The Friendship Equation

by J. R. Gray

  Were there this many secrets between us and I'd never known? I'd hid my own, but I thought I'd done it for a reason, to save our friendship. I didn't understand why he kept these so close to his chest.

  "I didn't think too much about it at the time. Like oh, okay, maybe she was just looking for a number. But after the other stuff and then yesterday..." He lifted his shoulders as he trailed off.

  "Yesterday?" Fear ate at my throat. Were they spying on us? Did they have cameras in his house we didn't know about? My stomach turned.

  "She asked me if I was seeing someone after I got home."

  My brows pulled. "Did she say why?"

  "Nope. When I asked her, she said 'no reason, just wondering.' But I don't know. It all could be harmless but because of what we’re doing my gut tells me it's not."

  "It doesn't feel like it is. She knows how often you go on dates and never bring someone home." I'd never seen either of his parents get into his business. "They tell you all the time high school isn't for serious relationships."

  "Maybe they are worried about vetting someone before he runs. The governor is so obsessed with the idea of being perfect right now.”

  "Maybe." I hated seeing all this pressure his dad put on him. "What did you tell her?"

  "I told her no, that I have too much going on with swimming and college." He blew his cheeks out. "Then with this morning…I don't know. I can't shake it."

  “You don’t think they want you with someone? Steady like, so it looks better?”

  “I can’t tell.” He exhaled audibly. “They said so much crap.”

  Was this what had him all worked up? "What did they say?"

  "They sat me down before the breakfast and started talking about not messing up the path I’m on and how important my future is. They said my future in government and political science are wide open and they don't want me to do anything that would get in the way. They told me I have a path forward as a community leader, and I have to start thinking about it now, because that's what my dad did. Apparently, he knew he wanted to be president before he went to college. Like I'd ever want to follow in his footsteps seeing what he deals with. But they went on and on about how I had to start thinking about my choices now."

  Harden's frown deepened, and he rubbed his forehead.

  "Do you think they heard us?" I racked my brain. Other than when I'd asked him, we’d talked about everything else we'd talked about out of the house.

  "Not unless they have cameras or something. But they’re so liberal on social issues, I can't imagine it has anything to do with me hooking up with a guy. It's part of their damn platform. Maybe they think I'm going to get a girl pregnant. I could be reading way too much into this because we are keeping this on the down-low.”

  I could tell by the look in his eyes he wasn't convinced. I wanted to make him feel better. "Should we just tell them?”

  "Fuck no." He shook his head. "I'm not opening that can of worms. They don't get to tell me who to fuck."

  "It might be them acting off because of stress." I didn't want to damn his parents or think they might not be supportive before we had any evidence. "Do you really think they, like, expect you to run for congress when you graduate?"

  "No clue. Maybe they expect me to come work in the White House." He leaned his head against the rest and stared straight ahead. "I do want to work in politics, I think, but like we've talked about. I don't think I could ever be the one running."

  I could see where his parents were coming from. If people liked Governor Hart, of course they'd like Harden. I saw it all. He was the perfect package—charming, good looking—the real all-American type. I could see ads of him jogging out onto a stage already. More so, to be a liberal from Utah who was born and raised here, had ties to the church? It would be huge. More so if his father paved the way.

  “I think your parents have more planned for you than you do," I said softly, trying to be gentle.

  "I think I want to be a fucking eighteen-year-old, and they're going to have to get over it. I'm not making every damn decision like I might be a public figure one day. I don't want to spend the rest of my life thinking about the future and not living just because that’s the path they want me to follow.”

  It was the first time I’d ever heard him go against what his father wanted for him. Go against pleasing his father. This must have been more than he let on.

  "Fair. But the offer stands. If you want to back out to not complicate things…"

  “Why do you keep trying to back out of this?” His mouth took a hard line.

  “I’m not. I’m trying to give you an out if you want it.”

