Page 17

NOEL

Alex leans back with a chilly smile, clearly pleased with this turn of events. I glance down at glistening lips as Alex bites down gently at his bottom lip, and then I'm on him, kissing with an urgency unlike anything I've felt before.

Alex moans into my mouth, grabbing the back of my head and pulling me deeper into the kiss. His tongue against mine has me groaning. I bite at his mouth in hunger, so high off his kiss I can’t control my thoughts. I just want. It’s so disorienting not being able to stop or think rationally. We’re panting, our bodies pressed dangerously close.

The heavy bass of the song surrounds us, his hands gripping any part of my body they can.

I whimper, pulling back the slightest bit to gasp, breathing in air before getting pulled back into Alex's space as he devours my mouth, biting, licking, sucking at my lips.

“Here?” I whisper, nervous with everything we're doing, out in the open like this. Yeah, his mom isn't here, never is, but my brain is stupid from the lack of blood. It's all being pumped to my dick.

“Yes, here.” He licks up my throat torturously slow, tongue hot, and lazy. When he kisses my neck, I turn my head so he can have better access. His teeth are sharp when they bite down. I flinch, yelping out in pain but it quickly turns into a moan as he sucks the bruising flesh, the flat of his tongue licking in a circular motion before popping off the tender area to place a singular kiss there.

My body becomes pliant, sagging against him in bone deep pleasure, my toes curling in my sneakers.

This is actually happening.

We're doing this.

Holy fucking shit, fuck.

He backs off my neck and slowly reaches his gloved hand up to his mouth, parting his lips and showing teeth. Hooded eyes never leaving mine, he bites the white glove at the wrist, pulling at the velcro with his teeth as it peels back. When it opens, he moves to his pointer finger, biting the tip of the fabric and pulling up. One by one, each finger is bitten and pulled up as he removes the glove with his teeth. He chuckles when I make a desperate keening sound, all too worked up with the private display of him removing a fencing glove. He places his hand on my chest, pushing me so I step back, making me turn around so my own back smacks against the mirror. I'm the one who’s completely vulnerable to whatever he's going to do now. He looks so sure of himself, so freaking suave.

“You’re so easy,” he laughs, pinning me harder against the mirror while his newly freed hand disappears, unbuckling the strap to my fencing jacket that's between my legs with no issue, like he's done this before. Or he's so confident in his movements that it's natural to him. If it were me, I'd be a fumbling mess. My black leggings and cotton shorts are pulled down, revealing my underwear and my hard, leaking erection to him.

“How far do you want this to go?” He asks, fingers barely caressing the band of my boxers. Giving me his full attention, he waits for my answer, eyes imploring me to tell him what I want.

“I—I'm not sure.”

His eyes flick down and back up to meet my face. “Can I touch you here?”

Blinking rapidly, I nod a very clear yes, and he chuckles.

When his warm hand palms my aching dick, still in my wet underwear, I tense up and my breath comes out in little huffs.

Slowly, he pulls it out, and I bite my lip to hold back a groan. His hand comes up to his face while he watches me, leisurely licking his palm and returning it to my embarrassingly heavy, erect cock.

Oh my God, he's gonna jerk me off! My Alex is going to touch my dick. Why is this so embarrassing?

“How do you like it?” He asks, a warm and wet palm jerking me slow at first before switching it up by using a fast pace to stroke me. My eyes flutter closed at the feel of it, and I make an embarrassing noise, my face so fucking hot I just know I'm blushing more than I ever have.

“Alex,” I whine, his name sounding pitifully needy to my own ears.

Fuck. I'm like a radio tuned in on one station that works, and it's Alex FM.

“Mmm, fast then. I like those pretty little noises you're making for me. Keep saying my name like that, too. Like you need me.”

“I'm close. I'm so close, Alex, fuck.” I hardly recognize my own pleading voice.

“Already?” He asks with a little chuckle. “Here, take this.” He lifts up my undershirt, exposing my stomach so the hem is right in front of my open mouth. I almost ask what for? But he understands my confusion. “Hold it with your teeth so you don't cum on it.”

I do as he says, taking it between my teeth as I lean my head back, tugging the shirt higher up.

The pace is quick and rough after that, which has me gasping into his hair, gripping his sides, and watching his hand effortlessly take me apart. His grin is lazy, like he could do this all day and not get tired. He turns his head to whisper in my ear. “You sound like a filthy whore when you whine. I fucking love it.”

My eyes cross as pleasure takes over my body as I come at his mean words, the hot spurt hitting my abs and spilling over his pumping hand like a broken faucet. “ Fuuuuck.”

My orgasm intensifies as his tongue licks up my ear and his teeth gently caress the lobe.

