Page 40 of Summer Skin

IT’S SO LATEthat it’s nearing dawn.

After the goodbye party, he and Chase picked up a large order from Dick’s Burgers and stayed up for hours with Brooklyn and their roommates. Now everyone’s gone to bed, and Chase is stripping down to his underwear in Aven’s room because Brooklyn’s asleep in his.

All of Chase’s stuff is packed, and everything is ready to go. Everything, that is, besides Aven, who still hasn’t managed to completely come to terms with Chase leaving. He’s sure any minute now the reality of the situation will come barreling into him like a semi, all disorientating and surreal, and, dammit, why does this life they’ve built together these last few months have to end?

“You coming to bed?” Chase asks, scratching idly at his belly.

No, Aven wants to say, I’ve got some aimless pacing to do.

He hasn’t let too many thoughts of Chase leaving The Riot Grrrls Next Door creep in because he’s been happy to keep his head in the sand and pretend the day was somewhere far off. But the countdown of doom to Chase in whole other continents is suddenly very close to zero and Aven still hasn’t figured out how on earth he’s going to deal.

“Hey,” Chase says, sitting up. “What’s going on?”

Aven chews at a thumbnail, shaking his head.

“Aven,” Chase says, a touch of concern in his tone. He quickly hops from bed and pads over. “Aven?” he repeats, a question.

“It’s our last night together in this house,” Aven croaks out.

Chase laces his fingers around the back of Aven’s neck. “For now. I’ll be back.”

Aven nods, turning his head to kiss Chase’s forearm. “I know,” he says morosely.

Chase looks to the ceiling, mumbling something under his breath.

“What’s that?” Aven asks. “You said I’m the best sex you’ve ever had?” He’s trying to lighten things up, but it falls so flat.

Chase lowers his head, meeting Aven’s gaze, and his eyes are misty. All at once, Aven gets that Chase has been putting on a happy face tonight just as much as he has.

Chase strokes the hair at the nape of Aven’s neck. “I said I’m going to miss you so fucking much,” he says, and his voice is all choked up.

Oh. Oh no. Aven can’t do this. He can’t do this with Chase right now or else he’ll never be able to let him walk out that door in the morning.

“Do you really think you can meet the love of your life in high school?” Chase asks, searching Aven’s face like the answer might be in his eyes.

“I mean, definitely,” Aven replies. “It’s been five years since we broke up and nothing compares to you, not even a little.”

Chase tugs his bottom lip into his mouth, nodding his head. “You feel sure about me, the same way I feel about you?”

Aven’s brow wrinkles. “I do,” he answers honestly. “Where is this coming from? Are you afraid I’m going to turn my head as soon as you’re not in the same room as me or something?”

“No. Not anymore. I trust in us.”

“So what’s this all about?” asks Aven.

“I don’t want to leave you, my love,” he says quietly, and then presses his face in to the curve of Aven’s neck.

Aven’s stomach twists into a tight coil. Obviously, he doesn’t want to be left behind either. But there’s no choice here. Chase has to go, and getting sentimental about it is only going to make all of this more difficult in the end. “My love?” he asks, trying to steer them out of dangerous territory. “You never call me pet names.”

Chase raises his head, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Because what could be sweeter than Aven?”

Oh. Fuck. Aven doesn’t think he can do this—how in the hell can he say goodbye to this man? A prickle of tears threatens to spill from his eyes, and he raises his hand to Chase’s face, tracing his bottom lip. His boyfriend’s eyes are soft, adoring, and Aven’s heart stutters just looking at him.

“Chase …”

He doesn’t know how to say what he’s feeling without completely breaking down and begging him not to go.

“Ask me to stay.”

The first time Chase says it, it’s so quiet that Aven is almost certain he heard wrong. “What did you say?”

“I said,” he takes a deep, steadying breath, “Aven, ask me to stay here with you. I don’t want to go.”

Christ. Aven can’t even look at him, too afraid of crumbling and doing exactly as he’s said. “You can’t ask me to do that, Chase,” he says miserably. “It’s not fair.”

“You wanted me to get better at asking for what I want,” Chase insists. “This is it. I want you to ask me not to go.”

“I can’t,” Aven reasons. “I can’t take away everything you’ve worked for. It’s your career. You signed a contract.”

