Page 54 of Dire Straights

“Ah, but I need to-”

“Sit,” Che repeated, blinking his long, dark eyelashes. It was kind of funny, I’d never actually seen him assert himself in any real capacity before. “You’re always running around taking care of everyone else. You have to let other people take care of you sometimes, too.”

Evidently unable to offer any kind of argument, Cyprian made his way over to the couch, plopping down next to where Arie’s butt was propped on the arm.

“Don’t you just love bossy bottoms?” He mused, surveying his glossy nails before buffing them on the front of his shirt.

“Oh, I, uh… Y-yeah, I guess,” Cyprian stammered out. Poor guy. Arie blinked, slowly turning his head to stare at Cyprian like he’d heard some kind of sleeper code phrase. Pursing his lips for a moment like he was in thought, he gave a little head tilt before returning to look at his nails. Before I could ponder what the hell that little exchange had been indicative of, Ren squeezed my arm a little for my attention.

“So you’re not mad, right? About the, um, sick thing?” When I didn’t immediately answer, he rambled on. “I felt really, really bad lying to you but I didn’t know what else to say. I forgot to come up with a reason why I wouldn’t be in class and, um, I just kind of panicked. I really didn’t think you would check on me or anything, so… I hope you didn’t think I was doing anything bad.”

Part of me wanted to tell him how scared and horrified and hurt I’d been when I’d thought, even for just a brief second, that he was doing something behind my back. But the words stuck in my throat like glue. Maybe if we were alone. Maybe.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. His expression was so repentant and so concerned, like the thought that he’d caused me any amount of worry or sadness was killing him. “I’m happy now.”

“Yeah, but…” He paused, and his fingers curled into my hand, intertwining between mine. Everyone in the room could see us, but… I suddenly realized I didn’t care. “I was just really worried. I almost told you everything and ruined the surprise, but Arie would have killed me.”

“That’s right,” Arie piped up from his little perch next to Cyprian. “I would have.”

“Speaking of Arie being annoying, I brought cupcakes from work,” Aspen said.

“What does that have to do with Arie being annoying?” I wondered.

“You’ll see,” Aspen responded, giving him a dry glance. “Anyway, should I bring them out?”

“Actually, uh, we need to talk,” I said, shifting my gaze to Ren. His eyes widened a bit, like he was a kid about to receive a lecture as a punishment. “Do you mind if we just…” I gestured to the doorway leading to the hallway.

Aspen shrugged. “Take your time.” Everyone was eating or chatting amongst themselves anyway.

Dragging Ren down the hall and into my bedroom by his hand, I closed the door behind us, clicking the lock into place.

“You’re upset with me?” He guessed.

“No.”

Curling my fingers into the collar of his shirt, I yanked him toward me. He stumbled forward a bit, steadying as I snaked my arms around his neck, pulling him into a hot, rough kiss.

REN

I HADN’T REALLYexpected or wanted any kind of reward for the party. I’d just been so surprised to see how close his birthday was, and the idea of celebrating had seemed fun, and like it would make him happy. I knew how stressed he was with winter break coming up and some big trip with the swim team. I’d just wanted to make him smile and maybe call me a dork for planning such a silly, childish party. I definitely hadn’t expected him to kiss my brains out and shove me down onto his bed, with everyone out in the living room waiting for us to come back out. I wasn’t the type of person to look a gift horse in the mouth, though.

“Uh, Maddy…” I swallowed hard as he dropped down to his knees on the mattress in front of me. His eyes were intensely blue, and shining with absolute affection for me. It made me really happy, but… “You sure you want to do this? Everyone’s going to hear us.” At least there was music playing in the living room that could possibly drown us out a little.

“I’ll be quiet,” he assured me, keeping his eyes locked on mine as he dragged my zipper down. I shivered at the sensation, already fully hard. I’d pretty much been hard since the moment he’d started sucking on my tongue. As far as him being quiet… I was pretty sure he wasn’t capable of that. It wasn’t exactly my first rodeo with him. But he always sounded so incredibly hot that I could definitely not complain. Everything about him was incredibly hot. “And this will be really quick.”

With the way my blood was pumping in my veins, and how much of a turn on it was for him to not care about everyone hearing us, I had a feeling he was definitely right.

Once he’d pulled my cock all the way out, stroking his fist over it a few times, he flipped open the cap on the lube he kept on the nightstand. He’d already shoved his shorts and boxers down to his knees, his stiff dick on display for me. It bobbed with his movements, and I could barely tear my eyes away from it.

“Can I take your shirt off?” I asked softly, groaning a little in appreciation when he complied by ripping it over his head. His body was so ridiculously sexy, like something out of a magazine. Perfect, firm muscles down every inch, covered in smooth, warm skin. Even the dark little freckles dotted around his torso were completely adorable.

He squeezed some lube out onto my fingers, moving in close so he was straddling me, hovering over my lap. Reaching around so I could slick up his hole, I huffed out a little moan when his mouth latched onto my neck, licking and sucking at my skin.

“You’re so fucking cute,” he purred, his breath hot against my neck. “And you make me so happy.”

“Oh. That’s good. I’m glad.” Was I really expected to be able to comprehend and respond to full sentences while he was sucking on me like that, and rolling his hips back to get my fingers deeper into his ass?

“And your cock is so big and so fucking thick. I love it.”

---