In the last installment of Zone Defense

In the first installment of Zone Defense

Nathan rushed across the busy street in a futile attempt to get in through the doors of his neighborhood pub without becoming thoroughly soaked. He'd moved to the West Coast almost ten years ago, but he couldn't get used to the rain. In its favor, the city was spotless, greenery intense, and breathtakingly surrounded by miles of beaches and snow-capped mountains, offering some of the best sunbathing and skiing in the world.

Except, not in April. This was the rainy season, and the trip across the street from his small apartment would've been navigated more successfully with an umbrella, but one didn't want to look like a tourist, or so he'd been told, and be caught shying away from the joys of living in a temperate rainforest.

Nathan shook out his coat, hung it on a hook near the bar, and took a seat. He motioned for the bartender.

"What can I get for you tonight, Nathan?"

"Hey, Phil. You can pull me my usual." Nathan set his hands on the bar as he looked around. "It's busier than usual in here tonight."

"Yeah, engagement party. Poor sucker. The girl is pretty cute, though." Phil clapped his hands together. "I'll grab your beer."

"Thanks, buddy."

Nathan tucked in and lowered his gaze as people pushed past him. Ten years in the city, and he could count the number of friends he had on one hand, and that included Phil, the bartender.

After Aaron had packed up and moved out, Nathan had quit the football team and focused on his studies. Occasionally, he would catch a glimpse of Aaron across the common, but they'd never spoken again. The pain and emptiness had followed him even after he'd finished college. People had tried to become a part of his life, but he'd routinely pushed them away before they'd even made the first step. Without Aaron, he preferred being alone.

Nathan drained the glass and set it, along with some money, on the bar. "Thanks, Phil. I'll see you tomorrow." He was about to turn and leave when a heavy hand landed on his arm.

"Nathan?"

Fucking hell—it can't be.

Nathan spun around.

Aaron.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!"

I was just thinking about you. Always you.

Only you.

"Jesus Christ. I thought it was you." Aaron slammed his hand onto Nathan's shoulder and embraced him. "I can't believe it. What are you doing on the coast? Do you live here now?"

"Yeah, I'm working with an environmental group here …you?"

"I'm still living back east. I flew in for a buddy of mine. He's getting married this summer and was looking for a bit of moral support during this engagement party thing of his."

"So, are you practicing law out there?" Nathan leaned against the bar to support himself. Aaron's eyes were doing strange but familiar things to his legs.

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He's still so fucking gorgeous.

"Yeah," Aaron replied. "I've been running my own small firm for a few years now. We deal mostly in discrimination cases."

Nathan smirked. "Do you get many 'straight guys can't dance based on stereotyping' cases, councilor?"

Aaron drummed the bar in amusement. "No, I haven't seen any of those cross my desk yet."

"Time will tell." Nathan motioned for Phil to get him another beer. "Can I get you something?"

"No, I should really head back over there." Aaron held out his hand and pulled Nathan into another embrace. "It was really great seeing you. It's been a long time."

Instead of releasing Aaron, Nathan tucked his head against Aaron's shoulder and gripped tight to his sweater as the scent he'd been longing for curled desperately into his gut.

Christ, no, please don't let go of me.

Nathan stumbled, shivering against the bar when Aaron gripped his shoulders and separated their bodies. He thought for sure his heart was going to stop.

"Fuck, Nathan—" Aaron dipped down and looked up into Nathan's face. "Are you all right?"

Nathan shook his head no silently as his heart hammered out of control. He'd made a serious underestimation about the endurance of his love for Aaron. It was excruciating.

Wiping a stream of tears from his face, he raised his head and met Aaron's gaze.

"I lied to you that day," Nathan said. "The day you moved out."

"What?" Aaron scoped out the pub. He supported Nathan as he steered him toward an empty booth and slid in beside him. "You lied to me about what?" He wrapped his arm around Nathan's shoulder and cradled Nathan tight against his chest.

Nathan shuddered through a sob.

"Oh, fuck, Nathan—" Aaron laid his cheek against Nathan's still damp hair, warming it with his breath. "And I'm the fucking idiot? Why would you do something like that?"

Nathan turned his face into the curve of Aaron's neck. "I wanted you to be happy."

Aaron's eyebrows furrowed, and he pressed Nathan away from his body. "So, you made the decision for me? You decided what would make me happy?"

He shoved Nathan away, leaped from the booth, and stormed away.

He turned back.

"Fuck you, Nathan!" Aaron's voice boomed across the pub, turning heads in their direction.

"Wait …Aaron." Nathan struggled out of the booth and ran after Aaron. He'd headed back toward where his friends were gathered.

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Christ, what have I done?

"Aaron, please …" Nathan touched Aaron's shoulder.

"You wanted me to be happy?" Aaron spun on him, deep lines creasing his flushed, outraged face. "My life has been fucking miserable without you!" He leaned against a chair for support and downed a drink from the engagement party table. "How could you do that to me?"

"I thought …I thought you'd be happier with Sarah."

"Fuck, Nathan. I never loved Sarah the way I loved you." Aaron paused and surveyed the table. His friends were staring open-mouthed at the exchange.

He returned his attention to Nathan. "Sarah and I didn't even last a year. She got fed up waiting for me to look at her the way I used to. The way I did before I met you."

"Why didn't you try to find me?" Nathan asked, bewildered by the reality that he'd been so wrong.

"You'd told me you didn't love me." Aaron shook his head and lowered his gaze. "That last night we spent together, when I was holding you afterward …I thought I saw something in your eyes. I thought I saw love. At that moment, my whole world opened up. I thought I'd be spending the rest of my life with you by my side as my lover and best friend. Instead, you pushed me away and said you didn't love me. I wasn't going to go looking for you after that. I'd been hurt enough."

Nathan covered his mouth and steadied himself, reliving the moment he'd pushed away the only man he'd ever loved.

I am such a fucking idiot.

"I was scared," Nathan said. "I felt something, and it scared me."

Aaron looked around and grabbed his coat. "Is there somewhere else we can talk about this?"

"Wait—" Nathan held up his hand to stop Aaron from moving. "Let me get this out first." He swiped a hand across his face.

Aaron grunted and set his hands on his hips.

