by Brandon Witt
Darwin’s car wasn’t what Cody had expected. He’d pictured a sports car or some luxury sedan. Instead it was a silver Ford Contour. A Contour. The same fucking car as his mom’s, maybe even the same year. The similarities stopped as soon as Cody slid into the passenger seat. This car looked new, clean. The seats weren’t ripped. He couldn’t see any cigarette burns. The dash gleamed every time they drove under a streetlamp, like it had just been polished. “Your car is really nice.”
Darwin let out a snort. “You think? It’s okay, I guess. Gets where it needs to go and isn’t high maintenance. I’ve never been a car guy. That’s more my dad’s thing. He has a Corvette he’s fixing up, but his favorites are the old Chevy trucks. I’m more of a clothes and fashion type.”
“My dad’s into cars too. Doesn’t have a Corvette, though.”
“You like fashion?” Darwin gave a quick glance away from the road.
“Don’t know too much about it, actually. I like your clothes.”
Darwin laughed again. “Thanks. I don’t know if jeans and a polo count as fashion, but thanks.” Cody liked Darwin’s laugh. It was easy and kind. It seemed to match him. Darwin placed a hand on Cody’s thigh. “This okay?”
“Y—” Cody’s voice broke, so he simply nodded. He waited for the hand to move farther up his leg, begin to pull at the button of his jeans, right before the car was pulled over into a parking lot. It didn’t. Darwin’s hand stayed where it was. Warm and heavy. After a minute, Cody moved his hand and placed it on top of Darwin’s. He got a small squeeze in response.
He tried to think of something to say. Anything. “So, uh, Darwin. That’s an unusual name. Are you named after Charles Darwin?”
Darwin laughed. “You know, I was never asked about that until college. Darwin is a family name. I’m sure Charles Darwin never even entered my parents’ heads. The father of evolution wouldn’t exactly be their pick of a namesake for their son.”
“Oh. That makes sense, I guess. Your family is religious?”
Darwin nodded, offered a smile, then turned back to face the road.
They didn’t speak the rest of the way, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Full of nerves to be sure, but there was an easiness to it.
Cody would have been okay if they’d driven like that until the sun came up.
The apartment nearly matched what Cody had pictured. He’d envisioned modern and cool. Instead, it was one of the refurbished old apartments in Capitol Hill on the edge of Cheesman Park. A mix of old and new, and gorgeous. He couldn’t imagine how much the rent would be, though he knew Vahin lived nearby. With his luck, he’d live in this very same building and Cody would run into him on his way out. Not that Vahin would judge about a walk of shame, though he’d never let Cody forget about it.
Darwin closed the door behind them and turned the dead bolt. A small charge of fear shot through Cody, but Darwin didn’t seem to notice. “Can I get you anything? Water or something? I don’t have Cherry Coke, but I think I’ve got some Sprite if you’d like.”
“No, I’m okay.”
Darwin stepped closer but didn’t touch him. “You sure you’re okay? You’re trembling.”
He was? “Yeah. I’m fine. Promise.”
Darwin did touch him then, though not the way Cody wanted. He placed his hand on Cody’s upper arm and gave a small squeeze. “Cody, if you’ve changed your mind, it’s okay. We can watch a show or something. If you just want to go back to Mary’s, I can take you there. There’s no pressure. You seem nervous. I don’t want us to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“I’m not a virgin. Not even close.” Why did he sound so panicked? He couldn’t even play cool to hook up.
Darwin’s eyes popped again. “Oh. Okay. I’m not either.”
It was almost laughable to picture someone like Darwin being a virgin. “Sorry. I’m nervous. I just….” What the hell could he say that didn’t make him look like an idiot or pathetic? Screw it. Cody closed the distance between them, lifted slightly on his toes, and pressed his lips to Darwin’s. He felt Darwin flinch in surprise, but he didn’t pull away. After a second, he returned Cody’s pressure and brought his hands to the small of Cody’s back and pulled him closer.
Cody shoved his hand between their bodies and began to pull on Darwin’s belt, accidentally slipping his finger into one of the belt loops.
Darwin pulled back, breaking the kiss and their body contact.
Cody reached down and undid his belt, then pulled it free.
“We don’t have to rush, Cody.”