  “If I wanted an out, I wouldn’t need you to give it to me.” He turned towards me. "I want to fuck you, so I'm going to fuck you. Damn what anyone else wants."

  A shiver ran down my spine, and I was so hard for him. "Jesus."

  "I take what I want. You offered." There wasn't a hint of him wavering in his gaze.

  "We just have to be careful. They won't find out, and no one else has to either." That way, if he changed his mind about politics, it wasn't hanging over his head. I'd be the best friend he fucked one time who'd never talk about it, and I was okay with that.

  Storms gathered in his eyes. "Sorry about all of this."

  "Don't be sorry." I'd never wanted to kiss him so bad. I slid tentative fingers along his jaw and closed the space between us. "No one needs to know you're helping."

  He melted into my lips. "I like kissing you."

  “And I like kissing you."

  He jumped back, probably remembering where we were. Sitting in his fucking driveway where anyone could see. "Let's go play video games then make out? Loser has to take off an article of clothing?"

  My brows shot up. "Now?"

  "We won't be fucking, and we can stop when my parents get home." He threw open the door and jogged towards the house, leaving me blinking in my seat.

  I grabbed my backpack and joined him, trying to decide if I wanted to lose on purpose.

  We grabbed a couple of drinks and headed to his room. He'd taken a room over the garage because it was twice the size of the other rooms in the house. It had only a single window, meant to be a movie room or something. He loved it. He had a sitting area and a bedroom area, all laid out with makeshift dividers so he could hang out up here with friends. The walls were painted dark purplish, and his mom had painted galaxies on the ceiling.

  "Lock the door and come on." He hopped over the back of the sofa and grabbed the controller.

  "What are we playing?" I asked, knowing he'd pick something I sucked at.

  "Mario Kart," he said when I sat down.

  I picked up the other controller. "Are you being fair? Are you feeling alright?" Leaning over, I pressed the back of my hand into his forehead. "No fever, but I don't know why you would pick anything you won't kick my ass at."

  "I'm trying to play fair since you're the newbie at fooling around. I don't want you to be the only one naked."

  "I get it now." I nodded, flipping through to pick my car.

  "Get what?" he asked, doing the same.

  "You want to be naked." I looked him over with a leer so he'd know exactly what my point was. "I can't really blame you. You look damn good."

  "I'm picking your least favorite track for that."

  "Go for it." I didn't mind losing, and maybe he hadn't caught on to that fact.

  He won the first and the second, and I played it bad, shirt coming off, then shoes. He rolled his eyes but did the same when he lost the next two. I won again, and he took socks off. I licked my lips, staring at his chest.

  "You know payback will be a bitch."

  He crossed an ankle over his knee. "What, you're not into feet?"

  "I don't fucking know, but I do know that's all that's coming off if you win." Maybe I'd only take one off. That would serve him right.

  "I look forward to an intimate glimpse of your feet." He clicked through and added extra laps and then selecte
d the damn cow course.

  "Bastard."

  He laughed, already getting ready to go. "Watch out for those cows."

  I tried to avoid them, but any time a cow got close I was drawn to it like some fucking magnetic force, and he'd added extra laps. I had no hope. I lost at least a full lap down in a spectacular fashion.

  "Come on, give those feet to me." He sat back grinning, sipping from the juice box he'd brought up.

  "Only you could say that with a children's drink in hand."

  "And I look hot doing it." He made his brows dance.

  I stood up, setting my controller aside.

  "A show?" he asked, sitting back getting comfortable.

  I popped the button on my jeans, and slowly lowered the zipper. He coughed and stared. I pushed them down my thighs and stepped out of them, showing off the bulge that had been hidden by me sitting, tenting my boxer briefs.

  "Shit. I'm never going to be able to focus with you like that."

  "That's the point." I gripped my shaft, giving it a squeeze before picking my controller back up and sitting down, hard-on still on full display.

  Harden kept side-eyeing me while he selected a new race.

  I lifted my arms, giving him a better view. "See something you like?"

