The Other Five Percent

by Quinn Anderson

  “Oh fuck, don’t stop,” Logan babbled. In an instant, he was right on the edge again.

  Ellis hummed in response, and whether it was intentional or not, the vibration, combined with the perfect wet heat of his mouth, plucked something deep in Logan. He shouted a half-garbled warning just in time for Ellis to pull off him and stroke him through an orgasm that seemed to thunder in his veins.

  Logan was actually a little embarrassed by how much he came. He didn’t black out or anything so dramatic, but for a full five seconds, he lost all sense of himself. The pleasure was bone-deep, starting between his legs and resonating throughout him. When he came back to himself, his stomach was completely coated.

  Ellis eyed him, lips pressed together like he was trying not to smile. “Has it been a while or something?”

  “Um, yeah, now that you mention it.” Logan willed his face not to heat up. Thank God all his blood was still situated elsewhere. “My last girlfriend was . . . Wow. More than a year ago. I didn’t even realize.”

  “Man, if I went that long without sex, I’d . . . Well, I guess I’d be an uptight workaholic like you.”

  Logan gave him a half-hearted glare. “You trying to make sure this never happens again?”

  “Sorry. Here, lemme make you more comfortable.” Ellis got up, which to Logan seemed like a miracle, and headed for a door that Logan would have sworn hadn’t been there before. It must have led to a bathroom, because Ellis emerged a moment later with a hand towel. “Allow me.” He flopped onto the bed and wiped Logan off.

  Logan watched him, too exhausted to move. “You could have wet it first, you know.”

  “My mistake, Your Highness. I’ll do better next time.” He rolled onto his side and tossed the towel in the vicinity of a pile of laundry.

  “So.” Ellis snuggled up to his side. “How are you feeling?”

  “Good. Really good.”

  “You’re not freaking out or anything? Having a belated identity crisis?”

  “Eh. I did that all day yesterday. I’m ready to embrace the gay life.”

  “The bisexual life,” Ellis corrected. “Unless you’re magically not into women anymore.”

  “Not so much.” He cleared his throat. “I’m Logan, and I’m bisexual. Hm. That doesn’t sound so bad.”

  “It gets easier, especially if you don’t introduce yourself that way.”

  Logan chuckled. “I may want to. Get it out of the way early.”

  “It’s your identity. You can do what you want.” He tucked his face into the crook of Logan’s neck. “I know the first time usually takes some adjustment, but I hope that was good for you.”

  “It was fantastic.”

  Ellis peeked up at him. “Really? I mean, you seemed like you enjoyed it, but . . .”

  “Yeah, heads-up: you’ve created a monster. It’s only been a few minutes, and all I can think about is doing that again.”

  “Oh, is that so?” Ellis moved a little away from him. “Would you do me a favor and sit up for a second?”

  Logan frowned. “Um, sure? Why do you need me to—” The second he pushed himself up, his ass ached. He yelped and flopped back down. Ellis—the absolute bastard—howled with laughter.

  “That’s not funny!”

  “It really is.” Ellis kissed his frowning cheek. “It was your first time, babe. You can’t expect to take dick like a pro from the get-go. Though I think you did admirably, if I do say so myself.”

  Logan grumbled obscenities under his breath in response.

  Undeterred, Ellis kissed him again, on the corner of his mouth. “You’ll get a chance for revenge soon enough.”

  “I will?”

  “Yeah.” Another kiss, on the lips. “I’m not gonna let you have all the fun forever.”

  Logan’s cock took a pronounced interest in that idea. Before he could get too excited, the rest of what Ellis said caught up with him. “‘Forever’?”

  Ellis looked stricken. “I didn’t mean it literally. It’s an expression.”

  “No, don’t take it back. I . . . kinda like the sound of that.” He smiled. “Forever.”

  For once, Ellis was the one who turned red. “You mean it?”