He wasn’t a virgin, but he’d never not been rushed either. He had no idea how to do it any other way. “Okay. Sorry.”
“You don’t need to be sorry. And we can do it fast if you want, but I’d like to take my time with you.” Darwin didn’t wait for more of a response, and stepped in once more, this time slipping his hand around the back of Cody’s head as he kissed him.
Cody barely caught himself before he moaned out loud. He wasn’t sure how many times he’d been kissed, but it had never been like this. Ever. Darwin wrapped his other arm around Cody’s back, pulling them together once more. Cody was confident about his build, he’d been complimented enough by previous tricks about his smooth, tight body. But Darwin was larger—firm and muscled. More man than boy.
Cody lost himself in the kiss, in the caress of Darwin’s tongue against his own, the warmth of Darwin’s breath against his cheek. The feel of large hands moving over his back, then fingers slipping inside the waistband of his jeans. The length of Darwin’s erection pressing into his hips. The sigh escaping Darwin’s lips when Cody cupped Darwin’s cheek, then smoothed over the day’s worth of rough stubble.
No, Cody had never been kissed like this. And he didn’t care if he was dreaming.
Without even realizing they’d moved, Cody felt the edge of the mattress press against the back of his thighs.
Darwin leaned back and pulled off his shirt, then let it fall to the ground before starting to kiss Cody again.
Cody pushed against Darwin’s chest, surprised at his own nerve. “Wait, please.”
“You okay?” Darwin’s concern was audible through the huskiness of lust.
“Yeah. I just want to see you.”
There were no lights on in the room, but the window shades were only partially drawn, allowing the soft city glow to highlight Darwin’s body. Cody ran his hands over Darwin’s strong chest, nearly as pale as his own, a light dusting of reddish hair covering the planes. “It’s not blond.”
There was a soft laugh. “No. I don’t match all over.”
“I like it.” Cody continued down Darwin’s smooth stomach and began unfastening his jeans. He almost asked if it was okay, but figured Darwin would stop him if he wanted to. His groan as Cody slid down his zipper was all the confirmation needed.
Another moment and Cody had Darwin’s jeans down to midthigh. Like the rest of him, Darwin’s erection was beautiful. Proportional to his size. The trimmed hair was red there as well. Cody only admired for a second before taking him fully into his mouth and throat.
“Oh fuck. Cody.” Darwin gasped and tangled one hand in Cody’s hair.
Cody didn’t use his fingers, only his mouth, tongue, and throat as he milked the perfect cock. He ran his hands over the backs of Darwin’s thighs and firm ass.
He could tell Darwin was close. Darwin’s cock began to throb, and the tang of precum coated Cody’s mouth.
Darwin pulled back. “Holy shit, Cody. You are amazing at that. And you’re gonna make me come way too fast.”
It was one thing Cody knew he was good at. It didn’t matter the size of stall, the cramped conditions of a car, or the darkness of an alley, he could give a stellar blowjob. He looked up into Darwin’s handsome face. “Do you have a condom to fuck me?”
Though, for Darwin, he’d break that rule if need be.
Darwin hesitated, like he was battling inwardly with something. “Actually, Cody, I don’t fuck the first time I�
�m with someone. I’m kinda strange like that. But, man, I want to.”
“You can.” Please. Please. Please.
Darwin shook his head. “Not this time. Maybe later.”
Later? He hesitated only a second longer and then took Darwin back into his mouth, increasing the speed and the pressure of his tongue. He slid his fingers inside Darwin’s buttcheeks and paused just long enough to hear a confirming groan, then put pressure on the hole.
Darwin cried out and began to pull away. “Cody, wait. I’m gonna come.”
Cody pulled Darwin in closer, both increasing the pressure of his finger and forcing Darwin’s cock even deeper down his throat. If he couldn’t have Darwin inside him the way he wanted, he’d take this instead. Every drop of him.
Darwin called out again, his body jerking. “Cody. Seriously, I’m gonna come. You don’t have to—”
And then he was spurting jet after jet down Cody’s throat. Cody slipped the tip of his finger into Darwin’s entrance, causing him to cry out again, and was rewarded with another spurt.
When Darwin finally pulled free, he crashed down onto the bed and smiled over to where Cody knelt. “Holy hell, Cody. That was the best blowjob of my life.”
