Just Stay (16 page)

Evan's smile widens a bit then, and he drags Seb with him to the bar's entrance, where there are several posters plastered on the wall and the outside of the door. He stops by one of them and points, and Seb looks to see what he's referring to. There is a list of names, not very long, and Seb skims along it, before raising his eyebrows.

"That's you," he says, looking at Evan.

"Yeah," he says. "I'm playing this weekend."

He shrugs self-consciously.

"It's not a big deal," he says. "I'm one out of eight, and I only get to be on stage for, like, five minutes, but..."

He looks at Seb.

"I'd be glad if you came," he says carefully, as though afraid he's asking too much. Seb sucks a breath in through his teeth, as though about to give bad news.

"Oh, I don't know," he says, shaking his head. "You know, exams and stuff..."

He looks at Evan's expression and rolls his eyes.

"Of course I'm coming, you idiot," he says, and he can tell how Evan relaxes a bit, as though honestly a bit surprised that Seb said yes.

"Thanks," he says, and Seb nudges him softly.

"Hey," he says. "Wouldn't miss it."

Evan smiles softly, and kisses him, placing his hand by his cheek. When he pulls away, he just looks at Seb for several seconds, adoringly, until Seb feels uncomfortable.

"What?" he says, but Evan's expression doesn't change.

"I really like your eyes," he says, apparently too caught up in the whole thing to appreciate just how sappy and out of character that is for him to say.

"They're just blue," Seb says self-consciously, feeling a slight blush creep up his neck.
Damn it
. He still hasn't gotten used to how Evan seems to be the only one who can make him actually blush.

But Evan just smiles at him, planting a kiss on his forehead.

"The bluest blue to ever blue."

Chapter 12

Brave

Seb has never seen Evan this nervous before. Although, maybe
nervous
is the wrong word. He's anxious, rather, pacing and fiddling with the random crap he's got lying around his dorm room, straightening a guitar hanging on the wall, adjusting the one pillow he has on his couch. Seb watches him from the bed, a book propped up on his raised knees.

"I can leave, if you want," he says, but Evan immediately turns to him.

"No," he says, shaking his head. "Please. Stay."

He's scratching the back of his head, like he does when he's worked up and anxious.

"You sure?" Seb asks, and Evan nods.

"Yeah," he says. "If you don't mind."

Seb glances at his book. Truth is, he does have some studying to get done. He needs to read three short-stories (
classics
, apparently) for Monday, and Evan's pacing is really distracting. But Evan wants him to stay, and Evan is anxious. And this book and its short-stories is boring as hell, anyway.

Seb closes the book and just looks at Evan for a moment.

"You sure you're okay?" he asks, and Evan swallows, half-nodding. That's not good enough for Seb.

"Come here," he says, putting the book down on the bedside table, and Evan makes his way over to him. Seb practically holds his arms out, and Evan falls down beside him, curling up against him, burying his face by Seb's neck. Seb settles his arms around him, pulling him close, and Evan sighs heavily against his skin.

"You don't have to see him, you know," Seb says, one hand moving up to pull his fingers through Evan's short, light brown hair. "You really don't."

Evan sighs again.

"I know," he says. His voice sounds slightly muffled, buried in the pillow, against the crook of Seb's neck. His hand trails over Seb's chest, before settling over his stomach, and Seb exhales deeply, content.

"When's he coming, again?" he asks.

"Today," Evan replies. "This afternoon."

Seb nods, unsure if Evan notices.

Evan's father is arriving today, to help Jake and Sophie move. Jake said it would be this weekend, but seeing as how it's Thursday, he may have been a bit off about that.

Their dad isn't staying long, apparently, only for a couple of hours, but just the thought of it is making Evan very nervous. And from what Evan has told him about his father, Seb can't really blame him.

"We could just stay here," Seb says lightly, kissing the top of Evan's head. "Stay in bed all day."

He hears Evan chuckle, and it makes him smile.

"Sounds awesome," Evan says, pressing his lips against the pulse of Seb's throat, making Seb close his eyes for a moment. "Really does."

Seb murmurs in agreement, massaging Evan's scalp slightly, as he pulls his fingers through his hair. He feels Evan curl his fingers into a loose fist over his stomach, grasping the fabric of Seb's t-shirt in his hand. He kisses Seb's throat again, and Seb closes his eyes completely. The kiss is warmer this time, lingering, and Seb exhales slowly. He loves this. He loves having Evan close to him like this, just the two of them.

