by KD Ellis
Ian groaned at the thought of Teddy being over often—Teddy naked in the shower, Teddy sleeping in the room right beside him. It was both a blessing and a curse. He pressed the heel of his hand against his rapidly hardening dick, but the pressure didn’t help. He closed his eyes and sucked in a breath, holding it as he counted. Baseball. Abuela’s house at Christmas. Pimples…
Nothing he was thinking of was making the swelling of his dick any less noticeable. He gave up and returned to his bedroom to pull on a pair of jeans instead, hoping they would hide his erection better than running shorts, then headed downstairs, the sound of water thrumming into the tub a melody with his steps.
Mama was in the kitchen, sliding a stack of silver dollar pancakes out of her cast-iron frying pan and onto an already-heaping serving plate. Beside it, a small mountain of eggs topped with cheese waited to be carried to the table.
“Can I help, Mama?” Ian asked, eyeing the spread.
She waved her spatula at him. “No, mijo, it’s nearly done.”
Propping a hip against the counter, he crossed his arms and watched her dig out a glass bottle of syrup from the fridge. “I didn’t know Teddy was staying over.”
Mama sighed, dropping her hands to the countertop and bowing slightly. “Poor boy. Showed up last night with a duffel bag and all the fear in the world on his face.” So not a sleepover, then, Ian realized, a frown growing on his lips. He scratched the steadily growing stubble on his chin. Before he could say anything, his mama continued to speak. “I want him to take the guest room, but he’s a stubborn kid. Never has been good at asking for help.”
“I know,” Ian agreed. “Remember a few years ago? After their power was shut off and we didn’t know anything about it for weeks?”
“Si. Poor thing had been showering in the hose out back. I still remember the expression on his face.” Mama tutted, shaking her head.
“I’ll ask him after breakfast.” Ian resolved to get Teddy to agree, one way or another, even if it would mean several more uncomfortable erections to hide. Something told him he’d be taking a lot of cold showers.
Mama swatted him with the dish towel. “Mijo, are you even listening? I said go get the boys. Breakfast is ready. And tell that brother of yours to get his butt in a seat or I’ll hide his phone.”
“Got it.” Ian started for the stairs. The bathroom door opened just as he passed and Teddy, clearly planning on sprinting across the hall before he got caught, slammed right into Ian’s chest. Instinctively, Ian grabbed him, keeping him upright by snapping his arms around the younger man. Only when his hands met hot, naked flesh did he realize that Teddy was wearing only a towel—and a small one at that.
“Well, good morning to you too,” Ian teased, grinning down at Teddy, whose face was fire engine red, his eyes wide.
“I…I forgot to bring cl-clothes,” Teddy stuttered, skin somehow growing even redder, though Ian hadn’t thought it was possible.
Reluctantly, now that Teddy was stable on his feet, Ian let him go. Teddy clutched at the towel wrapped around his midsection. It hung barely to the top of his thighs. “Don’t worry. Nobody’s complaining.” Ian winked but forced himself to turn his back, to give Teddy the privacy he knew the younger man wanted. He started for his brother’s room, pausing just to call over his shoulder, “Mama says breakfast is ready.”
Teddy cursed himself for his forgetfulness as he gripped the towel tight and darted into the guest room, slamming the door behind him. He was used to his own home, with his own bathroom where he didn’t have to worry about embarrassing himself. He hadn’t even realized that his sleep-deprived brain hadn’t grabbed clothing when he’d stumbled from bed until he’d climbed out of the shower to a bare counter. With growing horror, he’d lingered in the steamy bathroom for several minutes, debating on taking his chances in a sprint across the hallway or waiting it out and hoping someone would walk by and he could admit to the situation.
In the end, he’d chosen to risk the sprint, and now look what had happened. Ian, the one man Teddy didn’t want to see him like this, in this body that he hated so much, was the one to catch him.
Because…fuck his life.
At least when he’d looked up, he’d not seen the expected disgust in Ian’s eyes. Just humor, and beneath it, he didn’t think he was imagining the appreciation. Teddy leaned against his door and took a few deep breaths, calming his still-pounding heart. He refused to go down to breakfast like this.
