Page 93 of Relief Pitcher

Damn. Thinking long-term already? Imagining a future with Coop came as easy as falling asleep next to him.

I’d read some Reddit posts from demiromantic people who’d talked about experiences similar to mine. No one caught their attention romantically until someone finally did, and then they were all in.

Cooper rolled over, brushed his knee against my thigh, and made an adorable snuffling sound. I’d tuckered the poor guy out after waking him up in the middle of the night and sucking his brains out through his dick. I couldn’t blame him for sleeping in on a Saturday.

I might as well get up and make coffee. I carefully extricated myself from him and made my way to the kitchen. Without second-guessing it, I made myself at home. It surprised me how comfortable I was in his space. I’d been here several times, and he’d always told me to make myself at home, but I’d finally allowed myself tofeelat home.

I smiled as I passed the couch where we’d spent last night binging a wedding-themed Hallmark marathon. I couldn’t believe it, but an evening doing that with Cooper was more fun than getting my dick sucked by a stranger off a hookup app. Quality time with one of my favorite peopleanddick-sucking? I didn’t understand the magic or science behind how emotions made sex better for me, but I was pro anything that made orgasms more potent than a drug.

It wasn’t like I suddenly didn’t care about sex anymore and didn’t want to go out or that I’d “seen the light” and thought fucking around was a waste of time. I was excited to learn how to have fun with the same person in different ways instead of different people in the same way.

Maybe Coop and I could hit the bars and get off in a dark corner sometime soon. Best of both worlds.

I pulled two mugs from the cupboard and looked out the kitchen window. A crow stood on top of the suet and stared at me. The longer we watched each other, the harder a particular thought pushed to the forefront of my mind. I glanced back toward the bedroom and back at the crow. No better time than while Coop was sleeping.

After pulling on a pair of his pajama pants and a T-shirt from his dryer and sliding on my shoes, I walked out to the special place Coop had pointed out recently when he’d given me a walking tour of places we hadn’t reached by ATV. Hopefully I didn’t get lost.

I welcomed the chill in the air before the July heat. Everything had a dewy glow in the soft sunlight. After a few wrong turns and a near trip over a giant rock, I found the spot.

I sat on the tree stump throne. “Hello, Aleck.” I cleared my throat to dispel the morning rasp. “I’m Tyler. Um, Cooper’s boyfriend. Though you probably know that already. Now that I’m thinking about it, you’ve probably seen me naked. Coop said you were a bit of a perv. Have you watched us get it on?”

I winced and squeezed my eyes closed. Of course that had spilled out of my mouth while attempting to commune with the spirit of my boyfriend’s dead husband.What the fuck is wrong with me?

“I’m a perv too. Maybe Coop has a type.” I chuckled. “You can watch once in a while, but don’t be weird.”

A crow cawed loudly.

“You’re so right! Coopisa very lucky man.”

A crow landed a few feet from me. It opened its wings and flapped them.

What the hell had I come out there to say to him? I wasn’t even sure I believed he could hear me, but just in case he could, he deserved to know my intentions.

“I assume you’re all-knowing and familiar with my past. I’m sure if I came across you and Coop in a bar, I would’ve offered to be the salami in your sandwich. Shame we didn’t get that opportunity.” I chuckled. “Despite being a horny bastard, I want you to know how serious I am about him. I promise to do everything I can not to hurt him.”

I licked my dry lips. “He’s stronger than I realized. Definitely stronger than me. Brave enough to put himself out there again. I care a lot about him, but I’m also sorry that your time together was cut too short. There’s a part of me that would’ve happily never met him if it meant he could’ve had you longer.” I let out a long breath. “But those are the cards you both got, I guess. I’m sure as hell grateful I’m getting dealt into his second hand.”

My throat burned as I sat in silence, collecting myself. Two more crows landed and stared expectantly at me. I should’ve brought them food.

“I guess that’s all I wanted to say. I hope you’re getting lots of dick up in heaven or another dimension or wherever you are. Swimming in all the DPs you can dream of if you’re into that. May the orgasms and lube be plentiful. Or do you not need lube where you are?”

I slapped my hands against my thighs and stood, feeling lighter than I had ten minutes ago. I took another look at the tranquil creek flowing freely after several rainy June days.

Maybe Coop and I could visit the spot together sometime. I’d never pressure him to share his husband with me, but I wanted him to know he could. I was ready to receive any part of Coop he wanted to show me.

Crows flew from branch to branch ahead of me as I strolled leisurely behind them. Either my internal sense of direction finally clicked, or I had feathery tour guides. Either way, I made it back to the house without getting lost.

I smiled up at the birds and nodded my thanks. When I looked over at the house, I saw Coop sitting on the front porch in a wooden chair he’d built.

“Morning.” There was a soft, knowing smile on his face.

“Morning. Get some good sleep?”

“You made sure of that.” He grinned.

“Wore your ass out last night.” My dick twitched at the memory of thrusting into him on the couch as a movie played in the background.

He shifted in the chair. “Sure did.”

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