Neither of them says anything for a little while, just lie there, breathing.

"What time is it?" Evan finally asks, and Seb glances at his watch.

"Almost eleven," he says, and Evan murmurs against his skin. Seb spent the night here, and they have just barely gotten up, only putting on some pants and a t-shirt, mostly out of habit. It's an unusually undressed look for Evan; he tends to wear open, button-up shirts over his t-shirts, and seeing him without one is a bit unfamiliar. Not that Seb minds. He likes it.

Evan exhales deeply. He doesn't sound troubled, only tired, and content.

"I'm gonna take a shower," he mumbles against Seb's neck, before moving up to lean on his elbow. Seb just nods, and Evan kisses him warmly. There is something about the kiss, something lingering and hot, that Seb can't quite put his finger on. It makes him shiver, tendrils of warmth spreading through his body. But the kiss doesn't last long, and Evan pulls away, eyes on Seb. He smiles, before getting out of bed and making his way to the bathroom, closing the door behind him as he enters.

Seb just lies there for a few moments, somehow stunned. He waits, thinking, still feeling the effects of that kiss, his body oddly on edge. He hears the shower come on. And then he notices that Evan hasn't locked the bathroom door. He swallows uncertainly, fingers curling into loose fists.

It's amazing how brave Evan can make Seb feel, amazing how much Seb does when it concerns Evan, things he never would have had the balls to do, otherwise.

Like right now, when he gets up from the bed and makes his way over to the bathroom door. He hesitates for a moment, standing in front of it, staring at the handle. He can hear the shower going, can hear the water rushing as Evan steps into it and lets it cover his skin.

Seb squeezes his eyes shut as the image pops into his mind, but mostly from nervousness, and he eventually opens his eyes again. And he exhales.

Seb pulls his t-shirt over his head, dropping it to the floor, before opening the bathroom door and stepping inside. He's sure Evan must have heard it, but if he did, he doesn't let Seb know, and Seb carefully closes the door behind him. The small room is already steamy, and Seb just stares at the opaque, cream-colored shower curtain for a moment, before unbuttoning his jeans and taking them off. Evan's clothes are already in a pile on the floor, and Seb adds to it, taking off his boxers, as well. He takes a deep breath. It's ridiculous how nervous Evan makes him. Nervous and
thrilled
, at the same time.

As soon as Seb pulls the shower curtain aside, he feels his heart suddenly start pounding in his chest. Evan is standing with his back to him, facing the other wall, and Seb swallows hard, taking in the sight of him; his hands as they pull through his wet hair, the way tendrils of water run down his back, where those hard muscles move beneath the skin. The way just looking at him makes Seb hard, and makes him swallow nervously. But again, Evan also makes him brave.

Seb pulls the shower curtain shut and slowly makes his way over to Evan. It's a rather small shower, and covering the distance between them doesn't take more than a second. But even though Evan must know Seb is there, he doesn't turn around. Somehow, Seb appreciates that. It means that he can put himself behind Evan, and place his hands on those strong upper arms, before letting his fingers slide slowly down along that wet skin. Seb feels Evan tense up underneath his hands, and moves even closer, pressing his lips against Evan's shoulder, his hands making their way down along his waist. He hears Evan exhale, slowly and heavily, leaning into Seb's touch, and Seb presses their bodies closer together, feeling Evan's back against his chest. It makes him tighten his grip slightly, hands moving down over Evan's hips.

He feels very brave.

Seb kisses Evan's neck, slowly and hungrily, while one hand moves up along Evan's stomach, tracing the muscles there with his fingers. His other hand is moving further down, agonizingly slow, and Evan lets out a low, deep moan when Seb touches him, wraps his fingers around him. He's already hard, more than Seb expected, and it gives him a ridiculous sense of satisfaction.

He
makes Evan
hard.

It's apparent that Evan is surprised at Seb's behavior; he hasn't done anything like this before, even though Evan has gotten him off a few times, using his hand. But Seb is still taking it slow, making it last―it's just who he is.

Evan has made him shudder and squirm, and now, he wants to return the favor.

