“And that’s bad why?”
“I don’t want to get hurt, and I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Well guess what, Mark? It’s too late for that.” Damon stormed out of the room and ran to his car. He drove straight home, slamming the front door.
“Whoa, Damon. What’s up?” Charlie was eating cereal out of the box.
“Mark.” Damon stopped, he hadn’t told Charlie yet. “Mark kissed me the night of his birthday party.”
“Wow, seriously? Was he any good?”
“Are we all just completely de-sensitized to gay in this house? Everywhere else in the world, this is a huge announcement.” He planted his hands on his hips.
“Well our parents are gay, Damon; we were raised differently. Actually, better than most. And we’re not bigots.” She smiled.
“Fine, whatever. Mark told me to think about what I want. I guess I haven’t been gay long enough for him,” he laughed bitterly.
Charlie chewed thoughtfully. “He’s probably scared you might change your mind, like this is just some kind of phase or experiment.”
“But it’s not. I let him do things to me no one else has ever done!” Damon’s voice rose.
“Wow! TMI, Damon!” Charlie laughed.
“Sorry.” He covered his face with his hands.
“Talk to the parentals. They’ll give you better advice. What do I know? I like a dumb jock.”
“HA! Steve. I knew it! And FYI, sis— he’s smart, and I mean Charlie smart.”
“What?” Charlie looked shocked.
“Oh yeah, he’s got you fooled. Steve’s gotten offers from Ivy League schools. Stop judging books by their muscle-bound covers. Heath and I are smart, too.”
“But that’s different! You guys are my brothers!”
“Uh huh. Whatever helps you sleep at night,” Damon laughed.
“Oh SHUP, Damon!” Charlie went back to her room.
Damon told his fathers what was going on when they came home.
Stefan spoke first.
“Look, Damon, just be patient with Mark. He’s known who he is for a while; he may not have come out, but he’s liked you since he was ten. So finally getting you — well, it might make him feel nervous.”
“But why, Dad? I told him I care about him. We, um, did some stuff.”
Jordan spoke up quickly. “You know to use protection right?”
“We didn’t do that! Dang, Dad!”
Jordan tried again. “Look, when your dad finally chose to be with me, I was still scared he might run back to your Uncle Morgan. I was — a little mean sometimes.” Stefan rolled his eyes behind his husband’s back.
“No way! You can be mean, Dad?” Damon laughed.
“Just call Mark. Tell him you understand and you’ll take your time, okay?” Stefan scuffed Damon’s hair.
“’K, Dad. I love you guys.” He kissed them both and went to his room. He noticed he had five missed calls on his cell, and several voicemail messages. All from Mark. He didn’t listen to them; he just called.
Mark answered on the first ring. “Damon, I’m so sorry.”
“No, I am. I overreacted and I shouldn’t have.”
“I’m just scared.”
Damon blew out a breath. “I know. Let’s just go slow, okay?”
“Okay. I’m thinking about you and what we did,” Mark whispered.
“Me, too.” Damon lay down on his bed.
“I loved it when you touched me,” Mark sighed.
“You made me come so hard, Mark,” Damon whispered. His door was closed, but he didn’t want to take a chance that his parents might overhear.
“I loved how your hands felt wrapped around me.”
“Mark, I’m getting a hard-on again.”
“Me too,” Mark laughed.
“I’ll see you in school, okay? Night, Mark.”
“Night, Damon.”
*~~~*
“Do I even want to know what ‘stuff’ is, Stefan?” Jordan got undressed, climbed into bed and watched Stefan strip. He never got tired of seeing Stefan naked. The most famous male sculptures had nothing on his husband.
“I’m going to take a guess and say hand jobs. I hope,” Stefan added fervently.
“Oh, well, hey — let’s do some ‘stuff,’ Stefan.” Jordan gave him a wicked grin.
“Oh, hell yeah!” Stefan crawled on top of him and kissed him deeply.
“Mmmm, you always know how to work me.”
“I know how to work my hips, too.” He ground his hips into Jordan’s.
“I’m not going to last very long.”
