Clean Slate

by Isla Olsen

I can admit without a shadow of doubt the sex was never this good back in high school. We were teenagers for fuck’s sake, of course it wasn’t. But this sizzling electricity, the intensity of what we share between us—that’s nothing new. It’s something that, as much as I’ve tried to deny it over the years, I’ve only ever had with Slater. And I’m pretty sure I only ever will.

  I dash the thought from my mind and claim his lips again, unable to stop myself from biting down as he thrusts up hard inside me. I swallow his groan and cling to him even tighter as I feel the fire building inside me, on the verge of exploding into an inferno.

  “Jesus…Slate, I’m so close…”

  He reaches between us and wraps his large hand around my dick, stroking in firm, fast movements until I completely lose control, digging my teeth into his neck as I come in a shuddering wave.

  He gives me a brief moment of recovery before lifting me off his cock and tossing me back down on the bed. Then he shuffles across the mattress and swings one leg over my body so he’s straddling my chest. I watch, mesmerized, as Slater pumps his hard cock, his entire body straining with the desperate need to come. I open my mouth wide in anticipation, and a few moments later he lets out a harsh groan as ribbons of cum shoot from his cock to paint my face. I slide my tongue out around my mouth, lapping up as much as I can reach, before reaching up to tug Slater to me for a messy kiss. He comes willingly, not caring that he’s getting a face-full of his own cum.

  * * *

  Later, after we’ve showered and gotten each other off again, I’m lying wrapped up in Slater’s arms, thoroughly sated, when a thought occurs to me. “So…earlier when you said you’ve been wanting to have sex up here—you just meant with me, right?”

  He’s quiet for a moment before murmuring, “What do you mean?”

  I shift around so I can face him. “Well, you must have had other guys up here, right?” I honestly have no idea why I’m asking considering the thought makes me want to throw up, but for some reason I just need to know.

  Slater arches a brow in question. “What makes you say that?”

  I shrug and lift a hand to motion vaguely in the direction of the little cupboard next to the bed. “You keep supplies here...”

  The corner of Slater’s mouth quirks up. “You don’t use lube when you’re jerking off?”

  Well, that’s a pretty logical and obvious explanation. Although, there’s a simple reason it didn’t occur to me right away. “I jerk off in the shower,” I admit.

  That prompts Slater to spring up so he’s half hovering over me, his expression one of clear surprise. “Still?”

  “What do you mean still?” I ask irritably.

  He rolls his eyes. “You were jerking off in the shower back in high school. I figured you’d have moved on by now.”

  “What’s wrong with the shower?” I demand. “It’s perfect. You’re already naked. There’s no mess…”

  “It’s a waste of water,” he chides.

  I cringe. He has a point. Drought isn’t something I’ve had to worry about over the past twelve years, but I really should be more sensitive to what the people here have been dealing with.

  I offer a contrite smile, lifting a hand up to stroke his cheek. “If it’s any consolation, since I’ve been back here you’ve kept me so satisfied I haven’t really needed to jerk off.”

  Slater grins and drops a soft kiss to my lips. “It is.”

  He settles back on the bed next to me, wrapping his arms around me once again. “And for the record,” he says, his eyes full of sincerity as they stare deep into mine, “I’ve never brought other guys back here. You’re actually the first person to see this place since it’s been finished. Apart from Rock, but he doesn’t really count.”

  I tilt my forehead to rest against his, drawing in a deep breath and savoring the earthy scent of him. Even now, after sex and a shower he still somehow smells like wood shavings and varnish. It’s the scent of my past, and maybe, possibly, my future…

  There’s nothing left for me in Chicago anymore. But here…there could be something here.

  17

  From the private Facebook group ‘Finchley Locals Community Hangout’

  * * *

  Post by Charlotte Rowe: I’m very excited that Lawson Hale has decided to make Finchley his home while he writes his next book series! How exciting to have a famous author living amongst us!