He was grateful that he’d taken a few minutes to calm down, because once he got downstairs, he ended up squished between Lucas and Ian at the breakfast table, close enough that his thigh brushed against Ian’s every time he shifted.
Mama Romero bustled in and out of the kitchen, carrying platters of food. Teddy offered to help but she waved him back to his seat. “You’re a guest, mijo. Sit down. Relax.” She’d gone to pat his cheek, but her hand hesitated over the reddened skin. Instead, she’d dropped her hand to his shoulder and squeezed instead.
He felt guilty watching her work, but apparently, this was standard in the Romero house. Ian leaned over when his mother returned to the kitchen after dropping off a heaping bowl of fluffy, cheese-coated scrambled eggs. “Don’t worry. She loves serving breakfast.”
Lucas snorted on Teddy’s other side. “What he really means is that she’s bat-shit crazy and needs everything on the table to be put in the right spot.”
“Lucas!” Four throats chorused together—one amused, three scandalized. Only Mama Romero seemed to find the comment funny. She’d slipped unnoticed from the kitchen door behind Lucas just in time to hear him. She pinched Lucas’ cheek between her fingers and squeezed.
“What would I do without my brat to keep me on my toes?”
“Wither away,” Lucas said dryly, rolling his eyes and rubbing his cheek, like he could scrub away the affectionate gesture. Still, his cheeks turned pink in a flush that made Teddy suspect he rather enjoyed the attention.
Ian leaned across Teddy, their sides pressing flush to each other, to squeeze Lucas’ other cheek. “Wittle Mama’s boy.”
Lucas swatted Ian’s hand away with a groan. “Shut up.”
“Aw. Did I hurt little Lou-Lou’s feelings?” Ian teased, tugging on one of Lucas’ curls. Noa giggled across the table.
Mama Romero swatted the back of Ian’s head. “Don’t tease your brother or I’ll tell Teddy all about your doll collection.”
“Action figures!” Ian immediately corrected, voice lifting a decibel in embarrassment.
Teddy snickered at the red that painted Ian’s cheek and couldn’t resist teasing him. “Can I play with your dolls, Ian?”
“They were action figures. Collectible ones,” Ian mumbled.
“Did they wear pretty dresses?” Teddy asked playfully.
“No,” Ian said immediately, just as Lucas rebutted with, “Some of them did. Like Princess Leia. You loooved dressing her up in Noa’s Barbie clothes.”
“I know where you sleep.” Ian leaned around Teddy again to threaten his brother. Teddy’s breath caught in his chest when Ian’s arm draped along the back of his chair, his thumb skimming across the back of Teddy’s neck.
“I should hope so. It’s the room right next to yours. I know you’re bad at directions, but I didn’t think you’d get lost that easy.” Lucas gave a devilish grin and turned back to Teddy. “Did I tell you about that time he was seventeen and—”
Ian cut off whatever story Lucas was going to tell by quickly straightening then reaching around Teddy to drag his brother out of the seat. The pair wrestled on the floor behind them. Ian pinned Lucas almost immediately before giving him a noogie while Teddy stared at the strip of toned skin revealed as Ian’s tank top crept up.
“Boys!” Mama Romero scolded the pair, shaking her head. Her lips twitched in a grin. “Teddy is going to think I raised a pair of monkeys. Come on. Breakfast is getting cold.”
Ian kept Lucas pinned a moment longer but lifted his head in time to catch T
eddy staring. His playful grin turned sinful as his eyes caught Teddy’s. Now it was Teddy’s turn to blush.
Ian stretched, his shirt creeping up his abdomen to reveal the deep V cut into his hips and the happy trail that teased down into the waistband of his pants. Lucas scrambled free of Ian, but they both ignored him.
“So, Teddy,” Ian said as he climbed back into his seat beside him, “what are your plans for the day?”
Teddy wet his lips, clearing his throat before replying. “Umm, probably apartment hunting?” It was a question, though he didn’t mean it to be. “Why?”
Ian glanced at his mother before answering. “I’m sure Mama won’t mind if you stay in the guest room for a while. We don’t use it anyway. Right, Mama?”
