by Jenny Wood
“One time, Ms. Jay had made me a cake and was carrying it to the dinner table after we’d all eaten dinner. About that time, Stephanie Landry, she was about six years old at the time, spilled her drink all over the table and ran to get a rag. She pushed the kitchen door open at the same time Ms. Jay was set to come walking out of it and ended up shoving the whole cake down her front and all in her face.” Jase chuckled. “She was mad as a wet cat. I never laughed so hard in my life. It was like something you’d see on TV or something; nothing that funny would ever happen in real life. It was amazing.”
“My mom and I went camping one weekend for my birthday.” Conner started in on his tale. “Saturday morning, we get up early and get on this little boat that our cabin had on the dock that we could take out on the lake. It was a small ass lake, probably nothing in it worth catching but my mom was determined. We were out there for hours, getting ate up by mosquito’s and sunburnt all to hell when I started getting whiney and wanting to go back to the cabin to watch TV.” He continued, gearing up for something dramatic. “I tried to bring my rod in and caught it on something, but mom thought it was a big catch. She started flailing around, grabbing for the net and trying to help me reel something in. One second we were in the boat and a split second later, we were beside it, in chest-high, water. I couldn’t see the bottom and was scared as all hell that something was going to attack me and pull me under, Jaws style. It was a good ten minutes before we’d got ourselves back in the boat.” He giggled. “Cut to, back at the cabin I went to wash off in the shower and put on clean clothes and started noticing big ol’ black marks on my back. I ran out of the bathroom, stark naked. After mom got over the shock of seeing me streak through the house, screaming like a girl, she had to pick five leeches off my backside. I’ll never go in a lake again!” He exclaimed, making us all laugh at his overly dramatic way to tell a story. Still, it was all very “Stand By Me” and we could all picture Conner freaking out about leeches, who wouldn’t?
“What’s your most embarrassing, Cam?” Jase asked. He seemed to think about it for several minutes while all the guys smiled, thinking he was coming up with something good.
“I don’t think I have any embarrassing. I was an only child until I was 13, then my brother was only two when I left home. Before that, it was just me and my folks having cake. My dad always bought sports equipment every year. Could you see me, playing sports?” He asked, sarcastically. The guys laughed it off, but I heard the hurt in his voice that he tried so hard to hide.
Finally, around ten-thirty, Conner and Kayson said goodnight and walked hand in hand to their room.
“Would you guys care if one night this weekend, I stayed at my buddy, Lonnie’s house? He just got a new VR game and, I’ve never seen anything like it before, I’m dying to play it.” Jase asked, helping Cameron and I pick up paper cups, plates and napkins from earlier.
“You’re a grownup, now, Jase. You don’t need permission. Just be smart and stay safe, don’t do anything to fuck up your scholarship, ya know?” I told him. He smiled and nodded. He unplugged his phone that he’d had charging and said goodnight, I had a feeling he’d be on the phone half the night. He was all smiles, though, so what did I care.
“He had a good day.” Cameron smiled, following me to the couch and sitting down right next to me. His body sagged, giving me his weight without realizing it. He’d been doing that all day, leaning into my space when he’d sit next to me or putting a hand on my back when he’d needed to ask me something, throughout the day. I usually hated when people were in my space; even my brothers picked and chose when to encroach. With Cameron, it was easy. I wanted him close; closer even. I just needed to figure out how to go about it.
Chapter 9: Cameron
“He had a good day,” I tell Jody, taking a seat beside him on the couch. I felt wore out, even though I didn’t do much but go to the mall and then decorate today. I was going to be off work until my face healed up enough to not scare the shit out of the patients and I could already feel myself getting lazy. I intended to enjoy not having anything to do for the first time in my adult life.
“He did,” Jody said softly. I hadn’t realized that I was sitting so close to him until I felt the breath of his words against the side of my face. He’d been gentler with me today since Asher made an appearance earlier and I’d mistakenly thought that Jody was mad that I’d brought him to his house, unintentionally. His normal gentle voice was amazing but the way he talked to me, now. It was sweet, almost affectionate. I wondered if you could fall in love with someone’s voice; was that possible? If so, I was 100% in love with Jody’s sweet, affection, gentle voice.
