Page 21 of This Time Around
“Fuck no, Encyclopedia Brown.”
“Hey, that was a great book series,” Memphis said defensively. “Seriously, guys, there’s nothing wrong with the doorknob.” Memphis reached out and twisted the knob on the outside to show that it worked fine.
Andy reached around to the inside and demonstrated that it didn’t budge.
“Fuck!” I said. “I bet they kept someone locked up there.”
“Knock it off, or you’ll work yourself up again,” Andy said mildly. “I’m going back up there to complete my inspection. Don’t shut the door again. Unless you want to follow me and finish what we started,” he said with a playful wink before he headed back up the steps.
“If you didn’t shut the door then who did?” Memphis asked. “Do you smell that?”
I sniffed the air and caught the faintest whiff of pipe tobacco. My eyes got as big as saucers before I hightailed it down the steps and out to the front porch. “It really is haunted,” I told Memphis when he caught up to me. “That ghost locked me in the attic with Andy.”
“Uh huh. Seems to me the ghost did you a favor.”
The jury was still out on that one. My heart raced from fear, but my body burned with need, lust, and excitement. I was fast approaching the point of no return, and I was no closer to finding out what happened to Andy than I was two years ago.
It was hard to push thoughts of Milo aside to focus on my job with a raging hard-on between my legs. I know, I’m a guy and should be used to working around an inconvenient erection, but the truth is: not all boners are created equal.
A Milo-induced erection, like the man himself, isn’t something you can ignore. Milo gets under my skin in ways no one else ever could, and the boners he gave me wouldn’t just go away on their own if I worked hard enough. I had two choices: rub one out myself at my earliest convenience or follow him home so we could fuck this physical frustration out of our systems and begin healing the emotional rift. I knew which one I preferred, but it wasn’t a decision I could make unilaterally.
I untucked my T-shirt to help hide my erection, but my toolbelt prevented it from giving me full coverage. I felt curious looks, and even some knowing ones, as I ran into the other guys while I made my rounds. Later, I’d marvel over how stunning the house truly was, especially since it was built prior to indoor electric and plumbing, but right then, I only wanted to give an honest appraisal of the condition so I could search out Milo’s hiding spot. I hadn’t seen him or Memphis since I returned to the attic.
“Milo’s outside with Memphis,” Simon told me. I guess my thoughts were obvious to anyone who looked at me.
“Look, Simon—”
He held up both hands to stop me. “Say no more. I might not be the most observant man in the world, but I think I know why I never stood a chance with Milo.” Simon was the second person to say that in as many days. “That doesn’t mean I won’t be waiting in the wings in case you screw up once and for all.”
Me?Why did everyone always assume that I was the one who ended our relationship? Was it because I stayed gone so long, or was it something that little shit told people after we broke up? I felt my anger returning, which only seemed to make my dick harder.Damn that Milo.
“See you around, Simon,” I tossed over my shoulder and headed for the door. I should’ve looked for Becker to say goodbye and thanked Chris and Mike for working me into their busy schedules, but I was beyond niceties.
“All done then?” Milo asked me with forced cheer. “We’ll just be going. Come along, Memphis.”
“Not so fast, Dimples.” It was the first time I used the nickname I’d given him in high school. Many people thought I was referring to the dimples on either side of his mouth or the cute one in the center of his chin. Nope, I was referring to the adorable divots that rested above his ass cheeks. I was obsessed with them when we were younger, and I was eager to get reacquainted with them. “We need to talk.”
I saw anger and hunger swirl in Milo’s eyes. There would be no talking, not until after we worked off some steam. Was he angry over my assertiveness or because he wanted me so fucking bad? I was about to find out.
“Milo, let me give you a ride home.”
“I don’t think—”
“Sounds good to me,” Memphis said. “I have dinner plans.”
“Hot date?” I asked.
“Nah, dinner with Emory and Jon.”
“Don’t I have a say in who takes me home?” Milo asked angrily.
“Milo, Andy isn’t a threat to your safety.”Oh, I wasn’t sure about that.“Of course, I’ll take you home if you don’t want to be alone with Andy.”
I leaned forward and pressed my lips to Milo’s ear, loving the slight tremor that shook his body. “Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” Milo hissed at me before he turned to his friend. “I’ll call you later, Memphis.” He trotted down the steps and across the driveway with his shoulders back and head high, not waiting for Memphis to respond or for me to comment further.
“You’re going to have your hands full with him tonight,” Memphis teased.