Page 19 of Poolside

Chuck returned the smile, and looked back at his friends. “We’re going to get out of here,” he said, careful to not look at Tommy. “Thanks for coming out tonight. It really does mean a lot.”

Wade gave him a thumbs up and a wink, while David waggled his brows and smirked.

“Have fun,” Sage said, leaning her head onto David’s shoulder.

His gaze finally landed on Tommy, who was looking at him with a confused frown. Or maybe it wasn’t confusion—if Chuck didn’t know better, he would have thought Tommy looked sad.

But then Gavin’s hand was on his back, and Chuck left his friends with a wave, letting the man guide him through the crowd and out the door. They quickly decided on going to Chuck’s house, since it was closer.

They had barely made it through the front door when Chuck pulled Gavin’s body against him. Chuck initiated the kiss, quickly losing himself in the lingering bite of vodka on his tongue.

As Gavin’s hands roamed his body, Chuck let his imagination run wild. What if he was kissing the man who would become a permanent fixture in his home? Maybe Gavin, thisstranger, could see something within him that went beyond his body. Maybe whatever they started tonight could turn into sharing a meal and long conversations on his back patio. Maybe sparks would fly. Maybe they’d exchange numbers and make plans to go on a date.

Maybe someday, he would feel like he belonged in Chuck’s home.

Gavin’s mouth dropped to his neck, his beard tickling Chuck’s chin. With a soft whine, Chuck tilted his head back, his body waking up as he felt kisses trail down the open neck of his shirt.

“Have you been tested?” Gavin asked, and Chuck looked down to see the man falling to his knees before him.

Chuck nodded, a little gasp falling from his lips as Gavin lifted his shirt to kiss the bare skin above his waistband. “A few weeks ago and there’s been no one since. And I’m on PrEP.”

“Same, and I was tested last week,” Gavin replied as his hands worked Chuck’s button free. He pulled Chuck’s shorts and jock down together, leaving him naked and half-hard. “Damn, look at you,” Gavin said, his voice rough as he leaned forward.

Chuck sunk his teeth into his lower lip, watching his cock start to fill as Gavin’s rough lips wrapped around the head. Relief warred with the dull throb of arousal as the man swallowed him down.

Fuck, it was good. It felt warm, a buzz starting just below his belly button. His eyes closed and he focused his attention on how badly he wanted this, how much he wanted to come. Chuck held his breath, hoping, fuckingprayingthat the warmth would turn to heat, that the effort this man was putting into giving him a perfectly wet, sloppy blowjob would be enough.

Minutes stretched on, and Chuck could sense Gavin’s frustration as his hand joined his mouth, gripping his sack while the other trailed back, seeking out his hole.

But the fire wasn’t getting any stronger, the release that Chuck fuckingcravedwasn’t coming. Finally, he pushed the stranger away from him, his hard cock dripping with spit between them.

“I,” Chuck started, scratching his chest like maybe that might ease the crippling embarrassment curdling inside of him. His eyes caught on the flattened cushions on the couch where he and Tommy had sat watchingSpartacustogether. Forcing a breath, he looked back at the man on his knees. “I’m sorry, I just…it’s good, Gavin. So good, but I’m not going to come.”

Gavin pushed up to standing, and Chuck’s living room suddenly felt too small. The look on his face—hurt, confusion—was one Chuck wished he didn’t know as well as he did.

“Sorry.” Chuck went on, pointing toward the other man’s crotch. “Want me to?—”

“I think I’m going to head out,” Gavin said, stepping back and clearing his throat. “It was nice to meet you, Chuck.”

There was nothing he could do but watch the man’s broad back disappear out the front door.

A clawing sadness started in his chest and spread like a disease, fueled by embarrassment and shame and frustration and rage. Chuck was so fucking tired, and for just a moment he let himself give up, sinking down to the floor.

The carpet was rough against his bare ass. Chuck hugged his knees to his chest and dropped his forehead. Between his legs, his soft cock still glistened from a stranger’s mouth.

He couldn’t go on like this.

CHAPTER5

WADE FUCKING JOHNSON

TOMMY

Tommy was living the fucking dream.

He couldn’t believe he was sitting less than two feet away from his favorite hockey player of all time in a gay bar in Charleston.

Wade was chill and easy-going, a stark contrast from the kind of player he’d been on the ice. He looked older, too, like the years since his career ended hadn’t been easy. But the man had let Tommy geek out about his stats and had answered questions about his career with a patience Tommy was sure he didn’t deserve.

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