Page 3

The house was quiet. Having the whole place to myself was one of the advantages of being savvy enough to buy it in my early twenties when rates were still low. Everyone back then said I was crazy. Do you really want to settle in that small shithole? Shouldn't you save up a nest egg first? But after eight years, I had already paid off almost half the mortgage. I could be as loud as I wanted and invite anyone over at any time. Not that I had that many nightly visitors.

In the living room, Pounce and Sora were both knocked out on the rug, curled up next to each other as if they had been best friends forever. I stepped over their tangled legs on the way to the hallway, trying not to wake them, even though my heart was beating way too fast for how calm everything looked.

Matt had gone back to finish his shift. For some reason, we both thought it was a good idea for Sora to stay over, not thinking far enough ahead to realize that this would leave us with no easy way to back out if one of us had second thoughts—or at least not without having an uncomfortable conversation first.

I hurried through the hallway, as if walking faster would stop me from second-guessing everything. The bedroom was large enough for the king-sized bed, but not for my jittery nerves. I headed straight for the bathroom, turned on the light, and stared at myself in the mirror. My cheeks were redder than usual, maybe from the anticipation, but probably from the single beer I held onto all evening. I shook it off. Whatever was going to happen was meant to happen. If he just wanted to pick up Sora and leave, that would be fine with me. But I'd also be down to fool around all night.

I hopped in the shower. As I lathered up, my dick grew hard, letting me know it was ready for action, whether with Matt or without him. After drying off, I brushed my teeth again, even though I’d already done so earlier. Then I changed into clean clothes—nothing fancy or obvious, just a black slip, khaki sweatpants, and my lucky shirt with a pixelated heart on it. I wanted to keep things relaxed while still being prepared for everything.

My fourth glance at the clock within thirty seconds told me it was still eleven minutes to midnight. There was nothing left to do but wait for him to show up.

I shuffled back into the kitchen and yanked open the fridge to see what drinks I could offer him. But before I could look, three knocks on the door sent shivers down my spine.

The dogs jumped up and rushed to the entrance before me. Surprisingly, they kept their barks down as if they knew who was on the other side. I followed them, grabbed Sora’s collar so she wouldn't slip out, and opened the door.

There he was, windbreaker unzipped, hair slightly mussed, cheeks pink from the evening chill. He raised his hands, revealing two bottles of Hopsomnia . “I brought you a little something.”

“Liquid courage?” I joked, my breath catching more than I wanted it to. “Or a consolation prize?”

He squeezed his right eye shut. “No, just beer.”

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. We stood there for a second, like the earlier kiss had cracked something open, but we didn’t quite know how to handle the pieces yet. His gaze flicked to my lips, and mine dropped to his hands. His fingers tightened slightly on the bottles, mine on Sora’s collar as if we were both waiting for the other to make a move.

Before either of us could, Sora let out a sharp yip and pawed eagerly at his leg. Matt gave me a soft, knowing smile, making it clear that he knew I wouldn't mind if Sora claimed his attention first, and squatted down to greet her.

I let go of her collar, and she leaped between his legs, spinning in happy little circles. His unoccupied hand brushed over her short fur. “Have you been a good girl?”

“She enjoyed some quality time with her boyfriend,” I said, grinning. “They’ve been curled up together in the living room. It was cute as hell.”

Matt’s lips curled as if he had a cheeky comment on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it down.

I raised an eyebrow, half daring him to say it and half already laughing. “Want to come in?” I said, nodding behind me. “I can give you a tour.”

“Definitely.” He patted Sora one more time before he got up, slipped out of his shoes, and followed me light-footedly.

I led him inside and past the entryway, where he hung his jacket next to mine on a hook above a worn bench stacked with shoes and dog leashes.

Pounce trotted ahead, his tail wagging on autopilot. Sora followed close behind.

“This is the heart of it all,” I said, gesturing around as we reached the living room.

Matt took it all in: the deep green walls that appeared nearly black in the dim light, the oversized leather couch covered with three throw blankets in different shades of gray, and a controller tangled in the cushions. “Cozy,” he said, his gaze wandering over the wall of books in the back, the framed indie game posters, and the action figures standing guard on floating shelves.

The dogs found their way to the living room rug. Pounce slumped down with a huff. Sora curled into the crook of his body as if they had decided that was how they would spend every night from that point forward.

I pointed toward a glass door in the left corner. “That’s the home office.” A peek inside would reveal two monitors glowing on a clean desk, an excessive number of sticky notes, an abundance of cables, and a calendar so scribbled over that it could pass for abstract art.

