“Say the words,” Cole murmured.
Ridley tipped his head back, his pink lips parted and chest heaving as his breath quickened. “Please,” he said quietly. “I want to suck your cock.”
Cole loosened his towel and let it drop, and Ridley eased back to grip him around the base of his cock and direct the tip to his lips. His tongue darted out, fluttering over the head, and Cole whimpered quietly with pleasure. Ridley paused long enough to raise a finger to his lips to indicate Cole needed to be quiet. Cole nodded, miming zipping his lips with a grin.
It wasn’t easy to remain quiet. Ridley took his time getting familiar with Cole’s cock, licking and kissing along his shaft, over his balls, under the ridge of his cockhead. Cole was desperate by the time Ridley finally took Cole into the wet heat of his mouth and sucked.
“Oh fuck,” Cole whispered, his hips pushing forward in the instinctive need for more.
Ridley grabbed his hips, restraining his movement, and sucked him deeper before pulling off. “Good?” he asked quietly.
“Very good,” Cole said. “You’re so good.”
Ridley smiled before lowering his head and taking Cole inside his mouth again. He bobbed his head, using his hands to assist, taking Cole deeper and deeper until Cole had to bite down on his fist to muffle his moans. Ridley might be rusty, but he made up for it with enthusiasm, his own throaty groans around Cole’s cock adding to the pleasure.
“Gonna come,” Cole gasped.
Ridley slid his mouth off Cole’s cock. Then, using his hand to stroke hard, he pointed Cole’s dick right at his face. Cole only had time for a surprised gasp before his orgasm hit hard, cum spraying Ridley’s face.
The first shot hit his cheek, right under his eye. The second his chin. A few final drops dotted his neck. Cole couldn’t remember the last time he came so hard.
“What the ... Fuck, that’s hot,” he said, reaching out to rub at a bit of cum with his thumb.
He had the urge to feed it to Ridley but resisted. Ridley would have swallowed if he’d wanted. It wouldn’t be safe anyway. He’d recently tested free of any disease, but Ridley had no way to know that.
“Gotta shower anyway,” Ridley said with an embarrassed smile. “I’ve made a mess of myself.”
Cole glanced down, seeing that Ridley meant more than his face. His jeans were open, and his right hand was covered in his own cum. Ridley had obviously gotten off while blowing him. Cole pushed down his disappointment. It was awesome Ridley was that into it, but he’d hoped to return the favor. He had no idea if or when the chance would come again. Ridley might never want this with him. He might remember Jace at any moment and tell Cole this was all a huge mistake.
Fuck, I should have asked if he was sure about this …
Ridley stood. “Go ahead and get in bed. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Well, okay then. At least Ridley wasn’t kicking him out. He sounded calm. Happy, even. Maybe Cole could talk him into a round two when he got back from the shower.
He slid between sheets smelling of Ridley and smiled into his pillow.
Cole woke up to quiet rustling sounds. Blinking his eyes, he slowly took in his surroundings. Not his bedroom. He stretched in the sheets and turned his head, catching sight of Ridley standing in front of his dresser. He wore scrub pants, and as Cole shifted in the bed, he turned, a top in his hand.
Cole had meant to wait for Ridley’s return from the shower and then pay him back in full, but a long night of dancing and orgasm had taken its toll, and he’d fallen asleep before Ridley returned.
“Hey, sorry to wake you,” Ridley said. “I have to work.”
Cole panicked, lurching upright. “What time is it?”
“It’s a quarter to six. I have an early shift.”
“Oh.” Cole blinked. “You should have told me you had such an early morning.”
“We were having fun, and I decided it’d be worth the suffering,” Ridley said.
It was admirable, really, the way they were dancing around the elephant in the room. No awkward talks about blow jobs here. No, sir. Cole’s morning wood throbbed with the memory of Ridley’s mouth on him. He really wanted a repeat, but he wasn’t sure if that was in the cards.
Only one way to find out.
Cole threw back the blankets and slid out of bed, still naked. Approaching Ridley, who’d frozen as he watched Cole cross the room toward him, he purred, “I like a man in uniform.”
