Love's Misconception

by Flynn Eire

  It was tempting to stay from the way he was rubbing against me, but the idea of staying the night had me almost ready to break out in hives. “I should get to all that stuff and crash. Newbies need a good night’s sleep if they’re to deal with whatever drama is coming next.” I lifted my head and gave him a long, long kiss that let him know I’d be back again. “But I will see you around. I’m only a few doors down after all.”

  “Yeah, you are,” he agreed with a half smile.

  I thought it was an odd reaction, but maybe he was a cuddler? Or liked double rounds? That seemed a bit much for the first night, because it normally led to someone falling asleep and that was the kiss of death to any good sex. And that was all I wanted. All I ever wanted.

  At least he let me go, not making things awkward when I rolled out of bed and threw back on only my pants before collecting my other things. He did however stay in exactly the same spot he’d fallen to the bed when I’d moved away as if leaving everything that happened next up to me. It was a bit strange, but then it kind of warmed my heart as if letting me get whatever I wanted after the day I had.

  So he wasn’t just a fuck buddy, he was a friend with benefits. Never had one of those. I’d heard they were nicer to have. I’d liked the idea much better than simply getting my rocks off with dicks. It made me smile as I gave him another kiss before heading out. “Night, Drake. Sleep tight.”

  “You too, London. See you in the morning.”

  “You bet.” I slipped out of his room, wondering how early he got up for his shift in the kitchen, thinking maybe I’d catch him then and see if I couldn’t get a good day with the rotation worked out with this Manny on Drake’s recommendation or something. Or was that abusing the friends part of this already?

  I’d have to ask because that was the last thing I wanted to do. I honestly wanted the friend more than I wanted the sex. There was always someone to find sex from, and from what I’d seen of the camp, there was no shortage in doable hotties. Whether they were on the market or not was to be determined, but I doubted the whole camp was mated.

  I hurried to unpack, making sure to plug in my iHome first and getting my iPod in there, because that was the true way to really move in somewhere… To fill the place with your taste of music. I flipped through music and smiled when I flew past The Brothers Bright’s Blood on My Name and went back, thinking that was a fantastic christening of the place given how I’d started off there. Not caring the hour, I cranked it up, and hit play.

  Screw them. I was an Aberdeen, and they could deal with a little shit and bucking them if they thought I was going to get pushed around.

  Fine it was only the one song, I wasn’t a dick, but it felt good to do something that was a bit of flipping off everyone there that had made my first day not welcoming… Because if that was their idea of how to welcome a new warrior, they needed to work on their people skills.

  Seriously, like take a class or just shut the fuck up. I preferred the latter option actually and debated buying rolls and rolls of duct tape as I danced to the music and refolded my clean clothes to put away. Then as I stared at them all sitting pretty in my drawers, the one thing I’d not noticed in all my getting settled hit me upside the head like a two-by-four.

  None of them wore camis. Yeah, I started cussing up a storm, knowing I’d need to order all new clothes, and given how I’d left things with my mother, I didn’t have access to my trust or any family money anymore. Which was fine since I’d never touched any of it before.

  However, all the money I got paid from being a warrior was also in the same account since it was my account.

  I sighed as I stared up at the ceiling, my hands on my hips as I just listed every curse word I knew out loud to try and calm down. Then I bit the bullet and called home, grinding my teeth when the answering machine clicked on.

  “Mother, I know you’re sitting there listening to this message,” I drawled. “It probably tickles you that I’m calling already, but believe me, it’s not to grovel or anything you hope it is. I’m calling because no matter what was said between us or you hate the fact your son is an embarrassing faggot, I’m still your son and something has come up that I believe you need to know about as a councilwoman.” I paused, sighing when she still didn’t pick up. “Councilman Ashton came to the camp today when he heard Councilwoman Aberdeen’s son was here and demanded I speak with him, trying to corner me and—”

  There was the click of someone picking up and then my mother’s commanding voice. “You did not speak with that little weasel, did you?”