  Logan nodded. “I was thinking it before, when we were getting ready to have sex. You took such good care of me, and I don’t think there’s anyone else I would have trusted to do that. You didn’t go into this expecting me to bottom. If it had been anyone else, I don’t think I would have. But I knew you’d make this a good experience for me.” He brushed a loose strand of hair away from Ellis’s eyes. “And I was right.”

  Ellis’s expression looked like it had tried to head for Happiness but had blown a tire somewhere around Wary Uncertainty. “That’s sweet. Really. Nineteen-year-old me is jumping for joy inside my head right now.”

  “But,” Logan prompted.

  “But . . . part of me thinks this is too good to be true. It’s too easy, you know? I mean, we run into each other out of nowhere, we hang out a couple of times, and the next thing I know we’re together again like we were never apart.” He rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling. Logan couldn’t help but think he was doing it to avoid his gaze. “Do things really work out like this in real life?”

  Logan shrugged. “I mean, if you seriously think this is too easy, then allow me to remind you that this took four years, three arguments, and a sexual identity crisis. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think we earned this.”

  “You do?”

  “Absolutely. But then I just got fucked into next week. My brain’s lagging behind.”

  “Fair enough. I guess I didn’t think of it like that.”

  Logan touched Ellis’s cheek, prompting him to look at Logan. “There is one thing that could make all of this fall apart, though.”

  “You deciding you’d rather be with a woman?”

  Logan glared at him. “No, if you keep throwing the fact that I like women in my face. And if you never forgive me for ghosting you. You haven’t officially done it yet. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

  Ellis flinched. “To be fair, I was distracted, but I see your point. I . . . can forgive you.”

  That wasn’t quite the enthusiastic response that Logan wanted. He shifted uncomfortably. “You’re not ready yet, are you?”

  “Not entirely, but I know I need to move on. And not even for your sake. I’ve been holding on to this anger for so long. It’s not healthy.” Ellis twisted his arm around until he could run a hand through Logan’s hair. “I’ll promise to let go of the past if you promise never to ghost me again.”

  “I can manage that.” Logan didn’t want to press his luck, but there was one more question burning in his gut. “Just out of curiosity, what convinced you to give me another chance? Something changed between the club and today. I’m sure that wasn’t an easy decision.”

  “Honestly? When you said that you’d told your family about us. That was what gave me the first real hope that you were serious. Telling me is one thing, but coming out is a serious step. I was shocked to hear you’d done it so soon.”

  Logan brushed a finger along his cheek. “I did, and you know what? It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.” Feelings for the man next to him welled up in his chest, pushing words out. “I’ve never been this serious about something, or someone, in my life.”

  “Look at you, all gushy.” Ellis smiled. “I like it.”

  “Hey, I just got back together with my college sweetheart. I think I’m allowed to gush a little.”

  “Aha! So you admit that we were dating back then.”

  “Oh, definitely. I’ll shout it from the rooftops. You were my first boyfriend. And the first person I ever felt anything serious for, and so many of my other firsts.”

  They fell silent, snuggled together on Ellis’s messy bed. Logan could feel sleep tugging at the edge of his consciousness. As he drifted off, a thought occurred to him. He was so glad for all the firsts he’d had with Ellis, but if he were really
, really lucky, he’d have all of his lasts with Ellis as well.

  Six Months Later

  “So, when’s the wedding?”

  Logan nearly dropped his phone. “What? C’mon, Rachel, stop kidding around.”

  “We’re not kidding,” argued a stereo version of his youngest sister’s voice.

  Abby jumped in. “Seriously, if you get engaged without telling us, there will be blood.”

  Logan leaned forward from his seat on the sofa and glanced into the kitchen. An oblivious Ellis was busy cooking dinner. Good thing Logan hadn’t put the call on speaker. Though with Ellis’s tendency to burst into random snatches of song while he chopped vegetables, it might not have mattered.

