Chapter Five

“Do you want anything to drink?” Patrick asked as Lance sat down on the blue suede couch in the middle of Patrick’s living room.

Lance had been surprised at how big Patrick’s place was. Being a bartender must have been treating him right. That, or he had a trust fund he was tapping into. At last, Lance smiled knowing his DJ gigs were going to start paying off. He would be able to afford a place of his own. If he wasn’t lying to himself, he could easily afford his own place now, but he wasn’t ready to get rid of Richie just yet. Lance shook his head trying to purge the thought of Richie out of it.

“I’ll take whatever you’re having,” Lance told Patrick trying to stay in the moment with Patrick.

Lance stroked the couch and smiled even wider. He had had a crush on Patrick since the first night he'd made him a drink. Patrick was the one who helped him get a meeting with the owner so he could start his DJ gig at the club. Patrick was gorgeous, and Lance was giddy just being in his apartment.

Sure, he wasn’t as good-looking as Richie and didn’t know a caper from an olive. Lance stopped that thought before it could finish. Patrick was here and he was willing to look at Lance as more than a friend.

Love the one you’re with, Lance thought as he prepared to fully commit to the evening.

“Here you go.” Patrick handed him a glass of dark liquid and held one for himself. “Cheers.”

Lance clinked his glass with Patrick’s before taking a sip of the liquid. It was musky and burned all the way down to Lance’s stomach and he loved the feeling. Lance closed his eyes as he took another sip, relaxing as it warmed his body.

Patrick cleared his throat, and Lance’s eyes shot open. The lust in Patrick’s eyes was evident. Lance struggled to breathe as Patrick took the glass from his hand and placed it on the coffee table next to his.

“I’ve wanted you for a long time,” Patrick said, his hand landing on Lance’s thigh.

Lance took a deep breath. He had never had this problem before, but he wasn’t getting aroused like he should. Lance licked his lips determined to give Patrick a shot. The man was gorgeous and single and willing to hook up with him.

Patrick smiled as his eyes followed Lance’s tongue. Lance tasted the musky alcohol he had just swallowed and he held onto the heat it caused.

“I’ve been eyeing you since the day I saw you behind the bar,” Lance admitted, scooting closer to Patrick on the couch.

“Oh, yeah?” Patrick leaned over, his tongue darting out of his mouth and tracing the path Lance’s tongue had just traced.

Patrick let out a moan as Lance parted his lips allowing Patrick to enter his heated mouth to touch his tongue. Patrick leaned forward, and Lance let him push him back into the arm of the couch. Patrick tasted like the alcohol they had just consumed.

Lance allowed his tongue to explore Patrick’s mouth. Patrick’s hand slid up from Lance’s thigh going for his crotch. Lance surprised himself by putting his hand on Patrick's and stopping him.

"I can't do this."

***

“Hey, Stace. What are you doing tonight?” Richie asked as the taxi driver headed in the direction of his apartment.

The apartment would most likely be Lance-free tonight as he cuddled up to a bartender. Richie ground his teeth and put all his effort into talking Stace into a night of fun. Stace was always up for messing around. Casual hookups never bothered her. That was her thing. She was his bed buddy and never wanted to be a steady girlfriend.

Stace was the girl who everyone stared at when she walked into a room. Her long blonde hair hung just above her perky ass. Her body was tight from working out. She was just the type of distraction he needed to get Lance and his bartender off his mind. Not to mention, to get his mojo going again.

“I was just about to go out,” Stace’s over-the-top baby voice filtered through the phone.

“What about if I come over and keep you company?”

“That sounds like a plan.” Stace giggled, and Richie stared down at his crotch, hoping for a reaction and getting none.

“Be there in ten.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Richie gave the taxi driver the new address and sat back in the car hoping he would get more of a reaction when he saw her. Richie couldn’t stop himself from picturing Patrick and Lance getting busy and his anger rose, but he crushed it with the thought of banging Stace.

I’m not gay, I’m not gay, he reminded himself as the taxi driver put his car in park. Richie jumped out and hit the app so he paid and ran up to Stace’s apartment taking the steps two at a time. His fist barely banged out one knock before the door swung open.

Stace wore a smile and little else. The tiny shorts and t-shirt showed her toned belly and no bra.

“Well, hello,” Richie said, stepping into her apartment and crowding her.

She smiled with her blood-red painted lips, her arms wrapping around his neck. “Hi, you got here fast. Somebody must miss me.”

Richie grasped her ass and moved them to her couch. His lips collided with hers, and he didn’t stop until he was hovering over her on the couch. Richie closed his eyes tight as he ground into Stace, banishing thoughts of Lance.

“You did miss me.” Her hands slipped over Richie’s back until she reached the end of his shirt, tugging it over his head. “I love your muscles,” she cooed as her pouty lips kissed his pecs and her hands skimmed over his tight abs.