"You were right. You saw something that night," Nathan said, then laughed hesitantly. "I think my body knew it long before my mind did. I couldn't get enough of you. From the first day I met you, I knew I was in trouble."

"Yeah, I know the feeling," Aaron said, relaxing. "You were pretty fucking adorable with that cum on your cheek …your face all flushed and everything."

"Christ, Aaron—" Nathan shoved Aaron further away from his friends. "Your friends are listening."

"Hell, they don't care." Aaron wrapped Nathan up in his arms and buried his face in Nathan's hair. "They know I'm gay. They're gawking because they're surprised to hear I had a girlfriend."

Nathan pulled back. "What?"

"Turns out you were right." Aaron shrugged. "I like guys."

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"But—" Nathan scrunched up his face, floored, and shook his head. "You know what …never mind."

"So, you did feel something that night?"

"Yes, I did, and …"

Aaron brushed his fingers through the hair above Nathan's ear. "Are you seeing anyone?"

"No, but—"

"Do you live nearby?"

Nathan's heart felt as if it nearly stopped. He nodded his head and pointed toward the door. "My …my apartment …is …right there."

"Great."

Nathan hesitated when Aaron grabbed his hand. "Wait—"

"What's wrong?" Aaron's brow creased in confusion, then he clapped his hand onto his forehead. "You're not interested in picking up together. I'm sorry. I assumed because of the way you were holding me. I totally read that wrong."

"No, that's not it. I'm interested, but I hadn't finished what I wanted to say." Nathan reached for Aaron's hand and stroked his thumb across it. "Before we go running off and I get completely distracted, I need to tell you something."

Nathan wet his lips and bit down on the bottom one.

Fuck

"What?" Aaron reached for Nathan's other hand as understanding washed over him. "What do you want to tell me?"

"Fuck, this is hard for me, Aaron."

"Then let me start." Aaron leaned in and kissed Nathan's lips. "I'm still in love with you, too."

The door fell open with more force than necessary, but Nathan was having trouble manipulating the keys while Aaron was simultaneously removing his pants for him and aggressively caressing his throat with his tongue. Once in, he tossed the keys toward the kitchen counter, but they slid across its surface and onto the floor, breaking something on the far side.

Aaron stopped his assault. "Did you break something?"

"It's nothing." Nathan peered over the counter at the broken glass. Luckily, the dish had been almost empty. "It's just Lulu's water dish."

"Lulu?" Aaron snorted loudly and creased up, laughing.

Nathan shoved him affectionately. "Shut the fuck up. I inherited the stupid cat, all right. She came pre-named."

"You didn't think to change her name?"

"No." Nathan squatted down and picked up the largest of the broken pieces. "That would've confused her."

"Where is she?"

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Nathan reached for the broom and dustpan and attempted to sweep up the smaller bits. "Probably on the bed."

"Smart cat …" Aaron whispered under his breath as he made his way down the hall.

He stopped as he entered Nathan's bedroom and ran his fingers over a framed picture just inside the doorway. It was a group photo of their football team, and he and Nathan were standing side by side. Smiling—happy.

Nathan pressed up behind him, wrapped his arms around Aaron's waist, and set his chin on Aaron's shoulder. "Seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?"

Aaron sighed and turned to face Nathan, cupping his face. He kissed Nathan's lips, then studied him. "We need to get something straight between you and me." He grinned, but with a subtle seriousness. "If you break my heart again, I swear to God, I will kick your ass from here all the way back to that damn school."

"Not going to happen," Nathan said as he ran a finger down Aaron's shirt and hooked it in Aaron's belt. "I love you too much."

Aaron smirked. "That sounded nice." He pulled at Nathan's arm, hauling him toward the bed. "Hearing you say it."

"Well, get used to it because it's going to become a habit."

"That's a good habit," Aaron said as he sat on the end of the bed, deftly unhooked Nathan's belt, and dropped Nathan's pants to the floor. He brushed his cheek across Nathan's hardening cock, moaning quietly and sighing, then licked the fabric of Nathan's underwear.

Nathan brushed a hand through Aaron's hair and sighed softly with exhilaration.

"So, what made you realize you were gay?" he asked.

"Well—" Aaron tucked his fingers into the band of Nathan's underwear, released his cock, and shoved his underwear toward the floor. "After Sarah and I broke up …" Using his thumb and forefinger, Aaron slid Nathan's foreskin until it completely covered his cockhead. He licked delicately at the puckered crease, then drew the skin all the way back against Nathan's body and sucked gently on the head as he jacked the shaft a few times.

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In the last installment of Zone Defense

In the first installment of Zone Defense

Nathan stared up at the ceiling above his bed and listened to the soft sound of Aaron breathing beside him. It was a sound that both comforted and terrified him. They'd only been official for a week, but being with Aaron like this, spending every spare moment in his arms, felt as natural as if Aaron had been at his side his entire life.

Of course, the guys on their football team had teased them relentlessly for the first couple of days, but, except for one homophobic twit, they'd readily accepted their relationship and moved on with the business of preparing for the season opener. It hadn't fazed them at all, the fact that two of their teammates were sleeping together. The thrill of telling the sports world to go fuck itself had been greatly diminished by their acceptance.

Nathan grunted softly and crossed his arms, which must've woken Aaron up because Aaron rolled over and nuzzled his face against Nathan's shoulder.

"You look so serious," Aaron said. "What are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking about the conversation we had with your parents this morning," Nathan said. "You're lucky they're cool with us being together. My parents would've disowned me."

"You don't know that for sure."

The shift and roll of the bed meant naptime was over. Aaron's body had an automatic wake-up switch at dinnertime. Nathan turned into the pillow where Aaron had been lying and inhaled the lingering scent of him.

His gut twisted, and his cock twitched, remembering what they'd done together the night before, and how incredibly erotic and intense and honest it had felt—and how he'd wished it would go on forever. That Aaron would go on holding, kissing, and fucking him forever.

Nathan rolled back and returned to staring at the ceiling.

This is insane. I don't do this …whatever it is.

"Nathan?" Aaron stood over the bed and folded his arms protectively across his chest. "Is everything all right?"

"Hm …yeah, everything's fine." Nathan closed his eyes. "I think maybe we're spending too much time together, is all."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"We're together all the time. Neither one of us has gone out with our own friends all week. That's not a good thing. I think it's important we have our own lives."

