Effortless (Less Is More Book 3)

by J. M. Lamp

“This is cool,” I say, nodding. I walk over to him and throw my leg over the bike. “I’ve never been on one of these before to be perfectly honest with you.”

  “I’m more than happy to take your crotch-rocket virginity, Samuel.”

  He starts up the bike and slowly takes off. I wrap my hands around his stomach and close my eyes. Through his shirt, I can feel the outline of his abdominal muscles and each ridge is harder than the next. All I want to do is move my hands up onto his chest and feel how hard his pecs are.

  “You OK?” he yells over his shoulder.

  “Fine,” I yell back. I squeeze harder around his stomach, and I see a hint of a smile on his face as I look up, and he turns his head from the side and back towards the road.

  It takes us about fifteen minutes to get to the laser tag place. I let go of his stomach and swing back off the bike. He kicks the stand out and turns off the bike.

  “How long have you had a bike?” I hand him the helmet, and he clips it to the bike.

  “Since I could drive one,” he says. “I’ve always hated cars. These are just way more fun and faster.”

  And sexier, I think to myself.

  “It’s a nice ride,” I say.

  “You want to drive it?”

  “No,” I say, laughing. “Maybe one day.”

  He smirks and turns around towards the building. We make our way inside and it’s, surprisingly, filled with older teenagers and people our age instead of little kids.

  “Have you ever been here?” He turns around and focuses in on my eyes.

  I shake my head from side to side, and I say, “I’ve played laser tag before, though.”

  “Good,” he says. “I wouldn’t have minded taking another virginity of yours, though.” He winks at me and sticks out his tongue.

  “Ha ha,” I say. “How clever.”

  Oliver goes over and pays for a couple games. He comes back with a chest piece and a gun.

  “I hope you’re good,” he says. “I don’t like losing.”

  “Good thing we’re on the same team then.”

  He smiles at me and rests his gun on his shoulder.

  “I had a dream about you last night,” he says. “I don’t really dream that often, so it was surprising.”

  “Did I murder you or something?”

  “No,” he says, laughing. “It wasn’t nearly that exciting. We just had dinner and went to the pier again. It was like a regular day out for us.” He makes eye contact with me, and I look away. “What?”

  “Nothing,” I say. “I’ve just been dreaming about you, too.”

  “Anything as exciting as mine?”

  “Yeah,” I say, making my way through the door, “I murdered you. In laser tag, I mean.”

  “Good thing we’re on the same team then.” He raises his eyebrows and smirks. “Let’s do this.”

  ***

  An hour later, and we are both exhausted. I let out a huge breath once we step outside. The air feels good, and all I want to do is go jump in a pool. I stand by the bike and wipe some sweat from my forehead.

  “That was fun,” Oliver says. “Jesus, it was hot as fuck in there.” He lifts up his shirt and wipes his mouth. My eyes immediately dart down to his stomach, and I see the beautiful abs that I felt earlier along with the flattest stomach I have ever seen. His stomach makes a perfect V-shape, and I look away as thoughts creep into my mind; my dick getting hard in the process.

  “It was awesome,” I say. “And yes it was, and still is, hot as fuck.”

  I cross my arms and lean on one foot. Oliver makes his way over to the bike and undoes the helmets. He looks over at me, and he smiles.

  “What?” I say.

  “I’m just… glad I moved to the city.”

  I uncross my arms and make my way over to him. He hands me my helmet, and I say, “I am, too.”

  He swings his leg over his bike and starts it up. “Where to now?”

  “Somewhere we can get something to drink,” I say. I get on the bike and wrap my hands around his stomach. “Possibly a pool?”

  He nods and takes off.

  We make our way to the pier, and it’s even hotter than it was before.

  “If only we could skinny-dip,” Oliver says, stepping down off the hill onto the walkway.

  If only, I think to myself.

  We make our way down to the sand, and I fold my hands behind my head. The sun is scorching, and the only thing I can think about is seeing Oliver with his shirt off again. A Frisbee flies past my head and falls to the ground a few feet away from me. It brings me out of my thoughts, and I look over at the guy who threw it.

