Guys on Top (28 page)

“Yes,” Doug said. “We’re done.”

“Oh thank Christ,” Stewart said, falling back into the pillows. “Now maybe I can get some fucking sleep at night.”

Doug laughed. “You haven’t been sleeping?”

Stewart pointed at him. “
You
have been knocking around my head, keeping me up at night. I’ve been going to work every day with my eyes all swollen. I need sleep!”

“Yeah,” Doug said. “Maybe now I can get through my meditation.”

“I haven’t been eating much, either,” Stewart said. “You want to order pizza?”

“Sure,” Doug said. “Whatever you want.”

“I like when you say that.”

Doug slid down and wrapped his arm around Stewart. “Me too.”

“Like it even better when you give it to me.” Stewart pulled him into an embrace, squeezing. “You happy?”

Doug sighed, nuzzling into his shoulder. “Yeah.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Doug spotted Corey at a distance, coming toward him the other way as he did his final lap around the pond. He slowed his pace, nervousness speeding his pulse in a way even the exercise couldn’t. Corey spotted him a few moments later, and Doug saw his run slow to a jog, then a walk. Abruptly, Corey turned around and jogged the other way.

Shit
. How long could this go on? It had been three weeks of avoiding Corey, and Corey was clearly avoiding him as well. He supposed he’d have to switch his jogging routine back to early morning, since apparently Corey jogged in the evening. But Doug had been staying at Stewart’s a few nights a week, and morning sex took precedence over his morning jog every time.

There had been a couple small gatherings upstairs in the past weeks, but Doug didn’t complain to anyone about the noise. He was actually relieved to hear the sounds of Corey getting on with his life. But though Doug was beyond happy with the way things were going with Stewart, the awkwardness with Corey was tugging at his nerves.

Doug didn’t want to move out of his place. He liked where he was living. And while he was trying to take things slow with Stewart—okay, maybe not
slow
, but they weren’t making plans to move in together or anything—he loved the fact that his boyfriend lived five minutes away. He liked jogging at the pond, walking through the neighborhood. He liked popping in to Bernie’s for a drink with Jairo after work. This place felt like home, and he didn’t want to move.

But it didn’t look like Corey was going anywhere either, and while it was entirely plausible that they could go on ignoring each other forever, Doug couldn’t help feel it would be easier if they could find a way to be friends. Or at least acquaintances. Anything but this crazy avoidance game.

But another week passed, and the game continued, Corey leaving five minutes early to avoid Doug, Doug leaving ten minutes late to avoid Corey. If it wasn’t so awkward, he’d have to admire the skill each of them had in determining the other’s schedule and working around it.

Forlorn looking clients had been showing up at the house and led upstairs to Corey’s lair, leaving an hour later with a smile on their face. So Doug guessed there were no more problems with Corey’s healing mojo being out of whack.

On a Thursday night, Doug sat at Stewart’s kitchen table checking his phone while Stewart prepared dinner. Or rather Stewart was
supposed
to be preparing dinner. Feeling summery with the rising temperatures, they’d splurged on lobsters and seafood chowder at the fish market, along with some corn on the cob.

“Doug, look, mine’s beating yours.”

Stewart was on the floor with the two live lobsters, watching them move sluggishly side by side. Doug snickered. “Will you stop playing with our dinner and put it in the pot? I don’t want them to die before we...kill them.”

“Okay, fine,” Stewart said, picking up the lobsters. “But only because I’m getting hungry.”

Doug opened a text from Jairo and read it.

‘
Scoot’s band is playing at The Bass Clef in Kenmore Square Saturday night. Be there or be...just be there!
’

“Hey Doug, look.”

Doug glanced at Stewart and burst out laughing. “What the hell are you doing, you freak?”

Stewart had stuffed the lobster down his pants, his jeans zipper open with the tail of the lobster sticking out. “It’s a seafood cock tail. Get it?”

“Put it in the pot, Stewart.”

“Okay, but that was funny.” Stewart rinsed both lobsters under the tap, then turned to the stove and dropped them in the pot. He moved to the sink and washed his hands.

“Hey, you know Binomial Theorem?” Doug asked.

Stewart dried his hands and frowned at Doug. “Um, it’s a mathematical expansion formula when something’s been raised to a higher power. I think.”