"I thought we were a couple?" Aaron lowered himself onto the edge of the bed. "I thought this was our life …together."

"Well, you thought wrong. It makes me uncomfortable. I don't like it." Nathan pushed the comforter away to free himself and climbed past Aaron. He circled the room, looking for an evasive piece of clothing that truthfully didn't exist.

"But last night," Aaron said. "Surely you felt it."

Nathan cringed. "I didn't feel anything—and I don't appreciate the way you're trying to tie me down."

"I'm not trying to tie you down, Nathan. I wouldn't do that." Aaron stood and approached Nathan's side. "I think we're amazing together, but I can back off and give you some space if that's what you need me to do." He reached for Nathan's shoulder, but Nathan jerked it away, shoved Aaron aside, stormed toward the door, and wrenched it open.

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"What I need you to do, Aaron—is leave me the fuck alone," Nathan said. "I don't want to do this whole boyfriend thing with you anymore."

"Where the fuck is this coming from?" Aaron grabbed Nathan's arm to keep him from leaving and slammed the door. "Last I checked, things were good between us. Hell, things were great!"

"Let me go!" Nathan yanked his arm free of Aaron's grasp and adjusted his sweatshirt. "This was a huge mistake. We never should've messed up our friendship like this."

Aaron blinked.

"We haven't messed anything up," he said. "We're closer than we've ever been." Aaron paused. "I've never felt closer to anyone in my life."

Nathan scrubbed his hand across his face, attempting to control his temper. "Stop! Just fucking stop!"

"Stop what? Stop loving you? That's not going to happen."

As it connected with Aaron’s face, the force of Nathan's fist knocked Aaron off his feet. He landed with a heavy thud on the floor.

He hadn't been expecting it.

Either had Nathan.

As soon as Aaron hit the floor, Nathan immediately regretted it. He'd let himself fall into a familiar pattern without even thinking it through. Deep down, he knew ending things with Aaron and walking away wasn't what he wanted.

Not this time. Not with Aaron.

He dropped down on one knee and laid a hand on Aaron's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hit you."

Aaron shrugged away. "Fuck off! What is wrong with you? I tell you I love you, and you hit me?" He rolled onto his back, supported by his elbows, and touched his face where Nathan's fist had landed. "If that's the way you're going to be—I take it back."

Exhaling softly, Nathan looked away. "Please don't do that."

"Then tell me what you want from me." Aaron struggled to his feet. "I love you, and I want to be with you. Is that such a terrible thing?"

He clutched his stomach. "Is there someone else? Are you still seeing Jonathan?"

"No!"

God no. Fuck no.

"There's no one else," Nathan added. "Only you."

Only ever you.

Aaron took a deep breath. "Then what is your problem? I know you feel something for me."

Nathan spun away from Aaron and began pacing the room. What the fuck was he so afraid of? He was always telling himself he wanted a committed relationship, but as soon as it looked like that might be a possibility …boom! Blow up time.

He turned back to face Aaron. "The truth is, I'm afraid of losing you. If I fell in love with you, and something happened to you, or you decided to leave me …where would I be?"

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"Exactly where you're running to right now. Alone. Except you'd have missed out on the good times we could have had together."

Nathan grunted and exhaled sharply through his nose, remembering the agony he'd gone through when he'd received the news that his parents were dead. He couldn't imagine a worse feeling than the torment a person went through when they lost someone they loved.

He studied Aaron's eyes.

I do love you... so, so much.

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In the last installment of Zone Defense

In the first installment of Zone Defense

Nathan hated the student union pub. The décor was a vomitous blend of Mystery Machine colors and Wild West furnishings, with a bit of frat-house odor thrown in for good measure—and predictably, the beer was usually stale.

He wouldn't be here at all if he weren’t waiting for Jonathan to finish his shift behind the bar. He couldn't understand why a guy with an ass like that, and abs and pecs to match, wasn't working in a more suitable establishment.

He slid down in his chair. He'd contacted Jonathan as soon as he'd returned to his dorm room and verified Aaron hadn't changed his mind and decided to stay with him. That would've been his preference, to spend winter break with Aaron, to have Aaron hold him while he slept.

He closed his eyes …to wake up to Aaron's big goofy grin every morning.

Fuck.

It wasn't to be, and Jonathan made a damn fine substitute. They'd been practically inseparable all winter break, hanging out together at every opportunity.

With only three days left until the rest of the students returned, they'd been discussing how they would continue the practicalities of their relationship.

Nathan's bed had become command central for all extracurricular activities because Jonathan's roommate had stayed on campus as well, and he wasn't exactly same-sex friendly.

Truth be told, he would've beat the crap out of both of them if he'd found them fucking around in Jonathan's room.

Nathan swilled the last of the beer around in his glass and threw it back. A large hand shoved him in the shoulder, almost knocking him off his seat. His reaction was automatic. He hated being pushed around. His arm swung back as he leaped to his feet, ready to fight.

"What the fuck is your problem?" he shouted.

His anger melted.

Aaron.

Aaron snorted with amusement as he helped settle Nathan back in his seat. "Sorry for sneaking up on you," he said and pointed to Nathan’s empty glass. "Can I buy you another?"

Nathan laughed, quelling the urge to pull Aaron into his arms. "Christ, Aaron," he finally choked out. "Ease up on the protein powder, would you? You're going to kill someone if you get any bigger." He grabbed Aaron's outstretched hand and pounded his shoulder affectionately. "It's good to see you, and yes, you can buy me another."

"Can I talk to you first?" Aaron asked.

"Sure. I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon." Nathan reclined back in his seat. "Is everything all right?"

"I broke things off with Sarah," Aaron blurted out, then paused to study the response on Nathan's face. "That's why I'm back early. I took the bus …I needed to …"

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What the hell am I supposed to say to that?

"I'm sorry," Nathan said. "What happened?"

"I found out she cheated on me."

Nathan's eyebrows creased and then rose dramatically. "Seriously? You're going to break up with your girlfriend of what, seven years, over something you're guilty of doing yourself?" He crossed his arms. Double standards infuriated him. "That doesn't seem fair at all."

Aaron shook his head, dismissing Nathan’s response.

"No. It was with one of the guys from the team—"

"So what?" Nathan shrugged his shoulders and pointed at himself. "So was yours."

