Page 14 of Sam & Justin (Gomillion High Reunion #4)

Damn. I didn’t really like being called out, even when it was valid.

Now I knew how some of my clients felt, when I said shit they didn’t want to hear.

The truth hurt sometimes. I shifted in his arms, and I felt them loosen to let me wiggle free.

But the moment I laid on my back, he shifted around to rest his head on my chest. I put an arm around him, because it felt right to do.

I liked the way he fit in my arms, just the way I liked the way I fit in his.

“Thought about it, a few times. But then I saw the way they’d either look through me or see my name tag and give me a look.

” I sighed, shaking my head a little. Because I didn’t know what else to say.

Some things didn’t change. Especially not in a small town like Gomillion.

Reputations stuck. What people thought of you when you were younger didn’t change.

Especially not when you did what I did, which was skipped town right after graduation and didn’t come back except when I couldn’t avoid it.

“You were like that in high school, too,” he commented.

“Think I was worse in high school,” I admitted.

“Didn’t give a shit back then.” He looked at me again, the same way he did earlier.

Like he could see right through my bullshit.

There was something about that piercing stare that made me feel the need to tell him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

“At least, I liked to pretend I didn’t give a shit what anyone thought about me. ”

“I used to care too much, too,” he told me quietly.

“Everyone liked you, though.”

He was quiet for a few moments. When I stole a glance at his face, he looked thoughtful, like he was remembering those days.

I waited for him, not giving him the same kind of questioning look he’d been giving me.

I’d already learned how uncomfortable they were, and I wasn’t at work.

He wasn’t one of my clients, so I didn’t need to poke at all his old wounds.

Didn’t need to help him figure out his way through any crises.

I didn’t even really expect him to answer and open up to me. But he did. “Everyone liked me, because most of the time I was changing pieces of myself so they’d like me. It was the opposite of what you did, I guess.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, there were some friends where I’d play up the fact that I was smart.

I was organized and good with details, so that made me an ideal planner.

That worked with the guys I used to game with.

It also worked with all of the committees I was on.

I took on more there than I probably should have, which meant that I had to stay up later to do my homework and get everything done.

With other friends, I forced myself to be more outgoing, because I wanted them to think I was fun or something. ”

“Are you some kind of people pleaser?”

He laughed. “Could say that.”

“Have you gotten better about that?”

“Not a bit. Just got better at making sure I please myself, too.” He grinned up at me, and I loved the way his beard shifted against my skin.

Felt really good, the way it brushed over my nipple.

Had to close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, because I didn’t need my cock reacting to something like that.

He might think I was only after one thing.

Which… I mean, I was. At least when I got to the reunion. I was going to find some hot hookup, some one night stand. Nothing that meant anything.

But that wasn’t Justin. I felt a real connection to him; I had since high school. I didn’t need to make him think that hooking up was all this was about.

If he noticed my reaction, he didn’t say anything about it. Instead, he let the conversation stay in the deeper waters we were treading. “Have you gotten any better about caring what people think?”

“No,” I confessed. “Haven’t stopped pretending I don’t give a shit about it, either.”

I felt his laugh against my skin, and once again I was struggling not to react.

My body’s natural reactions became more obvious when he pressed his lips to mine again.

This time, it wasn’t slow and comforting.

No, this kiss was a blazing inferno. His tongue fucked into my mouth, and his hands gripped at my bare hips.

I never would’ve thought he had such a strong grip when we were younger.

Hell, maybe he didn’t have that kind of strong grip when we were in high school.

It didn’t take long for me to lose myself in the kiss.

Our heavy conversation got lost in the sound of smacking lips and the way our tongues explored each other’s mouths.

And when he dragged his hand down to our cocks, I really did lose myself.

His big hand wrapped around both of us easy, and his shaft slid against mine.

I didn’t usually have the energy for a second round, but there was just something about him.

Or maybe I was just lust drunk on the circumstances.

Whatever it was, he was twisting his hand just right around my dick, stroking it and fucking into his hand, sliding his cock against mine. Precum slicked the way, and soon he had me moaning into his mouth. He swallowed down every sound I made, and before long, I was shooting over his hand.

There was something really hot about hearing the way his breath quickened, feeling the puffs of it against my lips. Just as hot as feeling his hips stutter and his jizz wash over my shaft as his own release was triggered.

When we both came down from our orgasms and finally stopped making out, I reached over for the washcloth he’d brought in earlier. It was cold now, but it got the job done.

“I really should go,” he grumbled, once we were both cleaned up.

But he didn’t make any effort to leave the bed. Instead, he pulled me in closer. I shifted against him. “Or you could stay a little longer,” I suggested.

“I have to be up early in the morning. I promised Vanessa I’d be there at eight for set up.”

That sounded so damn early. I looked over at the bright red numbers of the clock on the bedside table. It was after two already. He probably should leave, but I didn’t want to let him go. I yawned, and his arms tightened around me. “We can set an alarm,” I pointed out.

“Are you asking me to stay the night?”

I didn’t usually do that. Not with one night stands, but it had already been long since established that whatever this fuck with Justin was, it wasn’t going to follow the usual protocols.

Call it a side trip to an alternate universe or whatever.

I just didn’t want him to go, didn’t want the night to be over. “Suggesting.”

“I’d probably get more sleep here, not having to drive home.

” He said it in a tone that made me think he was trying to logic this whole thing out.

Trying to come up with some excuse to do what he really wanted to do.

This made me feel all warm inside, and I wanted that to last. It wasn’t something I could take back to King’s Bay with me, but I could bask in it tonight.

He reached over to the bedside table, feeling around.

“I think my phone is still in my pocket.”

I reluctantly rolled over and let him free. A few minutes later, he was back on the bed, pulling me close again. We talked a little bit more, but it wasn’t about anything heavy. It was just pillow talk, small talk to fill the silence until our breathing evened out and we fell asleep.