  “No, I made it very clear that even if I was now a warrior under the command of the Midwest Council, that would not abolish any family loyalties, so they could shove it if they wanted to pick my brain or pump me for information.”

  “I’m impressed, London. I didn’t think you had that in you.”

  “Geez, Mother, thanks,” I drawled, sorry I had to deal with this shit. “Does that mean you’re going to tell me what’s up with you and this Ashton guy and prepare me for whatever I’m facing here so it doesn’t bite me in the ass because we’re related? He seemed to think your beef was with his father but I know you’ve bitched about that name in the past year and he says that’s when he took over.”

  “Well, you did get chatty for someone who says he wouldn’t talk to them,” she snapped.

  “Look, I couldn’t say nothing when ordered. I said that. Plus I admitted I was shipped here by the camp for being gay and sent with my own, that they call this the Gay Camp, okay? I didn’t throw you or the family under the bus that you wanted me gone either. They have a right to know what other camps say about them, and I have to work with these people now, so yeah, I am one of them, but that doesn’t come above family not unless my ass ends up on the line because you’re seriously done with me being a part of this family. Are you, Mother?”

  “No, London, you’re an Aberdeen,” she whispered quietly. “You’re just not one of us.”

  It hurt me to hear, but I knew what she meant. I didn’t fit their world, their mold. I was gay to people who that still mattered to.

  “I understand. I went willingly because that’s what the family wanted. I didn’t throw a fit. I even agreed to let my trust be reclaimed, but my warrior wages were taken too, and I need that for supplies to settle in here, Mother. If this is what the family feels is best, for me to go my own way, I agree. I do hope I’m still able to call and keep in touch as we are family, and if a councilman comes after me because I’m your son, that’s something you care about.”

  “Of course it is, London.”

  I should have left it at that but I had to know. “Because you hate Ashton or you care enough about me to not want me hurt?”

  “You’re my son,” she rasped, and I almost dropped the phone in shock that she chose me. Then she cleared her throat. “I will have the situation of your funds rectified immediately. It might take a bit. In the meantime, email my office with what you need to settle in to your new home, and they will handle it straightaway. And keep me apprised of the situation along with anything else you think I might want to know, your progress there as well. I expect you will do well there.”

  I took a chance and a deep breath. “I was assigned the position I wanted, in charge of weapons and firearms.”

  “They do not do the ranking system there?”

  “They’ve recently changed it, finding the notion of the speed of a sword is antiquated to think the speed of a mind is the same. Their computer genius that everyone covets is ranked last I hear, completely capable, but no desire to prove his prowess.”

  She was quiet for a moment, which with my mother meant she was either rallying for the kill of someone’s logic or… “It is a very caveman idea, and with our enemy changing their tactics, it’s time we come into the new century as well.”

  Like accepting that people are gay and it’s not evil, Mother? But I kept that to myself, one thing at a time. “In theory I agree, but time will tell if the practice wor
ks. My welcome wasn’t all that warm with Ashton, but I’m not here to snitch or inform on people. I believe once they understand that, things can normalize. If you want, I can report to you on how their system works—off the record of course. It would be wrong to do it officially.”

  “Of course. No reason to make it seem like there is something underhanded or an investigation opened into them. But yes, I would be interested. Thank you, London, and thank you for calling.”

  “Thank you for taking the call, Mother. Good night.” We hung up and I stared at the phone, shocked we’d been so civil. It had been years since we’d spoken so calmly. Maybe my giving up on trying to get them to see being gay wasn’t wrong and simply agreeing to leave even if it seemed as if I was leaving in shame was the right move so we could have some type of civil relationship.

  Albeit nothing remotely normal. I’d take civil instead of hostile and always screaming. Life was never easy and everyone’s family was crazy to some level. Mine was simply at a higher, extreme level, and while I might never approve of what they did or forgive them for making me feel as if I should be ashamed of who I was, what was done, was done. I simply wanted to move on and live my life, find some peace and maybe carve out a name of my own instead of always being Councilwoman Aberdeen’s gay son.