He lowered his hands onto the table and began fiddling with one of the coasters, rolling and knocking it anxiously. He couldn't believe he was saying this. "You need to go back to Sarah and patch things up."

"Nathan …" Aaron reached forward and brushed his fingers across Nathan's hand. "I've been doing a lot of thinking over winter break." He settled his hand on top of Nathan's and clung to it.

"Aaron, what are you doing?" Nathan's voice lowered to barely a whisper; he was having trouble breathing. The pub wasn't full, but it wasn't empty either. There were at least a dozen people, including two guys from their team, milling around. Aaron was holding his hand in the middle of it all, not caring who saw him, and plenty of people were noticing.

Aaron shifted in his seat.

"In the shower," he said. "You said Sarah could give me the life I want."

"Yeah …wife, kids—"

This is crazy.

"What if that isn't the life I want?" Aaron leaned in closer. "What if I met someone who completely changed things for me? What if that someone was you?"

Nathan steadied his breathing and looked toward the bar. Jonathan was drying the inside of a beer mug with a ferocity that told Nathan he'd seen Aaron holding his hand.

"Aaron, I'm seeing someone."

Aaron sat back but didn't let go of his hand. "Who?"

"Jonathan. Remember. The guy I told you about?"

"Is it serious?"

Nathan looked over toward the bar. Jonathan was glaring at him. He turned back to Aaron.

Damn those eyes of his.

"No," Nathan answered.

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Aaron nodded his head. "All right, so …would you be interested in starting something with me?"

"What kind of a thing?" Nathan searched Aaron's eyes. If Aaron was looking to set up an exclusive fuck-buddy arrangement, he might have to punch him out.

"I don't know," Aaron looked around nervously. "Like boyfriends or something. That kind of thing." He gripped Nathan's hand tight in his own and brushed his thumb over the knuckles. "I really like you—and not just for the sex. We get on well together."

Nathan could easily see himself with Aaron. He'd considered the possibility many times.

Then why are you hesitating?

Nathan groaned in exasperation. Maybe because, deep down, he knew if he agreed, this wasn't going to be a short-term affair, and that frightened him—a lot.

"If we do this boyfriend thing," Nathan said. "I don't want to hide our relationship. I'm sick of sneaking around and being all hush, hush about who I'm seeing …and sleeping with."

"Nathan," Aaron said, then chuckled as he looked around the bar. "I'm sitting in the middle of the pub holding your hand. What makes you think I'm planning on hiding?"

"You do realize people are going to think you're gay."

"I don't care."

"You'll become the butt of jokes, excuse the pun, and you'll be subjected to the same bullshit I have to put up with."

"I don't care," Aaron repeated with incredible sincerity.

"And even when …" Nathan exhaled and shut his eyes. "If—" He opened them. "Even if we break up, you'll be forever labeled as gay. No one ever buys the bisexual thing."

"I realize that." Aaron lowered his gaze. "But I'm willing to go through that for you." He looked up and lifted a hand to cup Nathan's face. "You're important to me. You have no idea how much I want this. Please, give me a chance to prove it."

Nathan felt certain the entire room could hear the thrumming beat of his heart. It was absolutely deafening. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves.

"All right, prove it," Nathan said. "Kiss me."

"Here?" Aaron looked around. "Right now?"

Nathan raised his eyebrows, but didn't have to wait long for Aaron to push toward him and take his mouth …and it wasn't a quick kiss. It was a let's get the fuck out of here kind of kiss.

And that's exactly what they did as soon as Aaron released him.

The race back to their dorm room took much longer than either one of them would've liked, but once they'd burst in through the door, it was only a matter of seconds before their clothes were off and they were falling onto Aaron's bed.

Nathan pushed Aaron down, straddled his hips, and attacked Aaron's mouth as if his life depended on it. He fell headlong into it as the caressing warmth of Aaron's tongue turned his muscles to liquid honey. Nathan groaned and pulled away, wanting to set up a game plan.

"What?" Aaron asked, confused by the abrupt interruption.

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"Do you mind if I take the lead?" Nathan asked.

"What do you mean?" Aaron struggled under Nathan's weight. "You're not planning on fucking me, are you?"

"Let's not get that far ahead." Nathan leaned in and kissed and pulled at Aaron's lips. "I want free rein to explore."

"You don't need my permission to—" Aaron gasped sharply as Nathan's tongue and lips swept down his chest and pulled a full, thick nipple into his mouth. "Fuck, Nathan—" He grasped onto the bedding and threw his head back.

Nathan stroked his cheek across the hard nub of Aaron’s erect nipple. It had responded immediately to his advances, swelling and puckering until it was taut and pale, and the sweet sounds of desire its stimulation had elicited from Aaron had sent warm surges of need straight through to his dick.

He allowed his mouth a final sweep across Aaron's chest before heading toward infinitely more interesting territory.

He drew a thick line with his tongue straight down the center of Aaron's trembling body. Taking his time would be difficult, but Nathan felt like he'd missed out somewhat with their two previous encounters. He liked it when guys took control and sucked and fucked him, but with Aaron, it was different. He wanted to know every detail of Aaron's body as intimately as his own and so much more. He needed to possess him entirely.

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In the last installment of Zone Defense

In the first installment of Zone Defense

Christmas break wasn't a time of year Nathan looked forward to. While everyone else was excitedly packing to head home for the holidays, Nathan was usually holed up in his room, trying to hide from the mayhem.

Both of his parents had been killed in a car accident when he was sixteen, and he and his sister had been sent to live with their maternal grandparents out in the middle of nowhere, with next to nothing in terms of money.

Flying home for Christmas wasn't even an option, so Nathan had become accustomed to spending the holidays on campus.

His Christmas wish …that it was warmer in their room.

…and that Aaron would keep the noise down.

What the fuck is he doing?

Nathan pulled the comforter up around his ears. Aaron was making a lot of noise packing up his things. Apparently, staying at your girlfriend's parents' house for the entire Christmas break required tossing around everything you owned.

"Nathan?" Aaron peered over Nathan's body to see if he was awake. "Nathan, I'm going to have a shower."

A muffled response of, "Good for you," escaped the tightly bound roll. Nathan wrenched an arm free and blew some hair out of his eyes as he rolled over to look at his clock.