Seb has barely gotten started, though, has barely started stroking and making Evan breathe heavily, before Evan suddenly moves. In the blink of an eye, he has turned around, and kissed a rather stunned Seb on the mouth. The kiss is fierce, burning, and Seb automatically reciprocates, melting against him.

"Fuck," Evan rasps between kisses, a small, mischievous smile on his face. "Thought you were never gonna take the hint."

Seb doesn't answer, just groans against his lips, placing his hands on Evan's hips and pushing him backwards, so he ends up with his back against the wall. If Evan was surprised a moment ago, it's nothing compared to how he looks now, eyes wide open as they stare at Seb. Seb looks right into them, and watches as those green irises are slowly eclipsed by dark, lust-blown pupils.

I took the hint
, he feels like saying, realizing that Evan really was inviting him to join him in the shower.
Having you like this is all I ever think about.

But Seb doesn't say it. He can't. Sure, he's acting so much braver than usual, but some things are still too much, and still too unfamiliar and intense for him to admit. And everything he feels about Evan is so different from things he has felt before, nothing like previous relationships or crushes. It makes this feel new.

He looks at Evan, gaze wandering over his face; those eyes, those lips, the way his wet hair looks after he just pulled his fingers through it. Those arms, that chest, the way his hard-on feels against Seb's thigh. And Seb places his forehead against his, inhaling deeply, moving closer, his entire body suddenly aching for him, burning.

"You're so fucking hot," he hears himself say, his voice low and hoarse in a way he definitely isn't used to, and it freaks him out for a moment. He doesn't talk like this, ever. But if Evan finds it odd, he doesn't show it. Instead, that look of surprise on his face blends with something that looks an awful lot like raw, uncompromising
hunger
, and he kisses him again.

"Damn it," he growls against him. "You drive me insane, you know that?"

Seb only hums in response, before he pushes his tongue into Evan's mouth, claiming, possessive, moving his hand down along Evan's stomach to pick up where he left off just moments ago. And Evan moans against his lips as he does, fingers digging into Seb's hair, which is already soaking wet from the shower. Then Seb notices Evan's other hand moving down, as well, and when he feels those fingers wrap around him in a firm grip, he lets out a slow, deep breath. He closes his eyes. He can't believe how good it feels.

Seb leans his forehead against Evan's again, breathing heavily as those fingers start stroking him. It feels good, but somehow, he doesn't want Evan to do anything, this time. This time, he wants to do something for
him
.

Evan seems surprised when Seb gently grabs his wrist and pulls his hand away, but it doesn't last long. Instead, he swallows hard as Seb opens his eyes and looks right at him, just stares as Seb takes them both in his hand, and exhales sharply as Seb slowly starts moving his hips. Seb places his other hand against the wall behind Evan, as he rubs them both together in a lovely sensation of wet friction, thrusting slowly into the tight tunnel of his fingers. He doesn't take his eyes off Evan's for a second, watches with satisfaction as the expression on his face changes, how he grits his teeth and how his eyes glaze over for a moment, how his mouth falls half-open, as he breathes heavily.

Seb starts moving faster when Evan puts his hands on his hips, fingertips digging into his skin. He feels his own heartbeat speed up, as he breathes heavier, faster, inhaling steam and hot air and everything
Evan
, the water from the shower running over his skin, making Evan's hands slip slightly, as they grip him tighter. He wants to close his eyes, wants to savor all of it.

But he wants to see Evan, wants to watch him writhe and moan because of him. He wants to watch him come, because of him.

It's the way Evan practically starts panting that does it, that makes it start building rapidly inside of Seb, and which makes him lean in and kiss Evan with a kind of passion he has never really felt before. Evan moans against his lips, and when Seb pulls away, he can see that his brow is pulled down, eyes squeezed shut.

"No," he hears himself say, to his surprise, and he kisses Evan on the lips. "Look at me."

Evan obeys and opens his eyes. He looks completely wrecked, and it's enough to make Seb speed up just the slightest bit. Enough for him to feel his whole body tense up, and to feel Evan's grip on his hips become painfully tight. He knows he'll have bruises there tomorrow, but it doesn't matter right now. All that matters is the way Evan bites out a deep, guttural moan, as he comes, and the way a second of pure, sheer bliss shoots through Seb's entire body, as he comes almost at the same time.