Doug smiled. “Well aren’t you smart. One would never know you just had a lobster in your pants. But I meant the band. Remember, they played that night at Bernie’s when I was with Jairo?”

“Oh.” Stewart sat down at the table and took a sip of white wine. “I guess. I was a little distracted that night by some hot guy at the bar.”

“Well, they’re really good, and they’re playing in Kenmore Square Saturday night. Jairo’s gonna go with his friends, you wanna go?”

“I don’t know.” Stewart grinned. “Is
Rod
gonna be there, your boyfriend?”

Doug laughed. “Rod most likely is gonna be there, but he’s Jairo’s boyfriend now.”

Stewart’s eyebrows rose. “Oh. Well in that case, yeah, sounds like fun.”

“Good, I’ll text him back.” Doug had a thought. He didn’t know if it was a good thought, but he decided to toss it out there. “Hey, do you think we should invite Corey?”

Stewart bust out laughing. “Sure, if you want to ruin everyone’s good time, go right ahead.”

“I know,” Doug said. “But I just feel like something’s gotta give, it’s so awkward at the house. Have you spoken to him?”

“Once,” Stewart said. “He wanted to know if I was gonna pick up some shit I left there or if he should throw it in the bin. I told him I’d come by and get it. When I went around, he’d left it in a box on the front porch. So we’re not exactly on friend terms yet.”

Doug stared at his phone, conflicted.

“Invite him if you want to,” Stewart said. “I can handle it if that’s what you’re worried about. I just don’t want you to have to deal with any awkwardness.”

“It’s already awkward,” Doug said. “If I at least make the effort, and he doesn’t respond, then I tried, and I’m done. I’ll just accept things the way they are.”

Stewart nodded. “Okay. Do it then.” He went to the stove to check the lobster.

“You’re incredibly cool,” Doug said.

Stewart grinned back at him. “I know.” He turned the heat down and moved back to the table leaning down and kissing Doug.

Doug melted into the kiss, eyes closing. When Stewart moved back and took his chair, Doug smiled at him. “What was that for?”

“Because,” Stewart said, drumming his fingers on the table. “I’m happy with things how they are. And I want you to know that. Especially if we’re going to see Corey.”

“I’m not gonna get all jealous if that’s what you mean. I trust you. But you must miss him a little, right?”

“I miss him a lot,” Stewart said. “But I love
you
, and I’ll never lie to you or betray you. Just want to make sure you know that.”

Stewart’s words warmed Doug to his toes. And Doug was happy too, so much that he had, in the back of his mind, been waiting for the other shoe to drop, for something to go wrong. Stewart’s reassuring words meant more to him than he could say.

So instead of saying anything, he showed him. After dinner, while they were sitting in front of the television, he slid to the floor and crawled in front of Stewart, unzipping his jeans.

“Whoa,” Stewart whispered when Doug pulled his cock out and took it in his mouth. “You must have really liked that dinner.”

“Mm.” Doug used his mouth and his hand simultaneously, and Stewart quickly stiffened. His breathing grew heavy and he tilted his hips up, fingers threading through Doug’s hair.

“God,” Stewart said. “I love your tongue.”

Taking the cue, Doug swirled his tongue around the head of Stewart’s cock, still stroking the base with his fist. His own erection swelled in his pants as he serviced Stewart, but he tried to focus only on the other man’s pleasure. He’d gotten to know Stewart’s likes and dislikes now, and used what he’d learned to bring him to the edge.

Abruptly, Stewart eased Doug’s head back.

Doug looked up at him. “I wasn’t finished.” He grinned. “And neither are you.”

Stewart slid off the couch and dragged Doug down onto the floor with him. “Are you hard?” he asked, gliding his palm over Doug’s groin.

Doug hissed. “I could club a bear with this thing.”

“Then let me taste you, too.” He shifted around and undid Doug’s jeans, pulling them down around his hips.

Doug adjusted his position, turning onto his side so he could take Stewart in his mouth at the same time. When he felt Stewart’s hot mouth draw him in, he groaned. Getting hold of Stewart’s hip, he sucked his stiffness in, noting a trace of pre-cum on the head. He was close, and Doug was getting closer by the second.

The sharp pleasure of Stewart’s suckling was intensified by having the fullness of another cock in his mouth at the same time. When Stewart went rigid and thrust deeper into Doug’s mouth, he cascaded toward the edge, then plummeted over it when the salty taste of semen poured over his tongue.