"It's five in the morning?" Nathan questioned. "Why the fuck are you showering so early?"

"I want to get in there before everyone else starts showing up," Aaron replied and then cleared his throat. "I want to make sure I get the shower furthest from the door."

"What difference does it make?" Nathan rolled back and covered his head. "All the showers are the same."

"No," Aaron replied. "The shower furthest from the door will have my red towel draped over the curtain."

Nathan crunched up his face in confusion. What the hell was Aaron on about? He rolled back, but Aaron had already left. He jammed his hand up into his hair, wrenching on it.

Christ …you have to be fucking kidding me. Aaron's looking to fuck me before he goes away.

Nathan wasn't entirely sure how he felt about that after the last time, but in his favor, Aaron hadn't climbed into bed with him again. Aaron was offering him a choice and giving him an out if he wasn't interested.

That isn't the point.

Nathan hauled himself out of bed and threw on a pair of sweatpants with the intention of storming into that shower and telling Aaron precisely what he thought of this stupid game he was playing.

Giving in to Aaron now would set a precedent, and Nathan refused to be used as a sex toy that Aaron only picked up when he was in the mood for dick.

No matter how amazing the sex had been last time, Nathan had more respect for himself than that.

The steam from the shower obscured Nathan's view as he stepped into the dressing room area of the shower cubicle.

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Aaron's red towel was thrown over the curtain as promised.

Nathan lifted it down and hung it on a hook.

"Aaron? Please tell me it's you in there."

The curtain drew back, and Aaron leaned out, covered head to toe in frothy layers of glorious suds.

Nathan's dick twitched.

Traitor.

"Are you coming in?" Aaron asked, and Nathan groaned.

In, on, under …I'll cum anywhere you want.

Nathan's fading resolve screamed no in the distance as his body continued to undress, intent on getting what it wanted. What it needed. It needed Aaron and only Aaron.

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In the first installment of Zone Defense

Nathan had been hoping Aaron would've made additional advances on him in the six weeks they'd been rooming together—if that incident had even been an advance, but Aaron didn't appear to be the least bit interested.

He was starting to think that maybe Aaron had absentmindedly sucked on his thumb after wiping the drop of cum from his face …but surely, Aaron would’ve noticed.

He dismissed the thought. It was Friday night, which meant the dorm room was strictly his until three in the morning. He and Aaron had worked out an arrangement whereby they each had a night on the weekend they wouldn't be interrupted by the other.

To date, Nathan hadn't made use of the arrangement, preferring to fuck his tricks off-campus, but tonight he was considering bringing someone back with him.

He hadn't officially told Aaron he was gay, but Aaron knew he wasn't into hanging out at the pub on campus and preferred going to the clubs downtown. Plus, when Sarah had suggested setting him up on a blind date with one of her friends, Aaron had politely shut her down.

Regardless, it wasn't Aaron he was concerned about when it came to bringing guys back to the dorm. In fact, Nathan wasn't concerned about anybody. He just found the entire process of coming out to a whole new group of people to be absolutely exhausting. He preferred hanging back on open displays of his sexuality until everyone figured it out for themselves.

Besides, it was nobody's business who he was fucking. He was proud to be gay, but his existence extended far beyond the activities of his dick on a Friday night, and most straight people seemed to have a problem wrapping their heads around that.

"Where are you going tonight?" Aaron asked as he ran a bit of product through his hair and scrunched at the curls until they settled delicately along his brow.

Nathan grinned. Aaron had to be the gayest straight guy he'd ever met. Although he was constantly being reminded that Aaron's effeminate traits off the field did not translate into weakness on the field. Aaron was a big guy, and he knew how to throw his weight around. Nathan had the bruises to prove it.

"Same place as always," Nathan answered.

"I should go with you sometime."

"You'd throw me off my game."

"I could be your …what do they call it?" Aaron tapped his lip in thought. "I could be your wingman."

"You've got to be kidding me." Nathan looked at himself in the mirror. He wasn't stunning, gorgeous like Aaron, but he could hold his own. His dirty blond hair and sleek, toned body had served him well, but no one at the club would give him a second look if he showed up with his roommate.

Aaron was every gay man's wet dream.

"What's wrong with that?" Aaron asked.

"What's wrong with that is you'd end up getting swarmed, and I'd end up getting a cab home on my own."

Aaron raised his eyebrows.

"Look, Aaron," Nathan continued. "As much as I'd like to have you tag along, I don't think you'd have a good time."

"Why is that?"

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Nathan scrubbed at his face. "Aaron, you do realize I'm gay, right? Visa vie …the club I go to is for queers."

"Are you saying that because I'm straight, I can't dance?" Aaron replied, setting his fists on his hips, which almost made Nathan burst out laughing. "Because if that's the case, I might have to haul your ass into court for discrimination based on stereotyping."

"Fine," Nathan replied. "Do you want to come with me?"

"No. Some of the guys have rented a bunch of girl-on-girl porn, and I have a bucket of chicken wings and a case of beer with my name on it."

"You are such a goof." Nathan grinned, anticipating an additional response from Aaron. His roommate was an absolute riot when you got him wound up. They'd spent many hours, creased up laughing after one or the other had inadvertently set off a chain reaction of escalating banter.

Right now, there was only silence. Aaron had crossed his arms and taken on a bizarre countenance.

Nathan stepped back as Aaron approached, not sure what to expect from him, whereas his dick was prepared to lurch forward based solely on unfounded and lust-filled hopes of Aaron kissing him with those gorgeous lips of his.

"I'm glad you finally decided to tell me you're gay," Aaron said as he brushed a strand of hair from Nathan's eyes.

What …the hell?

"I figured you'd already worked it out for yourself anyway," Nathan replied, then bit his lip and lowered his gaze. Aaron was standing awfully close—and the way he was touching him.

"You're all right with it?" he asked.

He looked up into Aaron's eyes, waiting for a response.

God, I could get lost in those eyes.

The thought of them fluttering in ecstasy had Nathan seriously considering attacking Aaron's mouth.

"Yeah, I'm good, buddy," Aaron answered, then slammed his palm onto Nathan's shoulder, almost knocking him off balance. "Why wouldn't I be? Just keep it on your side of the room."

"Let me guess. Because homosexuality is contagious?"