Chase rubs his hands over his face, shaking his head, and then he looks up, determined. “I just … I don’t fucking care. I get that it’s a lot of money and prestige. I get that it makes sense as a next step career-wise, but, Aven? I seriously don’t fucking care.”

He huffs out a breath, turning away and pacing back and forth between Aven’s bed and the dresser. “I want to write my own music. I don’t want to play in another band where I might as well be a robot for all the input I’m allowed.”

Pivoting, he moves back toward Aven, stopping a few feet short. “And none of it even matters without you. I can’t leave you again. I do trust we’d make it through this tour, and however many more, but I don’t want to. I want to be with you here, now, it’d be fucking torture to be apart all over again.”

Aven’s a little dazed, a little dizzy, his heart picking up speed at what Chase is laying out for them.

“I want what we talked about in high school,” Chase goes on. “For us to make music, start our own band.”

“Okay, but—”

“No,” Chase gives him a pleading look. “Please don’t try talking me out of this. I get to decide what’s best for me, right?”

“Of course.”

“And you’d want to do this with me?”

The mere idea of it warms Aven’s insides. “With every single part of my being, Chase, yes.”

Chase gives him a soft smile, moving closer with an imploring stare. “Then, Aven, let’s make some music together.”

It’s what Aven longs for more than anything in the whole damn world. But … “What about your contract?”

“Remember how my attorney negotiated to get an additional request?”

“Right.” Aven nods. “You said she worked it out.”

“My contract stipulates that I have until tomorrow at 5 P.M. to back out with no consequences.”

“Hang on, what?” Aven can’t be understanding correctly.

“It was a great offer,” Chase continues, “but I still resisted accepting it. I wanted to make damn sure it was what I wanted. I know it’s the best choice career-wise, I do, and I’ve tried over and over again to talk myself into it, but Aven?” A smile blooms on his lips. “I can’t get on that plane in the morning. There’s no way, there’s no way I can leave you.” He takes Aven’s hands in his own. “Fuck what’s best, okay? Let’s make what’s ours.”

Aven’s heart is pounding, stumbling to catch up with Chase. A note of disbelief dancing at the edge of his thoughts, that the life he’s closed his eyes and wished for may really come true.

He draws Chase into his arms, pulling him into a tight hug, and Chase holds on, wrapped around Aven like he might never let go. Their bodies sway together, and Aven lowers his head, breathing, “Chase Matthews?” into his ear.

“Yeah?” he replies, tender and hopeful.

“I love you,” Aven tells him sincerely. “And I want you to stay.”

Chase goes still for a moment and then pulls back and meets his eyes. “Okay,” he says, his entire face elated, shining. “Aven, yes.”

A thankful noise comes from Aven and then he surges forward, brushing against Chase’s mouth, tasting his lips, nudging his tongue inside and kissing him like the very best love song, kissing until they’re breathless and Aven moves his hands to Chase’s hips, walking him backwards to the bed.

He undresses quickly while Chase takes down his own briefs, and Aven fits himself over Chase’s body, staring down into his eyes. Those beautiful, magnetic brown eyes that could persuade him to do just about anything.

Chase smiles up at him, this over-the-top grin that makes Aven’s mouth automatically lift in response. “What?” he asks, tracing the line of Chase’s jaw.

“It’s nothing,” Chase says, huffing out a laugh, “just thinking how lovely you are.”

“Lovely?” Aven asks, quirking a brow. “Not sexy?”

“That too. You’re everything.”

They’re looking at each other like two lovestruck fools, and Aven waits for a pang of fear or regret, like they made the wrong choice, like this is a terrible mistake Chase will wish to take back. But there’s nothing in his chest other than the utter satisfaction of lying here with Chase, of knowing they’ll get this every single day, and of the chance to create more music together, to someday play their songs to a crowd.

Chase wraps his legs around Aven’s waist, giving him a sultry look that heats Aven’s blood. “I want you to fuck me now,” he says.

For that? Aven doesn’t need to be asked twice. He kisses his way slowly down Chase’s body, stopping for long minutes of time to pay special attention to that spot on Chase’s neck that drives him wild, to his nipples, which Aven loves sucking into his mouth, and finally to his belly, where Aven traces his navel, draws a heart around his favorite scar.