  Hank Latham reply to Charlotte Rowe’s post: He can’t be that famous. I’ve never heard of him

  Missy Clarke reply to Charlotte Rowe’s post: We already have an author in town. Bill wrote that book about stick insects, remember?

  Charlotte Rowe reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: Yes but Lawson’s sold more than four copies of his books

  Beth Bowry reply to Charlotte Rowe’s post: What kind of books does he write?

  Charlotte Rowe reply to Beth Bowry’s comment: Romance

  Alice Ackerman reply to Charlotte Rowe’s comment: Are there naughty bits?

  George Goode reply to Alice Ackerman’s comment: There sure are Mrs. A. And Lawson’s agreed to do a reading at the next Drinking and Knitting and Book Club meeting.

  Alice Ackerman reply to George Goode’s comment: Oh! Maybe Lawson and I could each take a role and act it out together?

  George Goode reply to Alice Ackerman’s comment: Umm…that would definitely be…interesting *thinking emoji*

  Gloria Cartwright reply to Alice Ackerman: They’re gay books Alice. The sex scenes are between two men

  Jesse Cartwright reply to Gloria Cartwright: Sometimes three *wink emoji*

  Slater

  * * *

  When I wake up with Zack sprawled across my chest, I’m a little disoriented by how bright it is in the room; my bedroom barely gets any natural light thanks to the large tree just outside my window. But then I realize we’re at the barn, and that the light is streaming through the circular plantation shutters on the loft window, which I of course forgot to shut last night. But I’m not sure I can really be held accountable for that lapse considering I was a little distracted with…other things.

  It’s still pretty early, so I want to let Zack sleep, but if the sun creeps over any farther there’s no chance of that happening. Moving carefully, I begin to slide out from underneath his hold so I can get up to close the shutters.

  “Where are you going?” he grumbles, clutching tighter to my chest as though in protest.

  Well, so much for that plan…

  “I just need to close the shutters.”

  He shakes his head, his eyes still firmly shut. “Nope. You stay here. Cuddles.”

  I let out a soft breath of laughter and sink back onto the mattress, wrapping my arms tighter around him and pulling him as close as we can get.

  “I love waking up next to you,” he murmurs, prompting my heart to burst with a fiery glow. “I probably shouldn’t, but I really, really do.”

  “Me too.” Remembering Nanna’s words from yesterday, I lift my hand to run through Zack’s dark, silky hair as I finally find the courage to admit, “I love everything about you.”

  His eyes flutter open and, although he doesn’t say it, I can see the same emotion reflected back at me. And that’s enough for now.

  “I’m supposed to be going home today,” he murmurs, the words like a bucket of ice dousing my good mood. I’d completely forgotten it’s Thursday today. “But I think I’m going to cancel my flight.”

  My eyes snap to Zack’s, hardly daring to believe what he’s saying. “What?”

  He offers the softest of smiles. “I want to stay here. At least for a little while—a few weeks, maybe. I want to give us time to figure out what we want.”

  I arch an eyebrow at him. “I already know what I want.”

  “Okay, fine,” he says, his eyes rolling toward the ceiling. “I need time to figure out what I want.”

  Well, it’s not exactly what I wanted to hear, but at least he’s not leaving. Yet. It feels more like a stay of execut
ion than anything else if I’m being honest.

  Despite my attempts to keep my thoughts in check, some of my disappointment must be showing on my face, because Zack reaches a hand up to cup my cheek, his gaze full of affection as he says, “I know I want you. I’m not remotely uncertain about that. It’s just…it’s been so long for us. And so much has happened this week…” he glances away for a moment, letting out a weighted breath. “I just need some time to figure my head out.”

  I nod. “I get it. Take whatever time you need—I’m not going anywhere.”

  He grins and tilts his head to cover my mouth with his; it’s a soft, slow kiss, full of promises and possibility.

  When we break apart, I grab Zack around the waist and flip him onto his back before flinging my leg over his body so I’m straddling his waist. “I have a question…”

  Zack arches an expectant brow. “Yeah?”

