldn’t recall when I started to think of his house as home, but more and more of my stuff ended up there, and I rarely stayed in the garage apartment anymore. I’d only gone home long enough to dress in my snazzy suit and grab some more clean clothes.
“We better get a move on or else we’re going to be late,” Rome said, jogging down the steps. “Oh.” He skittered to a halt. He wasn’t used to seeing me in formal clothes since I normally wore khakis and a BHS polo shirt when I taught. The only other time I dressed formally was during our positive reinforcement lesson. “Jules, you look breathtaking.” I knew I looked fine in my navy blue suit and red bow tie, but I only had eyes for him. He’d chosen a dove gray suit I’d never seen before and paired it with a lavender shirt a few shades lighter than the tie he wore.
“You look beautiful,” I said.
“I wanted to look nice since this is the first homecoming I’m attending with a date.” He crooked his finger at me to follow him into the kitchen. “I have a surprise for you.” Rome shifted several things around in his refrigerator and pulled out a clear plastic box he’d hidden inside. “I wasn’t sure what color suit you were going to wear, so I went with ivory roses and baby’s breath.” I could tell Rome was nervous because he spoke fast and struggled to open the box with the boutonnieres inside.
I placed my hand on the back of his neck, and he jerked his gaze up to meet mine. I moved in with my preferred method of calming him. The kiss was short, but it did the trick. “They’re beautiful, and I will wear this proudly tonight.” I adored the dazed look on his face and the way his hands shook. Taking the box from him, I said, “Let me.” I chose a boutonniere from the box then set it on the counter. “You’re my first homecoming date too,” I confessed as I pinned the rose to his lapel. “I’m glad I waited and can share this first with you.”
“Jules,” Rome whispered my name like it was a prayer. “I wish I could hold you in my arms and dance tonight.”
“We will when we get home. We’ll turn the lights down low, open a bottle of wine, and dance as long as we want.” Rome’s eyes lit up when I referred to his house as home.
“I’m going to be thinking about holding you in my arms every time our eyes meet across the gym floor.”
“I’ll be thinking about what happens afterward,” I confessed. “You’ve heard of the term dancing your socks off, right?” Rome nodded. “I won’t stop there. We’ll keep dancing until all our clothes hit the floor and I’m holding you skin-to-skin in my arms.”
“Wow. You scientists sure know how to heat a man’s blood.”
“Pin your flower on me,” I said huskily. I wanted everyone to see I belonged to him.
Rome picked the flower up from the box and pinned it to my jacket. “There. I didn’t even stab you.”
The energy in the gymnasium was high and contagious, preventing me from pouting too hard. The glaring overhead fluorescents were turned off and temporary lights were set up to illuminate the makeshift dance floor. Some of the lights were shining through prisms and projecting rainbows onto the walls and floor like you’d see from a disco ball. The DJ played the perfect mix of fast and slow dances, and I enjoyed watching the kids dance and celebrate. I especially loved the times my eyes caught Rome’s across the dark room. I knew he was remembering the promise I made to him before we left.
I smiled especially wickedly when “Lights Down Low” by Max started to play. The kids took to the floor to slow dance while I stared into Rome’s eyes. So much longing and need passed between us.
When we got back home, I replayed the song so we could have our own dance. Rome’s lips were on my neck and my hands were in his hair as we turned slow circles in the living room. As I promised, I didn’t stop dancing with him until we were both stripped bare.
“I need you,” I whispered against Rome’s neck once I removed his shirt.
Rome shoved my pants to the floor and gripped my ass. “I want inside you.”
“Touch me.” I wrapped Rome’s hand around my cock. He stroked me until I pulled away and dropped to my knees in front of him.
Rome fisted his dick and painted my lips with his precum. “Taste me.”
“Make love to me,” I pleaded when I could no longer handle the emptiness. When Rome sank inside my heat, there wasn’t a part of us that wasn’t connected in some way. I loved being tangled up in his arms and legs. We clung to each other like we couldn’t stand the thought of letting go. Both of us came to Blissville for fresh starts but what we found was more than either of us had bargained for.
“Inside out,” I whispered against Rome’s neck once I lay replete against his dewy body. It was both the name of the play that brought us together and the way he made me feel. Everything inside me was laid bare for Rome to see. Instead of feeling vulnerable, I felt strong, desired, and adored.
“I feel it too.”