  It sounded nice as a plan at least.

  4

  I didn’t get much sleep, my mind swirling with all the changes of my life, wanting to find a way to fit into the new camp, and just everything. So, needless to say, I woke cranky as all fuck. But I still wanted to find Drake and ask him to introduce me to Manny and see if I could get a decent shift.

  The answer to my bad mood presented itself when I headed to the group showers on the floor and smelled Drake in one of the stalls, the only one there yet. I smiled, needing some fun and ducked in there with him, biting back a laugh when he sputtered under the water.

  “Morning boners are a bitch,” I greeted and got on my knees. Then I moved his hands to my head and swallowed him down, shivers going through me when he moaned loud enough to shake his entire body. He didn’t say anything that could be considered English or actual words so I took that as extreme enjoyment before he was awake.

  And then I swallowed down the proof of that when he filled my mouth with it a bit later. I got to my feet, kissed his cheek, and snuck right back out when he was spent, leaving him there, open-mouthed, a look of disbelief, and his chest heaving with exertion.

  It was the most fun I’d had that early in a while. Damn, I needed some fun like that. I’d have to thank him for that later. Then again, I’d given him the blow job so maybe he owed me the thank-you?

  Either way, I felt much lighter as I quickly washed up and then headed back to my room. I shouldn’t have been shocked to find a clean, towel-wrapped Drake leaning against my door with a confused look on his face, arms crossed over his impressive chest.

  My cock took notice, that was for damn sure.

  “Good morning. How did you sleep?” I greeted as if I hadn’t already seen him.

  “Wondering if I’ve woken up yet to be honest,” he drawled, moving when I came closer with my keys. Then he surrounded me from behind and I felt how excited he was to see me in nothing but a towel as his hard-on poked my ass. “What was that all about? Are you the Blow Job Bandit or something?”

  I burst out laughing as I opened the door, letting him in. It took me a minute to calm down, but then I gave him a big smile. “No, but I like the name.” He still had that confused look and I took pity on him. “I had a rough night after I left you. Family drama, didn’t sleep well—whatever. Woke up cranky, and when I heard you in the shower, I knew what would put a smile on both our faces. I like to do that kind of shit. If that’s not cool with you, just tell me. I mean, it’s not like you pushed me away.”

  “Yeah, no sane man would push you away, London,” he murmured as he cornered me against the dresser. “You are gorgeous and you have to know that. I like the playful side, you know that. Not sure I like the running away part. I wanted to return the favor.”

  “Not needed, or maybe just return it later.” I shrugged and ducked under his arm. “I was going to ask you for a favor anyways, but I wasn’t sure if it’s kinda presumptuous because I think we’re actually friends maybe like friends with benefits and not just fuck buddies and I really want a friend more than just someone to fuck, so that’s more important to me than shower playing and checking out each other’s rooms if you get my drift.”

  “I’m your friend,” Drake agreed, his voice deep as always but with something to it. Now was one of those times I wish I knew how to control my gift because I’d use it—if that was my gift—to check out what was underlying in his tone. “If there’s something you need, yeah, ask. If I’m not cool with it, I have no problem saying it’s over the line.”

  I bobbed my head as I dropped my towel and then pulled on some boxer briefs. Then I pulled out my camis, yanking them on before socks and grabbing my books.

  “London, have you ever had a friend?” Drake asked so quietly I could barely hear him with my vampire hearing. I knew he wasn’t doing it to be a dick, but merely picking up on how I wasn’t able to ask him for something so simple. Well I knew it was simple. He probably assumed it was because he was so sweet and wouldn’t think anyone would take advantage of someone like him.

  “One that didn’t act nice to me when we were alone because they wanted closeted sex but then called me a fag or queer like the others when we were with a group? Or a fake friend that just wanted to get in tight with a councilwoman’s kid? No, not many.” Then I sighed as I laced up my boots, meeting his eyes in the mirror over the dresser that came with the room. “None.”

