Joel Should Have Locked His Door
Jolting upright, Joel opened his eyes wide, taking in his surroundings. This room wasn’t his room, and was way nicer than any place he had ever stayed before. He took some deep breaths to calm and steady himself as he remembered where he was. Gabriel’s condo. What the actual fuck was this guy's deal anyway? Joel flopped back onto the bed, kicking the comforter down to his ankles. Somehow the guy knew his grandmother, which was weird in itself, because his grandmother hated everyone. Or at least she hated Joel. She had never been warm to him, even when his parents left. All she’d offered him was a fold-out couch with residual cat hair embedded deep within its fibers. She knew he was allergic, and when he’d called last night, Joel knew she wouldn't be cat free, but trying to sleep with four cats compared to only one would have been misery. He wanted to regret making the drive all the way out here but as he laid in this ridiculously plush bed that belonged to a painfully handsome man, he couldn't muster the feeling.
The intense look that Joel had seen in Gabriel's eyes as he said good night, stirred a feeling inside of Joel's gut that made his cock wake up and take notice. He pushed off his briefs and rolled over onto his belly, burying his face in the pillow and smashing his cock between his body and the bed. Joel sucked in a breath, filling his mouth with pillowcase, and he dropped his forehead low to the bed and rutted into what were most assuredly 1200 thread count cotton sheets. Not lifting his weight from the bed, he snaked a hand down his front and wrapped his fingers in a tight grip around his length, fucking into his hand, mind flitting back to the mysteriously welcoming and handsome Gabriel.
Joel’s body shook as the cool sheets kissed the head of his cock every time it poked out of his hand. Joel imagined it was Gabriel’s hand, with what he was sure would be smooth and strong fingers that itched to tease him to climax. He pushed the reoccurring thoughts of, why would he want you? You’re a worthless kid, your parents didn’t even want you, out of his head and he pretended Gabriel did want him, did need him. That he could be safe and satisfied here because the electric current that sparked through Joel’s body as he’d brushed past Gabriel the night before couldn't have been one-sided. Joel hoped that Gabriel, with his attentive chocolate-brown eyes, wanted more than anything to be inside Joel and then hold him close through the night.
Thinking again about how his body felt when they had touched last night brought Joel’s orgasm on full force, and Joel tugged his lip between his teeth and rolled onto his back so he didn’t come all over the sheets. As he arched his back in anticipation of his orgasm, the bedroom door opened. Joel sat up, eyes wide and frenzied as he released his pulsing cock, only to see Gabriel frozen in the doorway with a tray of breakfast food in his hand. Joel’s entire body convulsed as a pitiful spurt of cum leaked out of his cock, his orgasm effectively ruined by the visitor.
“Holy fuck. Holy fucking shit,” Gabriel whispered as his mouth dropped open. He did his best to compose himself. “I was going to drop off breakfast, I didn't...” he trailed off, his tongue poking out and dragging across his lower lip.
“Jesus. I'm sorry.”
Joel was frozen in place. He was shocked to be barged in on, and even more shocked at the way he didn’t want to shy away from the pure fucking heat blazing in Gabriel’s eyes. He watched Gabriel’s stare dart down to Joel’s cock, which now lay softening and wet across his thigh, and Joel quickly pulled up the sheets to cover himself, his embarrassment winning out over his unexplained lust.
“Don’t,” Gabriel murmured, still in the doorway. “Don’t hide on my account, Joel. You’re a fucking vision.” Gabriel snapped his mouth shut, as if the words had escaped in error. “We have the same parts, I mean. It doesn't need to be a big deal,” he amended.
Joel’s cheeks grew warm with color, and he dropped his chin to his chest, fingers fumbling with the hem of the sheet. He heard Gabriel step into the room and looked up to see him set the tray of breakfast down on the nightstand, less than a foot away. Joel focused on the heavy sound of Gabriel's labored breathing, glancing out the corner of his eye to catch sight of an erection straining the zipper of Gabriel's charcoal-gray slacks. Seeing that Gabriel had been aroused by what he had walked in on seemed like an awkward reaction for the man to have, but part of Joel loved the attention and wanted to revel in it a little longer.