“We haven’t got to talk since Marks left earlier. You okay after all that?” He asks me, shifting the hair back from my forehead. I was starting to be in love with that too.
“Yeah, I mean… I’m glad Sherriff Marks is taking it seriously. He doesn’t seem to be a part of Asher’s little “circle of benefits” he has in his pocket.” I air quoted and rolled my eyes, thinking of all the people that could likely cause me trouble just because of Asher.
“Yeah, well… his wife was in treatment the same time Morgan was. We got to know his family quite well. He’s an honest man, takes his job seriously. I trust him.” Jody says. I’m glad to hear that. I feel myself sinking into him further before I freeze.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t even realize I was half laying on you.” I tried to laugh it off as I made to move to my own side of the couch, at least on another cushion. Jody didn’t let me go.
“You didn’t hear me complaining.” He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me back, gently. What did this mean?
“What do you want it to mean?” Jody asks me, mortifying me even more.
“Did I say that, out loud?” I whispered, looking at his smirking face. He nodded, looking over my face.
“How does your face feel? Sore? Tender anywhere?” He asks, still scanning my face with his eyes. I shake my head but answer honestly.
“My eye is sore, especially when I try to open it all the way. Other than that, nothing is too bad.” I say. The swelling in my eye is mostly gone, but the lid is still quite puffy. The inside of my eye feels very dry but, other than bloodshot, it looks okay too.
“Good, good.” He murmurs, eyes locked onto my lips. “I’m gonna kiss you. That okay?” He asks. I lift my chin to nod but it’s as far as I get. Jody wraps his giant hands around my head and pulls me to his mouth. My surprised gasp is loud but he catches it in his mouth. This isn’t like the chaste kisses he pecked me with this morning or the last time he asked if he could kiss me and I said yes. This one is carnal and sexy. I could feel him all around me and I could taste him on my lips; like cake and beer. Shouldn’t be as delicious as it was.
“Sorry.” He whispered as he pulled back, just slightly. I didn’t have words; I shook my head and pressed my lips back to his. He grabbed my hips and hoisted me up over his legs and sat me comfortably on his lap. The way his arms flexed as he effortlessly moved me to wherever he wanted me, was enough to make me harden beneath my jeans. Jody sat back with his head against the back of the couch and just looked at me. I know I wasn’t anything to look at right now and I felt more than a little self-conscious. I didn’t have any of my armor on; no concealer to hide my bruises, no eye make-up or lip gloss. I was wearing a pair of pink lacey boy shorts but Jody couldn’t see them. Oh, shit. I didn’t want him to see them either. My breathing was becoming more rapid in my panic and I didn’t feel his hands cupping my face until he sat up and caught my eyes with his.
“What’s got you freaked? All this too soon for you?” He asked, gently.
“No, no,” I say, grabbing his wrists and holding him there. “I’m okay.” I really tried to be. Jody stood us up and walked us to his room. He shut the door behind us grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head. Next, he kicked off his jeans and slipped off his socks. When he was in nothing but his underwear, he slid beneath his blankets, facin
g me and waited.
“Just come lay with me, we need sleep anyway.” He whispered. “Anything else can wait.”
“I can’t.” I find myself saying. Not because I don’t want to but because I have on fucking panties and a matching camisole under my jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. I wasn’t at all anticipating something like this, so I didn’t think. “Why don’t I go change and meet you back here?” I say. I thought that was a good compromise.
“Or, you could not care what’s on under your clothes and get in bed with me.” He smiles. I felt my eyes widen in surprise as my body froze in its place. Jody slid out of bed and walked to me, hands on my hips, looking intently into my eyes.
“You got something on under here you don’t want me to see?” He asks, cocking his head to one side in question. I could feel the blush under my skin heating my cheeks and my ears. How could he possibly know that? Did Asher tell him? I could see him blurting it out to embarrass me.
“It’s not what you think it is,” I tell him, feebly.
“How do you know what I think it is?” Jody smirks and then smiles. He’s teasing me and I’m not sure how to feel about it. Is he being serious or does he want to see so he can laugh about it.