Ridley snorted. “Scrubs are hardly a sexy uniform. Not like a cop or a firefighter.”
Cole stopped before him, lifting an eyebrow. “I think you make them look good.”
“Yeah?”
Cole put a hand on his bare chest. “Especially half dressed.”
Ridley’s gaze flicked down to Cole’s hand on him, and a shy smile spread on his face. “Thanks, I guess. And thanks for last night.”
“I should be thanking you,” Cole said. “Though I think there’s some practicing yet to be done.”
Ridley glanced at him uncertainly. “It wasn’t good?”
Cole grasped his face. “Oh, sweetie, it was divine.” He leaned in to peck a kiss to his lips. “I meant that you needed some practice receiving.”
He went down to his knees smoothly, having made the drop many times before. But never could he remember feeling so nervous as he did it.
Please, let me, he thought. Please don’t stop me.
Glancing up through his lashes, he licked his lips and smiled at the full-body shudder that went through Ridley. Taking it as permission, he grasped Ridley’s waistband and tugged down his scrubs and underwear.
“Cole, you don’t owe me— Jesus!”
Cole sucked Ridley down, straight into his throat. He swallowed around the tip of Ridley’s cock, then pulled back slowly, working magic with his tongue on the way up. He gave himself time to catch his breath, working his tongue over and around the top of Ridley’s dick before bobbing back down.
Ridley groaned and rocked his hips. He wasn’t forceful, just riding out the sensations as Cole sucked Ridley’s cock as if he’d be graded on it later. Not because he needed the practice, but because he desperately wanted Ridley to forget Jace and think only of him.
His eyes burned, then teared up, and he put it down to the cock in his throat. It was normal for his eyes to get a bit teary.
Ridley’s hands finally, finally landed in his hair. His fingers curled, tightening enough to hurt a little. “You’re amazing,” he breathed as Cole continued to suck him hard and fast. “You’re too much. Oh, God. Cole. Cole, fuck!”
He came in a burst of bitter flavor over Cole’s tongue.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Ridley muttered, trying to pull out. But it was far too late. Cole grabbed his waist and held him steady, swallowing around his dick one last time before releasing him.
“I didn’t mean to do that. I’m so sorry, but I don’t have anything, I swear. Ugh, but you shouldn’t take my word for it. I’ll get tested again.”
Cole rose to his feet, clasping Ridley’s face once more and looking into his eyes. “I’m not worried.”
“But—”
Cole shut him up with a kiss. Then repeated, “I’m not worried, but if it makes you feel better, get that test.”
Ridley nodded, looking dazed.
“I hope it’s okay I did that,” Cole said. “I know we’re not ... that this is just—”
“It’s okay,” Ridley said.
Cole summoned a smile. “Yeah? Good.”
Ridley let out a shaky breath. “Very good, but I really do have to get to the hospital.”
Cole backed away slowly, grinning. “My work here is done. You’re free to leave.”
Ridley chuckled as he finished dressing and grabbed his wallet from the dresser. Scrubs weren’t too flattering, he was right, but they still looked good. They gave him an air of professional sexiness. Or maybe everything would just look sexy on Ridley now.
“You can use the shower if you want,” Ridley
said. “Ronnie’s already gone, so just lock the door on your way out.”
Cole nodded, glad that Ridley was trusting him in his home alone. That he wasn’t rushing him out.
Ridley walked up to him, hesitating, before leaning in to kiss his lips gently. “You really are amazing,” he said before he took his leave.
Why had he said that? What did it mean? Was Cole amazing for sucking his brain through his dick? Amazing for giving him a sexual outlet that would relieve some anxiety about pursuing the man he loved? Or could Ridley care more than that? Cole wanted to be amazing for a lot of reasons, but chief among them, he wanted Ridley to think he was more amazing than Jace.
19
Cole watched Theo go into raptures over the headdress he’d begun crafting for Miss Cherry Topping’s first show. Theo was putting together a Mardi Gras-inspired costume for this performance, so Cole had worked to incorporate those elements in the headdress as well.
