More Than Just Friends

by Max Hudson

  Stefan turned his head and made eye contact with Lance.

  "Your turn," Stefan said with a grin, pulling Lance onto the bed and rolling on top of him. "I hope I'm as good as you were."

  Lance felt his breath hitch. Somehow, during the process, he had forgotten that it could be reciprocated. He had been so wrapped up in the task, so caught up in doing a good job, that he had not mentally prepared himself for Stefan to suck him off. He didn't have a single planned reaction for this. He was just going to have to go along with whatever Stefan did. It felt awkward, laying on the bed, naked, cum in the corners of his mouth, cock rock hard. But Stefan didn't seem to mind as, on the bed, he leaned over Lance's hips and wrapped his hand around Lance's cock. Stefan began to gently lick, from base to tip, slowly and gently, gradually increasing pressure.

  Lance gasped as he felt Stefan gently teasing his balls too. It seemed as though Stefan knew everything that Lance wanted, every little touch. It was too good. Stefan's hands traveled over Lance's thighs, squeezing the inner thigh lightly. Lance shuddered. He hadn't felt like that before. Usually the focus was entirely on his dick, but Stefan went beyond that, giving sweet attention to every sensitive part of Lance's skin.

  Looking down and making eye contact with Stefan, Lance felt in love. Stefan seemed to be genuinely enjoying having Lance's cock in his mouth. Stefan licked the tip again, pressing his tongue down hard, making Lance moan. As Lance looked back, Stefan smirked before returning to Lance's cock. Lance sighed and fell back against the pillows again.

  Taking Lance's cock in deep, Stefan held there, even though he seemed to be struggling for air. Lance could feel Stefan's throat contracting on Lance's hard cock. Lance was caught between the pure pleasure of Stefan's throat and the fear that he was doing some harm. After all, he hadn't been able to deep throat Stefan. It was almost too much to bear.

  Stefan's hands and mouth felt like magic. Lance had been needing this for longer than he knew. He was pretty sure he had always loved Stefan in some way. He had never felt as loved as he did right now, in bed with Stefan. Overwhelmed, Lance realized he was getting close already, and tried to warn Stefan, but no words came out. He moaned as he came hard, filling Stefan's throat with hot cum.

  As soon as Lance was done, he sat up a little, worried. "Are you okay?"

  Stefan nodded, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Sorry, I wasn't quite ready."

  "I should have warned you," Lance replied, taking Stefan's hand, encouraging him to lie by his side. "I'm sorry."

  Stefan shook his head, collapsing next to Lance. "I'm okay. I should probably get going soon. It's late."

  Rolling over, Lance collapsed on top of Stefan's chest. "No, stay." He nuzzled the smooth skin, inhaling the scent of cheap drugstore deodorant. "I want you to stay for a bit longer."

  "Okay, but not all night," Stefan replied, wrapping an arm across Lance's shoulders and yawning. "Just for a little bit."

  Lance yawned back. "Yeah, just for a little bit."

  Chapter Six

  Waking up in the early hours of the morning, Stefan's first concern was needing the toilet. His second was his mother's barrage of texts. He had not planned on staying all night long. He had not planned on staying much later than perhaps one, and then going home, but he was exhausted, and so was Lance, and somehow, they had both fallen asleep.

  Stefan hadn't forgotten where he was, but at first he hadn't realized how much time had passed. It was like suddenly the night had vanished and light was spreading across the room. He felt an arm over his chest and realized he had spent all night there. Picking up his phone as it buzzed with yet another message, he saw it was nine in the morning. He also saw his mother had been messaging all night and all morning. He slipped out from under Lance's arm and took his phone to the bathroom, messaging his mother back to let her know he was okay. She wouldn't be happy either way, but at least she couldn't accuse him of not trying to warn her.

  Once he was done, he made his way back into the room, pulled the door shut, and climbed back into bed. Lance didn't even move as Stefan climbed into bed, he just smiled and hummed to himself. Lying next to Lance, Stefan wasn't sure what he had done the night before. He had never considered himself to be gay. He had never considered himself to be anything. Somehow, last night had just happened so naturally. It was more than just a whim. It was something he had wanted for ages without even knowing. It was making him question everything.

