The Substitute

by Sean Ashcroft

  He was too busy marveling at how much the simple gesture meant to him, how good it felt.

  “You’ve gone quiet,” Zach said once the elevator doors closed, and Flynn was only now realizing that he’d climbed all those stairs for nothing. The elevator had been tucked around a corner, just out of sight.

  He’d been so excited to see Zach that he hadn’t even looked for it.

  “Just thinking,” he said. “About you, actually.”

  “I hope they’re good thoughts,” Zach said, squeezing his hand a little tighter.

  “They are,” Flynn murmured. “Definitely good thoughts.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  At some point in the last few minutes, Flynn had started stroking the back of Zach’s neck.

  They were both sitting on the couch, with the TV on for background noise, mostly ignoring each other. Flynn had his laptop open and seemed to be working on it one-handed, and Zach had been playing games on his phone, mentally exhausted by his longest school day for the week.

  He was glad he had Flynn to come to after. Two long classes and studio time between them was a lot to handle, and by the time he got to the end, it was nice to finish up the day with a friendly face who was eager to make dinner for him.

  One day, he’d have to repay the favor. Flynn couldn’t do all the cooking in this relationship.

  Zach shivered as Flynn touched him just right, his fingers brushing against a sensitive spot on the back of his neck. A coil of arousal tightened in the pit of his stomach, the gesture unmistakable, at least to Zach’s mind.

  This felt like the very first tentative step toward foreplay, and Zach was inclined to enjoy it, but he probably needed to let Flynn know that. Otherwise, he risked him backing off.

  A soft sigh escaped him at the thought, which was a start.

  Flynn glanced over at him furtively, as though he was afraid of being caught doing it. He was blushing already—it didn’t take much for his pale cheeks to light up pink, even with what passed for a summer tan in Boston making him look a little healthier than Zach had seen in photos.

  “Feels good,” Zach said softly.

  “Yeah?” Flynn asked, his fingers not pausing for a moment.

  “Yeah,” Zach agreed, shifting a little closer to him and setting his phone aside. He let his head fall back and closed his eyes, figuring that might make things a little easier for Flynn as he started to explore this.

  Yesterday had been nice. Zach had never felt so understood, so cared for by another man as he did by Flynn. Basking in that feeling had been incredible.

  Now, he wanted more. He wanted all of Flynn, everything he was willing to give, and he wouldn’t be satisfied until he got it.

  Flynn’s hand shifted so the pad of his thumb was stroking up and down Zach’s neck, slow and rhythmic, every touch sending another little spark of pleasure rolling along Zach’s spine, settling in his gut.

  He wanted Flynn’s hands on him more than anything else in the world right now.

  “Do you want…” Flynn began, and then trailed off, obviously not sure how to continue.

  “Probably,” Zach answered, because that was true. He would have done more or less whatever Flynn asked for. He would have liked it, because he wanted Flynn. All of him. Whatever he was willing to give.

  Flynn laughed nervously. “Okay, yeah, I’m being dumb about this.”

  “You’re not,” Zach finally turned to look at him, even at the risk that he’d take his hand away. He didn’t, but the stroking stopped. “It’s okay to be unsure.”

  “Can I kiss you again?” Flynn asked, his voice so soft Zach had to strain to hear it.

  A soft, needy noise escaped Zach’s throat as he imagined a repeat of the tender, comforting kiss from yesterday. He watched Flynn move his laptop hopefully, setting it aside in preparation.

  Zach had never seen him so vulnerable. So open.

  He doubted a lot of people got to see him like this. Deep down, under all his seeming confidence, Flynn was just as scared and needy and desperate to be loved as anyone else. The difference was that he didn’t feel like he could let it show.

  To Flynn, someone was always needier.

  Zach pounced, a surge of confidence lifting him off the couch and onto Flynn’s lap, his weight settling heavily enough to make Flynn grunt under him. Not that he really seemed to mind, his eyes already dark with arousal, pupils wide, lips parted in anticipation.

  They crashed into each other, a moan welling up in Zach’s chest as he finally made contact with Flynn, a full day of anticipation leaving him too eager to stop now.