Cole used a metal headband as the base, wrapping it in red to blend with Miss Cherry’s wig color. He’d used craft wire and duct tape to add on to the headband, adding more support for the weight of the headdress and ensuring it wouldn’t fall off so Miss Cherry could move around freely during her show. He’d wrapped that in the same fabric, which would also add some much-needed comfort.
He’d only gotten started on the actual design of the headdress. He had an array of peacock feathers piled on his coffee table, as well as some purple and yellow accent feathers for another burst of color. He’d dug through his vast supply of sparkly gems — he’d gotten in the habit of picking up anything and everything he could use for crafting when he saw sales — and picked out some blue and purple stones he could glue along the front of the base of the headdress. They’d help hide where the feathers connected and add some nice bling.
“This is going to be so amazing!” Theo glanced at the wall, where Cole had one of his favorite headdresses hanging. “Miss Cherry wants allll the pretties.”
Theo had switched to his drag voice halfway through the statement and shifted to cock one hip, subconsciously adopting his performance alter ego.
Cole chuckled. “Don’t be greedy.”
Theo, or Miss Cherry Topping, made grabby hands and pretended to wipe away drool before he straightened and sighed, back to his usual demeanor. “I wish I could do something like this myself. I couldn’t even alter my own dress. I had to pay a seamstress.”
“You’re just a drag baby. You’ll get there.”
Theo smiled, the spark back in his eye. “Maybe you could give me some tips?”
“Maybe,” Cole said, thinking his dance card was getting pretty full. First, a fashion consultant to Ridley, now a costuming tutor for Theo?
“Oh, please! People say you’re not a real drag queen unless you can make your own costumes.”
“Who says that?”
“The mean drag queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race mostly.”
“Oh, what do those bitches know?”
Theo broke into giggles. “More than me. Please help me, Cole!”
The buzzer sounded, saving Cole from making promises. He slipped across the room and leaned against it. “Yes?”
No one answered.
“Hello?” he tried again.
With nothing but static in response, he let go and shrugged.
“That’s creepy,” Theo said. “What if it’s a serial killer?”
“It’s not.”
“A killer who prowls for drag queens! I’m doomed,” he cried, flopping down onto the sofa dramatically.
“Lucky for you, you’re not in drag.”
“Oh, yeah.”
There was a knock at the door, and Theo screamed. Cole waved a hand at him, hoping Theo would interpret it to mean shush. He liked the guy, but he was a smidgen dramatic. That probably suited him well when onstage, but it was already driving Cole batty.
Cole opened the door, surprised to see Ridley there. Sadly, he’d changed out of scrubs, but he looked pretty fine in a tight T-shirt and jeans. In the days since he’d first tried on his new clothes, he seemed to be finding a balance toward mixing and matching newer items with things he already owned, becoming more comfortable with the look and comfort he wanted. Tonight’s offering was all about looks, judging by how well the clothes molded to his body.
“Ridley, hey. Did we have plans?”
“No, I ...” Ridley trailed off, eyes shifting to Theo on the couch. “You have company. Sorry.”
He took a step back, his face a mask of disappointment, and Cole lunged for his hand. “No! That’s just Theo. I’m helping him with some drag stuff. Come in.”
He pulled Ridley through the door. He’d been hoping to talk to him after everything that happened the night before. He’d been afraid Ridley might freak and avoid him; he hadn’t counted on Ridley seeking him out.
Maybe he’s come to tell me that he doesn’t want Jace anymore. Maybe he wants me.
His heart pounded at the thought.
Theo stood. “Hey! It’s me. From the LGBT Center? Cole was nice enough to make me some gorgeous headdresses. I’m hoping I can convince him to teach me how to make my own. For my drag persona. Miss Cherry—”
“Topping,” Ridley said. “Sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”
Theo giggled. “Well, that’s a good thing in my book, sugar! You want to weigh in on this amazing headdress Cole is making for me?”
“Theo,” Cole cut in. “I think you were about to leave, weren’t you?”
“I don’t think ...” Theo took another look between him and Ridley, then smiled tightly. “I guess I do have somewhere to be. Talk later?”
Cole nodded. “Sure.”
Theo leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You’re a doll! Thank you.”