  Logan lowered his voice anyway. “We only just moved in together. What makes you think we’re getting married?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Rachel said. “I mean, Ellis is all you ever talk about, and you let him totally take over your apartment, and every time we see you now, you’re practically glowing. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he knocked you up.”

  “Regardless,” Abby chimed in, “we’re expecting a save-the-date in the mail any day now.”

  “Ellis did not take over my apartment.” That was the only point she’d made that Logan could argue. Although, as he looked around the living room, he noted changes at every stop. It was no longer devoid of personality, and it was more like an art catalog than a page from IKEA. Gone were his plain white walls. They were now an assortment of electrifying colors, from orange in the kitchen to teal in the bedroom. Ellis’s sculptures adorned every flat surface, and the remaining furniture was a hodge-podge of their mutual belongings. Logan’s barstools had stayed, but the dining room table had become a worktop for Ellis that was buried under a layer of what Logan could only term “art crap.”

  “Hm.” He switched his phone to the other ear. “I guess we did do a little redecorating.”

  “Don’t fight it, lil bro,” Abby joked. “Getting a boyfriend made you a lot more interesting.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “Are you talking to your sisters?” Ellis was suddenly right beside him, a hand planted on one hip while the other brandished a spatula. “Gimme the phone.”

  “You didn’t even let me answer.”

  “Babe, I love you, but only three people on this Earth call you, and I’m right here.”

  Damn. Falling in love had done nothing to blunt Ellis’s tongue. Logan tried a different tactic. “What could you possibly have to say to my sisters?”

  “Ooh, is that Ellis?” Rachel squealed. “Hand us over!”

  “Traitors.” Logan did as they instructed.

  Ellis blew him a kiss before taking his phone. “Hello, my loves. I have something very serious to ask you.”

  Logan leaned up, trying to hear their response, but Ellis swatted him away. “How exactly did your brother end up with such dismal decorating taste? You two have great style, so I know it’s not genetic.”

  Logan started to protest, but Ellis wasn’t paying him any mind. He listened intently. “Really now? Wow, that explains so much. And what age was he when he did that?”

  “That’s it.” Logan snatched the phone back. “No more embarrassing stories from the Brontë sisters.”

  “I’m just trying to learn more about you, I swear. Though I still don’t see why we kept your couch and threw mine out.”

  “Because you cannot have a futon in your living room if you’re over the age of twenty-three. It’s the law.”

  Ellis stuck his tongue out and wandered back into the kitchen.

  Logan returned his phone to his ear. “I hope you two are at least keeping your big mouths shut with Mom and Dad.”

  “Of course we are.” Abby sounded affronted. “You think we’d out you before you’re ready? No, if anything, we’re hoping you’re going to make a spectacle of it. You’re going to tell them soon, right?”

  “Yeah, I’m ready. I couldn’t have put it off much longer anyway. Things between Ellis and me are getting serious.”

  “What’s your plan?”

  “I’m waiting for the perfect moment. You know, like over Thanksgiving dinner.”

  “No way! You wouldn’t.”

  “Probably not,” he admitted. “But just picture it. All of us, sitting around the table, like one big family. Ellis will charm the pants off of them, of course, and then when Mom asks what I’ve been doing lately, I can just point to Ellis!”

  “Don’t you dare,” they said in unison before dissolving into giggles. Logan giggled with them.

  Ellis turned at the sound. “What’s so funny?” Logan’s best saucepan slipped from his grip, clattering onto the stove.

  “Hey.” Logan mustered up a glare. “Be careful with the merchandise. You can abuse your own belongings, but not mine.”

  “But baaabe.” Ellis grinned. “These are our belongings now.”

  Logan rolled his eyes and said to his sisters, “It’s true what they say about living with someone. You see a totally different side of them.”

  “Did you find out all his deep, dark secrets?” Rachel asked. “Like, does he kick puppies or eat pineapple on pizza?”

  “Nothing like that. Remember how I worshipped him in college?”

  “Yup. It was disgusting.”