“ Alex!… ” I exhale brokenly, accidentally dropping my shirt in the process. I grip the back of his neck and pull him to my lips, wanting to kiss him deeply but all I can manage is a sharp gasp against his lips.

I want to show him how I'm feeling right now, but I'm not sure how to explain my feelings or what the fuck to say. I don't want to freak him out.

“Such a mess,” he teases, as he presses his lips to mine and forces them open. I lick at his tongue and teeth, kissing him with cruel and harsh lips before he can catch on. I'm ruthless, taking him by complete surprise. I can feel his hesitation when his mouth stalls, pausing at how voracious I'm being while he wipes his cum-covered hand all over my now soiled shirt.

Turning us so I'm no longer against the wall, I shove his shoulders back, and he smacks into it with wide, disbelieving eyes.

It doesn't help that his face looks vulnerable with a pretty faint blush on his cheeks.

“I want to do that to you.” It shocks me more than it does him, I'm sure. I have no fucking clue what I'm doing.

He blinks and lifts a questioning brow. Voice low and menacing, he asks, “Do what?”

“I want to do what you just did. Use my hand to get you off. I want to see you come.” The only change in his expression is a deeper color in his cheeks as he blushes.

“You think you can?” he asks rudely, tilting his head mockingly. Even with red cheeks, he still looks intimidating. My answer is a slow, sure nod.

He glances down for a moment before glaring at my serious expression. “Give me your hand.”

I hold a gloved hand up for him, and he grabs my wrist, undoing the velcro and pulling it off quickly. He turns the palm up before spitting on it. I stare at the saliva in fascination, almost like I want to lick up his spit. And the flicker of that image in my head has my dick twitching and filling with blood yet again.

“Well? Go on.” He pulls me forward, his lips on my ear. “Make me come.” I feel him breathe the words.

I swallow my nerves while watching him lower his pants just enough to pull out his flushed pink cock, a dusting of hair so blond it's barely noticeable sitting at his crotch.

I only look for a moment before meeting his eyes. I want to see his face when I do this next part.

I touch the tip first, my pointer finger rubbing a slow circle at the wet, dripping slit before gripping the hardness in my hand and making a closed fist. He looks at my lips with hooded eyes as his breathing quickens. I watch this all unfold with a captivated grin.

I experiment by slowly jacking him up and down, hot skin hard in my grasp, squeezing with little pressure.

He licks his lips. “Hold me tighter in your fist. Like this.” His hand covers mine and presses around it, making his dick jolt. I watch his eyes roll back, and his head hits the wall behind him with a quiet thunk.

He takes over, showing me exactly what to do. It's agonizingly slow how I grip his cock, moving up and down rhythmically. I look down to see the tip bead with cum, like a pretty pearl drop waiting to be licked up.

I keep stroking his shaft with my free hand, swiping my thumb over his leaking slit and bringing it to my lips to taste him. As I do so, Alex watches me tasting him and licking my thumb. He gasps and then uses my own hand to speed up the motion, groaning low in his chest. He attacks my mouth and kisses me deeply.

It's over fairly quickly after that.

There's a hitch in his breathing, an indecipherable gasp, and he's coming. As I pull away, I watch in awe as his typically mean and harsh facial expressions soften and relax as he breaks apart in my hand. Well, it's mostly his own hand, but I can feel the heat and the wetness coating my fingers. With his head thrown back against the wall and his flushed red cheeks, I admire the effect I've had on him. Shit, I really love him like this.

I'll make him come again and again just so I can watch his expressions morph into this.

It's glorious.

I lean closer, my lips right beside his ear. “You look so beautiful when you come for me, Alex.” My words must have a positive effect on him because he shudders .

My smile gets even bigger.

“Shut the hell up,” he says, sounding out of breath, his voice wavering like he has no energy left to talk back to me. I can't help but laugh at him.

"Aww, are you tired? Did I wear you out?”

He squints at me before smirking. “Who taught you how to shit talk? Did I finally rub off on you?”

“I have your cum to prove it.” I glance at his dick. His eyes grow wide, laughing as he pulls his pants back up.

“ That was actually funny.”

“You've told me before that I'm funny. And yet you seem surprised.”

Still grinning, his hands snake behind my neck to pull my head forward for a kiss. He pauses right before making actual contact with my mouth. I can see him glance at my lips, and I swallow, waiting for his next move. No way am I brave enough to initiate another kiss. It's still so raw and new.

“You want to stay the night?” he asks.

“Do you want me to?”

He licks his lips as he leans even closer to me and finally gives me a soft kiss. It's slow and warm, keeping his mouth on mine for a long moment before pulling away with a sigh.

“We have a lot to catch up on, yeah? I want to know more about you.”

Oh. So this is real.