Cody grinned, suddenly self-conscious again. “Thanks.” He glanced around the bedroom, settling on the door that led to the hallway. What was he supposed to do now? This part was new, like the kiss. “Well, I don’t want to bother you, so….” He stood and took a step toward the door.
Darwin shot out his hand and caught Cody’s wrist. “Where are you going?”
Cody turned and looked down into Darwin’s smiling face. “I just figured….”
“Don’t I get to get you naked?”
“Oh. You do wanna fuck me?” That was more than okay with Cody.
“No.” A strange expression cut over Darwin’s face. “Well, yes, I do. But not right now. But I’d like to get you naked.” Darwin managed to kick his jeans the rest of the way off and then stood up beside Cody. He reached out and began lifting up Cody’s shirt.
Cody didn’t speak, afraid whatever he’d say would ruin it all. He lifted his arms and ducked his head through the shirt hole as Darwin undressed him.
“Wow.” Darwin traced Cody’s collarbone. “I’ve never seen anyone as pale as I am. I hate it on myself, but on you, it’s beautiful.” Before Cody could think what to say, Darwin dipped his head and ran his lips over the place he’d caressed.
To Cody’s amazement, Darwin slowly lowered himself to his knees as he kissed his way down Cody’s chest and stomach. His lips never leaving Cody’s skin, Darwin undid Cody’s jeans and slid both the jeans and underwear over his hips. He paused at the sight of Cody’s dick. “You’re bigger than I expected. That’s a nice surprise.” He pushed the jeans the rest of the way down. “Here, step out of these. I don’t want any clothes on you.”
Cody did as he was instructed. Never speaking, barely daring to breathe.
Darwin looked up at him from his kneeling position, moving his hands over Cody’s skin, the soft touch causing Cody to break out in goose bumps. “You’re beautiful. I mean, you’re handsome too, of course, but really, you’re just so beautiful. Everything about you.” He dipped his head back down, kissing down the line of fine black hair that ran from Cody’s navel, and then licked up the underside of Cody’s erection. Pausing at Cody’s intake of breath, Darwin stood and wrapped Cody in his arms, pulling them together once more, pressing their naked bodies together. Darwin kissed him gently, then bit his bottom lip and pulled, eliciting a pleasurable shot of pain before letting him go.
“Lie back on the bed, Cody. Now I really am going to take my time.”
Cody meant to leave after the sex. But he hadn’t been able to move. Not with his skin tingling from Darwin’s constant caresses. Not after his explosive orgasm or watching Darwin look at him as he swallowed Cody’s load.
No sooner had Darwin pulled off him and licked his lips than he slid up in the bed beside Cody, slipped his arm under Cody’s head, and pulled the edge of the comforter over them.
Cody lay there as Darwin slept, filled in equal parts with amazement and terror.
The kiss hadn’t been the only thing new. He’d never been in bed with a man before. Never rested his head on a man’s chest or run his fingers through chest hair as his lover slept. Never felt safe, warm, or protected.
Part of him wanted to be lulled to sleep. Even if it was pretend. Even if only for one night. He didn’t think he could handle that, though. Not in the morning. Not the endless nights to follow when he wouldn’t experience that again. The absence would be too much. It would make everything seem colder and darker.
Holding his breath, Cody slid out of bed. He silently got dressed and walked across the bedroom. Pausing at the doorway, Cody watched Darwin as he slept, the light from the window illuminating his exposed side. Cody walked back over to the bed and pulled the other edge of the comforter up, covering Darwin like he was in a cocoon. He had the strangest notion to lean down and kiss Darwin’s forehead. He didn’t. Instead, he walked to the doorway once more, glanced back to fix the image in his mind, and then quietly left the apartment.
Cody pulled out his phone to check for any Ubers in the area, then put it away. He didn’t want to see anyone or risk that talking would ruin the moment. He’d walk. It couldn’t be more than a couple of miles. The late July evening was warm, and the stars shone bright in the clear sky. It was perfect. He could walk forever, and he just might. He wanted to relive the best night of his life over and over again.
CHAPTER THREE
Darwin Michaels
“You’re bringing me to a pink castle?”
Violet rolled her eyes. “Really, Darwin, does that look like a castle to you? It’s a Mexican clock fort.”