Once the door closed behind him, the apartment fell ominously quiet. Cole turned toward Ridley. “How about a beer?”
“You don’t like beer.”
“I have some left. Want it or not?”
“Sure.” Ridley followed him to the kitchen. “Sorry for just showing up. I wasn’t sure what to say on the phone.”
“No worries,” Cole said, glancing over his shoulder. “You’re always welcome here.”
He grabbed Ridley a beer and pulled out a Smirnoff cooler for himself. After using a bottle opener, he disposed of the lids and handed Ridley a bottle.
“Okay, so what brings you over?”
Ridley opened his mouth and didn’t say anything. He lifted his beer and took a long drink. Cole watched, remembering the way Ridley had swallowed around his cock the night before. He wanted more of that. His gaze dipped to Ridley’s chest, then slipped lower to the bulge in his pants. He seriously wouldn’t mind the chance to get to know Ridley’s body better.
Ridley cleared his throat, and Cole’s gaze snapped up.
“About last night ...”
Cole bit his lip, stepping closer. He was both desperate to hear what Ridley might say and terrified of it. When Ridley hesitated, Cole filled in the gap.
“It was fun, and you needed to get back in the saddle. You’ve deprived yourself too long.”
“Maybe,” Ridley said in a low voice.
“Like you said, you were rusty.”
Ridley lifted the beer bottle, drinking again. When he lowered it, a bead of liquid clung to his bottom lip.
Cole, acting on instinct, leaned in and licked it off.
Ridley breathed in sharply, his body going rigid. Cole lifted his eyes to meet Ridley’s, and seeing the blown pupils, took a risk. He wrapped his fingers around the neck of the beer bottle, just above Ridley’s hand, and tugged. Ridley let go, allowing Cole to place the beer on the bar.
Still holding Ridley’s eye, Cole said, “I bet there are other areas we could explore. Things we didn’t get to last night.”
Ridley’s voice went hoarse. “You mean like fucking?”
Hearing the word from Ridley’s mouth made sparks ignite under Cole’s skin. “Mm. That’s an option.”
&n
bsp; Ridley blew out a breath, clearly torn. “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“I’m a big boy,” Cole said. “I know what this is. We’re getting you seaworthy for your true love.”
Ridley searched his eyes for a long moment, and Cole kept his poker face. He wasn’t lying, exactly. He wanted Ridley, and he knew the stakes. Ridley wasn’t available for love. Sex, though. That was up for negotiation.
As the silence dragged out, Cole grew uncertain. “It’s okay, if you don’t want—”
Ridley dragged him into a kiss, silencing him with an urgent press of his lips. One hand clutched the nape of Cole’s neck, holding him close, and the other slid down his back to rest on the swell of Cole’s ass.
Lust flared, lighting him up, as he opened his mouth and met Ridley’s tongue in a slick slide. They kissed for long minutes, bodies pressing close but never close enough, hands drifting over each other until Cole broke away for breath.
“Take me to bed,” Ridley said shakily.
Cole grabbed his hand and towed him to his room, his cock achingly uncomfortable in his pants. As soon as they arrived, he popped the button and yanked down the zipper. Ridley stood still, watching him as he freed his dick with a groan of relief.
“Fuck, you’re hot,” he said as he went to his knees. He grabbed Cole’s hips, pulling him closer so he could tease at his cockhead with a pointed tongue.
A breath shuddered out of Cole. “Wanna see your body this time.”
Ridley leaned back. “You’ve seen it.”
“Not with my hands and my mouth,” Cole said pointedly.
Ridley wordlessly pulled off his T-shirt and stood. A blush rose up his chest and into his face, but he didn’t try to hide himself. Kicking off his shoes, he peeled down his pants and boxer briefs. This time, Cole stalled as he watched.
“You too,” Ridley said. “Let me see you.”
Cole obediently yanked off his shirt and let it drop to the floor, then pushed down his pants.
By the time he was naked, Ridley sat against the headboard, like a king on his throne, stroking his thick cock. God, he had a nice one: thick and red, just the right size to stretch and fill Cole as he’d fantasized. Assuming that’s what Ridley wanted.
Operation Makeover Page 15