"No, I just don't want to find any butt plugs or anal beads under my bed," Aaron teased, then raised his eyebrows when Nathan looked at him strangely. "What?" he said. "I have access to the internet. I'm not completely oblivious to what goes on between guys."

Nathan shook his head, chuckling to himself. He'd only now realized Aaron wasn't the gayest straight man he'd ever met after all. His roommate couldn't walk a straight line if his life depended on it. Except Aaron was so far in the closet, it would take nothing short of a bulldozer to dig him out, and that wasn't his job. It had been a lovely salacious thought, imagining himself and Aaron together, but the dream sequence was over, and his ass was aching to be fucked.

"I need to get going," Nathan said. "I want to be in and out of the club before midnight, so I can spend a couple of hours with the guy before you wander your drunken ass back in here."

"So, you head in there. Snag someone …and bring him back here to fuck?" Aaron asked, seemingly uncomfortable with the idea.

"That's generally how it's done, yeah."

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Aaron's eyebrows dipped, and he rolled his shoulders. "Do you even bother getting to know the guy?"

Nathan checked his wallet for condoms and then tucked it into his back pocket. "What would be the point of that?"

"I don't know." Aaron wrapped his arms across his chest. "Maybe you would have something in common to talk about."

"Aaron," Nathan retorted. "Guys don't cruise gay bars looking for their next husband. They're looking for their next fuck, and time spent talking means less time fucking."

"It seems so impersonal."

"Sweetheart," Nathan said with his campiest voice. "By the time the night is over …if you haven't been up close and personal with every inch of that man's body …you're doing something wrong."

Aaron sighed. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Sarah is out with friends tonight, so I'm going to hang with some of the guys for a while, then I'll head over to Sarah's dorm later."

"Sounds like a plan." Nathan pounded on Aaron's back as he headed for the door. "I'll see you later. Have a good night."

The night was a complete bust. The temperature outside had dropped way below zero, compelling most people to stay home. Attendance at the club had been abysmal, and Nathan had come away forty dollars lighter and twice as horny.

He rolled closer to the wall and hauled the comforter over his shoulders. It was bloody freezing in their room. The woolen socks and sweatpants he'd pulled on were barely making a difference. He'd checked the thermostat, and it was registering a balmy twenty-two degrees, which was complete bullshit. There was a cold draft drifting across the floor. He was sure of it.

As if on cue, the door crashed open, and Aaron spilled into the room with a waft of frigid air at his back.

"Oh, my God," Aaron stammered. "I'm so cold."

"That's because it's winter, jackass. Close the fucking door."

"Christ, I can barely feel my fingers."

Nathan rolled back to face the room. "Where's your coat and gloves?" He sat up straighter. "And your boots? Fuck, Aaron. What the fuck were you and the guys doing?" The lunatic looked as if he'd been liberated of every piece of warm clothing he owned.

"It's a long story," replied Aaron.

"Isn't it always with you?" Nathan climbed out of bed and started rooting around in Aaron's closet. He selected the warmest sweatpants and sweater he could find and a pair of thick socks. Aaron's pants were covered in snow and would soon be a wet reminder of whatever asinine activity Aaron had partaken in that evening. At least he wasn't drunk. Dealing with a hypothermic drunk person was not on Nathan's bucket list.

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"Everything off," Nathan said, "and then put these on." He handed Aaron the clothes and climbed back into bed. Those few brief moments outside, the relative warmth of his comforter had chilled him to the bone.

His mattress sagged beneath him.

What the fuck?

Nathan shrieked as Aaron's icy cold hand found its way onto his bare arm. His icicle-ridden roommate had climbed into bed with him and was attempting to spoon.

"Sorry," Aaron apologized. "My hands are a little cold."

Nathan tried to look over his shoulder, but Aaron was plastered tight against him. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"I'm fucking cold. Please, don't throw me out." Aaron's teeth chattered in emphasis. Nathan couldn't be sure if Aaron was faking it or not, but then Aaron's entire body started shaking.

"Goddammit, Aaron. Why do I have to suffer for your stupidity?" Nathan reached back to make sure the comforter was covering Aaron's body completely, then gripped Aaron’s ass and hauled him closer. He shivered. Aaron was drawing the warmth from his body like a wick.

Fucking lunatic.

Nathan closed his eyes, trying to get comfortable, and sighed contentedly as Aaron's cold hand found its way onto his chest in search of a warm companion. Gripping Aaron's hand tight in his own, Nathan soaked in the feeling of security provided by Aaron's gentle and familiar presence and drifted off to sleep.

Normally, waking up with another man's morning erection jammed up against his ass would've fired Nathan up on all pistons, but he was going to take a moment to evaluate his situation first, much to the despair of his own throbbing cock. After careful consideration, he concluded that Aaron was still asleep, or he would've moved away or gotten out of bed.

Nathan shifted forward, trying to gain some distance.

"Don't get up yet." Aaron yawned and pulled Nathan back onto his hips, flooding Nathan's mind with possibilities. Aaron was fucking hard against him, and if he wasn't mistaken, Aaron was beginning to grind on him, tentatively forcing the thick shaft of his cock against Nathan's crease. That and the heavy breathing in Nathan's ear was a clear indication that Aaron wasn't doing something absentmindedly this time.

God, that feels good.

Nathan closed his eyes. "Aaron? What are you doing?"

"I'm rubbing my dick against your ass."

"I detected that all on my own," Nathan whispered. "See." Then grasped Aaron's hand, pushed it down along his body, and pressed it against his own rock-hard cock.

Aaron’s hand cautiously encased Nathan’s shaft through the thick fabric of his sweatpants and brushed his thumb back and forth as he pressed closer to Nathan’s body.

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"My question is, why?" Nathan asked.

"You smell really good this morning."

"That's your why?" Nathan asked, bewildered at his roommate’s lame excuse. Surely, Aaron could’ve come up with something more original. Not that it mattered…

"That's my why," Aaron answered.

Nathan shivered as Aaron slipped his hand into the front of Nathan’s sweatpants and started stroking him.

This was definitely an advance.

Aaron kissed the curve of Nathan's neck, licked a long line up to his ear, and took the soft lobe into his mouth. Nathan groaned in disbelief. Maybe Aaron wasn't as deep in the closet as he'd assumed. Maybe he'd done this before.

