Page 22 of The Road Home
CHAPTER NINE
Orson pulled on the sweats that Jared had loaned him, laughing at how big they were on his thin and short frame. He rolled them at the waist to make them fit better. There was nothing he could do about how baggy they were. It didn't matter, he was so happy to be in something clean.
He wanted to hug Jared for letting him shower and do laundry. It was better than any food he could get. Being able to actually use shampoo and conditioner along with a real bar of soap was something he hadn't been able to do in years.
The one thing he didn't expect was the arousal that had hit him out of nowhere. The bathroom held a faint scent of Jared, and as the steam from the shower increased so had the smell. When his cock started to spring to attention, he'd been shocked. Arousal was something he didn't feel. Too many rapes and attacks had left him numb to the thought of anything sexual, but his body liked something about Jared's scent and let him know it as his cock went rock hard.
As hard as he tried to ignore it and focus on just washing his hair, he ended up jacking off, taking much longer in the shower than he meant to. His body still hummed from the intense orgasm that had shot through him. It had been probably a year since he'd last had the chance to find pleasure in any way. It didn't surprise him that he'd come so hard, but what did surprise him were the images of Jared that had flashed through his mind as he came.
Orson ran his fingers through his wet hair as he walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, trying to force the images from his mind, but they were there to stay. So clear that they would probably haunt his dreams for days to come. He glanced at the large king-sized bed, trying not to imagine himself in it with Jared doing erotic things to his body. It was rare he associated sex with pleasure, but something told him with Jared it would be all pleasure and no pain.
After gathering all his dirty clothes into his hands, he headed out to the kitchen, enjoying the feel of the thick carpet in the hallway against his feet. Such a simple thing, but something he hadn't experienced in so long. After three years on the streets he didn't get homesick often, but being here with Jared triggered a longing for the life he used to have. He took so much for granted back then. What he wouldn't give to have a bed to climb into every night and a safe place to sleep where he wasn't always worried about who was going to mug or rape him.
Jared turned around as Orson walked into the kitchen, his gaze traveling over Orson, lingering on his face for several seconds before he finally swallowed hard and smiled. "I knew they'd be a little big on you, but didn't think they'd be that bad. Sorry." Jared stepped closer to him. "You look good clean shaven."
"Thanks." Orson tried not to think about what he'd just done in the shower while thinking of Jared. "The clothes are great. I don't mind that they are baggy. Once I wash these I can change back into mine. I appreciate you letting me use them."
Jared smiled, still staring at him. "Did you have everything you needed?"
Orson nodded as he stared back, locking his gaze to Jared's. "It was the best shower I've had since I left home."
"That's sad." Jared frowned.
"Maybe, but it's true." Orson lifted his arms filled with his dirty clothes. "Can I still use your washer?"
"Oh, sure. Grab whatever else you have and I'll show you where it is." Jared stepped back.
Orson rushed to his backpack and pulled out what little he had. "This is it."
Jared glanced at the small pile, frowning again, but quickly turning away. "Down the hall." He hurried back toward the bedroom but passed it, going to a room beside it. "Just a cup of detergent and toss it in. There is spray there if you need to treat any bad stains."
"Thanks, but this will do." Orson quickly tossed the clothes in, again thinking how long it had been since he'd done such a simple task.
Once he was done, he turned, finding Jared leaning against the doorjamb. He took in how relaxed Jared looked, taking a moment to focus on him in a way he'd never allowed himself before, his gaze traveling up his long legs to his thin waist and even higher to his well-defined chest. The part that held his attention were the deep green eyes that he could get lost staring in.
They watched at each other for a long moment, the silence building between them. Neither said a word and Orson wondered what Jared was thinking. He didn't see pity in his eye like he usually did, but something more. His gaze was distant, yet at the same time, Orson shivered under the intensity of it.
"You're pretty amazing," Jared finally said.
"Um, thanks, but why?"
"Surviving all you have, living the way you do. I'm not sure I could do it. I keep thinking about how scared you must have been when you were kicked out. I probably would have been begging at my parents' door for them to let me back in."
Orson shook his head. "I couldn't do that. I couldn't hide who I was. I might have tried for another month or two, but I wasn't going to do it forever. They would have kicked me out sooner or later. It was inevitable. Sometimes I wonder if I'd just stayed for another year if things would be different, but honestly, I think I would have been more miserable at home with them watching my every move and trying to sway me into being what they wanted me to be."
Jared took a deep breath, but didn't say anything for a moment. The sudden look of sadness on his face made Orson want to go to him and tell him it was going to be okay even though he had no clue what was bothering him. It didn't make sense. They were talking about his life, but he didn't get the sense that Jared was feeling sorry for him again. "You okay?"
"Yeah, just thinking. Come eat. I made us ham sandwiches and grabbed a bag of chips." Jared turned and headed back to the kitchen.
Unsure if he should ask what he'd been thinking about, Orson followed in silence. They didn't know each other well enough for him to ask anything personal. Hell, they weren't even really friends, though he hoped Jared meant it when he said they could become friends. It would take time, and he was bracing himself for the time that the novelty of helping him wore off and Jared went back to his life and Orson would go back to his. Hopefully, by then, he'd have a job at least.
"Thanks again for the food. I don't think I've eaten this well since I left home."
"Stop thanking me. As I said before, I'm glad for the company."
"You act like you don't have any other friends."
"I don't have a lot. Most are just people I know from work, but there are a few who I see from time to time. Cameron is who I was covering for the night you came into the clinic. He works at the hospital with me too, but he's away right now taking care of his mom. Then there is Brett, but he's a teacher, so he's not around during the day when I'm off work, and weekends he spends with his wife. He comes over sometimes or we go fishing once in a while, but not often."