  Flynn’s hands settled on his thighs, fingers tensing and digging into them like a cat kneading a blanket, sliding up just a little way, stopping short of grabbing Zach’s ass like they so clearly wanted to.

  Zach shuffled forward so he was pressed against Flynn, chest-to-chest, and reached down to move one hand firmly onto his ass.

  Flynn gasped into his mouth, his fingers tightening reflexively, making Zach rock his hips in response.

  That, apparently, was all the encouragement he needed. Flynn gripped Zach with one hand, holding him firmly in place on his lap, and moved the other hand up his back to his neck again, pulling him in, nipping at his lips, brushing their noses together in a way that was probably always going to make Zach’s heart flutter whenever he did it.

  “Want you,” Flynn murmured into his mouth, and Zach’s head spun with how badly he’d wanted to hear that and how good it was now that he had.

  He reached down to open Flynn’s pants, gasping as his fingers slid over the outline of Flynn’s already hard cock. He paused to cup it, pressing his palm against the length, sliding his fingers back to tease Flynn’s trapped balls through the fabric of his dark, perfectly-fitted jeans.

  Flynn grunted, his hips jerking into Zach’s hand, spurring him on.

  Knowing Flynn was hard for him was enough to make Zach want to tease, draw this out, make sure he enjoyed every second of it and came begging and whimpering and eager for the next round. Flynn was a big boy—in more than one way, judging by the outline of his cock—and he could handle it.

  “Hel-lo,” Zach murmured against Flynn’s lips between desperate, biting kisses, squeezing his cock through his jeans. He shifted his hand so he could run his thumb up and down the length, just for a few inches at the base, stroking firmly enough to make Flynn whimper against his jaw.

  “Someone’s eager,” Zach teased, still stroking him, putting just a little pressure on the rest of the length with his fingers. Flynn made a low, needy noise, shifting against the couch cushions.

  The glowing embers of arousal in the pit of Zach’s stomach flared up into a full-blown inferno as Flynn whimpered please against his neck, the word barely more than a breath, his chest heaving under Zach’s weight, breath ghosting over his skin.

  He definitely wanted to reduce Flynn to a quivering mess, and it looked like it wouldn’t be all that hard.

  “Zach,” Flynn murmured, and it was incredible to hear his name in Flynn’s rough, tight voice, clearly strained with arousal.

  “Yeah, honey?” Zach asked, teasing, shifting his hand again to massage Flynn’s cock with a little more pressure.

  Flynn blinked up at him with glazed, dark eyes, the pretty pink tip of his tongue darting out to wet his lips. Whatever he might have been about to say was lost forever, Zach surging forward to catch his lips again, swallowing down a moan.

  Flynn’s hips rocked into his hand, looking for more pressure, and Zach gave it to him for a few more long, luxurious seconds before moving his hand away.

  The sound of loss Flynn made in the back of his throat did all kinds of good things for Zach’s ego. He laughed as he pulled back, taking in Flynn’s flushed cheeks and heavy-lidded eyes, his heart tight in his chest at how he’d done that, how Flynn was right on the edge of begging for him.

  “Bed?” he asked, unsure if Flynn was ready for that, but eager to at least try.

  Flynn nodd
ed, and that was enough to make Zach scramble off the couch, grab his hand, and drag him into the bedroom, the door slamming shut behind him.

  The mattress creaked under them as Flynn hit the bed with Zach on top of him, and his hands finally came up to touch Zach, sliding under his thin t-shirt to push it out of the way, making Zach gasp as the gentle touch tickled his ribs.

  “I want you,” Flynn said, staring up at him, and that was almost more than Zach’s little heart could take. The waver in his voice gave away that he was still nervous, but he was clearly going to push through it because—like he said—he wanted Zach.

  This time, Zach leaned down to barely brush Flynn’s lips, keeping the contact tender and sweet, giving him a moment to process. “It’s my turn to take care of you,” he murmured. “Okay?”

  Flynn swallowed audibly, but nodded again. “Yeah,” he said, voice rough and unsteady. “Yeah, okay.”

  Zach sat back up again to pull his own t-shirt off over his head, so Flynn wouldn’t be the first one feeling exposed and vulnerable. That seemed like the kind thing to do.