“Mm,” Chase moans, staring down his body to where Aven’s pressing tender kisses against his inner thigh. “I wanna suck you,” he says, a little lust-drunk, and while there’s not much Aven loves more than Chase’s mouth wrapped around his dick, but right now? He’s occupied.

“Later,” he says, “I’m busy down here.” He spreads Chase’s legs farther apart pushing his knees up to his chest. “Look at this pretty hole,” he croons. Aven licks his thumb and rubs against Chase’s rim and is rewarded with a needy groan. “That’s it, baby, lemme hear you.”

“Why do you always get your way in bed?” Chase asks, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement.

“I dunno.” Aven sucks a finger into his mouth, gets it sloppy wet, and then slides it right past the tight ring of Chase’s muscles. “Is it because you love getting this ass fucked so much?”

Chase throws his head back, fingers digging into his own thighs. “Jesus, Aven.”

“Well,” Aven asks, lazily fingering his hole, “is it?”

A throaty moan, and then Chase says, “Yes,” arching his hips. “I love the way you fuck me.”

“I’ll take good care of you,” Aven promises, and he drags his finger out, spreading Chase open and getting his mouth on him, licking and sucking at the slick skin around his hole, darting his tongue inside, and Chase goes wild beneath him, bucking and moaning, all sweat-slicked skin and quivering thighs.

Pulling back, Aven stares down at that inviting, pink hole, blowing a puff of air over and it and watching it twitch for him. “You’re all wet for me now, sweetheart,” he says languidly.

“Don’t stop,” Chase begs, hips lifting, begging for more touch. “Fuck me.”

“In a minute,” Aven tells him, plunging his finger past the entrance of Chase’s hole again.

“Aven,” Chase whines. “Come on.”

“A few more minutes, sweetheart,” Aven insists, “then you’ll get my dick. I want to stretch you out on my fingers first.”

Grabbing the lube off the nightstand, he coats two fingers and paints the rim of Chase’s hole before gently pushing inside and using the pads of his fingertips to find Chase’s prostate, putting pressure there. “Oh fuck,” Chase says, and a whimper leaks from his mouth.

Aven circles the gland, finding the right movements to turn Chase into jelly. His gaze travels up Chase’s miles of golden skin and lands on his eyes, where Chase is watching him back, this all-consumed, pleasure-filled glow on his face, and in that moment, Aven wants to kiss him more than anything.

Crawling to the head of the bed, he repositions Chase’s body and slips his fingers back inside, tilting Chase’s chin in his direction. Aven’s mouth meets his, kissing him, making him moan. A luscious kiss that sends tingles all the way down his thighs.

It’s divine, is what it is. To taste Chase’s mouth while his fingers are buried inside of him. While Chase is so greedily riding his hand. And Chase feels so good, so hot, and blissfully stretched out, and Aven’s dick twitches with a signal that he should pull those fingers the fuck out and give it a turn.

But Aven doesn’t quite want this moment to end. Not when he still feels like he could go on kissing Chase forever, and not with everything they’ve been through and everything yet to come. He wants to linger, kissing his partner’s mouth, feeling him clench around Aven’s knuckles, but if Aven’s ready-to-come dick gets involved, he won’t last, and he needs this right now. Needs to be this close, to share this intimacy with Chase.

Minutes tick by, their kiss everlasting, and when they finally break apart, he can’t stop staring at Chase, can’t stop thinking how mind-blowingly lucky he is to have this at all.

“I love you so much,” he whispers. “I’m not going anywhere, and you’re not going anywhere, for always and ever.”

“For always,” Chase agrees, blinking back at Aven with sincere eyes.

“Mm,” murmurs Aven contently, and hooks his arm around Chase’s leg, pulling it aside to push his fingers back inside.

Chase’s fingertips dig into Aven’s forearm. “Aven,” he says, a little breathily, “Aven, come on. Pull out and fuck me already, come on.”

Aven thrusts his fingers lazily in and out of Chase’s hole. “I am fucking you,” he tells him. “Just using my fingers to do it.” Pressing against his prostate, Aven vibrates the pad of his finger up and down, and Chase cries out desperately.

“You like me fucking you like that?” Aven asks.

“Fuuuck.”

“I thought so.”

Aven pulls his fingers out, gently tapping on Chase’s rim, testing the stretch.

“More,” Chase complains.

“More what?” Aven asks, all innocence.