  Stefan pulled out his phone and searched for "hot guys". He couldn't help but wonder what he would feel when he saw it. He had watched porn before, but he had been more focused on the act, on body parts, never committing to a single face or actor, never caring who he was seeing so long as it was good. Now, for the first time, he was looking at the plain, motionless, naked human body. At what other people considered an attractive photograph.

  Scrolling through pictures of other men, he didn't feel anything. He didn't feel much when looking at women either. Just Lance. He wasn't sure what that meant. He wasn't sure what he would call himself if asked. He had assumed he would be considered straight, but probably not any more.

  Leaving his phone on the bedside table, Stefan cuddled up to Lance and kissed his forehead. He couldn't help but love the guy. Perhaps he was just misreading friendship, but it was a bit late to worry about that. They had gone way beyond friendship. They had done so much more than what friends normally did. They had to classify it as something else at this stage.

  Stefan inhaled the scent of Lance's hair, wondering why it was that Lance always smelled slightly of coconuts and shea butter. It was so pleasant, so comforting.

  "What the fuck?" a woman's voice said.

  Stefan, slightly startled, looked up, seeing the door wide open, Millie standing in the doorway glaring at them. Stefan pulled the covers back over his crotch as quickly as possible and just stared, wide-eyed and confused, unsure what to say or do at this point. Lance stirred, looking up at Stefan, mumbling something as he slowly returned to the world of the living.

  Stefan was not sure what to do, so he shook Lance lightly by his shoulder. He had forgotten that Lance still lived with Millie. She should really have been in her own room. Then he remembered. He had unlocked the door. He had left it unlocked after returning.

  "Lance, wake up!" Millie said sharply, not shouting but definitely not calm either. "You have to tell me what the fuck is going on in here right now, because I am not happy about whatever this is."

  "I'm sleeping," he muttered. "How did you get in."

  As though suddenly realizing what the situation was, Lance's eyes were open and he looked up to Stefan, who was still stunned into silence. Knowing he should say or do something, Stefan struggled to find words, but only managed a shrug.

  "This is un-fucking-believable, and in my own house too!" Millie carried on. "I mean, I let you stay and you repay me like this?"

  Lance sat up, looking alarmed and scooting closer to Stefan. Millie did not stop ranting. At least she wasn't shouting. Stefan was still unable to say or do anything, even so much as think. He reached and held Lance's hand discreetly under the covers.

  "I'm going out with Stefan," Lance said hesitantly, as though Millie's rambling had only just got through to him. "What's the big deal? You are seeing other people too."

  "This is my house and I get to decide what's a big deal," she said flatly.

  Lance glanced to Stefan with the expression of a deer caught in headlights.

  "I just- Why would you go sleep with a man after breaking up with me? Are you just trying to embarrass me?" she asked.

  "No, of course not. I just like Stefan," Lance said, turning back to glare at her. "Why would it embarrass you?"

  "Why wouldn't it?" she asked with a huff. "You break up with me, well, I break up with you, and you mope around for two weeks before getting into bed with a man. Are you trying to say that I turned you gay or something? What do you think that will make me look like if word gets out? It's unbelievable, how selfi
sh you're being."

  Stefan knew he had to at least try and find his voice, just to not let Lance put up with this abuse on his own. "He's not doing it because of you, we're just—”

  Millie glared at Stefan and he stopped mid-sentence. He wasn't about to get through to her. He knew that right away. No point. She wouldn't give anyone a fair hearing, much less the guy who she had already decided was a mindless accomplice in her ex's plot to ruin her reputation. He squeezed Lance's hand under the covers. Lance squeezed Stefan's hand back. That would have to do.

  "I just don't see where the two of you get off on trying to make me feel like shit," she carried on. "It's not like I can't see through your little fraud there. I know you're friends. I know you'll do shit like this for each other. I never deserved this shit. I'm a decent fucking person..."