“Of course, dear. I’d love for you to stay.” Mama Romero answered immediately. Teddy wondered if the pair had already discussed it. He pushed his eggs around his plate for a moment, deep in thought.
Not having to rent somewhere would help him save him money, money he couldn’t afford to be wasting. But he couldn’t help but think it was charity. “I…don’t want to impose…”
“Oh, nonsense. Stay, dear. I’d hardly call you an imposition.” Mama Romero clucked over him for a second. “Besides, you’re too skinny. I’d like to fatten you up a bit. Really, you’d be doing me a favor. Set my mind at ease.”
Teddy glanced, not at Lucas, who he really should have been worried about, but at Ian. Ian just smiled reassuringly.
“I…I guess, if you’re sure I wouldn’t be in the way…”
“It’s settled then.” Mama Romero nodded and turned to Noa, starting a conversation about some talent show the younger girl was involved in, discussion dropped.
“So, now that your afternoon has freed up, you should come hang out with me. There’s a street festival on Sixth Street. It could be fun,” Ian suggested.
“Could be fun,” Teddy echoed, his heart thumping at the thought of spending time with Ian.
Ian smirked. Teddy’s skin flushed and he swallowed, wondering how easy it was to read the infatuation on his face. From Lucas’ playful gagging beside him, he suspected it was far too obvious.
* * * *
They took Sally, Ian’s truck. It was a beat-up red Chevy with a dent on the off-color passenger door. Unlike the piece of crap Teddy’s mom drove, each ding and scratch told a story, and Teddy knew Ian kept the engine in tip-top shape. But as much as he’d seen Ian work on her, he’d never ridden in Sally before. The leather seats were worn but clean, the dash layered in scratches but not dust. Teddy tucked his hands under his thighs to avoid running his fingers over the freshly polished chrome gear-shaft, which was clearly not factory installed.
Ian swung into the driver’s seat, the muscles of his forearm flexing. While Teddy had changed into a pair of dark-wash jeans and an only slightly tighter-than-normal sweater, Ian now wore a pale button-down with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, leaving plenty of forearm for Teddy to ogle.
And don’t get me started on Ian’s fingers. Teddy barely held back his moan when he watched Ian spin the key in the ignition then curl them around the leather of the steering wheel. Heat pooled between Teddy’s thighs and he struggled not to squirm as they drove, traffic growing heavier the closer they got to the festival. If Ian noticed, he was kind enough not to comment.
Teddy had never been so grateful to find a parking spot. It was too hot in the cab of the truck, the air sparking with electricity. He almost stumbled as he scrambled down onto the asphalt.
Ian jumped down and rounded the front of the truck with a grin. “Excited?”
Teddy was, but not for the reasons Ian thought. He was looking forward to spending the day with him, to seeing what got Ian excited. He supposed the festival would be fun too, though, so he nodded. “Yeah, can we go now?”
Ian, rather than getting upset about his impatience, just laughed. “Sure. From what I’ve heard, we’ve got a few options, so pick your poison. There’s a bunch of displays from local artists or a few music stages. Or, if you want, we can start with the vendors.”
“Do I have to pick?” Teddy asked, wavering. What if he picked the wrong one, and Ian decided not to hang out with him anymore? What if he picked one Ian didn’t like?
“Not if you don’t want to. We can just wander around and see what strikes us in the moment,” Ian held out his hand. Teddy took it immediately, before Ian could change his mind.
They started walking and Teddy was almost immediately overwhelmed. He’d lived in Austin his whole life and had somehow missed this the whole time. He didn’t know where to look first. There was a line of white-top tents on either side of the road, brightly colored canvases, glass-beaded jewelry and found-art sculptures spilling out from beneath them, and everywhere, people crowded together so tightly they jostled him, until Ian tugged him closer to his side, protecting him under the shield of his arm.
“See anything you like?” Ian murmured over the ambient laughter that surrounded them after they’d walked past several tents and ooh’d over the contents.
“There’s too much to look at,” Teddy whined, stopping abruptly to watch a rainbow-colored clown blowing up balloon animals for a small crowd of children at his feet.
“Do you want one?” Ian asked, following his gaze.
