Page 39 of Covington Acres

“Told you I was close,” he said, and then, to his surprise, watched while Colby leaned down and licked Vince’s release off his stomach.

His dick twitched again at the sight, and Vince pulled Colby to him and kissed him.

“This is going to be so much fun,” Colby told him.

Vince fell asleep with a smile on his face and his friend in his arms.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Colby

“I’m having sexwith Vince,” Colby blurted to Clint while the two of them were hiking.

Clint tripped on a rock and nearly fell, Colby reaching out to catch him. “Warn a guy, would you?”

Colby chuckled. He and Vince had been home for a week now. They’d slept in the same bed every night, and Vince had blown him more than once since then. Colby had even returned the favor. Sure, he wasn’t as good at it as Vince, but his friend seemed to enjoy it, and Colby realized that giving head was really fucking fun.

“Sorry. I just needed to share it with someone. The people I talk to the most now are Vince and you, and clearly Vince already knows. And you said before that I can come to you…”

“Absolutely. I’m always here for you for anything. I just didn’t expect to hear that right at this moment. Clearly, you’re okay with it? Not having any confusion or anything?”

Colby shook his head. He was definitely into the sex. He liked Vince’s dick, liked the fact that he was a man too. “No, no confusion.” Not about the sex part, at least. “I’m not surprised I’m bi…or pan…or whatever I am. I’ve been wondering a little if I’m queer.” It started before Vince had moved here. There had been the high school jerk-off thing, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized how much he’d truly watched the other guy. How much he’d enjoyed it. Then, there was the breakup with Lulu—he couldn’t understand why he hadn’t been able to love her, just like he hadn’t been able to love any ofthe other women before her. He couldn’t work through how to say that to Clint, though, didn’t want his friend to think there was something wrong with him for not seeming capable of that feeling in a romantic way.

“And now you obviously have the answer to that.”

“I do.” He grinned. He really fucking liked being attracted to men, having sex with men—or at least with Vince, since he hadn’t tried it with another guy yet.

“Are you guys together? Dating?”

His stomach dropped. Why was that the first thing people asked? Why did it alwayshaveto go back to a relationship, finding that person you’re supposed to be with forever. Maybe that wasn’t the case for everyone, maybe they didn’t all have a person, and maybe some people didn’t want one. That was okay too.

“No. Just friends.” He stepped over a rock on the trail. “Neither of us wants a relationship. I don’t think I’ll ever want one,” he hedged, waiting to see if Clint would look at him like he was broken.

“That’s okay. You don’t have to. Hell, if it wasn’t for August, I never would have settled down with someone.”

But that wasn’t what he didn’t get. Now that Clint had August, hecouldromantically love him, and Colby didn’t think it was possible for him.

“It’s easy with Vince. There’s no pressure. We trust each other. Have fun. I can be honest with him, and he feels the same. We do this as long as we want to, and then if one of us isn’t feeling it anymore, we stop.”

Clint pumped his brows at Colby. “Famous last words. I’m pretty sure everyone says or thinks that before they realize they’re in love.”

Another pang landed in his chest. Clint didn’t mean anything by it; the assumption was one everyone made. The default in lifewas that everyone should want love or would eventually find the person they loved romantically, and Colby was proof that wasn’t the case.

“Nah, not with us,” he replied without looking at Clint.

“Hey, did I say something wrong? I feel like I did. I didn’t mean anything by that.”

Colby shook off his concern. The last thing he wanted was for Clint to feel bad. “You’re fine. No worries. I’m just glad I can talk to you about these things.” He knew he could tell Roe too, but for whatever reason, it was hard. Roe was the best brother a guy could have, but he was also perfect. It shouldn’t be a competition, but Colby couldn’t help feeling like he didn’t measure up to Roe or Dennis.

“Your secret is safe with me.” Clint wrapped an arm around Colby’s shoulders. “And I’m happy for you. The friendship between you and Vince is special. It’s easy to see that. I’m glad you have him.”

Colby nodded, unsure what to say. All he knew was how glad he was he had Vince too.

They finished their hike, then went their separate ways. Colby and Vince were off today, but Vince was with Holden, and Colby was bored. The second batch of beer was fermenting. He couldn’t wait to taste it. The waiting in this process was the hardest part for him, but then he also had a feeling that would make it more exciting in the end.

When he got home, he went into the shop, though there was nothing he could do with the beer at this point. He was lucky he had this space, lucky that it had power, insulated walls, and could be just as comfortable as being in the house.

He had the fridge, the countertops, the shelves on the walls. There were his tools and some random projects he’d started but not finished. The couch and a TV so he could watch that when he was outside too, but there was also a lot of extra space he neverhad any idea what to do with, and if he rearranged things, he could make even more.

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