Track 27: Side A

New Year, Old Resolutions

 

Lincoln

I wake up with Jace’s warm body sprawled over me, and I swear I’m in heaven. I roll over, and he grumbles in his sleep at the movement. The sun is shining through the curtains, falling over Jace’s face. His long eyelashes shadow his cheeks, and his faint freckles are more visible than they’ve been recently. His dark hair is standing up in all directions reminding me of the way I ran my fingers through it last night when he went down on me. Then we’d taken turns topping until we were both sweaty, out of breath, and covered in cum. After a much-needed shower, we fell back into bed and talked late into the night.

My cock aches at the memory, but the most beautiful thing is that it’s more than a memory. I have Jace right here, within my reach.

“Why are you staring at me like a creep?” Jace mumbles sleepily, not opening his eyes.

“I’m not,” I lie.

“You so are. Knock it off; I’m trying to sleep.”

“But I need clothes to wear to this party tonight. As much as I’d love to keep wearing your shit, it’s too small for me.”

“A few more hours,” he says, rolling over so his back is to me and pulling the blankets over his head.

I lay there in silence for a few minutes, listening to the soft rise and fall of Jace’s breath, and growing increasingly impatient for him to wake up so we can get messy again and take another shower.

Deciding to take matters into my own hands, I slip under the covers and shuffle down the bed until I reach his perfect, round ass. It’s such a lovely ass that jiggles so nicely when I thrust inside him. I run my hands over the smooth skin, massaging both cheeks and making Jace moan. His pretty pink hole peeks out at me and my mouth waters.

I bury my face in his cleft and tease my tongue along the puckered skin of his entrance. Jace whimpers and rolls his hips, pressing himself harder against my tongue. I drag my tongue around his hole with long, full licks, savoring the musky taste of him. I run my tongue from his balls to the top of his crack and then over his hole again.

“Linc, god Linc,” Jace pants as I shove my tongue deep inside him.

I can feel his arm moving as he strokes himself in time with the thrusts of my tongue into his ass. He writhes against my mouth, and I reach for my own cock to ease the ache.

His hole flutters around my tongue as he chases his orgasm, his whole-body tensing. My balls get tight, and I lick him deeper, so unbelievably hungry for his taste.

“Oh fuck,” Jace lets out a guttural cry, and his ass clamps tight around my tongue as his orgasm barrels through him. I lick him until he stills, and then I roll him onto his back and straddle him, jerking myself hard and fast, my eyes fixed on his chest, streaked with thick, white cum. And then mine joins his. I gasp and moan as I pump my release onto his skin.

“Can we get up now?” I ask innocently as Jace lays there panting, his chest covered in cum.

“I was wrong, this is never going to work if you won’t let me sleep.”

“Aw, don’t be salty, Freckles. I may not let you sleep, but I promise lots of orgasms and coffee.”

His forehead scrunches as he considers my compromise. “Deal,” he agrees.

After a shower—where I make Jace come again—and a large cup of coffee, I drag him out of the apartment to go shopping with me.

“Remind me again why you left all your clothes in New York?” he asks as I grab several pairs of jeans and a number of t-shirts in a range of colors as well as a few different band t-shirts.

“I hated all those clothes. I didn’t pick a single thing in my entire closet. It was all chosen to fit the persona the label wants me to portray. I felt like I was suffocating. That’s how it started that night on the balcony. I was sitting in my penthouse, feeling like the walls were closing in, so I went to sit outside. I was already drinking so it didn’t feel that cold. And the more I drank, the less painful everything felt.”

“I’m sorry, Linc.”

“It’s okay. Everything will be better now,” I assure him, but the look I receive in return is skeptical. “How funny would it be if I got one of these shirts with Jude’s face on it?” I joke to change the subject.

“It’s be funnier if I wore it. Think of the headlines once we’re spotted together if I’m wearing a Jude t-shirt?”

“Dude, that would be hilarious. We’re doing it,” I declare, tossing the shirt on the pile.

It doesn’t take long for me to have a whole new wardrobe purchased, for less than one shirt in my old wardrobe cost, I’m sure. And we head back to the apartment without attracting any attention.

 

 

Jace

“How does this look?” Linc asks, stepping out of my bedroom wearing one of his new pairs of jeans and a black button up shirt.