  Lance just sat there and listened. This was a side to him Stefan had not seen before. He was vulnerable, quiet, passive. It wasn't right. Millie was in the wrong here. She had no right to show this much hostility to her ex just because the person he was seeing was a man this time. She had no right to think it was a personal attack on her. Still, she did, and it wasn't like either of them had any way of stopping her from acting like this.

  "So, what do you have to say for yourself?" she pressed.

  Lance squeezed Stefan's hand, but Millie's glare was more than enough to say that neither of their sides would be listened to. She was pretty pissed off, rightfully or not. Them not replying would probably make her angrier, not less. Stefan felt naked, in many ways. It wasn't his place to get involved. He was just caught in the crossfire, trapped by the whole situation. He could only watch and listen and hope that it didn't escalate to a point where someone could get hurt.

  It didn't seem like it was going to. Millie was standing in the doorway and Stefan couldn't exactly go anywhere. He wasn't part of it. He was just the other guy, after all. So Stefan sat, messing around on his phone, checking his messages again. If he couldn't leave or talk, what else was he supposed to do while he was there? He may as well use his time to make sure his mother was all right, to clear out his emails, and to generally find any excuse as to why he was staying out of it. He wasn't sure what else he could do or say in a situation like this. Stefan was not the sort of person who wanted any part in drama, much less someone who knew how to handle it. He didn't want to listen to what Millie was saying. It was too horrible. He just wanted to zone out for a bit and escape.

  She seemed to suddenly notice the mobile. "What is that? You best not be fucking recording me. If you are recording me, I'm calling the cops."

  Stefan looked up suddenly, feeling confused, unsure what to say or do to get out of the situation as fast as possible. It was like all the words he knew ran away from him. All he could manage was just to shrug. That did not make her happy.

  "You are recording. I knew it! What, do you two think you can make fun of me online or something?" she insisted.

  "He's not recording, he just doesn't want to be involved in whatever the fuck it is you're doing right now," Lance replied.

  For a moment, Stefan felt like Millie was going to happily just leave them alone somehow. Of course, that was just wishful thinking.

  "I want you to go," Millie said. "Both of you. I want you to get out and leave me alone. Come on, hurry up."

  Stefan expected Lance to say or do something about this. Perhaps Lance had been a bit cowed by Millie until this point, but he would surely stand up for himself now.

  Yet Lance, who Stefan had always known to be a bold and brave sort of a guy, just sighed, like he knew it was going to happen, like he had been waiting for this all along.

  “Fine, I’ll go,” Lance said flatly.

  Millie was not happy about this. It seemed as though she had wanted Lance to put up a fight, as though she had wanted an argument. “Why the fuck would you do this in our house? With your best friend? I was thinking of taking you back, but that is so out of the question now," she said.

  Lance winced like he had been stabbed. "To be fair, I'm not sure I would want you back, if that is what you're saying about my best friend, if that is what you think about gay people."

  "Don't you dare make me out to be the bad guy here," Millie growled. "It's not about whether you're gay or not. It's about me, it's about what this says about me. You weren't gay and now suddenly you are, after me? And now you don't want me back? What is so wrong with me that I'm not an option, eh?"

  "It isn't about you," Lance replied, looking increasingly confused.

  "How isn't it? You're basically saying I turned you gay," Millie countered.

  "Stop being such a fucking bitch," Stefan said with a glare. "He can do what he wants. You're just living together now." He wasn't sure where it had come from. Normally he would not have the energy to fight his own social anxieties and push back against someone. However, in this case, he needed to make sure Millie knew she was the one in the wrong here.

  Millie flushed bright red with rage. "What? No, this is not about you. Fuck off you piece of shit doormat. Nobody asked you."

  "Whatever, go away and get yourself another dick to jump on or something," Stefan said. "He isn't your fucking property, and if you're insulted by him fucking a dude, then work on your insecurity."

  Chapter Seven

  Lance had not expected anyone to stand up for him against Millie. Much less Stefan. Millie was the sort of person you just wanted to avoid. At least when she was angry. Stefan was the sort of guy who couldn't bring himself to stand up to a queue jumper, much less to someone as hostile and volatile as Millie.