We turned to face the open kitchen, which was tidy enough thanks to my last-minute, nervous cleaning spree before hopping in the shower. A string of fairy lights ran under the cabinets, bathing everything in a magical glow. “I’m not a chef, but I try,” I said. “I make good pancakes.”

Matt smirked. “Noted.” He put the beers on the counter and followed closely behind me as I strolled toward the back of the house.

We passed a hallway table stacked with old game controllers and a Raspberry Pi project I had never finished. “Bathroom’s here,” I said, flipping on the light so he could see the tidy mess of bath products and an embarrassing plush robe hanging behind the door.

Then came the bedroom.

The king-size bed took up most of the space. The covers were neatly tucked in—almost too perfectly—as if to say that I didn't want Matt to expect anything more than a simple tour. There were more books here, too, some clothes in a half-open dresser drawer, and a lamp on the nightstand casting a golden pool of light across the room.

I turned to him, trying to read his expression. “And… that’s the tour.”

He looked around, then at me. “I like it.” His gaze lingered—not on the room, but on me.

“So, should we open those beers, or...?”

He grinned, still not looking away. “Or...?”

I looked at the floor. Why was I, the more experienced guy in all of this, so much more flustered than he was? What was I trying to hold back? He came here. He stood before me in my bedroom, not stopping to grin. He had plenty of chances to back down. A chuckle escaped my mouth as I tipped my head back and met his gaze again. “Or we could explore how open-minded you are.”

His smile widened until it parted his lips, revealing his perfect teeth. “I like that you’re so blunt.” He stepped closer, his hands twitching as if they wanted to reach for me again. But he stopped just before he got there. “I wouldn’t mind continuing where we left off.”

A soft, nervous laugh slipped from my throat. “Then what are we waiting for?” Before either of us could overthink it, I leaned in and tilted my head. He did the same. Our lips met in a tentative yet electric touch. Though this was only our second kiss, we both moved carefully, aware that with no distractions or excuses left between us, we couldn’t just blame an interruption if one of us decided to pull away. His fingers slid over my waist, and I tugged him closer by the collar of his shirt. I opened my mouth, and he followed my lead. Our tongues joined the conversation. His hand found the back of my neck, and his thumb brushed over my skin as if he couldn't stop reminding himself that I was real. Our kiss grew stronger and more lustful —the kind that didn't need a finish line—making it clear that we were ready to take it further.

I guided us backward, his mouth still on mine, until my legs bumped against the edge of the bed. We stumbled, but his hands rushed to my back, catching me before I could fall.

A breathless chuckle broke our kiss.

“Are we moving too fast?” I asked, feeling his fingertips brush against my back.

“Maybe,” he whispered. “But I really don’t want to stop.”

My hands curled into the fabric of his shirt. “Me neither.”

His lips parted with a shaky breath as he leaned in again, hungrier this time. His mouth found mine with a deeper urgency—no longer tentative, but tasting and claiming. Our chests pressed together, our bodies aligning in a way that left no room for doubt. His hands found their way beneath my shirt. First, his fingers splayed wide as if he needed to anchor himself to me. A second later, he tugged the fabric over my head, leaving me feeling both too exposed and aching for more.

His hands traced the lines of my back while his lips found my neck and collarbone. “You’re warm,” he murmured, his voice muffled against my skin.

“You’re overdressed,” I breathed, my fingers already teasing at the waistband of his jeans. He let out a soft, surprised laugh and let me undo the button.

I pulled the zipper down, revealing dark blue boxer shorts with a bulge more impressive than I had imagined over the last several nights. Biting my lips, I cupped his bulge, feeling him throb underneath the fabric. His gaze followed my hands, eager to take in everything I did.

“Still feel safe?” I asked quietly, echoing the question that had lingered between us all night.

“With you?” Matt’s lips curved up. “Yeah. It’s unfamiliar, but in the best kind of way.”

My heart raced as I held his gaze and let my hands drift to the waistband, sliding one finger underneath and teasing his skin. His lips parted as he inhaled slowly. I slipped another finger inside, deep enough to find the tip of his cock, twirling my finger around it. His teeth dug into his lower lip, a soft hum letting me know I shouldn’t stop. Distracting him with another kiss, I slid my whole hand inside, wrapped my palm around his shaft, and squeezed his erection with intent. His hands shot to my shoulders to steady himself.