  The moment he had the shirt off, Flynn reached out again, touching the soft part of Zach’s belly and tracing the lines of it with the tips of his fingers. Zach burst into giggles as he tickled the sensitive spot just below his belly button, but they turned into a gasp as Flynn trailed down the line of darker hairs that disappeared into the waistband of his jeans.

  Once he got his confidence back, Flynn was going to be amazing in bed.

  “You’re cute,” Flynn murmured, still exploring gently. It was hard to want to stop him, even if Zach’s cock was straining in his pants.

  At least he could see that Flynn’s enthusiasm hadn’t faded at all, either. The way he was tenting his jeans spoke volumes about how much he was into this.

  “You’re cute,” Zach responded, reaching out to slide his hands under the hem of Flynn’s t-shirt. He squirmed at the touch of Zach’s work-rough hands against his soft belly, and Zach grinned, stroking lightly to make him gasp again.

  “There’s lube and condoms in the top drawer,” Flynn said, cheeks bright red this time, and Zach’s heart fluttered.

  A broad, delighted smile spread over Zach’s face. “You always know exactly what to say to me,” he teased, shifting his weight to reach out, making sure his own hard cock brushed against Flynn’s as he bent down.

  “This is brand new,” he said as he found what he was looking for, thumbing the thin plastic seal around the cap on the lube. “For me?”

  Flynn nodded shyly, his ears so dark with blood that they almost blended in with his burgundy sheets.

  Zach broke the seal and set the tube aside, not quite ready to use it yet.

  “So you’re sure about this?” he asked, knowing there was a chance he was talking himself out of getting laid right now.

  “I’m sure,” Flynn said. “I’m sorry if I seem… nervous, or… or if I have no idea what the hell I’m doing, but…”

  Zach reached out to cup Flynn’s cheek, stroking lightly. “It’s okay. I just want you.”

  Relief broke over Flynn’s features, and Zach was absolutely sure he’d said the right thing.

  He bent down to kiss him again, pressing the condom wrapped into his hand and abandoning his t-shirt in favor of unbuttoning his jeans. Flynn’s cock twitched the moment it was free of the thicker fabric, even though it was still trapped by his underwear, and Zach couldn’t resist the urge to stroke it again.

  “Starting to think you like that,” Flynn said breathlessly, his hips rocking up into Zach’s hand.

  “I’m gay,” Zach said. “That’s… kind of how gay works.” He smirked, reaching up to tease the waistband of Flynn’s underwear.

  Flynn laughed, and Zach could feel him relaxing again, which was exactly what he wanted.

  “Looks kinda painful,” Zach murmured, running his knuckles up the line of Flynn’s cock. “Trapped under there when it clearly wants to be free. Do you always get so big, or is this just for me?”

  Instead of giving Flynn a chance to respond, Zach peeled his underwear down to let his cock spring free, a delighted little moan escaping him as it curved up toward his belly, thick and dark at the head.

  Flynn looked incredible like this, flushed and panting, his t-shirt shoved up and his pants shoved down, disheveled and eager and all Zach’s.

  All Zach’s, for the night at least, and Zach was planning on making the most of that.

  “Pretty,” Zach said, since Flynn clearly responded to praise and probably didn’t get enough of it. “Very pretty,” he added.

  It was a nice cock, and Zach was already thrilled at the thought of having it inside him.

  A bead of precome welled up at the head, and Zach couldn’t resist shuffling back and then bending down to lick it off, reveling in the way Flynn hissed as his tongue made contact with the hot, sensitive tip of his cock. He let his tongue dip into the slit and then pulled back, promising himself that another time, he’d suck Flynn dry.

  Not tonight. If this was the only chance he was getting, Zach planned on having as much as he could.

  It took all Zach’s willpower to climb off Flynn so he could take his pants off, and the only thing that made it bearable was watching Flynn wriggle out of his own, his strong thighs catching Zach’s attention for long moments as Flynn pulled his t-shirt off, too, and he was suddenly, gloriously naked.

  And he was beautiful. Every inch of him was perfect, right down to a little birthmark on his hip that looked like a slightly misshapen heart.

  Zach reached out to touch it, tracing the outline, fascinated.