When her tiny hands reached inside his jeans and wrapped around the nothing that was there, she let out a huff. Richie’s body was stiff except for the one thing that should be.

“What’s the matter, baby?” she asked.

“Work, I’ve been under a lot of stress,” Richie lied to her as he tried to get himself to harden up for her.

“Oh.” Stace pouted as her hand tried to help him get into the mood.

When she realized it wasn’t going to happen, Richie watched her anger rise up. He didn’t blame her. She changed her plans to hang out with him and his dick, and he couldn’t even get it up. Talk about an ego crusher for a beautiful woman.

“I think you should go,” she said.

Richie nodded and climbed off her. “I’m sorry, Stace. I have a lot on my mind.”

“Whatever. I can still get dressed and have a good time. Get out.” She was already on her phone probably telling her friends she was coming out after all.

Richie slunk out of her apartment as he called a taxi to come pick him up. Back in the empty apartment, he punched the pillow on the couch. He became angrier as he pummeled the pillow only to stop when he heard the door click open.

***

“Hello.” Lance’s voice followed the door closing.

Richie smoothed out his shirt and his face not wanting Lance to know how much his presence affected him.

“Hey, I wasn’t expecting you to be home so early.” Lance plopped on the couch.

When he entered the apartment, he hadn’t bothered turning on the light. Lance sat down next to him on the couch also not bothering to turn on the light. They sat in the dark, both lost in their thoughts and shattered egos.

“Yeah, it didn’t work out with Patrick,” Lance answered, wishing it had.

“Wanna talk about it?” Richie was glad the lights were still out because he couldn’t stop the smile that hit his face. At least with the dark surrounding them, Lance wouldn’t see the confusing reaction his news had on his roommate.

“Well, I was feeling his vibe. He was definitely into me, but when things got hot and heavy, I couldn’t go through with it,” Lance admitted, keeping the fact that he could only get turned on thinking about Richie to himself.

“Oh, yeah. Do you think it’s because you are still so new off the break-up with Kevin?” Richie wanted to hit himself for bringing up Lance’s ex, but he couldn’t tell him about the confusing emotions he had been feeling lately.

“I don’t know. It probably makes no sense to you. You have women all over you and you don’t have a problem sealing the deal.” Lance wanted to kick himself. Why was he talking about Richie's women? It was the last thing he wanted to think about, or maybe that was just the reminder he needed.

Patrick had been disappointed when Lance stopped before things got heavier, but he said he understood and was willing to give him another chance.

“I actually get exactly what you are talking about. I went over to Stace’s house, and I just wasn’t into it.” Richie shouldn’t have felt the happiness he felt that Lance didn’t get it on with Patrick, but he seemed to no longer have control over how he felt.

Lance grasped the edge of the couch to keep himself from grabbing for Richie. He wanted him so bad but he needed to stop the urge. The erection he had been trying to get for Patrick was hard and present just sitting next to Richie.

“Oh, yeah? I bet she was pissed.” Lance couldn’t hide the wheeze in his voice but Richie didn’t seem to notice it.

Richie let out a laugh. “Yeah, she was pissed. She practically kicked me out of the apartment.” Richie didn’t say, but he felt like shit ever since he left her place. Now, sitting in the dark with Lance, he didn’t feel so bad anymore. Richie knew he needed to go to his room. He was having a hard time thinking with Lance being so close to him.

“She was. I decided that I’m done with sex for a while,” Richie said, telling himself to get up and go to his room while he stayed put on the couch.

“Really? I can just hear the hearts breaking all over campus just from you saying that,” Lance teased as his cock pulsed against his zipper.

Lance knew he was being stupid thinking that Richie was breaking down and falling for him. Hearing him say he didn’t want to have sex for a while turned him on even more.

“Ha ha, I’m sure I’ve gotten around enough. There should be plenty of women satisfied enough that I can take a break.” Richie’s over-masculine rant was enough to at least make him believe his bullshit.

“I’m with you. Patrick is hot as hell, but I just wasn’t feeling it. I’m with you. I will take a sex sabbatical too.”

“To our new sexless life,” Richie laughed putting his hand out.

Lance let out a laugh when he grasped Richie’s hand to cover the gasp wanting to escape him. Every time he touched Richie, shivers shot straight through him. The electricity he felt inside was obvious and all he wanted to do was pull him close and kiss those delicate pink lips.

Richie forced himself to let go of Lance’s hand. Lust swamped him just from their palms pressing together. This was wrong, this wasn’t him.

“I’m going to bed. Good night, roomie,” Richie’s voice sounded wooden as he made his way to his room, his desire flaring to life. 

“Night,” Lance said to his retreating roommate as he urged his emotions to calm down.