“I don’t think that’s an actual thing.” Jade pointed toward the domed pinnacle. “It’s more of a bell tower.” She grinned over at Darwin. “But you’re missing the point. Casa Bonita is beyond definition. It even got labeled as a historic landmark a couple of years ago.”
Darwin glanced at the pink-and-white stucco building, then back at his friends. “But we eat here?”
“Yeah.” The twins nodded in unison, their sleek black hair glistening in the afternoon sun. He was getting used to his coworkers showing him the sites in Denver, but a huge pink castle, or Mexican clock fort, was unusual, even for them.
Jade reached out and took Darwin’s hand, then pulled him across the parking lot. “Our folks brought us here all the time when we were kids.”
“So it’s going to be one of those things that only natives understand?” He’d only been in Denver a few months, but he’d already learned people who were born and raised in Colorado weren’t thrilled with all the newcomers. He’d seen countless bumper stickers with a green silhouette of mountains and the word Native emblazoned with white lettering. “You’ve said it’s a restaurant with an arcade, cliff divers, fake gorillas, and a scary cave. You know we’re only doing research on the effect of pot, right? We’re not actually supposed to use it ourselves.”
“Don’t remind me. We finally legalize hash and I have to quit using it to get this position.” Violet walked past the ornate fountain and opened the front door to the restaurant.
“For the billionth time, it isn’t hash. Hash isn’t used for—”
“And for the billionth and one time,” Violet cut off her sister, rolling her eyes, “I think it sounds more fun to say hash. And it wouldn’t hurt you to have a bowl of it at the moment. Now quit correcting me and get in here.”
Darwin thought he might be high. The place was as strange as Jade and Violet had said. They’d waited in a long, curving line to have their enchilada plates put on cafeteria-style trays and were then led over cobblestone streets surrounded by fake buildings and trees. It was massive and made to look like a huge Americanized Mexican village. He glanced around on their way to the table. There were rooms shooting off in every direction, some with mine décor
, others with cave walls, all with endless seating options. Every surface was covered in colorful lights. Individually, the parts were tacky, but as a whole, Darwin found the place rather charming and pretty. A bit magical, even. He couldn’t imagine the experience to come as a kid. It would have felt like walking into an entirely different world.
Their server had barely seated them by a thirty-foot waterfall when a loud whoop sounded across the rocky cliff. Darwin jumped, his arm hitting his fork and knocking it off the table.
Laughing, Violet grinned at her sister. “I knew it was going to be fun to bring him here.” She leaned over the table to see around the trunk of a palm tree blocking her view, then sat back with a disappointed huff. “Man, this is the show where the robber kidnaps the girl and then gets shoved over the cliff. Which means the gorilla won’t come until after the diving show.”
“I won’t pretend to know what that even means.” Darwin peered over the roped-off stage formed to resemble an outcropping on the rocks. He narrowed his eyes, trying to focus his vision. “Is her wig made out of yarn like a Raggedy Ann doll?”
“Probably.” Jade waved him off and plucked a chip out of the plastic basket. “This is perfect, actually. We don’t have to pay attention until the diver comes out. And we need to dish. We haven’t had a real chance to talk since our shift last week. And Violet took up all the time on the drive over talking about her guy drama.”
“Hey! It’s not drama. It’s serious. He wants to be exclusive. We’ve only been dating a couple of months. I don’t think I’m being too noncommittal if I—”
“No. No, no, no,” Jade cut off Violet. “We listened to this in the car. And we listened to it three months ago with… whatever his name was. Same story, different guy.” She turned a wicked grin on Darwin. “Now, you are new. And this Cody guy is the first man you’ve seemed to like since we’ve known you. So, did you go back to Mary’s last night like we told you to?”
“No.” Darwin already loved the twins, but he so didn’t want to talk about this. He’d spent too much time thinking about Cody over the past several days. He didn’t want to feel even more like a teenage loser. “It hasn’t even been a week since we… got together. I woke up and he was gone. I’m going to look like a stalker if I go back so soon. Plus, he seems a bit fragile. I don’t want to freak him out.” It was true. All of it. However, he didn’t think that was the issue. Cody had obviously just wanted a hookup. Darwin had experienced enough of those during his past months of obsessive dating that it wasn’t exactly earth-shattering.