"I've never done anything like this before," Aaron whispered quietly and kissed Nathan's neck. "I'm not sure what to do."

…or maybe not.

Nathan reached back, ran his hand under the band of Aaron’s sweatpants, and hauled them off his hips. He needed to feel the warm flesh of Aaron's cock against his skin.

"Nathan?" Aaron's voice was shaky as he spoke his name.

"Listen to your body," Nathan replied, shifting as Aaron struggled to eradicate his sweatpants. The poor guy was so nervous that he was shaking. "I'll guide you through the rest."

Nathan pulled his own pants down and rid his body of them, using his feet to peel them off his legs and shove them to the bottom of the bed. Aaron's thick cock was immediately back where it belonged, rubbing ardently against his ass.

"Where do you keep your condoms?" Aaron asked.

What? Did Aaron intend to go all the way?

Nathan steadied his breathing. He hadn't expected that. He'd thought they'd rub off against each other and leave the actual fucking for another time. Not that he was complaining…

"Bedside drawer," he answered. "The lube is in there as well."

The sound of the wrapper being torn, and the tantalizing snap of a condom securely in place, had Nathan's heart racing in anticipation.

He wondered whether or not Aaron would know what to do. The gay porn Aaron had been watching on the internet wasn't the most reliable source for gay sex advice.

Aaron's hand, slick with lube, slid down along Nathan's crease, straight through to his balls, and then backtracked. Nathan exhaled sharply as Aaron slipped a fingertip in past the outer rim of muscle but then removed it.

Fuck.

Aaron wasn't sure what he was doing.

"It helps to open me up …relax me," Nathan said. "So it doesn't hurt so much when you start fucking me."

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Aaron's breathing slowed. "It's going to hurt?"

"That's all part of it …the pain, pleasure boundary. Once you get going, it's the most incredible feeling to be riding someone's dick like that. There's nothing else like it."

"I don't want to hurt you." Aaron circled the pulsating ridge of Nathan's hole with his finger. "What do I need to do?"

"Start with one finger, gentle at first, and then work up from there. You'll feel my ass loosen up and relax." Nathan looked back over his shoulder. "That's when you'll know I'm ready, all right?"

Aaron kissed Nathan's shoulder as acknowledgment and dispensed more lube into his hand, warming it between his fingers before beginning. Nathan gripped the pillow as the first of Aaron's fingers pushed into him. He groaned. His roommate's finger was thick and rough and made him feel slightly …self-conscious.

It was one thing to have a guy's dick up your ass. That felt absolutely normal in terms of his social comfort. Having a guy's finger up there felt far more personal, especially if it was a friend's. Funnily enough, Nathan smirked; the thought of Aaron's tongue thrusting into his ass only brought on feelings of lust.

Oh, fuck yeah.

Nathan’s gut clenched as his cock pulsed, hardening and thickening to the point of…

Oh, fuck no.

Nathan reached back and grasped Aaron's arm.

"Stop."

The visual of Aaron's face buried deep in his crack, his hot breath tickling the hair on his balls, combined with Aaron's deep fingering, was going to make him cum if he kept it up any longer.

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Nathan Kent isn't thrilled with the idea of completing his final year of college at a completely different institution from where he started—but the opportunity to join one of the top varsity football teams is too much of a temptation to pass up.

Until he meets his new roommate, Aaron Campbell, and realizes he's in trouble—in a gorgeous, rock-hard ab kind of way. But Aaron has a girlfriend and insists he's straight.

That is, until Aaron crowds into Nathan's bed on a particularly cold night.

Nathan Kent wasn't thrilled with the idea of completing his final year of college at a completely different institution from where he'd started, but the opportunity to join one of the top varsity football teams in the country had been too much of a temptation to pass up.

The truth of the matter, Nathan was glad to have an excuse to move away. His last relationship had ended badly, and the thought of having to play a defensive position in conjunction with his ex-lover was something he hadn't even wanted to contemplate. Communication on the field would've been awkward between them, and they invariably would've let the team down.

Of course, the breakdown in their relationship had been entirely his fault, as usual. His lack of restraint when it came to his mouth and the voracious appetite of his dick had managed to destroy yet another perfectly suitable and fundamentally healthy partnership.

But that was the problem. It had become too predictable and safe for his liking, so he'd switched to self-destruct mode, seeking a way out. The possibility of love entering the equation had absolutely nothing to do with his behavior. He was sure of that.

Maybe.

Nathan stared up at the dorm building. It wasn't that he didn't want to find someone to spend his life with. He enjoyed the feeling of security provided by a warm and familiar body in his bed, but most of the guys he ended up with were involved in some sport or another and weren't willing to extend their relationship beyond the bedroom. That's where he had major issues. In his experience, the locker rooms of most colleges contained a seriously large and overcrowded closet.

Maybe someday, he would meet someone willing to take that step outside the bedroom and be seen in public with him as his partner. That would be the day he would tell the sports world to go fuck itself because he was one of the best offensive football players in the country, and he was damn proud to be gay.

Nathan rechecked the information on the letter he'd received from the college's housing department. He was sharing a dorm room with a guy named Aaron Campbell, who was, thankfully, also on the football team. Aaron's major was law, whereas Nathan's was environmental engineering, which meant they couldn't help each other study, but at least the guy wasn't working toward some soft degree in psychology or something.

There was nothing more irritating than a guy prattling on about people's emotions. Invariably, the budding shrink would try to analyze why Nathan behaved the way he did, which usually made Nathan's mouth go ballistic.

It was already late Sunday afternoon. Nathan had arrived a full day and a half later than everyone else because he'd had some family commitments to attend to. His grandfather had died the week before, and being the only surviving male in his family, he'd been put in charge of organizing the funeral and dealing with the emotional breakdown of his grandmother and younger sister. It had been an incredibly stressful few days, and he was looking forward to throwing on a set of headphones and climbing into bed.

Nathan opened the door of his new dorm room and was immediately confronted by a mountain of boxes, packing peanuts, and discarded strips of tape. Apparently, his new roommate was a bit of a media fanatic and had the good fortune of being able to afford all new equipment.

He looked down at the tattered box he was carrying. Everything he owned in the world fit into that box, and the large duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

"Hey, could you give me a hand?" Aaron asked as he stepped out from behind the massive television he was attempting to connect to the surround sound system.

