Page 53 of Bad Pucking Roommate

“I didn’t think I’d be walking around the farm when I put them on.”

“It was your idea for me to show you around. If you didn’t want to get your shoes dirty, why'd you suggest a tour?”

Every once in a while, Justus will flirt with speaking the truth. Putting a label on this thing between us. I’m pretty sure those are the moments when he’s happiest. Existing in the present and not thinking about the consequences of giving this a name.

I love when he’s that relaxed, even if I can’t play along, or give him an honest answer. I nearly did that once today, and I can’t do it again.

“Despite what the rest of the guys might tell you, my ego has limits, and staring at myself for too long is one of them.”

Justus rolls his eyes but doesn’t press, just mumbles something about hoping my head will fit through the oversized barn door as we reach it.

Inside the surprisingly large structure, the cows are split into two rows, with an aisle running down the center. The cows are lined up with their heads facing away from the aisle, and the gate that keepsthem in their stalls has a cluster of metal cylinders attached to clear tubes behind each cow.

“Welcome to the milking parlor,” Justus says as he leads me to the closest cow and pats it on the rump.

“Wow. It’s a lot bigger than I was expecting. How many cows do you have here?”

“Somewhere around two hundred fifty, I think.”

“Damn. How long does it take to milk all those?”

“A couple hours, give or take.”

“Really?” I wrinkle my nose, partly from the not-so-subtle aroma of shit, and partly because the answer surprises me. “I would’ve thought it’d take a lot longer.”

“It’s mostly automated now.” He points to one of those metal cylinders. “With that it only takes about fifteen minutes per cow, and we can do nearly fifty at a time.”

“You use that thing instead of pulling on their…”

“They aren’t dicks.” Justus gives me an exasperated look.

“I know that. They sort of resemble them though, in a shriveled up, flaccid sort of way.” I lift my shoulder as if to saysorry but it’s true.

“You do realize making that comparison is only going to make me think of cows every time I see your soft cock.” Justus gives me a wry smile.

“Good thing my cock’s rarely soft around you then,” I retort without thinking, only to have Justus call my bluff by stepping close enough to stick his hand between my legs. Except, I’m not bluffing. Not right now. I’ve been half-hard since we were in his room, and between his bold assertion and his gloved hand cupping me, that’s becoming more evident by the second.

“Hmm. I’m sorta flattered, but also worried. You’re gonna have a real hard time keeping up with me on the ice with a hard-on swingingbetween your legs.” The bastard kneads his fingers around me, pulling a soft groan from my throat.

Wrapping my fingers around his wrist to halt his movement, I dip my mouth to his ear. “Not as hard a time as you will after I use it to wreck your ass.”

Justus sucks in a shaky breath as he relaxes his grip. “Are you… Is that… You want that?”

Truthfully, I hadn’t given it much thought, since nothing that’s happened between us has been planned. Aside from the timing. It just sort of evolves, following whatever whim overcomes us in the moment. But now that it’s out there, yeah. I think I’d like to try that. If Justus wants to.

“Do you?” I pull back to study him, noting how wide his curious brown eyes are.

He takes a deep breath and pulls his lips between his teeth, holding the air in his lungs for several seconds before letting it out on a measured exhale. “Maybe, but not the night before a game, in case I need time to recover or something.”

That’s the answer I wanted and the one I was dreading. Thank God we’re at his parents’ house where nothing can happen, because if we weren’t, I’d be tempted to give in to my baser urges. And with no game on the horizon, that would blow the wholeit’s not fraternization if it’s just for the gamething out of the water.

I’ve always been less concerned about that than Justus is, which I know isn’t fair since my career is both more established and drawing closer to its inevitable conclusion, while his is fresh. But that distinction makes me conscious of my own actions, and while it benefitted me to keep all our encounters to the night before the game, I also kept that up to protect him. To give him peace of mind that he wasn’t breaking any rules. Knowing that he’d cross that line to be withme—no rituals or superstitions or excuses—just the two of us doing what we want regardless of the consequences...

It's a damn good thing we’re at his parents.

Tugging Justus’s relaxed hand off my junk so I have a chance of walking out of this barn normally, I try to do the mature thing and give him a reassuring smile. Instead, the corner of my lip pulls up suggestively, while I imagine what could be. “Good to know.”

Chapter twenty

---