  He gruffed. "When you lose, those are coming off."

  "What, my socks?"

  He narrowed his eyes but didn't comment. He lost the race and then reached over to grab my cock. "You know, maybe we should make out now."

  My dick throbbed under his touch. "Look at you, being the graceful loser. You still need to take something off."

  He grabbed my thigh, turning me towards him on the sofa, and climbed between my legs while working on his jeans. He pressed his lips to my pec, trailing across to find my nipple as he shoved off his pants. I slid lower, laying under him. He kicked off his pants then laid over me, giving me his full body weight. My arms wound around him, exploring all the exposed flesh.

  "Are you going to be okay with me fucking you?" he asked between kisses.

  "I didn't think as the straight guy, you'd be the one bottoming," I said, surprised he was bringing it up at all.

  "I didn't know what you were picturing," he admitted. "Or if you'd feel like you really lost your virginity without..." He trailed off.

  "Without penetrating something?" I said with a laugh. "I think virginity is stupid, but still, any sex at all counts for me. If you're making someone else come, then you've lost it."

  "I agree. There are so many fun ways to make people come without penetrating." He tilted his hips, moving them over mine, the silkiness of my boxers rubbing over my cock and balls, making me groan.

  "What ways?" I asked. Sure, I knew plenty. I'd watched porn—who hadn't by eighteen? But I wanted to know all the ways in Harden's head.

  "Like this, but naked."

  Frotting. "One of my favorite things. Sometimes I rewind porn to watch it over and over."

  Harden had the most expressive eyebrows, and they ticked up. "So we'll be trying that later."

  "Yes, please." I slid my fingers into the back of his boxers.

  "What else do you want to try?" he asked while licking my throat.

  "Oh no you don't." I shook my head. "I was asking you what ways. You don't get to just steal my line of questioning for your own gain."

  "Why not? I never promised not to steal anything." He slid further down my body, finding my nipples again. "I'll trade off. You tell me something, and I'll tell you something."

  "Deal." I curled my fingers into his round ass. For a swimmer, he had the best ass, which wasn't normal. Most swimmers were on the lean side there, but he made sure to lift, and it showed. "My turn then. Giving oral. I'm sure receiving feels amazing, but I really want to try giving."

  He rested his chin on my chest, staring up at me. “Does this extend to guys, girls, non-binary pals? Who?"

  "Guys."

  “Shit. You’re really turned on by that?”

  “Yes, why?” I asked.

  “So…I could, like, have a blow job any time I wanted?”

  I nodded enthusiastically. “If you’re into it.”

  "I want. You going to suck me off?" he asked like he didn't believe me.

  "I just said I would. Do you not believe me?" I asked.

  "I haven't found anyone our age who would suck it for more than a few seconds. Girls, ummm—the ones I've messed around with—aren’t into it." He dipped again to kiss my abs. "Even when I spend hours going down on them, the favor has not been returned."

  "So you've never gotten off that way?" I asked, arousal surging through me.

  "No," he said softly, almost like he was ashamed.

  "You can come in my mouth," I said drawing my nails over his ass. "And you don't have to return the favor."

  He didn't reply at first, instead flicking his tongue against my ribs. "I don't know. I haven't really thought about getting even this far with a guy."

  "Are you uncomfortable?"

  "No," he said.

  "Your turn."

  He nodded. "This is going to sound simple and stupid maybe, but doggie."

  "No one ever let you?"

  He shook his head, crawling back over me. "No. Sex is love to most girls, so they want to be facing you and kissing you, which is fine. Believe me, I'm not complaining about getting laid, and I did enjoy ‘making love’ with Andrea…but I don't want it to be like that every time."

  Hearing about his sexcapades while we were mostly naked did something to me. It made my chest tight. He'd talked about sex before, and it was never a jealous thing. Hearing it here and now, I wanted to fulfill all those needs no one else had.