“I don’t try to be a girl or anything?” I admit, blushing feverishly. The teasing fell from his features and his brow furrowed heavily.
“That’s not at all what I thought and had I known you were embarrassed of it; I would’ve never made light of it.” He says, seriousness in tone. “You don’t have to do anything you aren’t comfortable with, Cameron but I would be a terrible liar if I told you that wanting to see what you had on under there wasn’t all I’ve thought about since you mentioned it at your apartment.” He said. I don’t remember mentioning it ever, but he didn’t stop. “Now, in saying that, I’ll say again that I know that this is a shit time for you and if you just want a friend, I can be that. I want to be that. But if there is any chance that you think you could get over that piece of shit and see what happens here. I’d be lying again if I said I didn’t really want that.” He scoffed at himself. I took a step back without realizing it but I had to be clear about this.
“What do you mean if I could get over him?” I asked. “I’ve been over him! I wasn’t with him because I loved him or because there were more good times than bad. I was with him because he wouldn’t let me go. It was easier to stay and take a smack to the mouth sometimes than to be harassed and tormented, looking over my shoulder all the time and manipulated and lied to. I don’t want to be with him, Jody! I don’t, I haven’t in a long time!” I was bordering on hysterical, but how could I make him see that.
“Okay, hey, hey, okay. I didn’t know.” He says, reaching out for my hands and pulling me closer, slowly.
“I’ve had a crush on you for a really long time. Like….a really long time.” I admit, stupidly. He stops in surprise but I see the smile.
“You have?” He says, teasingly; pulling me forward again until he’s sitting on the side of the bed and I’m standing between his legs.
“Don’t tease, I’m freaking out a little bit here,” I tell him honestly.
“Why?” He asks. I go for honesty.
“My parents kicked me out of the house when I was 15 because my dad knew I liked lipstick and he found in my underwear drawer three pairs of panties.” Jody kept his hands on my hips, squeezing them a little roughly as he listened to my explanation, quietly. “He always got onto me about being too feminine, but this kind of cemented things for him. He told me I was sick in the head and that it wasn’t normal and tried to force me to go to conversion camp. As if all guys who liked soft, pink things were automatically gay. There are straight guys who wear panties; I’ve met a couple.” I explain. “I got rid of them when I got kicked out, was homeless for a while, living in a youth center for LGBT runaways. I denied that part of myself for a long time, years…” I tell him. “When I got my own place and had the privacy of my own room in my own house, I bought more. All different kinds, lacey ones, silk ones, boy shorts, briefs, thongs. I had any and all that I saw and loved. I could wear them in secret, nobody would have to know. I wasn’t hurting anyone; it wasn’t wrong or nasty.” I tell him.
“No, it isn’t. Not at all.” Jody says fiercely.
“Then I met Asher and at first, he really liked it. It was taboo he said; kinky. But then he found out that I wore them all the time and not just when we were messing around and he started talking to me like my dad did. Asking me if being a girl meant that much to me. Wondering why I didn’t just come out as trans and stick to my own stereotype? It made me a freak, he’s not the first to tell me that, he won’t be the last.” I wipe the stray tear that stubbornly didn’t stay back.
“I’m not trans, I don’t’ want to be a girl or feel like I’m a girl trapped in the wrong body. I just like the way the feel. I like the way they make my body look. I just like them” I shrug. “I wear make-up because I constantly have tiny bruises here and there to cover up. I always liked lip gloss, sure. I have big lips, I like to shine them and make them pretty. I even like to line my eyes with eyeliner sometimes, but not because it’s girly but because I like the way it makes my eyes look. I’m not a type or a trend or a stereotype. I’m just me. I don’t know how else to explain that.”
“Sounds like you did alright to me,” Jody says, softly; deflating my defense. “Will you show me?” He asks so sweetly. Could I? What I had on under my clothes wasn’t the sexiest or the “most girly” things I owned. Could I show him?