I half expected him to brush this off, make a joke, and leave me here to pick up the pieces of my broken childhood.

But he wants me to stay and get to know me.

And just like that, my heart explodes.

Actually, my entire body seems to leave Earth, shooting up to my beloved space so I can become one with the stars.

Alex wants to be my friend, and he admitted to liking me!

This is my wish coming true, just years later.

Thanks, shooting star!

“Are you having a moment?” Alex snaps his fingers in front of my face, and I jolt.

“Um. No?”

“C'mon, you stink like jizz. Go shower.”

My eyes seem to bug out of my sockets, shocked by his rudeness. “Fuck you! You have jizz on your stomach too!”

“Nah, you caught most of it with your hand, jizzy.”

“Do NOT call me that!” My cheeks heat up.

He chuckles, stepping away, and the sound he makes is so euphoric and unlike him at all, that I almost forgive him. Almost .

“Okay, spunky.”

“I'm never giving you another hand job again.”

“Whatever. I can still fuck your mouth, right?” He looks pointedly at me with a deadly smirk.

“I—” Yeah, I don't have a retort for that.

His eyebrow raises, amused at my inability to form a sentence. “Go shower. I'll make us food.” He pushes me towards the door as I put my dick back in my underwear. I go willingly, needing space away from all of this. The joking, playing around, the kissing, and his pretty smiles that melt my insides.

I need to go shower before I do something stupid.

When I emerge from his bathroom, fresh and clean and wearing his clothes he laid out for me on the sink, my stomach growls.

“Hungry?” I hear him ask and look over to see him making his bed.

He looks a little unsure, probably because I'm here in his space and we aren't currently fighting. I think we’re attempting to be friends again, which I'm sure is going to be awkward at first. Friends who kiss and like each other. Friends with benefits? That doesn't seem right. I don’t think we’re just friend’s… But being anything with him where I get to spend time with him is exactly what I want.

My smile is shy at best, so I focus on his question. “Yes, let's eat.”

“What do you like? I have plenty of food.” We both bump into each other as we go to exit his bedroom door.

I freak out; my face heats up as I freeze, while he just laughs, pushing me out first.

“We've got a long night ahead of us, don't we?”

“W-what do you mean?” I walk in front of him, heading to the kitchen as he trails behind me.

“You're freaking out, aren't you? You've got your long-lost friend back, and we just made each other come. That's a lot for someone who doesn't like people.”

I gasp at the bluntness. “I don't dislike people. I said, I don't like anyone. That's different. You were asking if I liked any boys or girls. You already knew I liked… kissing you… because of the party and in the locker room.”

“So, you don’t like anyone, but I'm the exception?” He smirks.

“I guess.”

“You guess?”

“Fine. I know. I like you, okay? Happy now?”

“Ecstatic,” he replies unenthusiastically, but his little smile gives away his pleasure at my admitting I like him too.

Entering the spacious kitchen, he hefts himself up on the island countertop, hands gripping the edge while watching me with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

I ignore him as I make my way to the opposite side of the counter and cross my arms.

“What are you hungry for?”

“Can you even cook?”

He scoffs, mumbling, “Can I cook? Well, I guess you’ll have to wait and see.” Smiling, he gets to work, jumping down and walking to the open pantry, disappearing for a few seconds and coming back with a couple cans of ingredients.

There's a can of tomato sauce.

Setting it on the counter, he opens a cabinet and pulls out a frying pan. When he turns the stove on and opens the freezer, grabbing frozen ground beef, I go to stand beside him. He glances over at me with a raised brow.

“Can I help you?” I ask nicely.

“Hmm.” His head tilts sideways in thought. “Sit down and look pretty for me while I make us spaghetti.”

My cheeks warm at his compliment. “Oh. Um, okay.”

He laughs, the sound warm and low in his throat. “Tell me about what happened after I left KVA.”

“We’re getting right to it then,” I joke, voice wavering. It takes me a moment to gather my thoughts, bringing me back to a time that pretty much broke my heart. “I waited for you to return to school. I didn’t know you had left. It was… hard for me to accept.”

Alex’s back is turned away from me, but I can feel his tension and the way his shoulders bunch up as he waits for the microwave to beep.

I continue, the truth spilling out. “I cried. Hid in the bathroom after our teacher informed me you had dropped out and moved. Hated you, mourned you, missed you. It was a lot of emotions for a thirteen-year-old. I didn’t connect with anyone as easily as we did, so I had trouble making friends. I always loved astronomy, so I fixated on that, and it became my obsession. High school started, and Mom was worried I'd miss out on things, not having any friends, so I joined the team to appease her.”

“So that explains why you’re on the team. You and your mom, are you close?”