  In part, Lance felt glad he had someone in his corner, so to speak. He liked knowing he wasn't mad, like she wanted him to think he was, he wasn't alone. He had someone who was willing to fight for him and look after him when she wanted to attack him and kick him out. Plus, it was funny to see the look on her face when Stefan insulted her.

  Lance wasn't capable of that.

  Although he knew to usually stand up for himself, he still cared about her. He hadn't just stopped giving a shit about her the first day he felt like their relationship was fading, much less when they broke up. She might be a terrible person, but he couldn't help how he felt. He couldn't hurt her.

  "If you want to stay you'd best tell this piece of shit to stop talking to me like that," Millie said, glaring at Lance.

  Lance just shrugged. "He can say what he wants to. Besides, you already kicked me out."

  "What do you want? For him to beg to stay?" Stefan added. "Because this isn't some sort of a game."

  "Stay out of this," Millie growled. "It's not your fucking business. He's my ex and my roommate. None of your business what I do or say. And yeah, to be honest, I thought you would ask for me back. Like, what was I to you, that you're just okay to walk out as soon as I tell you? Was I really so terrible? Were you waiting for an excuse to get away?"

  Lance knew it was pointless to argue with her, but as she stood there in the doorway, glaring at him, it became obvious that she wanted an argument and would settle for nothing else. At that moment, although in his heart he still felt affection for her, like a friend or a sister, the Millie that was standing in front of him was not that nice, fun, perhaps a bit abrasive but generally kind, young lady he cared about. He had fallen for a mirage and he was angrier at himself than he was at her.

  "Maybe I want to date Stefan," Lance said. "Maybe I want to move on and go on dates and bring other girls- or, well, other guys home. Maybe you aren't all that."

  Millie froze, glaring still, but with a slight tremble in her lip. Stefan's hand, under the covers, rested on Lance's leg. The silence was tense, heavy in the air.

  "So did you ever love me?" she asked, her voice breaking a little.

  Lance nodded. "I loved the version of you that I knew. I guess she wasn't real though. I guess the real you is someone I can't like, much less love."

  The look Millie gave him was one of pure horror and disgust. Her eyes were turning red. Her cheeks fl
ushed. "Well you can fuck off and take all your shit with you. Not like you're on the lease," she said. "Now. Not later. Not in a bit. Get out now. I will call the cops if you're not gone in an hour."

  Lance felt his breath catch a little. He knew he had to leave, but this was more sudden than he had expected. He had to get dressed, pack a bag, and get out, all in an hour.

  "Come to my place, I'll help you pack," Stefan said. His voice was flowing, heavy and sweet like honey. His hand on Lance's thigh radiated warmth.

  "Thank you," Lance replied, turning to Stefan and smiling. It was the deepest sensation of relief.

  Millie grumbled and leaned against the door frame. She seemed almost taken aback that Stefan made the offer. She had probably been expecting Lance to just capitulate. Stefan seemed serious and even stood up, not caring that he was naked and Millie was still watching, as he got back into his clothes.

  Lance stood up as well, slipped into some boxers, and began to search under the bed for his suitcase. Finally finding it, he pulled it out, momentarily apprehensive that perhaps there could be spiders inside it or on it. After a quick and careful check there was nothing, only dust. So, he heaved it onto the bed.

  "Just throw everything in there," Lance said to Stefan. "It should all fit."

  "Anything out there yours?" Stefan asked.

  "A few bits, we'll get them last," Lance replied, glancing over at where Millie still waited in the doorway.

  As they loaded his items into his suitcase, he was glad he lived so minimally. At some point Millie had just walked off. Lance was glad. He just wanted a little privacy. He closed the door as they finished stripping the room down. Stefan emptied the trashcan into one bag and put the laundry and used bedding into another, setting them far apart so they would not be confused. He paused.

  "Could you put that in the main trash?" Stefan asked. "I don't want to accidentally throw out your laundry and we still have a bit to collect."

  "Sure," Lance said, realizing that this might mean confronting Millie again.