“If you aren’t comfortable with it, that’s fine. I won’t push. I’ll also say that this is a first for me. Still, I told you before that I’m tired of trying to stay away from you so I’m not going to do it anymore. I like you Cameron, a lot and for many reasons. One of which is because you’re not afraid to be who you are; you wear your make-up, for whatever your reason is and you do it with confidence. It’s sexy, baby. I like that you are who you are and fuck everyone else. Don’t stop being that way now.” He leans forward and kisses my belly, over my shirt. I’m still standing ridiculously close to him, between his legs. He’s looking up at me, begging me with his eyes to trust him and I do. I really do.
I grab the hem of my shirt and pull it up over my head. The cami that I’m wearing matches my shorts but it stops at mid waist. Jody inhales sharply as he uses his thumb to trace my exposed navel. I can feel the chill bumps break out along my stomach. His hand feels hot on my suddenly overheated skin. I drop my shirt on the floor beside me lift my hands to the buttons of my pants. I can feel Jody’s eyes on my hands, watching me silently as his breath falls heavy on my skin. I unzip my jeans and let them slide down my legs, exposing my dirty little secret. I should be embarrassed, I always have been; but when Jody slides his hands down over my ass and squeezes as he pulls me closer, I can hear the groan he didn’t even try to hide.
He stands up quickly and pulls me with him. I didn’t have time to protest before his mouth slammed down on mine. I wrapped my arms behind his neck and kissed him back for all I was worth. It tasted exciting, I felt liberated in some way. I wasn’t embarrassed, I wasn’t ashamed and judging by the steel rod poking me in the thigh, I had no reason to me.
“Fuck, that’s sexy.” Jody groaned, licking and nipping at my mouth. With one arm behind my back, gripping me to his big, hard body, his other hand dove into my hair so he could control this otherwise out of control kiss. Jody turned and laid me on his bed, following me and covering me with his own. His body was huge and impressive. Hot and rough. He had a smattering of hair but not enough to see it unless you were up close. I could feel it across my body. I wanted to scream from the pleasure of it.
“I might be really bad at this,” Jody confessed, sucking at the skin of my neck.
“Sex?” I asked, breathing heavily; finding that hard to believe. He chuckled against my skin, the sound, dark and sinister. My body quaked at the sound.
“No, the rest of it.” He said, biting gently on my colla
r bone. My body jerking and grinding into the hardness of his body.
“The rest of sex? Because that’s what I’m hoping is going to happen, here.” I teased but Jody stopped.
“Cameron, this isn’t just sex. Not for me, not with you.” He said sincerely. My body froze, really hearing what he was saying. Could I hope? Really? Could I hope that fantasy could become reality and I could have….something….with Jody Mars?
“What is it, then?” I asked just as seriously.
“Whatever we want it to be.” He shrugged, causing his back muscles to flex and roll. My hands appreciated that.
“What do you want it to be?” I asked him, point blank.
“I just want you. Whatever else, I don’t really care about.” He says, causing me to smile. Not the most romantic, but everything I wanted to hear. Jody Mars telling me he wanted me; wanted me for more than just sex. I’d take it.
“Have me, then.” I offered, pressing my still hard length into him. He groaned into my neck and he dropped his head there and tried to breathe.
“Please, Jody.” I wasn’t above begging. I thought my skin would split open if he didn’t keep going.
“Okay, wait. First, I should probably tell you that I’m a top. I only top and I know that’s selfish because anyone who gives should also be willing to take and I’ll even admit that I’ve never tried it but it’s just not something that interests me and I’m almost sorry about that, right now especially but I need to know if that’s going to be a problem for you?” He blurts out in one big breath, holding himself perfectly still as he searches my face for any indication that what he just said might be a turn-off.
“For the sake of not wanting to bring him up, I’ll just say that my ex, was a power bottom and in the beginning that was alright because I was strictly a bottom and it was fun to play around… but now I realize that I was strictly a bottom because I really just enjoy bottoming so that, is absolutely fine by me.” I admitted the 100% truth. Asher never gave up control, not ever. He prepped himself, he set the pace and he controlled things from beginning to end. Still, we were both bottoms and while I wouldn’t be crazy and say that I hated topping, because….nobody should ever hate topping, it’s like cold pizza; it may not be my preference but it was still pizza. There is no bad pizza.. (unless you put pineapple on it but that’s another analogy we won’t get into right now)