  "Is that how you're going to fuck me later?" I asked as he brought his lips to mine.

  "You'll let me?"

  "Yes," I said, wrapping my legs around him to get more friction.

  "The first time?" Hunger showed in his eyes. He wanted me.

  "Yes."

  His cock throbbed against mine. "You're killing me."

  "Take your boxers off."

  Eight

  I didn't want to wait any longer. I wanted this. He had me so worked up it was painful.

  "We'll be interrupted," Harden said already reaching between us. I dropped my legs and opened my knees, giving him the room.

  "Let me blow you then."

  He groaned, dropping his forehead to my throat. "Okay."

  We rearranged ourselves so he was under, and I was on top. I kissed him once more before sliding down to his newly exposed cock.

  "Tell me what feels good," I said, wrapping my fingers around his base.

  "Okay," he said, his voice hitching.

  I rested on my elbows and took him between my lips. He tasted sweet and salty, and my mouth watered as I took him further in.

  "Van," he said through a groan which spurred me on.

  "Mmmm." I hummed around him trying to find a rhythm between my hand and mouth.

  I don't think Harden cared at all that I was all over the place. His eyes were closed and his back arched. He didn't fuck my mouth, but his hips moved back and forth ever so slightly with my movements. I loved how he reacted to me. I felt powerful having Harden under me, being the reason he was getting off.

  I sucked him further down, testing to see how far I could get him without feeling like I was going to choke. My lips stretched around his shaft, tongue lavishing over his veins.

  "Van...shit. Stop." He started pulling at my face, half sitting up.

  "What’s wrong? I didn't hurt you, did I?" I asked licking my lips.

  "No, you're going to make me come." He flopped back and tried to wrap his hand around himself.

  I threw it off and took him in my mouth again.

  "Jesus. We haven't talked about this." He grunted through gritted teeth.

  “I told you, I want you to come in my mouth, Harden."

  I didn't hesitate. I flicked my tongue around him, sucking harder, fucking him with my hand, and he lost
it in the most gorgeous display I'd ever seen. He arched and panted, breathing hard. He said my name like it was angelic, finding my hair with both hands. He didn't push or try to move me, and he ran his fingers over my scalp as he started to slow. I drank down his cum, licking his shaft clean, pretty fucking elated.

  "Vance." He urged me off his cock.

  I grinned, the smile spreading across my entire face. I couldn't help myself.

  He kept tugging until I came up over him.

  “Can I kiss you?”

  “Why wouldn’t you?” he asked.

  “I had your cum in my mouth.”

  He laughed and lifted his head, brushing our lips together. “Thank you.”

  “I like giving blow jobs.”

  “Do you?” he asked.

  “You couldn’t tell?” I nodded. “Even more than I thought I would.”

  He pulled my legs over his to straddle his hips, wrapping his hand around me through my boxers. “I’m going to make sure you come so hard. Wow. You’ve made me come twice, and I haven’t even gotten you off once.” He stroked lazily, smiling, before hooking a finger in the band of my boxer-briefs. “Can I?”

  "No," I said, putting my hand over his.

  "No?" Confusion showed on his face, but he stilled.

  "I don't want to get into it and have your parents come home." I tried to put on my most reassuring smile.

  "But you got me off!" He seemed offended at the idea I wouldn't also want a release. “Twice.”

  "Yes, so you better get me off later."

  He leaned forward, bringing his mouth to mine. "So you're making me wait? This isn't part of your fear, is it? I don't care if you only take a few minutes to blow."

  I shook my head. "I think I'd come the second you touched me you have me so worked up, but I don't want to rush it. Does that make sense?”

  "The second I touch you?" He reached between us and took ahold of me again. "And you're denying me that kind of god-like power?”

  "I'm delaying it not taking it away." I bucked into his touch, into his hand on me. All of it was nearly too much. If he offered me a blow job that second, I think I would have been too weak to say no. “Plus I want to come with you inside me.”

  Too much? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t take it back.