Stefan moaned. “Neither am I.” They came at the same time after a few minutes and Stefan laughed. “I can’t believe I came that fast. Must be all the hormonal teenagers in this house.”
“Or maybe it’s just your hot, sexy husband,” Jordan suggested with no small bit of ego.
“Mmmm, that might be it.” Stefan kissed him.
*~~~*
Friday night’s game was an away game at the kids’ biggest rival. Heath got off the bus in his uniform and found Lisa waiting by the gate.
“Hey, you come to all the games?” He smiled at her.
“No, I only come to the games that Fort Worth High’s quarterback plays in.” She smiled.
“Oh, so you asked around, huh?”
“Heath, just kick some ass, okay?” Lisa pointed.
Heath smiled. “Maybe we can go out later?”
“I’ll think about it.” She smiled and turned, making her way to the bleachers.
“I wonder what side she’ll be sitting on.” Steve mused.
“Come on, Steve, we gotta go.” Heath pulled him into the locker room.
Charlie watched Steve from the bleachers. He looked hot in his uniform. The pants showed off his nice, tight ass.
“Charlie, you’re drooling.” Damon smacked her on the arm.
“Shut up, Damon,” Charlie groused.
“How’s school, Isabelle?” Jordan asked his oldest daughter.
“It’s great, Dad! I like my classes, and Auntie wants me to start working more hours at Global.”
Stefan broke in. “Just as long as you stay focused on school, okay? Don’t take on too much at once.”
They stood to watch the kickoff. Heath’s team returned the ball to the Sabino forty-five yard line. They lined up and Heath threw the ball downfield to Steve, who caught it right before being leveled by the Sabino cornerback.
Charlie gasped. “Oh, no!”
“Hey, he’s good, look.” Damon pointed as Steve got up.
Up field, Heath felt a very large body plow into him. His back hit the ground and he expelled a whoosh of air.
“Hey, pretty boy. Welcome to Sabino.” Shithead from the bowling alley was leaning over him, smiling. “You need some help getting up?”
Heath guffawed. “My sisters hit harder than you.”
“Personal foul, number 42; roughing the passer,” the loudspeaker bounced around the stadium.
Heath got the team back in the huddle. “Okay, guys — take them out, and take them out hard. Let’s show them who’s boss. Bring out the flags.” He grinned.
“BREAK!”
They got into formation, and Heath barked signals over the center. He took the snap and backed up. Steve took off and Heath heaved the ball. Steve caught it at the five-yard line, but there were flags all over the field. The announcer gave up trying to name each penalized Fort Worth player. Heath couldn’t stop laughing.
Their point made, they won 42-24. Heath and Steve trotted off the field with the rest of the team and Stefan and Jordan were there to congratulate them.
“I’m so proud of you, Heath!” Jordan hugged him.
“Looks like you got hit hard, Steve.” Stefan watched Steve grab his side.
“Probably just some bruised ribs, Mr. Youngblood.”
Jordan eyed Steve. “Get them checked, Steve.” He pointed at the young man. “I mean it.”
Stefan broke th
rough Jordan’s doctor mode. “Your father and I are going home, Heath. Try not to be late.” The men left holding hands.
“Dude, your parents are so cool.” Steve smiled.
“Yeah, I know. Come on, let’s go.”
Charlie was waiting behind the stairs for Steve, to surprise him. She had told him she wouldn’t be able to make it.
She was about to step out, but before Steve got to Charlie’s hiding spot, Jessica Finn jumped on him.
“Steve! That was a great game!” She was trying to kiss him as Steve did his best to push her away.
“Stop it! We broke up, Jess. I like someone else,” Steve snapped, as he moved again to escape her clutches.
“No you don’t, silly. You know I can do things no one else will,” she breathed in his ear.
Steve suddenly noticed Charlie. “Oh, shit!”
Charlie turned on her heel and walked away.
“Charlie, wait!” Steve caught up to her as Jessica looked on smugly. “Look I didn’t kiss her or anything. She was coming on to me. Charlie! Please stop!”