"I'm Aaron," he added. "It's Nathan, right?"

Nathan swallowed heavily as his mouth moistened. Shit. His new roommate was absolutely gorgeous. He let his gaze wander over the dark, graspable curls of Aaron's hair and down across his smooth, incredibly lickable chest.

The guy could've at least put on a shirt. It isn't that warm.

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"Yeah," Nathan answered.

"I'm trying to run these wires through the back of the cabinet," Aaron explained, "but the bloody television is making it impossible for me to reach through on my own."

Nathan grunted. Maybe if the television wasn't so fucking big—the thing must be about seventy inches.

"What do you need me to do?" Nathan asked.

"Poke the wires through the hole, and I'll grab them."

"Sure thing." Nathan smirked inwardly. There was an infinitely more interesting hole in the room he'd rather be poking things into. Not that he was in the habit of topping guys, but he would make an exception if Aaron turned out to be a bottom. His gaydar was lighting up like an evergreen tree on Christmas Day. After pulling the wires through, Aaron crouched in front of the cabinet and deftly connected a few wires.

Nathan stepped back, out of his way, when Aaron reached over the edge of the cabinet to retrieve the manual. He had to bite his lip to keep from groaning with admiration. Aaron was packing around the most luscious ass he'd ever seen. He could spend hours descending into the warm valley between those peaks with his tongue. Christ. He shifted uncomfortably. His dick didn't want to wait until Aaron finished setting up the equipment. It was straining to be released from the confines of his jeans right now, and he was inclined to listen to his dick.

"I think that's everything," Aaron said and turned around.

Nathan was pleased that he'd managed to keep himself from drooling because Aaron was now studying his face. A quick glance from Aaron in the direction of the obvious bulge in his pants would hopefully move things along in the direction of the bed. Nathan wasn't sure how much longer he could contain himself.

"I want to make sure everything is working before my girlfriend comes over," continued Aaron.

Nathan couldn't take his eyes off Aaron's lips as he spoke. He could imagine those full, kissable lips and that exquisite mouth encasing his cock and pulling sweetly on it …then Aaron's soft brown eyes would gaze out from under those thick lashes when he came in his mouth—and they'd be brimming with desire.

"Nathan?" Aaron touched Nathan's shoulder.

"Sorry,” Nathan stuttered. “What did you say?"

"I was hoping you could help me test this thing out before my girlfriend gets here. I'm not good at setting up remotes."

It felt like a gut punch. Aaron had a girlfriend, which meant he was straight—which meant Nathan was never going to have the opportunity to taste and consume the hot piece of man candy standing before him. He suddenly felt like he needed to sit down. He dropped into the beanbag sofa in front of the television.

He motioned for the remote and began programming it.

"What's your girlfriend's name?" Nathan asked in an attempt to be polite, even though he really didn't want to know.

"Sarah," Aaron answered. "We've been together since high school." He grinned. "So, almost seven years now."

"Perfect." Nathan handed the remote back to Aaron, climbed off the sofa, and headed for his bed. "I need to lie down. I've been up since early this morning. Try to keep the noise down."

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"Sure." Aaron tossed the remote down and rubbed the back of his neck. "Um …do you want me to tell Sarah tonight's not a good night for her to come over?"

"That would be sublime," Nathan muttered. The last thing he needed to see was some girl hanging all over the guy he'd been fantasizing about.

He wanted to jack off to Aaron's unadulterated image at least twice before it was besmirched by the reality that Aaron preferred pussy.

Nathan hauled his box open and removed the comforter and pillow that occupied almost the entire inner space. The rest was taken up by the one sheet set he owned and a few books. He was too tired to deal with sheets and opted to roll himself up in the comforter and wedge himself against the wall, facing it.

Realizing he was going to require something to mop up with, Nathan removed his shirt and stuffed it into the comforter with him. He shoulder-checked, confirming Aaron was fully occupied with the video game he'd fired up. Shit. Aaron had put the game on mute, which was thoughtful but not very helpful, as Nathan didn't exactly have a propensity for audio temperance when he came—and he desperately needed to cum.

Fuck it. I'm doing this.

Nathan unbuttoned his jeans and slipped them off past his hips, but the level of effort required to remain silent as he stroked his demanding cock was proving difficult, so Nathan rolled away from the wall. If he kept an eye on Aaron, he'd be able to feign being asleep if Aaron turned around. His gut tightened when Aaron stretched his shoulders out.

Fuck, he's beautiful.

Violence and gore continued to erupt across the massive television screen, but Nathan was utterly fixated on Aaron's profile and the way he chewed his bottom lip when he was concentrating. Aaron's unconscious habit was also an anticipatory gesture, and that was how Nathan's mind perceived it.

Then Aaron licked his lips.

God damn.

A throaty groan escaped before Nathan even realized he was about to cum. He'd been so mesmerized by the sight of Aaron's soft pink tongue that he hadn't been paying attention to his own body. It was too late to retract the broadcast of his actions. Aaron had already turned around and was watching him intently.

Being at the point of no return, Nathan thought, 'fuck it,' and yanked the comforter aside to give himself unrestricted access and stroked himself through to completion.

He collapsed into his bedding, embarrassed but deliriously fulfilled, and laughed for the first time in days; Aaron clapped and whistled wildly at his performance.

What a fucking lunatic. Love it.

Nathan grinned at Aaron and turned, looking for his shirt, but it had been lost in the struggle to free himself from his bindings.

"Here," Aaron said as he handed Nathan a box of tissues.

Nathan took a swipe at the mess on his stomach. "Thanks." He looked down at his chest and wiped away a few more drops of cum. "Sorry about that. It was a long flight."

"You missed some." Aaron reached forward and swiped a thumb across Nathan's cheek. "Don't worry about it," he said. "I jack off all the time." Aaron grinned, shrugging. "Besides," he added. "It was hugely entertaining." Keeping his eyes on Nathan, Aaron settled his cum-covered thumb in his mouth and sucked on it as Nathan watched with avid fascination.

What the fuck?

Taking his thumb from his mouth, Aaron winked at him, turned back toward the television, and switched it off. "I'm going to head over to Sarah's and let you get some sleep."

The story continues …