Page 34 of Starfish and Coffee
“Okay,” he said before anything more practical could leave his mouth. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is,” Matt assured him with the authority of a man who spent his entire life gettingexactlywhat he wanted.
“Then I guess I ought to make sure neither of us loses our jobs.” Alex walked to the hot flattop. Surprised, he inspected the hoods and fryer that were also ready to go. “Wow, you actually paid attention to everything I’ve been doing.”
“I told you I was a fast learner,” Matt said, haughty and taunting in typical rich-boy fashion. “Give me enough time and I won’t only learn to do your job, I’ll do it better.”
Alex got the impression they weren’t talking about being a line cook and that was a major issue. He turned back to see Matt smirking at him and said warningly, “I don’t bottom, Matty, not even for you.”
“I probably would’ve said I don’t like guys a few days ago too.” Matt went back to washing the dishes. “Minds can be changed with the right motivation.”
Alex snorted at his audacity. “I’m being serious.”
“We’ll see,” Matt said in that annoyingly confident voice of his that made it sound like topping Alex was hardly a challenge.
That’s whathethought…
Chapter Nine
September 2006
Matt started off determined to have Alex’s ass, but failed quite simply because he wasn’t really trying that hard after the first week. Every night would start with the two of them hanging out, which immediately led to making out, and somewhere along the way Matt would find himself plastered against a flat surface, with Alex pushing into him. That rush was always so potent he’d forget any sort of quest to reverse their positions.
It was the sexiest, most exciting, but unbelievably low-maintenance relationship Matt had ever been in. He felt like he resided on the same planet as Alex, which was more than he could say about any of the women he’d dated, and his and Alex’s romantic goals were essentially the same—to fuck as often as possible.
He didn’t need to buy Alex flowers or jewelry, and if he tried, Alex would just use it against him, because he hadn’t let up on his joke about being Matt’s dirty little secret.
“I think I like being your rent boy.” Alex leaned against his motorcycle, grinning at Matt. His hair was still messed up from his helmet, and his eyes twinkled with mischief under the dim street lamps behind Frank’s café. “When are you taking me to the French Riviera?”
Matt leaned against his own motorcycle, which he’d bought last week and matched Alex’s a little too much, but Matt couldn’t bring himself to regret the purchase even if it did make them obvious.
“Wouldn’tIbe the rent boy?” Matt mused. “Considering I’m the one who ends up being used and abused every night?”
Alex frowned. “I don’t abuse you.”
“Don’t you?” Matt squinted at him through one eye, giving him a smile. “I got the rope burn to prove otherwise.”
“That wasyouridea,” Alex said defensively. “It doesn’t count if you’re the one buying the fucking rope, asshole!”
Matt’s dick swelled and strained against his jeans when he remembered the scrape of rope against his wrists as he looked up at Alex while he fucked Matt into the mattress. All Matt could do was hold on to the headboard where his hands were secured and ride out the wild surge of pleasure. It’d been so hot, he’d come without being jerked off.
Matt looked at his chafed wrists. “Maybe we should buy different rope.”
“Yeah, I think they make some specifically for stuff like that.” Alex grabbed Matt’s hand, turning his wrist upward to inspect the angry red burns neither of them had bothered to pay attention to the night before. “Shit, I didn’t know it was this bad. You should’ve bought it somewhere besides Jack’s Hardware.”
“I think it’s okay.” Matt shrugged, not bothering to pull his hand out of Alex’s grasp. “I don’t mind a few war wounds.”
Alex’s thumb swept over the injury, and a shudder shot through Matt. His dick jerked once more, refusing to be ignored. He was just wondering why they were outside the cafe at five in the morning instead of still in bed fucking when the creak of the back door broke through the intimate quiet of the morning. Alex dropped Matt’s hand like it was on fire, and they both looked to Frank when he peeked outside.
“Are you two gonna stop sucking each other off and get to work? This shit doesn’t prep itself.”
Frank was gone before either of them could respond. They just shared wide-eyed, horrified glances. Even if Frank hadn’t seen them touching, they were leaning in way too close to each other. Just the fact that they’d tried to enjoy the few minutes alone together before work seemed odd. They’d been making those mistakes more and more. Frank wasn’t the only one who’d made those comments. He’d just been the most blatant about it.
Matt glowered at the closed door. “I’m officially sick of working at Frank’s.”
“So quit,” Alex barked, his voice harsh and edgy.
Matt gave him a look. They both knew if Matt quit, they really wouldn’t have an excuse to be hanging out as much as they did.