“Don’t touch me!” She pushed hard against his torso.
“Ow! Oh, fuck.” Steve bent over, his hand on his ribs.
“What?” Charlie yanked his shirt up; there was a huge, ugly bruise forming across his ribs. “Oh God, Steve, I’m sorry!”
“Look — I don’t like Jessica, okay? I told her I like someone else.” Steve searched her face.
“Really?” Charlie touched the skin on his side.
“Really.”
“Who?” Charlie smiled.
“Oh, this smart-ass chick who thinks she’s smarter than everyone else. But she’s funny and beautiful.”
“She sounds like a real prize,” Charlie laughed.
“She is, and I like her a lot. I hope she likes me, too.”
“Well maybe you should ask her.”
Steve smiled. “Well, do you like me?”
“I’ll tell you later. Come on, let’s go.” Charlie took his hand.
“Seriously? You didn’t notice that I was pushing Jess off me and trying to get rid of her? Maybe you’re not as smart as I thought you were.” Steve laughed until his ribs reminded him that he shouldn’t.
Heath was loading his bag into his car when Lisa walked up. “Good game, at least for your school.” She smiled. “Hope that hit didn’t hurt you.”
Heath laughed. “Nah, I’ve been hit a lot harder.”
“So, are you going home now?”
“Well that depends on you. Want to go out for pizza?” Heath smiled.
“I have to be home by midnight.” Lisa looked him over. He was wearing snug jeans and a very tight black shirt, which showed off his biceps.
“Well, what a coincidence — so do I.” Heath smiled. “Is your car here? I can follow you home if you want.”
“No, I got a ride. Should I tell them I have one home?”
“Yes, you should.”
Lisa whipped out her phone and sent a text message. “Okay, good to go.” She smiled. “I thought you rode the bus here?”
“My dads always drive two cars to away games so I can go out afterward.” Heath opened the door for her. He got in and started the car. “So, where to?”
“Wherever you want, Heath.”
“Pizza it is,” Heath smiled.
*~~~*
Charlie noticed Steve wince often in pain as she drove. She had a VW Beetle and Steve’s size made it hard for him to sit comfortably. She pulled into his driveway and shut the engine off.
“Well, you’re home.” She smiled.
“You want to come in?” Steve was trying to get out.
“Maybe for a few minutes, in case you need help.”
They went into Steve’s house and went to his room. “I’m going to take a shower. Will you be okay in here?”
“Yeah, sure. Where are your parents?”
“Out with friends. It’s Friday night, Charlie.”
“I am aware of the day, Steve. Now go.” She shooed him out.
Charlie walked around his room. He had a huge collection of books; a lot of them were in her collection, too. She saw his SAT scores on his desk; he had scored almost as high as she had. She smiled as her fingers trailed along the wood’s grain.
Nope. Steve Soloman was no dumb jock.
There were pictures on his corkboard of him and Heath with Damon, all of them wearing stupid grins. She noticed a picture of her and Isabelle at the prom. She hadn’t realized Steve had a picture of her.
“I took that at the prom.”
She whirled and faced Steve, wearing only a towel. His hair was wet and there were droplets of water cascading down his chest. Charlie turned back around quickly and composed herself.
“I didn’t realize you had a camera that night.” She could hear Steve pulling his pants on and zipping them.
“Yeah, well…no one else remembered to bring one. You looked so beautiful.” He reached out and took the picture off the board.
Charlie felt his chest on her back; his proximity was making her dizzy. He smelled like soap and something else that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She turned carefully to face him.
“Well, I should go. I wouldn’t want to get caught in your room when your parents come home.”
“You never answered my question, Charlie.” Steve held her hand.
“Which was?” Oh my God, is that my voice?
“Do you like me?”
She stared at him: he was shirtless, wearing tight black jeans, and he still had droplets of water on him.
“What difference does it make? This would never work anyway.”
“Why, Charlie? Because I’m some stupid jock?”
“Yes…no…shit, I don’t know.” She tried to brush past him and hit him in the ribs again. She heard his loud intake of breath.
