Chapter 22

Adam

By the time we get home my anger at Kira has simmered and all I want is to be close to Nox. It hasn’t escaped my attention that I haven’t had the chance to kiss him since he told me he loves me.

The apartment is empty as we step inside so I take Nox’s hand and lead him to my bedroom.

“Hey, I had an idea but I don’t know if you’d be into it,” Nox hedges.

“If it involves you I’m into it. Tell me what you want, Bird.”

“Can we sixty-nine?”

Heat spikes in the pit of my stomach.

“Hell yeah,” I agree before grabbing him by the waist and dragging him into a hungry kiss.

Our tongues tangle and duel as we strip each other bare. The feel of his hot skin under my hands drives me wild.

I reach between us and take both of our erections in one hand and stroke them together as I shuffle us toward the bed.

“Let’s go side by side, it’s less awkward than top and bottom,” I suggest as I guide Nox into bed.

He raises an eyebrow at me.

“You sound like you have experience with this.”

“Not with a man. And, certainly not with anyone I’ve been in love with.”

Nox’s expression switches from slightly jealous to smug and then he climbs into bed. After a few minutes for awkwardly arranging ourselves into the correct position I’m met with the welcome sight of Nox’s cock directly in front of my face.

I waste no time taking him into my throat, licking and sucking like my life depends on it. Each whimper and moan I draw from him vibrates around my cock, buried between his lips.

I’m careful not to thrust into his mouth, holding my hips still I let him take me how he’s comfortable.

He uses his hand to stroke what he isn’t taking in his mouth and it only takes a few minutes for a tingling at the base of my spine to start, warning me I won’t last much longer. I suck him harder and deeper, as desperate for his pleasure as I am for my own.

“God, Adam, so good,” Nox moans, pulling his mouth off me and stroking me, adding a little twist each time he reaches the head.

I moan around his cock as my release hits me without warning. Nox is only a few seconds behind, flooding my mouth and shouting my name.

“We need a shower,” I declare as soon as my breathing returns to normal.

“Can’t move, I’m dead,” Nox argues.

“I’ve got you.” I take Nox’s arms and arrange them around my neck, he complies, grabbing on tight. Then I put his legs around my waist and lift him up. Nox giggles against my neck as I carry him out of the bedroom.

“When I die, will you keep my corpse and creepily cuddle it for years?”

“What? No, that’s gross,” I laugh.

Nox pushes out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout.

“I thought you loved me.”

“You are so fucking weird,” I shake my head and blow a raspberry against his neck.

“What the fuck?”

My blood runs cold and I stop dead in my tracks. Gage is standing a few feet away, staring wide eyed at a very naked Nox wrapped around me.

“I didn’t think you’d be home for hours,” I respond with a light tremor in my voice. This is the last possible way I imagined coming out to Gage.

Nox is very quiet and still in my arms like he’s not sure how I want to play this. It’s not like I can deny what’s going on. We’re stark naked and I’m holding him like a baby koala and kissing his neck. I give Nox’s hip a light squeeze and then set him down.

“Go hop in the shower,” I whisper in his ear and then brush a kiss to his cheek.

“You don’t need me for moral support or anything?” he asks, casting a quick glance over his shoulder at Gage who’s staring at me with a mixture of confusion and hurt.

“Nah, I owe him a conversation.”

Nox nods and presses a quick kiss to my bare chest before inching past Gage and heading for the bathroom.

“Mind if I throw on some pants at least?” I ask Gage with a nervous laugh.

He’s still silently staring at me, unnerving me. When he doesn’t respond I turn back to my room and grab the first shorts I find and yank them on. I step back into the hallway to find Gage missing. My gut clenches. I can’t imagine how he must be feeling. Betrayed? Confused? Pissed? All would be justified.

I check the living room first and thankfully find my best friend there, staring ahead in the dark. I approach slowly, rehearsing my defense in my mind.

“I’m not exactly sure how to do this, or like where to start,” I admit, rubbing the back of my head as I stand a few feet away from him.

“How?...Are you?...Is he?...”

I let out a slow breath and sink down onto the carpet beside the couch.

“Nox and I are dating, we have been for a few months.”

“Since when are you gay?” Gage asks, shaking his head and squinting at me.

“I’m not gay, I’m bi,” I clarify. “I’ve known since we were teenagers,” I admit in a whisper.

Gage’s eyes nearly bug out of his head and his mouth falls open.

“What the actual fuck? Are you kidding me right now? You’ve known for, what, sixteen goddam years that you’re into guys and you never thought to say anything to your gay best friend? You never told Johnny? Maybe it would’ve made him feel less alone to know.”

Gage’s words are like a knife in my chest. I bite the inside of my cheek to control the burning behind my eyes and the tightness in the back of my throat.

“You don’t think I haven’t asked myself the same question?”

Gage scoffs and stands up in a quick burst pacing toward the wall and then whips around to face me.

“All this time I was stupid enough to think we were best friends. You’ve been a brother to me. But I’ve been a fucking idiot. You’ve been having a big laugh behind me back, haven’t you?”

“No, god, not at all.”

Gage grits his teeth and rubs his hands over his face.

“I get it now. I finally understand the guilt that’s been eating at you since Johnny died and it’s totally fucking justified. You lied to him and you lied to me. How can I ever trust you again?”

I don’t trust my voice so instead I just hang my head and let his harsh words wash over me.

“That’s enough, Gage. You have no idea how bad he already feels,” Nox says defensively. Seconds later I feel his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. “This has been killing him to hide from you, but this is the exact reaction he was afraid of.”

“I can’t deal with this shit right now,” Gage bites out and then I hear the front door open and slam shut.

As soon as he’s gone the tears start to fall. Nox is there, pulling me against his chest, his arms holding me close.

“It’ll be okay.” Nox’s lips brush the top of my head. “He’ll calm down and you two will talk it out. Everything is going to be fine.”