Page 108 of Between Us

“It was a real-life meet cute,” Meera pipes in, making my parents laugh. They’ve been around her long enough to know she’s a romantic, much like my father.

“I’ll give you the story, Timmy,” Margo says. The two of them are the only people toevercall him that as far as I’m aware. It’s no surprise which of the two came up with it. “Meera and I saw the whole thing play out in real time.”

Leaning into Adrian’s chest, he wraps an arm around my shoulders, and we listen as my best friend, and his mother, give the detailed account of the night we saw each other for the first time.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Blake

AdrianandIspentthe first couple of hours with our parents, talking on the back porch and getting to know each other. My friends gave us some privacy after the impromptu story time and the conversations flowed easily.

Bonnie and Maria floated in and out too, allowing my parents, and Adrian’s, to get to know each other as well.

Eventually, Dev and Jatin got here, meeting the rest of their family at the party. After Cami fussed over Adrian’s new friend Jatin, to her son’s embarrassment, we broke off to the kitchen.

The six of us are easily the youngest people here by at least a decade, and everyone else has stayed outside near the heaters, or in the living room where the music and drinks are.

Meera pulled out the game Taboo about thirty minutes ago, and we’ve been playing ever since—boys versus girls. I’d never guess Adrian was as competitive as he’s proven to be either.

With about five minutes left to midnight, we agree to regroup after the ball drops. Our friends make their way into the living room with the rest of the guests, but a really crazy, horribly reckless idea starts to take form. And once it does, I can’t stop from grabbing onto some of that newfound courage and turning toward Adrian.

“There’s only a few minutes left, Storm Cloud. I don’t want to miss our first New Year’s Eve kiss,” Adrian murmurs when he grabs my waist and pulls me into him.

I loop my hands around his neck and tug him down. Brushing my lips against his, I whisper, “I have something else in mind… hopefully something better than a kiss.”

That gets his attention and compliance. With a saucy grin, he lets me lead him toward the pantry. It’s a large walk-in style, except there’s no light. Not that I need one for what I have in mind.

Knowing that I have extremely limited time and about thirty-plus possibilities that someone will walk in on us, I quickly shut the door and push Adrian until his back meets the shelves.

“Blake,” his voice is low and gravelly, “what are you doing, baby?”

“Instead of a kiss, what about a different tradition?” Leaning into him, I lightly trail my fingers over the already growing bulge in his pants.

“I know you love those,” he breathes out when my palm flattens against him.

Nodding against his neck, I place kisses and agree. “I do.”

“Do you have a condom?” The tone in his voice is desperate, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“No,” I tell him before lowering to my knees.

Groaning, he tangles a hand in my hair. He’s mimicked the gesture the few times I’ve done this. More often than not, he’d rather be inside of me if it’s a possibility. I’m not going to argue with him on that.

But I like doing this for him.

The semi-public setting is a brand new thing for me though. So far, I can’t say I hate it.

“Can I?” I grab onto his belt buckle and look up at him through the dark.

Neither of us can see the other, but I can feel his eyes in my direction too.

“Fuck.Yes.”

Not wanting to waste any time, I unfasten his belt and get his pants down to his thighs.

Running my hands up his legs, I feel my way to his length. My hands wrap around him and it’s easier to orient myself in the dark.

He lets out a low, throaty sound as my hands start to stroke his cock and my tongue flicks out, swiping across his tip. His natural musky scent is strong and so fucking delicious.