Teddy pouted but shook his head. “No. It’ll pop.” Immediately, he realized that he was giving away too much. His first protest was that it wouldn’t last, not that it was for children. He flushed and peeked up at Ian, who looked down on him with a warm smile. He relaxed when he realized Ian wasn’t going to mock him, or worse, look at him with disgust. He knew there was nothing wrong with what he liked, nothing shameful, but that didn’t stop him from being afraid of being rejected for it.
“How about I try to win you one of those, instead?” Ian pointed over his shoulder and Teddy spun to look, eyes widening when they landed on the booth.
The top of the tent was striped red and white, and from it dangled dozens of stuffed animals, ranging from small ones the size of his finger to ones nearly as tall as him. Immediately, Teddy locked on to the teddy bear. It was pale brown with a blue ribbon, and its fur looked so soft. Teddy’s fingers itched to stroke it, so, instead, he chewed on his thumbnail.
Ian tugged Teddy’s thumb away from his mouth and said, “Come on. I bet I can win on the first try.”
“Everyone knows these games are rigged,” Teddy protested as Ian dragged him over to the booth, standing at the chest-high bar. Across from them was a table topped with glass bottles.
The man under the tent was tall, taller still because of the two-foot stilts he stood on. They brought his head nearly to the top of the tent, and his suit was a garish red-and-black striped thing that made Teddy cringe, but his smile was genuine. “Afternoon, folks. Wanna play some ring toss?”
Ian glanced up at the sign advertising three rings for five dollars. He threw a ten down on the bar. “Yep. I wanna win my boy here a teddy bear.”
If Teddy’s skin got any hotter, he was going to be on fire. He buried his face in Ian’s side and groaned. He felt, more than heard, Ian’s laugh.
“Six rings, six tries!” Teddy peeked out to see the carnie lay six red rings, about the size of bracelets, across the counter. He peered at the bottle rims, then back at the rings. They looked like they would fit.
“How many do I have to get to win the big one?” Ian nodded toward the bear that had caught Teddy’s eyes. His heart fluttered when he realized just how close attention Ian was paying for him to notice.
“Six on the blue bottles, four on the green or one on the red,” the carnie explained. Now that Teddy looked closer, he realized all the bottles were different sizes. The blue were the biggest, with the smallest mouths, the green were somewhere in the middle, and the red, of which there were fewest, were the smallest, with rims barely smaller than the rings.
Ian examined them critically as well before dislodging his arm from around Teddy’s shoulder to pick up the
first ring. Ian weighed it in his hand then cocked back his wrist, letting it fly.
It missed.
So did the next three.
Teddy giggled as Ian glared at the last two rings in his hands like they’d betrayed him. “That’s okay, I just need two.”
Unfortunately, he ringed one around the blue bottle near the edge, but the other circled the red rim for several long seconds before slipping off to the side.
Ian tossed another bill on the counter. “Just needed some practice. That’s all,” He said, winking at Teddy before picking up his next set of rings.
He ringed three greens and a blue, enough to win him a smaller prize if he wanted, but he shook his head resolutely, even after Teddy protested that the little elephant was more than cute enough. “Nope. I’m winning you the bear—unless you doubt me. Are you doubting me?” Ian glared playfully at him.
Teddy pursed his lips and tapped his chin like he was thinking. “Well…” He drew out the word for a few seconds, then laughed when Ian clutched his chest like his words had physically hurt.
“Just for that, I’m keeping the bear if I win it.” Ian stuck out his tongue but threw another bill down.
Twenty dollars later, they walked away from the booth, both laughing, with the giant teddy bear riding on Ian’s shoulders.
“I feel like I’ve got the wrong Teddy Bear on my shoulders,” Ian said after they’d walked for a few minutes.
Teddy laughed but scrambled back several steps. “Uh-uh. Nope. I am not riding around on your shoulders.”
“Why not? Afraid I’ll drop you?” Ian asked, stalking after him, heat in his gaze.
Teddy wasn’t afraid Ian would drop him, not at all. He was afraid that having Ian’s head between his thighs would stir up thoughts of a different sort. So he lied and nodded, “You’ve dropped Mr. Blue twice already.”