Page 5 of Absent Without Leave
“Dammit.”He scoops up his boxers and hops his way into them. They do nothing to hide the hard-on he’s still got despite the disruption, and he’s glad. He wants Sean to see what he’s interrupting.
“How do you want to play it?” asks Jake. “I can hide in the closet or I can cover your six.”
“We’re not doing anything wrong. You’re not hiding in the closet. I still don’t understand what the hell he’s doing here. It’s not like I need him to protect my honor. I could have used his support when my ex was fucking around behind my back last year.”
A frown mars Jake’s face.
Aiden’s brain whirs a hundred miles an hour. Jake had had a thing for him in high school? How had Aiden missed it? Well, he’d been such an innocent little fuck back then and was just cottoning on to the fact that he wanted to kiss guys and not girls. Any subtle interest on Jake’s part would have gone unnoticed on Aiden’s. “I played the tenor sax.”
Jake smirks. “I know… But I think that was before you knew or had told anyone you were gay. He overheard and threatened bodily harm?”
“That’s such bullshit,” Aiden says, but laughs. “He knows I’m gay now, so why does he even care?”
“Aiden!” calls Sean again.
Aiden rolls his eyes. “Here we fuckin’ go.”
***
Jake fishes his own underwear off the floor and takes up position about six feet behind Aiden. His erection has returned from all the rubbing they’ve been doing and the front of his briefs are clearly distended. There’s no way for Sean to mistake the situation.
Aiden yanks open the door. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Sean takes in Aiden’s appearance, as well as Jake’s, and the O’Leary curse, as Sean always called it, turns Sean’s face three shades of red. “Oh, God. Are you two…?” he asks, taking three steps into the room before Aiden stops him with a hand to his chest. He doesn’t push it and stays put.
“What did you think we were doing? Playing charades?”
“No. I… I don’t know,” Sean says, flustered. It seems he’s never been so obviously confronted with Aiden’s sexuality, and it’s thrown him for a bit of a loop. Jake can’t help the smirk.
“What the hell’s your problem?” asks Aiden. “We’re not in high school anymore, and I can fuck whomever I choose, Sean. I don’t need your permission or your approval.”
“No. I know. But. He’s—”
“He’s what? Gorgeous and interested in me? What’s so wrong with that?”
Sean clearly gathers his wits. “Nothing’s wrong with that, but it’s Jake.” Sean shoots Jake a glare.
“You think I’m gorgeous?” asks Jake.Heh.As if he hadn’t known what Aiden thought of him since he’d pulled up a barstool over four hours ago.
“‘It’s Jake.’ What exactly does that mean? And, yes, I think you’re hot,” Aiden throws over his shoulder.
“He slept with every girl in high school.”
Aiden snorts. “That was what? Ten years ago? What has that got to do with me?”
Jake laughs. He’d dated a lot in high school, but mostly as friends. He hadn’t been entirely sure about his own sexuality back then. Those girls who felt the need to brag, well, he’d let them. Didn’t hurt his rep any.
Sean remains mute.
“What’s this about, Sean?” Jake asks. Whatever it is, he wants to address it and to get back to business—well, back to pleasure.
“I don’t want Aiden hurt.” Sean takes another step, puffing up as if to intimidate Jake.
Jake almost laughs again. With a few select moves, Jake could have Sean on the ground gasping for breath, as well as for mercy.
Sean continues, “He’s been through enough. And I know what you are.”
“I’m touched,” Aiden says sarcastically. “I don’t know what you think is going on here, but he’s not Joe and I’m a big boy.” He glances back at Jake and winks.