“Dammit! Steve, lie down.” She helped him to the bed.
Steve laughed nervously. “Wow. Trying to get me into bed already?”
She let out an exasperated sigh.
“Hey, I’m kidding. I’m sorry. I’m just nervous.”
“Why?” She lightly touched his bruise.
“You make me nervous, and right now you’re touching me and — well I am a guy.”
“Oh my God! Steve Soloman just blushed!” She ran her fingertips over the blackening bruise, watching as Steve closed his eyes.
“That feels good,” he sighed.
“Yes.” Charlie looked at him.
Steve opened his eyes. “What?”
“I do like you,” Charlie whispered. She leaned over and kissed him lightly. She felt his hands thread into her hair. Kissing him felt so good, her thighs went up in flames. She opened her mouth and Steve took control. His tongue explored her mouth slowly and lazily until she felt drunk.
Steve backed off first. “Wow, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push.”
“Shut up.” Charlie kissed him again and she felt his arms wrap around her as he sat up in bed. Her hands made their way down his torso and she felt him jump. “What? Are you okay?”
“Um…yeah, but I think we should stop now,” Steve panted.
“Why?” Charlie touched his bruise again.
“Because right now I really want you.”
“Oh…” She looked down at his pants. “Oh!”
“So, yeah.” Steve ran a hand through his hair. “I think you should go home. I don’t think I can control myself.”
“You’re nothing but honest are you?” She smiled at him.
“I’ll always be honest. And right now, I want to make love to you. But I want to take this slow. I mean, if you really want to give us a shot.”
She kissed him, slowly running her tongue around his mouth.
“Does that answer your question?” she whispered.
*~~~*
Heath was watching Lisa eat. She was shoving pizza in her mouth faster than he was.
“Wow, you and my dad would get along great. Although, I think there might ul
timately be a wrestling match for the last dinner roll.”
“Hey, what can I say? I love to eat,” Lisa laughed.
“We’re having a party tomorrow afternoon. Would you like to come?”
“What kind of party? Will there be food?” she joked.
Oh yeah, Dad’s going to love her. “Yep, my dad eats a lot. We’re having a barbecue.”
“Sure, I’ll meet the parents.” Lisa winked.
Heath drove her home slowly. He didn’t want the night to end, but it was 11:30 and he had to be home by midnight. He walked her to the door and said goodnight. He had gotten back to the car when he felt Lisa’s hand on his.
“Didn’t want to kiss me?” Lisa eyed him.
“Well, I know we kissed before but I don’t know how you feel about me. So I wasn’t going to push my luck.”
Lisa came closer. She got on her tiptoes and kissed him. Her tongue swiped his lip and he moaned, letting her in all the way. He felt her tongue explore and matched her movements. Her hands went into his hair and his arms came around her waist. He pulled her off the ground and swung her around to sit on the hood of his car. She wrapped her legs around him and her hands went up his shirt, stroking his abs.
“Holy shit,” Heath breathed.
“I know,” she whispered.
Heath backed off. “I think I better go home now. I really want more and I don’t think I can stop myself if you keep touching me.”
“That is the sweetest thing any guy has ever said to me. Usually they just try to fuck me.” Lisa grimaced.
Heath’s mouth dropped open. “Wow.”
“What?” Lisa laughed.
“The only girl I’ve ever heard use the word ‘fuck’ is my sister Charlie.”
“Does it bother you?”
“Hell no, it’s sexy when you do it,” Heath laughed.
“Well if you play your cards right, Heath…”
“I wouldn’t fuck you, Lisa.”
Lisa blushed. “Wow, handsome and a gentleman.”
“I better get going.” Heath kissed her again. “I can’t be late.”
“See you tomorrow.” Lisa smiled.
*~~~*
Isabelle fidgeted in the coffee shop. She had texted her teacher and told him she would be there at seven, after work. She felt nervous in the almost empty café, sipping her coffee. This would be their first time together outside of class.
An Eye for an Eye (The Santorno Stories 2): The Santorno Stories Page 3