  He dropped his own underwear, finally, aware of Flynn’s eyes on him.

  “Thoughts?” he asked, crawling into Flynn’s lap again and grabbing the lube he’d set aside earlier.

  “Kinda hard to think,” Flynn said, looking Zach up and down. “I am so into this,” he added, clearly still a little surprised.

  Zach chuckled. “It gets better,” he said, uncapping the lube and pouring a generous measure onto his fingers. He didn’t want to keep Flynn waiting too long, so more lube it was.

  The first touch of his own fingers made him groan, anticipation already making him ready and eager for this, desperate to be touched. Zach bit down on his lip, letting his eyes fall closed for a moment as he concentrated on opening himself up, spreading his thighs further apart and bending forward to make things easier, curling his fingers around Flynn’s shoulder to support himself.

  He wanted Flynn exactly where he was, helpless under him.

  A shock of pleasure as he brushed against a sensitive spot made Zach moan. The sound of Flynn gasping in response made him open his eyes again, looking up to see Flynn staring at him, lips slack, chest heaving.

  “That doesn’t hurt, right?” Flynn asked, concern in his voice despite the arousal written all over him.

  “Not even a little,” Zach said, rocking his hips back in demonstration. “Feels incredible. It’s even better if someone else does it for you.”

  “I could…” Flynn offered, reaching out for the lube.

  Zach shook his head. “One step at a time,” he said. “People expect so much from you. I want to give you this.”

  Flynn licked his lips, his gaze flicking to the hand Zach was using to prep himself. A spark of curiosity lit up his pretty blue eyes, and all kinds of thoughts flooded Zach’s mind even as he curled his toes with pleasure, the thought of Flynn being so turned on by all this almost too much for him.

  If Flynn wanted this…

  Well, they’d see. Maybe there’d be another time after all.

  Zach lowered his weight a little way, leaning forward so he could rub his cock against Flynn’s, closing his eyes again to let the sensation wash over him while he added a second and third finger at once, knowing he’d need it.

  Flynn was going to feel incredible inside him, and he wanted to be able to enjoy it from the first moment on. The last thing he wanted was for doubts to creep in, for
Flynn to think he was uncomfortable, or that this was anything other than amazing.

  So he’d be careful, and take it slow, and ignore the throbbing need in the pit of his stomach for a few more minutes while he made sure he was ready, for Flynn’s sake, because Flynn deserved the world and all Zach had to give was himself, but he was sure as hell going to make that as good as he could.

  When he was finally, finally ready, Zach lined himself up and then paused, the tip of Flynn’s cock pressing against him, searingly hot and thicker than it had looked. His own cock was already leaking in anticipation, his balls tight, need pooling in his gut.

  He forced himself to meet Flynn’s eyes, wanting to watch his face as he pushed back onto him. Flynn was panting, his chest heaving with every breath, his lips parted just a little way as he stared, wide-eyed, at Zach.

  Zach held his gaze as he pushed back, biting down on his lip as Flynn breached him, the sudden, overwhelming fullness making a deep, needy moan escape him as he lowered his hips, Flynn’s cock slipping inside him by inches, an easy slide as long as he took his time, rocked his hips, let his body tell him when he was ready to move.

  Flynn’s hands against his thighs made him gasp, the straining muscles jumping under the touch. He watched Flynn lick his lips as he stroked up and down, easing the tension, soothing the tightness as Zach took the last few inches, a low groan rumbling in his chest as he finally settled on Flynn’s hips, cock inside him up to the hilt.

  For a few moments, all Zach could do was close his eyes and let his head spin. Flynn’s cock was as incredible as he’d imagined, but even more incredible was the way Flynn touched him, gentle and soft, and the knowledge that this was Flynn.

  Flynn, who was so good and kind and had shown Zach so much care. Flynn, who was stunningly beautiful.

  Who was sharing his first time with a man with Zach, of all people, and clearly enjoying it.

  And all of those thoughts were too much, and the emotions behind them were big and scary and not anything Zach was ready to think about, so he focused on the way he could feel Flynn’s cock throbbing inside him, thick and perfect, angled just right to hit everywhere Zach wanted him.