Page 66 of Bend Him, Break Him
It was something the other guys on the team wouldn’t get. These weren’t the comfortably straight allies in GSA who Colton had come to know. Guys who weren’t threatened by any perceived notion their manhood was at stake because they didn’t abide by gender norms, didn’t worry where a partner’s finger wandered and didn’t feel the need to assert their dominance to prove they liked to fuck. No, Colton found himself anxious because the guys on his team wouldn’t see him as a leader, as thestarting pitcher, as one of the top players if they learned he was anything but a top.
Colton almost contemplated revealing an interest in being versatile, but Leon’s jokes about him switching to the role of team catcher quickly squashed that idea. It was easier for him to lie about bottoming, and Isaac never seemed to mind, which Colton greatly appreciated. In fact, Isaac made a point of saying it was no one’s business what they did between the sheets, even if the brunt of assumptions assumed Isaac was the bottom.
“Put your dicks away!” Tim burst into the room with a hand slapped over his face. “It’s party time.”
Colton snorted at Isaac’s wide-eyed stare of aggravation. Isaac had almost grown accustomed to Tim’s jovial bullshit, but Colton predicted this would be a few steps backward, given he didn’t like barging, assumptions, or cheeriness. Three things that basically embodied Tim.
“I’ll be out in a minute.” Colton chuckled, turning to Isaac in the process. “It’s your last chance.”
“Last chance for what?” he asked with the sourest face in the world, like he’d forgotten they were dating and had gone right back to hating Colton. Sadly, that was Isaac’s default expression when met with anything he considered hostile. Which was basically everything.
“To sneak away and abandon the party,” Colton clarified as he finished checking himself over in the mirror. “Once we get there, I won’t be the only one pestering you to have a good time.”
Mina, Jazz, and Carlos were meeting them at the party. It wasn’t like the frat house bashes were exclusive, but since hanging with the GSA members, Colton realized there wasn’t much overlap in their party scenes. He wanted to change that. He wanted to merge his two worlds.
“Whatever.” Isaac gave a shudder of sarcastic enthusiasm as his voice shifted from its natural gruff base to a perky, pitchy lilt. “Let’s go have fun.”
“Oh, God. You’re gonna be so awkward.” Colton smirked. “I can’t wait.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Isaacmanaged to make small talk for nearly three hours without feeling the need to deck someone across the face. Most of the partygoers weren’t half bad. A bit too loud for Isaac’s liking and far too drunk for Isaac’s comprehension. Still, he held his own and endured for Colton’s sake. Not only for Colton. Mina, Jazz, and Carlos too. Wherever those three had wandered off.
“Surprised you haven’t hidden in some corner,” Colton said with a laugh, slapping a hand over Isaac’s shoulder and pulling him away from a conversation he was only half paying attention to. “Sorry I abandoned you.”
“I’d hardly call chatting with your friends abandoning me.”
Isaac understood the importance of making his rounds, interacting with friends, the absurd need to make friends, andblah, blah, blah. It wasn’t Isaac’s cup of tea, but he wouldn’t resent Colton for enjoying himself.
“Speaking of friends, where are yours?”
“Last I saw, Mina and Jazz were sneaking outside for some fresh air in the least subtle way.”
Colton made a confused face. The party was not the place to elaborate, so Isaac moved on.
“Carlos was playing some drinking game with your roommate. Well, your teammate. Er, or I guess, your friend.”
“Tim?” Colton’s green eyes lit up with understanding. “All of the above.”
“Well, they’re around here somewhere with ping pong balls and warm beer at this point.”
“I gotta be real,” Colton said, steering them away from the partygoers and toward a mostly empty hallway. “I didn’t expect you to be so chill and kind of outgoing—well, for you—at a frat party.”
“It’s not my vibe, but I can handle a little of this if it makes you happy.”
“You’ve been such a good boy,” Colton whispered into Isaac’s ear, dragging him into the nearest room and slamming the door shut. “I’m honestly shocked by how well you’ve handled yourself.”
“I don’t get off on praise like some guys.” Isaac smirked, taking in the cramped bathroom space.
“No?” Colton trailed his lips down Isaac’s neck. “Thought maybe you’d wanna know just how much I appreciate what a good boy you’ve been tonight.”
“I’m more about degradation.”
“Oh.” Colton squared up against Isaac, pressing him against the sink. “Mine or yours?”
“Always yours.” Isaac bit his lip, staring longingly at Colton, who delicately continued brushing against Isaac.
“Well then, how about you put me in my place for dragging you to the last place in the world you want to be.”