  “Sorry, man,” he says. He jogs over to me and picks up the Frisbee. “I let it slip.”

  “It’s cool.” I look over the guy’s shoulder and see Oliver taking his shirt off. He throws it to the ground and stretches. His back muscles are defined and beautiful. I can see where the muscles on his hips start, and my mouth starts to drool a little.

  Oliver looks back towards me and puts his hand over his eyes.

  “Sorry,” I say once I get to him. I slowly bring my shirt up over my head and throw it down beside his. I look over to him and see his eyes on my stomach. They dart up to my face quickly, and he smiles.

  “Hopefully no one steals our shit,” he says. “I, actually, don’t really want to even swim. Maybe just sit close and let it touch my feet.”

  “That’s fine,” I nod. I pick up our shirts and follow him towards the water. There are so many people around us, but my eyes don’t leave Oliver. “So, what made you want to go play laser tag?”

  “I saw an ad in the paper the other day at work.” He sits on the ground and lies back in the sand. “I haven’t been forever, so I thought that it sounded fun. And we needed something to do other than go out to eat.”

  “Well,” I say, lying back and putting my hands behind my head, “I’m glad you asked me to go with you.”

  “Well, I wanted to go, and you’re my only friend in the city.”

  I laugh, and he moves to his side. He leans his head on his palm, and I see his muscles tighten in his arm. He smiles at me and lets out a deep breath.

  “How’s work going?” he asks me.

  “Good.” I nod and look out towards the water. “It’s starting to become more manageable.”

  “Do you enjoy being in charge of people, or no?”

  “I’m indifferent,” I say. I shrug my shoulders and look into his eyes. “People seem to respect me, which makes it easier to do. No one has said anything about me getting a promotion so quickly. I would probably be pissed if I were any of them.”

  “Maybe they know that you deserve it.”

  “I don’t, though,” I say. “I mean, I don’t think that I don’t deserve it, but some of them have been there for awhile, and I’m just surprised that some of them aren’t plotting my death. Maybe they’re just happy that the last chick isn’t there anymore.”

  I look over to his stomach and see drops of sweat moving down the ridges of his abs. I think about flipping him onto to his back and licking the sweat away. He sticks his tongue in my mouth, and I grab ahold of his crotch.

  “I want to have fun this summer,” he says, bringing me out of my fantasy. I quickly look down at my crotch and then back up to him.

  “Then we will.”

  ***

  We pull up outside of my apartment, and the smell of Oliver’s body wash has permanently implanted itself inside of my nose. I swing off of the bike and stretch.

  “I’m sorry that I kept you out so late,” he says.

  I shrug, and I say, “I had nothing else to do. I had fun.”

  I go to unbuckle my helmet, but I can’t get it undone.

  “Let me see it,” he says.

  He brings his face closer to mine and sets his hand on my shoulder. He gently pulls on the side of the helmet, and I lean in closer to him. My lips skim the side of his cheek, and he freezes for a second. He goes back to undoing the lock on the helm
et and lifts it off my head.

  “There we go,” he says. I make eye contact with him and match his smile. “Thing can be tricky, sometimes.” He swings back onto his bike and grins. “I’m glad you had fun, Sam. And, I meant what I said about moving to Chicago; I’m really glad I did.”

  “Be safe going home,” I say. “Text me when you get there; so I know that you’re safe and all.”

  “Will do.” He nods and starts up the bike. “Have a good night, Sam.” He speeds off, and I feel an unnecessary sadness as I watch him turn the corner.

  We’re just friends. What am I feeling sad for? I’ll see him again soon.

  “How was your date?” Kelsey asks me once I shut the door.

  “It wasn’t a date.”

  “How was your hangout with Oliver, then?”

  “Fine,” I say. I make my way over to the couch and plop down beside her. “It wasn’t a date.”

  “If you say so.” She laughs and goes back to reading her textbook.

  “I don’t know how much longer I can go just being his friend, though.”