“Rub my spot again,” Chase tells him, his eyes demanding Aven get to it.

“Oh, okay,” Aven says. “Do you want my fingers,” he inches them the tiniest bit inside, a tease, “right here? Is this your spot?”

“Deeper,” Chase insists, and the side of Aven’s mouth lifts as he slides his fingers inside until he finds the place that makes Chase’s toes curl, curving his fingers up towards Chase’s belly and stroking him from the inside.

“Oohh, oh god,” Chase groans, “right there, ohh, fuck.”

Aven puts his concentration into it, pleasuring Chase with slick fingers until he’s whimpering, letting out breathy little moans that Aven goes dizzy over. “You sound like a slut,” Aven tells him fondly, and Chase shivers, like that’s exactly what he is for Aven’s touch.

“I want to get dicked,” Chase tells him, his voice wrecked.

“Baby, my sweetheart,” Aven breathes, “look at me,” and Chase does, finding Aven’s gaze with glassy, sex-soaked eyes. “I love you. You”re wonderful and good and perfect, and I just want to touch you for a few minutes more, can you take more for me?”

Chase makes a soft sound, devotedly nodding his head and looking at Aven sweet as honey, and Aven’s heart races for him. Dribbling more lube onto his hand, he pushes back in with three fingers this time, and a moan pours from Chase’s mouth, head thrown back against a pillow, fingers clenching into the bedsheets. Aven finger-fucks him into a writhing, sweaty, begging mess, adjusting his fingertips to find the very best places, whispering to Chase how amazing he is, how good he feels, and when he’s almost certain Chase has had as much as he can take, Aven melts even closer to him, sucking Chase’s bottom lip into his mouth, kissing him deep and breathless.

He pulls away, looking at Chase’s kiss-swollen lips, his flushed face. Watches as he gulps down air, his eyes unfocused, and Aven knows it’s time. Working Chase’s hole with his fingers, he increases the pressure and speed, and says, “Come on, babe, touch yourself, let me see you come.”

And Chase quick as lightening drops his hand to his cock, where he palms over the head, gathering pre-cum, before sliding his hand over the shaft. His eyes find Aven’s and lock on, and Aven watches his face, watches as Chase shudders, bliss etched over his features, coming in long, ropey streaks of white all over himself, and Aven can’t hold back any longer.

Chase is still gasping for breath when Aven slides over him, and with one easy thrust, he’s buried inside. He goes deep, sinking in to his balls, and lets himself still for a moment, taking pleasure in the feel of Chase’s body beneath him, of the alluring scent of their sex, and in knowing this is his.

Chase reaches a trembling hand to cup his face, and Aven turns his head, pressing a kiss against his palm. Then he hooks his arms around Chase’s knees and lifts up, snapping his hips, pounding into him with all the hunger and fire he feels for his boyfriend, his love, and there’s never been anyone or anywhere that feels more right than this—than this man who he so intensely cherishes, and who loves him back just as much.

When he comes, it’s inside of Chase, it’s with Chase’s name in Aven’s mouth, it’s with Chase’s arms wrapped around him, holding on. They stay that way, connected, for a long stretch of time before Aven lifts his head from the crook of Chase’s neck and meets his smiling eyes.

His hair is plastered to his head, skin gleaming with sweat, and he looks so dreamily fucked-out that Aven wants to rewind time and do it all over again.

Chase strokes a hand across the muscles of Aven’s back, the giddy sound of laughter coming from his mouth.

Aven raises his brow. “What’s gotten into you?” he asks.

Chase shakes his head a little, still with this almost amusingly large grin spread out across his face. “I don’t know,” he says, his fingers threading through Aven’s hair. “It’s sort of like … I can’t believe it, that I’m staying? That I get to be with you every single day.”

“We get to be with each other.” Aven touches his cheek. “Think you’re going to get sick of me if we’re living together and playing music?”

Chase looks thoughtful, like he might actually be considering it, and he says, “I don’t think so. Not even a little. With you, I’ve only ever wanted more time.”

An air of happiness rises in Aven’s chest. “Same.” He presses a kiss against Chase’s forehead, and gently pulls out of him, settling onto the mattress and cuddling into Chase’s arms.

The sun is rising, a golden streak of light warming the bedroom.

And they’ve got all the time in the world.