“You look great,” I assure him, straightening his collar.

“I just want your colleagues to like me,” he admits, a light pink blush creeping over his cheeks.

“I’m sure they’ll love you. Are you ready to go?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” he agrees with a sigh.

He’s not the only nervous one. Last time I saw all these people I was engaged to Amanda. Most of my colleagues know I’m bisexual, but I’m sure it’ll be a shock for them to see me walk in with my new boyfriend when they were expecting Amanda.

It’s a short drive to Riley’s apartment. She was smart, getting an apartment walking distance from campus.

I find a parking spot, and Linc insists on paying for parking, and then we make our way up to the party hand in hand.

It seems like just about every life sciences faculty member is in attendance, as well as a few from various other departments, and some people I don’t recognize, who I assume are Riley’s outside of work friends. It takes several seconds for all eyes to slowly land on Lincoln and silence to descend. He fidgets next to me, his hand flexing in my grip.

“You didn’t warn her you were bringing me?” Lincoln whispers.

“Uh…no. Sorry.”

“Holy shit,” Riley approaches with a gleam in her eye. “I can’t believe it’s true.”

“What’s true?” I ask. Did they somehow find out Amanda dumped me?

“It’s been in all the magazines. Not to mention it’s blowing up Twitter.”

“What is?” I ask again, getting irritated at her playing coy.

“You,” she answers. “There were pictures of you, supposedly at Lincoln Miller’s cabin in Wisconsin. There’s been speculation everywhere about who you are, how you know Lincoln, where he was. I figured it was just some guy who looked like you.”

“Um…nope, that was me,” I admit, shifting an awkward sideways glance at Lincoln, hoping for guidance on how to handle these situations.

“Jace and I spent summers together as kids at those cabins in Wisconsin. We haven’t seen each other in years. We both happened to be there over Christmas, and now here I am,” Lincoln explains cheerfully and then shrugs like the story is all so simple there’s no reason to ask further questions.

“But where’s Mandy?” Riley asks.

“Well…um …she dumped me just before Christmas. It was my fault, and I’m fine.”

“I can see that,” Riley teases, eyeing Lincoln and my joined hands.

“Drinks?” I suggest, tugging Lincoln’s hand and giving Riley an apologetic smile.

“In the kitchen, help yourselves.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding once we’re free.

“Breathe, Freckles. That’s not going to be the last inquisition tonight, I assure you.”

“How do you do this all the time?” I ask, feeling dizzy from all the eyes still trained on us as we enter the kitchen.

“I guess I just got used to it. I didn’t exactly have a choice,” Lincoln answers, sounding sad. “Do you…do you think you’ll be able to adjust to it?”

“To the attention?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s kind of part of the package, unfortunately.”

I open the fridge and grab two beers, trying to buy a few seconds to figure out how to answer that question. Would I adjust to the attention? To worrying every time I go out I’ll be photographed and speculated about? What if we break up again? The world will be watching this time.

“I don’t know if I’ll adjust. I guess I’ll just have to learn since I don’t have much choice either. If you’re worried it’s going to scare me off, it’s not going to happen.”

Linc smiles and tugs me close to brush his lips to mine, earning us a few catcalls and whistles.              

I blush and hand Lincoln one of the beers and then lead him to the living room, so we can live through more awkward gazes and intrusive questions. I don’t know if I’ll adjust, but if it’s part of Lincoln’s package deal, I’ll have to learn.

Over the next few hours, the drinks flow and people seem to relax about the idea of having a celebrity present at the annual New Year’s Eve party. If the band stays together, will I have to go to celebrity parties in the future? Of course, I will; that’s part of the deal. I just hope we’ll find our balance, and I hope like hell we can make this work.

Before I know it, the New Year countdown has begun. Lincoln’s arms are around me, and the rest of the world seems to blur a bit and fade away. My eyes are focused on his lips as he counts down the end of the year with a little smile tugging on the corner of his lip.

“Three…two…one. Happy New Year, Freckles.” And then his lips are on mine, warm and fierce and full of promises of the future we always talked about.

The I love you I whisper when our lips part is lost in the loud cheer and sound of poppers going off around us.

“What?” Linc asks, leaning his ear close so I can repeat myself.

“I said, Happy New Year.”