  “If you’re not flying out this afternoon, does that mean we can stay in bed all day?”

  “Don’t you have to work? It’s Thursday.”

  I grin. “Web can cover for me. He owes me from the time he got stuck down in Mexico for three days.”

  Zack’s brows shoot up. “That sounds like an interesting tale.

  “It is. But I’ll save it for when we’re not naked in bed together and all I can think about is sucking your cock.”

  “That’s, um, totally…uh, okay…” Zack mumbles as I make my way down his beautiful body. The mumbling turns into a string of hissed curses as I swirl my tongue around his dick, and I can’t help the soft chuckle that escapes me. My heart burns with the perfect familiarity of it all.

  It’s been a week since Zack decided to extend his stay in Finchley, and so far things are going well. That is to say, so far we’ve barely been apart from each other, except for when I’m at work. Even last weekend when I was doing some work on the house, Zack came with me and set himself up with his laptop in the loft so he could do some stuff for Lawson. I’m not sure how productive either of us was with all the ‘personal breaks’ we were taking, but it was nice to have him there.

  And you know what’s even nicer? Last night my sister Everley was talking about what she’d like to do for her birthday and Zack said he’d definitely be there. Everley’s birthday is still over a month away! Throw in the fact that Zack’s barely even mentioned Chicago in the past week and I’m thinking things are looking pretty good for Operation Get Zack to Choose Finchley.

  It’s early Friday morning and I’m pulling on my work pants while I watch mournfully as Zack stretches out like a lazy cat across my bed. So unfair that my job requires me to be up early. I’d love nothing more than to stay in bed with him for a few more hours.

  “Hey, babe, can you pass me my phone?” he says through a yawn, motioning sleepily to the top of the dresser where he must have set his phone to charge last night.

  For the record, Zack hasn’t actually moved in with me, but he’s spent so much time here over the past week it does kind of feel like he’s living here sometimes. And I’m not going to complain about that.

  I stride over to the dresser and unplug his phone, tossing it over to him before opening the top drawer and pulling out one of the new t-shirts Web and I had made with our company logo on it.

  “Oh my god!”

  I spin around, quickly tugging the t-shirt down over my head to see Zack’s expression is one of stunned surprise as he stares at his phone.

  “What is it?”

  “I got a job,” he says, his voice sounding a little distant.

  I pause for a moment, my heart thundering in my chest as I register the implications of this announcement. Before I can do or say anything completely stupid, though, I manage to kick back into supportive boyfriend mode and paste a bright smile on my face. “That’s awesome!” I stride over to the bed and wrap him in my arms, planting a kiss to his forehead. “So happy for you, baby.”

  I know there must be a catch because he starts rambling like a crazy person, a sure sign that he’s nervous. “I can’t believe it. I applied for this position months ago but they passed me over. Now apparently they’ve decided they want me. They want me to start Monday. That’s only three days from now! You’d think they’d give a guy more notice, right? I mean, what, am I just expected to say how high as soon as they ask me to jump?”

  I draw in a harsh breath at the word ‘Monday’. That’s way too soon. “That’s…wow. They must really want you.”

  Zack nods absently. “It seems like it. And here I thought I’d been blackballed from every marketing firm in the city after what happened with Rick.”

  My teeth grind together at the mention of that asshole’s name. I definitely haven’t given up on my plans to track him down and inflict some bodily harm.

  “Slater, You okay?”

  “Huh? What?” I snap out of my thoughts of revenge to find Zack frowning at me in concern.

  “You had a weird look on your face…”

  I shake my head adamantly. “No, no, I’m fine.” Offering the brightest smile I can manage, I say, “This is great, Zack. You deserve this.”

  “You really think it’s great? I’d need to go back to Chicago…” he says a little warily.

  I sit on the bed next to him, wrapping my arm around him. The last thing I want is for him to leave, but he can’t make this decision about me. “I think you’ve worked really hard and now you’re being given a great opportunity. And it’s not like you’ll have a huge adjustment when you get to Chicago. You’ve got all your friends there, and contacts, and your apartment. You’re all set.”