  “Okay, well that explains a few things.” He moved over by me and squatted down, getting that softer tone that he took when he was with his dogs. “Here’s where you ask me what you want, and if it’s a big deal, you tell me why you really need it, and I see if I can do it. If I can’t, I explain. But friends don’t get mad for asking.”

  I winced and blinked down at him. “Then I’m a horrible friend. I used to get pissed at people all the time for asking me to help them with shit with my mom.”

  “You just said they were your friend to get near your mom. That’s different. They weren’t really your friend then.”

  I bobbed my head again, thinking I got the difference. “So you don’t want anything from me. You just like me and want…” I trailed off, shaking my head as I tugged on my boot strings way too hard, almost snapping them. “Aren’t all friendships someone wanting something from someone?”

  “No, we just both want to be friends with each other. I mean, isn’t that what you want?”

  “I want us to get naked and fuck too,” I admitted with a smirk. “Never been fucked like that. And I had way too much fun blowing you, but the friendship is more important to me than screwing. Weird. Can’t say I’ve ever felt that way before, but it’s true.”

  “Good start,” he chuckled, rubbing my knee. “To hear the whole story of how you grew up and have ended up with this kind of outlook, man, it’s gotta be one hell of a tale.” I gave him a funny gaze and he shook his head. “Another time.” Wasn’t sure what he meant, but I knew my family was fucked up. It wasn’t much of a story. “So we’re in agreement. Friends first. Good. Ask your favor.”

  “Can you introduce me to Manny? I want to talk to him about the available morning shifts, maybe get a good one. I don’t want it to be Alexander or anyone else who might talk to him about watching me or trying to get in with me because they want info out of me.”

  He blinked at me a few moments, and I felt my stomach sink, hating that I’d crossed that line, knowing what it felt like when someone imposed upon me. Then I flinched when Drake burst out laughing, leaning on my thigh he laughed so hard. It took him a bit to calm down, but he slowly stood, kissing me as he clutched the edges of his towel.

  “Yeah, I think I can swing that. Meet me out in the hall in a few minu
tes. I’ve gotta get to my shift after I feed the boys.”

  I nodded, watching him walk to my door. “You going to tell me what was so funny about all that?”

  “You didn’t ask a favor, London. Alexander asked me to show you around. I was going to introduce you to Manny anyways. All of that and it was already on the agenda. But hey, I appreciate the blow job.”

  “I didn’t do it for the intro. I did it because I woke up cranky.”

  His lips twitched as if he was thinking. “Well, I don’t want you cranky, but I liked getting jumped. Maybe we can do stuff like that when you don’t wake up on the wrong side of the bed to make you extra happy.”

  “You’re a dork.”

  “You jumped me in the shower to blow me so you were happy. How am I the weird one in this?” he scoffed before heading out, shaking his head at me.

  Well, when he put it like that, he did have a point. Either way, I felt better after talking with him. We were friends and I hadn’t abused that. Plus, I was getting the intro to Manny. Funny how my second day there was shaping up to be so much better than the first. Maybe starting it out with oral sex really was a key? Like a karma thing?

  I hurried to finish getting ready and beat Drake out to the hall, locking up my door and making my way to his room. When he joined me, we rushed over to the barn and I helped feed the boys before we hit the cafeteria next.

  Manny was great. I kinda wished he was my grandfather or uncle or any male in my family other than the ones I got. Which made me feel guilty for about twenty seconds before I reminded myself how I’d left things with them and then I didn’t feel bad anymore.

  It ended up that Thursday morning was available and Manny had been struggling with that alone, so I jumped at it, thinking that was perfect. No one wanted to get up Monday morning extra early, nor Friday or the weekends, even if there was no chance to go anywhere to party at a remote camp like this… It was engrained in people. At least that was my theory and I thought it was a pretty good one.