  “Well, I still think he’s the coolest guy ever—you know, with his whole artistic, whiskey-drinking, rock-music-loving shtick and all—but now it’s like . . .” He struggled to articulate what he meant. “It’s like I’ve peeked behind the curtain, you know?”

  “Not really.”

  “Okay, lemme try again. Back then, I thought he wore the best clothes and had read all the best books and had seen all the best movies. That’s still true, but now I also know he’s a giant dork. He gets excited about paint primer the way most people get excited about new cars. He followed the entire drama between Anish Kapoor and Stuart Semple as if it were the Super Bowl. And God forbid you suggest that he wash a shirt before he’s worn it three times.”

  “Doesn’t that drive you crazy? You’re so neat.”

  “Oh yeah. It’s a mess. Literally. His schedule is all over the place, and he has no plans for the future, and he has none of the qualities that I ever imagined my future partner would have. And I don’t think I have ever, ever been this happy.” Logan couldn’t stop a dopey smile from crawling onto his lips. He added one more thing in his own head. And he is, without a doubt, the love of my life.

  Rachel’s voice took on a singsong quality. “You guys are so married.”

  “Yup,” Abby agreed. “We better get used to calling him ‘brother.’”

  “Are you still on the phone?” Ellis appeared next to the sofa with two plates piled high with some sort of tofu-onion concoction Logan would have to make sense of later. Ellis set the plates on the coffee table and then leaned over until his mouth was right next to the phone. “Logan and I have things to do. You can talk to him tomorrow.”

  “Ooh. What kinds of things?”

  In lieu of an answer, Ellis nuzzled up to Logan’s face and made loud, obnoxious smooching noises.

  Abby and Rachel squealed before promising to call again soon. Logan hit the End Call button, tossed his phone aside, and hugged his boyfriend’s arm.

  Ellis plopped onto the seat next to him. “Try the food.”

  Logan reached for the fork on the nearest plate and carefully navigated a bite to his mouth. It was hot but delicious. “Mmm. I may keep you around for the cooking alone.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Ellis grabbed his own plate. “You know what this place needs?”

  “More of your artwork on every available surface?”

  Ellis laughed. “No. A pet. We should get a cat or something.”

  “A cat?”

  “Or something. I wouldn’t say no to a dog.”

  Logan grinned. “Six months we’ve been dating, and you already want to adopt. My sisters are so right.”

  “About what?”


  “Nothing.” Logan took a bite and considered it. “Definitely a cat. They’re way less maintenance. I can’t be home with a dog during the day, and your hours are as erratic as ever.”

  Ellis pouted. “Damn. Now I want a dog.”

  “You’re so contrary.”

  “Gotta stick it to the man.” Ellis kissed his cheek. “A cat it is, then. We can name her something cute, like Mrs. Fluffers.”

  “Veto, and what makes you think it would be a girl?”

  “We need a lady of the house! What about Gertrudis Caca Blanca? That was what Frida Kahlo called her pet eagle.”

  “Super veto.”

  Ellis heaved a sigh. “Fine. What do you suggest, then?”

  “We can’t name her before we’ve met her. We’ll pick the perfect thing when the time comes.”

  Ellis grinned. “‘Her’?”

  “That’s what I said.”

  Ellis kissed his cheek. “I love you. You know that, right?”

  “I do, and I love you too.”

  They settled in for the night, eating dinner, laughing, and watching movies. It might have been a Friday like any other, except when it came time for Ellis to go to work at the Golden Flamingo, Logan went with him. Gone were the days when Logan would have spent his weekend waiting for Monday to roll around. He still had his job, and Ellis couldn’t completely convince him to give up his creature-of-habit ways, but it was obvious that they were growing together with each passing day.

  It was funny; Logan had always pictured a white-picket fence in his future. Now, when he thought about a lifetime with Ellis, all he saw was color.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading Quinn Anderson’s The Other Five Percent!

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