Climaxing together they swallowed each other down, withdrawing once they were both spent, panting as they lay on their backs. Stewart’s fingers found Doug’s hand, squeezing.

“Okay,” Stewart said. “I forgive you for not laughing at my cock tail joke.”

Doug sat up. “Wow,” he said. “Between that and the food and wine, I’m exhausted now.”

Stewart propped himself up on his elbows. “Me, too. Let’s go to bed.”

He gave Stewart a hand up, and they shut off the television and headed to the bedroom. “You know,” Doug said, “you can sleep at my place sometime, too.”

Stewart glanced at him. “Maybe eventually,” he said. “I think it would feel a little weird right now.”

Doug nodded. “Understood.”

When they climbed into bed, Stewart wrapped an arm around Doug, dragging him close. “In a few months, if things are still good, maybe you should just move in here.”

Doug smiled in the darkness. “Yeah,” he said. “Maybe.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

On his lunch hour the following day, Doug bit the bullet and sent Corey a text message, telling him about the gig on Saturday night, suggesting he should join them. But by the time he left work at the end of the day, there was still no response from him.

Doug was a bit irritated by that. He’d taken the high road, even after Corey had verbally attacked him the last time they’d spoken, even after the things he’d said. Doug had been willing to forgive the encounter because he knew Corey was upset, and going through a lot of life changes. But he supposed he’d been naïve, thinking things could be the way they were before. Zach, and other details aside, the fact remained that Doug was in a relationship with Stewart, and Corey most certainly knew this by now. It had happened fast enough to make Doug’s head spin, so he doubted Corey had had time to process it yet.

He wasn’t sure if Corey viewed it as a betrayal or not. Hell, Doug wasn’t sure if he viewed it that way himself. With Stewart and Corey’s open relationship and all the subsequent fucking around and lying that had gone on, Doug’s conscience wasn’t particularly bothering him. What was he supposed to do, deny himself happiness because Corey might get pissed off? Corey was always pissed off. And Doug hadn’t thought he’d ever fall hard for a guy again after Harry. Letting Stewart slip through his fingers hadn’t been an option. And considering how hard he’d fallen, it hadn’t really been a choice, either. And in his own defense, he had waited until Stewart was officially single to give in fully.

Having sufficiently stroked his conscience to rationalization, he headed home. Stewart was doing a late job today, so Doug was going to spend his Friday night alone, and he was okay with that. Despite his excitement over the new relationship, he still liked his
me time
, and was looking forward to a night of sweat pants and action movies.

He’d just popped a beer and cued up the latest Thor movie
when a knock came. Pausing the movie, he got off the couch and moved cautiously to the door. It could only be one person, so he didn’t bother to ask who it was before opening.

Corey stood in the foyer, a bored look on his face, handsome as ever in running pants and a baby blue tee shirt. He held a large container of ice cream.

“Hi,” Doug said.

“Hi.”

Doug pointed to the ice cream. “What’s this?”

Corey handed the ice cream to Doug. “A long overdue apology.”

Doug smiled. “Mint chocolate chip, nice. Thank you.”

“I was gonna get you flowers but was afraid you’d get the wrong idea and start having wet dreams about me.”

Doug laughed. “I think you’ve probably got enough people dreaming about you. Can you come in?”

Corey hesitated a moment, then nodded.

Corey followed him in and sat down on the couch while Doug went to the kitchen. He got out two bowls and filled them with the ice cream Corey brought. Grabbing two spoons, he headed back in and sat down in the chair next to the couch.

“Thanks,” Corey said when Doug set one of the bowls on the coffee table and slid it toward him. “I’ve seen this,” Corey said, pointing his spoon at the paused movie on the screen. “You want to know who dies?”

“No!” Doug took a bite. “So how have you been?”

Corey poked at his ice cream. “Good.”

When he didn’t elaborate, Doug focused on his own bowl, at a loss for words suddenly.

“How ’bout you?” Corey asked.

“Good,” he said.

Then he decided to take a chance, hoping Corey wouldn’t breathe fire at him for not ‘minding his own fucking business.’

“You still seeing Zach?”

Corey paused, the spoon halfway to his mouth. He looked surprised, then he grinned. “Yeah,” he said. “Still putting up with that brat.”