  “Because you want to date him already?”

  “No.” I put my hands behind my head and close my eyes. “To be honest, I’ve just never had thoughts about a friend the way I do Oliver.”

  “Ah,” she says, setting her book on the coffee table. “So, you want to play with Oliver, but not date him?”

  “Never mind,” I say, shaking my head back and forth. “I’m not talking to you about this; you’re too young.”

  She scoffs. “Please, Samuel. I may be quite younger than you, but I’ve did just as much as you, if not more.”

  “I tried to kiss him; kind of.”

  “Kind of?” she says.

  “He dropped me off, and he went in to undo my helmet—“

  “Your helmet?”

  “He rides a motorcycle,” I say. “Can I finish?”

  She mocks me with random facial expressions and sits back against the couch.

  “He went in to undo my helmet, and I leaned in, too, and my lips brushed against his cheek. It was weird, and I feel stupid now.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Nothing.” I shrug my shoulders and get off the couch. “If it bothered him, he didn’t show it. I don’t know; I’m going to bed.”

  “Sweet dreams,” she says. “About Oliver, I mean.”

  I roll my eyes and close my bedroom door. My phone dings as I stretch out onto my bed and look up at the ceiling.

  Oliver: Home safe. You want to have dinner this week some night? I’ll make it. Yes, I can cook. Kind of.

  I laugh and think of what to text back to him.

  Me: Good. Yes, I would love nothing more than to have you cook for me.

  Oliver: Awesome! Sadie will be here if that’s cool? She wants to meet you. Well, she wants to get to know you. You’ve already met.

  Me: That sounds great lol.

  Oliver: I want to talk to you about something, too. After dinner, I mean. Nothing serious, just want to get something off my chest.

  My mind instantly wonders if this is about the helmet thing. He didn’t seem bothered by it, so I doubt it, but what else would he want to talk to me about?

  Me: Okay, no problem.

  Oliver: I’m going to bed, but I had fun today. Everyday is fun with you, though. Goodnight, Samuel.

  Me: Goodnight, Olli.

  Chapter Six

  Oliver

  N O ONE WARNED ME THAT having a hot gay-man as a new best friend would be so tough. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve had plenty of guy friends before. None of them, however, have made me feel the way that Sam does.

  I don’t even want to date Sam, but all I can think about anymore is what it would be like to have him on top of me, and vice-versa.

  The last night I saw him, I had dropped him off at his apartment, and the snap on his helmet was messing up. I went in to help him fix it, and his lips had brushed against my cheek. I had a warmth run through me instantly, and all I wanted to do was turn his face towards me and kiss him.

  I don’t know if he even realized that he did. He didn’t say anything, and neither did I, but I’m sure he noticed me freeze for a split-second.

  With him coming over for dinner tomorrow night, I have to get it off my chest that I’m seeing him in ways that are more than… friendly. I don’t expect him to want the same things. I just hope that he doesn’t think I’m weird and decides that he can’t go through with this friendship anymore.

  Sadie opens the door into the gym that is a few blocks from our apartment. I haven’t worked out since I moved to the city, and it is starting to show. We make our way over to the treadmills, and I stick my water bottle in the cup holder on the tray.

  “There’s a gym down the street with more gays,” Sadie says to my right. I laugh and start up the treadmill. “Sorry, I forgot. You have a boyfriend already. I’m excited to talk to him tomorrow night.”

  “Please, don’t mention the word boyfriend around him. We’re just friends.”

  “Just friends who want to fuck each other.” She inclines the treadmill and speeds up the belt.

  “I’m nervous about talking to him,” I say. “About all that. I don’t want to ruin anything.”

  “Look,” she says, “I could tell the day you guys saw each other at my meeting that he was into you.”

  “How could you possibly tell that?”

  “The way he smiled at you,” she says. “There are two types of smiles: the nice-to-meet-you smile, and the you’re-sexy-so-we-should-fuck smile.”