Neither of them moved beyond breathing until Gabriel slowly reached his hand toward the top of Joel's head. Gabriel’s fingers reached delicately for Joel’s hair, grazing it and pulling back quickly as if burned, before reaching forward again, more sure of his intent. Gabriel smoothed his hand down Joel’s hair from the top of his head to the base of his neck, and then brought it back to repeat the motion. Joel found himself leaning into the touch and Gabriel's hand slid around to caress his ear, then his cheek, before softly grasping his chin to raise his face. Joel tried to keep his gaze down, even as he knew Gabriel’s eyes were searching for contact.
“Joel,” Gabriel whispered again. His voice was low and sounded like sweet honey. When was the last time someone spoke to him so affectionately? Had anyone ever? Joel furrowed his brow. “Joel, don’t hide from me. Never from me.” Gabriel emphasized the last word, rubbing his thumb over Joel’s chin, and Joel finally looked upward.
Joel sucked air into his lungs and reached his hands up, grabbing Gabriel's hand between his, and he squeezed Gabriel's fingers as if his life depended on maintaining the contact. His breathing stuttered as he searched Gabriel's face, finding concern, patience and devotion hiding under a thick cloud of unmistakable lust. Joel did not miss the predatory intent behind all four of those feelings, but chose to ignore it, instead allowing himself for once to revel in the feeling of being wanted.
“I don’t even know you,” Joel whispered, confused and overwhelmed by the volume of emotion inside him in the moment.
“I know you though, Joel. I mean, I feel like I know you, I want to know you,” Gabriel replied, bringing his other hand up to wrap around Joel’s. They stayed that way, wrapped in each other's hands, eyes searching. You’re an idiot, the voice in Joel’s head piped up, shaking him free of the moment, and Joel dropped his chin and pulled his hands free from Gabriel’s grasp.
“Yeah, uhm... That was... You don’t need to like, I don’t know, you don’t need to do this. I’m not in the market for a pity fuck or anything, but I do appreciate you letting me stay here last night. I’m gonna get dressed and call my landlord and I’ll be out of your hair, okay?” Joel exhaled a breath.
Gabriel took a step back from the bed, clenching and unclenching his fists before sliding his hands into the safety of his front pockets. “It was no bother, Joel. You’re welcome here anytime. I enjoyed knowing you were here last night. That you were safe with me,” Gabriel offered softly.
Joel jerked out a nod, unable to make eye contact again.
“Well,” Gabriel started, “please have some breakfast.” He gestured to the tray. “Again, my intent was not to interrupt you, and you should know you’re welcome to stay longer if you need to. I’ve been waiting to share my home for years.”
“Share your home?” Joel questioned, trying to feel around the sheets for his earlier discarded briefs, entirely too aware he was still naked from the waist down and Gabriel was showing no signs of leaving the room.
“I bought this condo a few years ago and I’ve been by myself here since then. I was hopeful that in the future, someone special to me would want to be here with me.” Gabriel's voice trailed off.
Joel's fingers skirted the band of his briefs, which had ended up tangled by his knees, and he fumbled them on underneath the protection of the bed sheet. “That’s cool. I have my apartment, you know, it’s a little wet right now from the flood, so I’ll just… go back there soon. I’m sure you’ll find someone.”
“Oh, I’ve found him already.” Gabriel smiled, letting that predatory undertone from earlier briefly flare before tamping it back down under the simmering lust. “I’m just waiting for him to come around.” Gabriel took a step backward and removed his hands from his pockets, as if the space between them gave him permission to stop restraining himself. Joel looked up through his lashes and watched Gabriel take a steadying breath before turning on his heels and walking toward the door. Joel heard it click shut and looked up, wondering what sort of man Gabriel had his sights set on. Joel couldn't help but feel a little envious of the man, whoever he was.