“Want me to go further?”

“Please,” he whispered.

I kissed him once more on the lips, then let my mouth wander to his cheek, chin, and down the line of his neck. Slowly, I sank to my knees and pulled out his manhood. It stood straight and strong above me, ready for anything. I licked his smoothly shaved balls, then moved up his shaft to the tip, eliciting another hum. The fresh, clean smell with a hint of pine made my own cock tent my pants. I wrapped my lips around his glans and locked my eyes on his. He blinked heavily, as if his eyes needed a second to confirm what they saw. His right hand rushed to the back of my head, brushing through the short hair stubble. My tongue swirled around his glans, relishing the slightly salty taste. I felt up his ass, still hidden under the soft silk of his briefs, and, without warning, pulled him in closer until his full length disappeared in my throat.

A low moan slipped past his lips, followed by a delighted laugh hinting at how good it felt.

I bobbed my head up and down, trying to get him deeper into me each time. My right hand massaged his balls and taint, my left squeezed his butt. The longer I sucked him, the louder his moans got and the more his knees buckled. I only took a break when his upper body collapsed forward so much that he had to brace himself on the mattress to keep from falling over.

“Wow, Cato, wow,” he panted, unable to move. “I had heard it, of course, but... wow . Guys really do know how to suck a dick better.”

“To be fair, I’ve got some practice,” I said, earning me a breathy laugh.

He pushed himself back up, his dick still hanging right above my face. I opened my mouth wide to take him back in, but his left hand shot to my chin, stopping me. “It’s my turn now,” he said.

Before I could protest or assure him that he should only do what he really wanted to do, he leaned down and shoved his tongue into my mouth. With a sudden urgency, he dropped to his knees and gripped my hips, guiding me up onto the edge of the bed. Once there, he stripped off his shirt, revealing more of his smooth, tanned skin and well-defined chest. But he didn't give me any time to admire it.

His fingers tucked into my pants, pulling them down until they slipped over my feet. My hard dick flopped out against my chest. His hands rushed up my thighs and pressed into my muscles as he stared at my throbbing dick, as if he needed to decide whether to go through with this. Before that worry could sink in, though, he wrapped his fingers around my shaft and brought his head closer to inspect my cock. His eagerness made me fix my eyes on him, not wanting to miss a moment of it.

Matt brought his nose to my balls and took a whiff that turned into a delighted groan. He moved his nose up to my glans and inhaled deeply, closing his eyes as if my pheromones were throwing a party in his nostrils.

He stuck out his tongue and hesitated for a moment before tentatively licking the tip. But then came a second, followed by a third and fourth, each more eager than the last. With a low, hungry hum, he wrapped his lips around me.

The heat of his mouth drew me in. My arms weakened under the rush of sensation, and I leaned back, unable to do anything but surrender to it.

The tip of my cock disappeared inside him. It slid in about two-thirds of the way before it poked against his throat. To my surprise, he tried to go even further, but after a second, gagged.

He pulled his head back, coughing. “Sorry, I went too far too fast.”

“Don’t force yourself,” I said, pushing myself back up.

Wrinkling his nose, he stared at my dick. “Practice makes perfect, right?” Without letting himself be dragged down, he took me back inside, now focusing more on the upper half of my cock as he sucked me. It took him a minute to get into a rhythm, but once he did, the way he moved his head sent waves through my body. I lay back, enough to be comfortable but still able to watch him suck my dick, and let out some encouraging moans to show him how well he was doing.

He opened his mouth wide, stuck out his tongue, and licked down my shaft to my balls, which made me moan even more. Encouraged by this, he licked again and again as he wrapped his fingers around my shaft and began stroking.

His eyes sparkled at me. “You like being licked?”

“The blowjob as well. You’re a natural.”

His eyes flicked up like he wanted to say something dirty but wasn’t sure he’d get away with it. “I just try to do what I like having done to me.”

“Keep doing all of it, and I will return the favor.”

“Deal. There is some stuff I’ve always wondered about,” he said, sticking out his tongue to lick my balls again. Instead of going up my shaft, he went further down. He let go of my dick, wrapped his arms around my legs, and lifted them up. I flopped back onto the mattress with a surprised squeak as he pushed me back far enough that my feet dangled in the air.

His breath caressed my ass as he grabbed my cheeks and pulled them apart.

A surge of pleasure washed over me as his warm tongue slid down my crack. I dug my hands into the blanket for support, my chest rising and falling unevenly.