  “It was a nice-to-see-you smile, Sadie.” She rolls her eyes and messes with the treadmill. “Anyway, I think you’ll like him. He’s a cool guy.”

  “So,” she says, “if he was to tell you right this minute that he wanted to date you, you are telling me that you wouldn’t be down for it?”

  I shake my head back and forth. “No; it was would just complicate things, and I really don’t want a relationship right now. I don’t need a relationship.”

  “You don’t think a friends-with-benefits situation will make things complicated?”

  “I don’t know,” I say. “It depends on how comfortable he would be with it.”

  “It’s the same thing as dating, basically.”

  “I don’t agree.”

  I take a drink of my water and move the speed up on the treadmill. I start off with a small jog and eventually find my way into a steady run.

  I’ve done a friends-with-benefits scenario before, and it worked fine. I can handle it, but I don’t know if Sam can. I don’t even know if he’ll even want to.

  Shut the fuck and exercise, Oliver. Stop overthinking.

  “Eddie texted me the other day,” Sadie says. I look over at her and raise my eyebrows, surprised. “I take it that you blocked him from everything?”

  “He wouldn’t stop talking to me, so I had to.” I roll my eyes and let out a deep breath.

  “I can’t believe he texted me. I mean, if someone punched me in the face, I probably wouldn’t be making contact with them again.”

  “He’s desperate.”

  “He’s annoying,” she says.

  “I just wish he would chill and move on. I mean he had no problem finding someone new while he was still with me. I have no doubt that he feels bad about what he did, but if he thinks I’m going to take him back then he is crazy.”

  “Do you think he’ll try to kill himself or anything?”

  I laugh, and I say, “No. He’s crazy in a lovesick kind of way. He’d never do anything to himself or me. He just knows he messed up, and he realizes that he will never meet someone like me again.”

  “He better not,” she says. “I’ll cut his dick and balls off.”

  ***

  “Hey,” Sam says as he makes his way into the apartment. “Sorry I’m a little late.”

  “Five minutes, Sam.”

  “Still,” he says, laughing.

  “If you’re not early, you’re late,�
� Sadie says. She squeezes past me and gives Sam a hug. “It’s good to see you again.”

  “Give it time,” he says. “I’m sure by the end of the night you’ll be wanting me out of here.”

  Sadie laughs and sits down at the kitchen table. “I hope you like Mexican. Olli has been cooking it all day. He has been cooking chicken fajitas and nachos… all day.”

  “I’ve been cooking it for an hour or two,” I say. “I overcooked the meat for the nachos and had to start over.”

  I’ve never been able to cook. Salads and cereal are the things that I am known for, truly. I thought for Sam, though, that I would at least give it a try.

  “I love to cook,” Sam says. “Heating up hamburger can be tough, though, I guess.” He laughs and sits down across the table from Sadie. “No, seriously, it smells great. And yes, I love Mexican food.”

  Sam is dressed in a black and white tank top. I can see the definition of his muscle tone when he leans into his arm on the table. My mind flashes back to the day we were at the pier. Seeing him with his shirt off just made me want him more.

  “It’s done,” I say, shaking the thought away from my mind before I get too into it.

  I pull the tray of nachos out of the oven and set it in the middle of the table. Sam watches me as I back away and grab the plates with the fajitas on them. I get a couple of beers out of the fridge and hand one to Sadie and Sam.

  “Your friend, Elliot, is a really cool guy,” Sadie says. “How long have you guys known each other?”

  “I met him through a place we both used to work at,” Sam says. He crunches on a mouthful of nachos and wipes his mouth. “We hit it off pretty quick and just understood each other, I guess. He’s always been there for me if something bad happens.”

  “You guys never thought about getting together?”

  He shakes his head back and forth, and he says, “No. I had someone at the time, anyway, but I don’t really go for people I’m friends with, I guess.”

  My stomach sours a little, and I wonder if I should even talk to him about everything I’m feeling now.

  “Well,” he continues, “I shouldn’t say that, I guess. I just know from the moment I meet someone if they’ll be friendship-only for me or if I would want more.”