“Yeah.” I smile fondly. “You'll like her; she loves anime too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, we go to anime conventions together.”

“No way. Do you cosplay?”

“Well… uh… I have, yes.”

“Fuck, that's hot.”

My eyebrows raise high. “Really?”

He turns around, his face scrunched up in confusion. “Definitely. I'm already picturing you with a wig and sword. If you ever want more company, I'd go with you. I haven't ever been.”

“ Never? But you love anime! And have so much merch!”

“Yeah, I don't know why I haven't gone. Guess I just don't have the kind of friends that'd go with me.”

“I'd love to go with you.”

He nods. “Your mom sounds cool.”

“I actually need to text her to let her know I’m staying over… Um, excuse me for a second, it's in my bag.” He watches me leave as I make my way to his open bedroom. I rummage around in my bag until I feel my phone.

There's a text asking when I'll be home, so I call her instead. “Mom?”

“Hey, sweetie, what's up?”

“Hey, so change of plans. I'm actually going to stay the night, if that's okay? I know my break just started, but I want to hang out with Alex tonight.”

“Oh. Okay, is everything alright? You sound a little off.”

My face heats up. Do moms have a direct psychic link to their children? How can she tell what I've been up to? “No, I'm fine. We've been busy practicing.” With our hands on our dicks. “Fencing! So much fencing, my wrist is aching.” Probably from the hand job, not the fencing—Oh God, she doesn't need to know that!

“Ice it, baby. Get some rest; don’t keep fencing if you’re hurt. Of course you can stay over. I'll see you tomorrow?”

“Mmhm, yeah, I’ll text you in the morning. Love you.”

“Love you, too. Bye!”

We hang up, and I breathe a huge sigh of embarrassment at my wayward thoughts.

I shove my phone back in the pocket of my bag and walk out.

Alex is stirring something around in a sizzling pan. I hesitate on where to go, wanting to be close to him but not wanting to push more than he can handle. I stand behind him, shoving my back against the opposite counter with my hands behind me.

“Everything's good now,” I explain cheerily, if not a little awkwardly. I pick at my bottom lip, waiting for him to start up the next conversation.

“Tell me more about why you chose to join the fencing club.”

“Fencing, right. It was the one that stood out most, piqued my interest.” I chuckle.

“I’m sorry,” I hear him faintly whisper.

“What?” His back is still turned, but his head is slightly turned towards me, giving me a view of his profile.

“I'm sorry for always being a dick and lying to you. I don’t want to lie to you anymore or treat you like that. Can we just… I don't know. Start over?”

I show off a wide grin. “That's all I have wanted since you showed up at school.”

Spinning around, he smiles sheepishly. “Yeah…”

I poke his arm playfully. “Your turn.”

He sighs, rubbing at his neck. “Where do I even begin?”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with telling me.”

The mood shifts into an uncomfortable silence, knowing whatever it is that happened was bad. I approach him as he stands by the stove, my fingers creeping forward to touch him as softly as if he were a scared, injured animal, not wanting to ruin the moment and break off our easy banter.

His head is down, likely staring at my gesture. Beside him, I silently wait for him to take my hand. Slowly, his fingers intertwined with mine, and I let loose a relieved chuckle. “We’re friends again. It’s going to take some getting used to, but I'm here for you, Alex. When you’re ready to talk, I'll be here, holding your hand.”

He squeezes my hand once before letting go.

“Those bruises I had when I got back from California… they were from my father. That night of the meteor shower was the first time he beat me.”

I blink open widely, breath whooshing out. “Alex…” I say his name softly. He keeps going, voice taking on a monotone droll, probably to keep his emotions separate from the things he has to tell me.

“My parents had a nasty fight that night. They decided to split up, and I left with him. He had a house in California already, since he traveled for work there often. You already know Sophia didn't fight for custody, so I just had to deal with it. It was all sudden, so that's why I couldn't… reach out to you, Noel.”

I wipe away my tears, fighting back a sob. My tears don't help him. It wasn't my pain. Showing Alex any kind of compassion is pointless—he sees it as pity, and he doesn't need that right now. “The abuse didn't stop after that. The older I got, the more I could take. I ran off after he broke my ribs and came here to live with Sophia. I had to beg her for me to live here. She's a cunt. I know you haven't met her yet, but I hope you don't have to. She's horrible. I think my father is actually paying her to let me stay.”

“What the fuck?” I have to clench my jaw so I don't explode. “Alex, did she know?”

He stares at me, unblinking. It tells me what I hoped was wrong.

She knew, and she didn't care.

There isn't much to say after his confession, and the moment turns quiet, so we eat.

Reaching out, I take his hand on the island table and thread our fingers together.

He squeezes it, and I know everything is going to be okay.