  I feel him stiffen against me and I wonder what the hell I’ve said wrong. I was cool, wasn’t I? Or was he able to detect that hint of bitterness in my voice when I uttered the word ‘Chicago’? Despite having only ever been to the place once, and even then it was just to the university, I’ve never hated a city more—from their hockey team to their stupid deep dish pizza.

  I pull my arm away and get to my feet; frankly, holding him like this is starting to hurt. Figuratively, of course. It hurts knowing I only have a couple more days left with him, and I just need a second or I’ll end up breaking down and begging him to stay.

  Be cool, Slater. Just be supportive. “Okay, so… Monday,” I say with a clap of my hands and what must be history’s fakest smile on my face. “Better get you on a flight—what are you thinking, Sunday morning or afternoon?” Maintaining my casual facade, I sit at the end of the bed and start tugging on my work boots.

  “Actually, I think I should go tonight,” he says.

  My foot falls to the floor with a soft thud as I turn to stare at Zack, my mouth parted in surprise. “Tonight?”

  “Yeah. It’d be good to have the weekend to settle back in.”

  It’d be good to have the weekend to say a proper goodbye, but yeah, whatever.

  “Okay, yeah, makes sense,” I say with a stiff nod, just barely able to get the words out.

  He nods as well, tossing his phone aside and scrambling off the bed. He rummages through the clothing on the floor, quickly tugging on briefs and jeans. “Okay, I should probably get going,” he says once he has a t-shirt over his head.

  “Now?” My brows draw together. “It’s not even light out.” I want to tell him to wait, that I don’t need to go into work today, that I can spend the day with him if it’s going to be our last one together. But my brain’s feeling kind of foggy and my mouth can’t seem to form the words.

  And then it’s too late.

  Zack shrugs. “Yeah, but I’ve got a ton of packing to do and there are a lot of people I need to say goodbye to.” He walks over to the door, leaving me standing there in stunned silence. At the threshold of the door, he turns back and says, “This was fun, Slate. I’m really glad we worked out all that stuff from before.”

  He casts me a smile that chisels cracks into my heart before he disappears out the door leaving me utterly shaken.

  18

  From the private Facebook gro
up ‘Finchley Locals Community Hangout’

  * * *

  Post by Missy Clarke: Does any one have an update on whether Zack is staying or leaving? I can’t take much more of this anticipation!

  George Goode reply to Missy Clarke’s post: I know what you mean, I’m on the edge of my seat here!

  * * *

  Zack

  * * *

  “Okay, I need you to explain exactly what’s going on here because I don’t entirely understand,” Lawson says in a slow, measured voice as though he’s talking to an upset child. “A week ago you said you were giving it at least a month before deciding anything, but now you’re rushing back to Chicago?”

  “I told you—I got a job,” I say, pulling clothes from my dresser and placing them into the suitcase I have laid out on my bed.

  “But…I thought…”

  I whirl around to face him. “You thought what?”

  Lawson’s brows shoot up and I know I must look half-mad right now, but I can’t help it. I’m agitated, and confused, and a million other things I can’t figure out. “Well, I thought you were staying so you and Slater could have some time to figure things out?”

  “Yeah, well, so did I,” I cry, throwing my arms up. “But then I tell him about this job and he just can’t wait to get rid of me. He was like ‘that’s so awesome, and your whole life’s in Chicago, and you’ll slot right back in there, and I won’t miss you at all!’”

  Lawson arches a skeptical brow. “Those were his exact words?”

  I shrug and return to my packing. “I may be paraphrasing a little.”

  “Uh huh. Z, I think you’re reading way too much into this—it sounds like he was just trying to be supportive.”

  I pause in the motion of placing a pair of jeans in my case. Turning back to Lawson, I eye him curiously. “You think he was lying? That he really wants me to stay?”