“Didn’t ask you to,” he replies with a shrug. “Like you said. It’s casual between us.”
He huffs and then guzzles down his beer.
When he’s finished, he stares down at himself. His face falls slightly and then he pushes himself up.
“I’m going to the gym,” he says.
“You were just there.”
“So what?”
And then he stalks out, leaving me to stare at the door until he returns. I fucked up. I’ve upset him. I don’t know how to navigate this. I’ve never had to before. And usually, this would push me away, would make me step in the opposite direction, but with him…
It’s different.
I want to fix it.
When I hear the lock turn an hour later, I pull my Kindle out and pretend to read. I don’t want to show my hand too soon. I don’t want him to know how much he’s affected me.
When he just stands there, unmoving, I peer over at him, my chest constricting.
“Feel better?” I ask.
“Peachy. Going to go shower.”
I hear the water turn on, hear him grumbling through the walls. And when he finishes, he doesn’t reappear. I hear the door to the bedroom shut, and my eyes close, my breathing slightly labored.
I need to fix this.
I want to fix this.
I find him on the bed, shirtless, his earphones in his ears.
I slide up against him, pulling his earphones out and setting them on the end table.
My hands cup his face, my thumbs stroking his cheeks. I’m straddling him, hovering over his body.
His eyes flash, and then I lean down and kiss him, licking my way into his mouth, my fingers dragging through his hair, pulling, tugging, holding him to me.
But he doesn’t do the same back. His hands are fisted in the sheets, and that’s what prompts me to pull away.
“You’re upset,” I say as I stare down at him. This is the opposite of what I wanted when I told him the truth.
Caleb whimpers, and I can’t help but kiss him again. His cock is hard against mine, aching. I know he wants this, wants me, but I also don’t want him mad.
I want him to touch me. To hold on to me like he needs me.
His lips rip away from mine, and he squeezes his eyes shut for a moment before they open.
“Are you using me, man?” he asks.
My body stiffens above him. “What are you talking about?”
“Are you using me? Is this an experiment for you? Fuck around with a guy who’s not your type. See how long you can keep it up? Make a straight guy gay or some shit? Am I a game to you?”
“No, why would you…? Caleb, I told you. I like you. I like doing things with you.”
“Then why not make it more?”
