Page 50 of The Jock
“Oh, God. I can barely keep myself alive.” Milo groaned and turned, burying his face in Colby’s chest.
Taylor appeared a minute later with a plant and a note card. “It’s easy to take care of, I promise. But I wrote down instructions for you.”
Taylor passed the plant off to Milo, who had untangled himself from Colby. He stared at the plant, looking lost and flustered.
“Thank you, but what if I kill it?” Milo tried to hand it back to Taylor, but he only laughed and refused to take it.
“Then I have about ten more where it came from and I can give you another.”
Their dad patted Taylor on the shoulder. “It might seem like he’s doing a nice thing, but he’s totally selfish. He can’t stop himself from propagating new plants, so he has to make room.”
“Shhh. It’s a secret.”
Milo snorted. “I’ve been in your place. It’s not a secret.”
“Ah, so you’ve seen the jungle.” Colby’s dad reached a hand out for Milo. “It was nice meeting you, Milo. I hate to go, but this old man has to be up early.”
After a round of pleasantries, excuses were made and Colby finally got to get away from everyone with his…boyfriend? Lover? His…Milo? What were they? It seemed a stupid thing to wonder and worry about. A label wouldn’t change how Colby felt about Milo. It wouldn’t alter the fact that Milo was all Colby could think about most days.
Colby and Milo walked down the driveway hand in hand. When they got to Colby’s car, he caged Milo up against the side of his car and buried his face in the crook of Milo’s neck.
“Come back to my place with me?” Colby put his hands on Milo’s hips and pressed their bodies together. All night he’d been tortured by Milo’s proximity. The way he’d fit nestled in next to Colby had driven him crazy. He’d wanted to touch, to kiss, to hold him tighter. He loved the way Milo fit seamlessly at his side and in his life.
Milo slid his free hand up Colby’s chest. The other was occupied with the plant Taylor gave him. “Don’t you work in the morning?”
“All the more reason for you to spend the night. I’d love to wake up next to you.”
It wasn’t quite a declaration of undying love, but Colby flayed himself open and laid himself bare for Milo to see. Fear made him tremble because Milo could refuse his offer.
But he didn’t. Slowly, Milo tilted his head and pressed his lips against Colby’s. It was so sweet a kiss it made Colby’s teeth ache. He fought the urge to deepen it, to consume Milo. To pin him against the car and make out with him like a horny, slightly out-of-control teenager.
“Is that a yes?” Colby had to work to tear his mouth away from Milo’s.
“Yes, Colby, I’d love to go home with you.”
They shared another quick kiss before Colby opened the passenger door for Milo.
Colby watched the way Milo held on to the plant on the drive over. He held it tight, like it was the most precious gift in the world. And maybe it was. Milo didn’t seem to have much in the way of family, not that he mentioned anyway, and Colby knew how lucky he was.
“Thanks for coming,” Colby said, mostly to fill the silence, but also because he meant it.
Milo glanced at him. “I had a wonderful time.”
Milo tore his gaze away and looked out the window. Colby allowed himself as long of a look as he could afford before turning his attention back to the road. “Your family is great.”
“They are. I’m lucky to have them. What about your family? What’s the story? You’ve never mentioned anyone.”
“There’s no one to mention. Single dad, older brother. Both homophobic but will deny it to the day they die. Once I came out, they all but ignored me.” Milo shrugged like it didn’t matter, but things like that always mattered. “Gino and his Gran became my family, and even once his Gran passed, Gino and I stayedclose. So that’s my family. A friend who is more like an annoying brother and a woman who loved me more than my own family ever tried to.” Milo cleared his throat and Colby went silent, letting him gather his emotions.
It was too early to say things like my family is your family, but it was how Colby felt. There was something about Milo that made Colby want to shelter him. To shield him from whatever bullshit life was going to toss his way. Not because Colby thought he wasn’t capable of looking after himself, but because he’d been doing it alone and Colby hated the idea of that.
They didn’t talk much until they were up in Colby’s apartment. Milo set his plant with the collection Colby had been given by Taylor. Coming up behind him, Colby dropped his chin onto Milo’s shoulder and slipped his arms around Milo’s waist.
He couldn’t begin to guess what was going on in his head, but maybe Colby could get him out of it. Putting his hands on Milo’s hips, Colby turned him around and before Milo could speak or think, Colby slid a hand into his hair and tugged him close, sealing their mouths together.
Colby’s only experience with a man was Milo. The need for him was etched into Colby’s bones now. He didn’t care what they did; he’d do whatever Milo wanted. Whatever he needed, Colby would give it to him.
“Milo, please.” Colby wasn’t sure how long they’d kissed. Long enough to leave him breathless and make his face ache. Long enough to let all the blood in his body collect in his cock, which pressed against Milo.
