Chapter 5

I raise my hand, “Umm… I do!”

He laughs, “And I don’t. Emotional strength turns me on and you’ve been turning me on for five years now.” He goes on to tell me that all the time we spend huddled under the blanket in my freezer of a basement is more about cuddling up close to the guy who gives him tingles than about being cold.

I look at his casted and slinged arm, “I can’t believe you took on three guys and got hit by a baseball bat. All for me. You could have…” I trail off.

He shakes his head, “No. Nothing was gonna stop me. I was still so far away when I saw that asshole wind up for that first punch. I started screaming your name and charging as fast I could. I was already too late, but I was almost really too late. Zee, you were almost killed last night.”

But I wasn’t. Luke was there for me like he always has been. I ask him, “You said you already had your plane ticket. So, why did you come home three weeks early?”

“I finally got up the courage to tell my family that… Well… I came out. But more than that, I told them that I’m in love but the other guy, back in Ohio, didn’t even know it yet. They basically kicked me out.”

“Oh my god! Luke! I’m so sorry!”

“No!” he laughs. “Not like that. In a good way. They insisted that I fly back, run to you and have an epic reuinion full of confessions and tears. My grandma is a romantic. She had a whole movie scene playing out in her mind. That picture I texted you of me and Dad and Grandma… That was taken right after I told them.”

“I love that picture. And you did rush into an epic movie scene.”

“Right. But it was the wrong movie. The wrong genre. It was missing a few key moments.” He leans forward and squeezes my shoulder harder. His steel grey eyes lock on mine and I shiver. “I love you, Zee.” And then he kisses me. My real first kiss. And my second, third and fourth. It’s a good thing I’m not hooked up to a heart monitor or it might have exploded by now.

“I can do things you know. I’m right handed,” Luke grins up at me.

We’re at my mom’s house and I just finished mowing the lawn that hadn’t been mowed since I last did it weeks ago. I made Luke sit in a lawn chair and watch me while sipping ice cold lemonade. I’ve been cleared for normal activities by my doctor and the concussion protocol is officially over. Luke’s cast will be on for a few more weeks and I don’t let him do anything. Like seriously nothing. I even take off and put on his shoes for him, which I actually enjoy doing and he always enjoys the foot massage that accompanies the taking off part. I’ve quickly learned all of his favorite spots on his huge size 12 feet.

He also needs lots of help bathing. Like lots of help with sponging, washing, scrubbing, rinsing, stroking…all over. Everywhere. Especially in uninjured and very healthy, responsive places. You get the idea. And I’m very skilled at triggering a response. Usually, all I have to do is look at him and the response begins. But I love using my tools and instruments too. Sponges, loofas, soaps… These days Luke is a very clean boy. I give him lots of baths.

I tell him, “It’s a good thing it’s your left arm so I can still fairly beat you in bowling once that cast is off.”

“Is it really fair though if I’ve been secretly letting you win all this time?”

I make a face, “You do not.”

“But now I’ve planted the seed of doubt and you’ll never know for sure.” He grins like a fool before turning serious, “Does your mom appreciate what you do around here? Like, at all? Does she even notice?”

I sigh. “Probably not, but it needs doing so I do it more for Noah than for her.”

I’m standing on a kitchen chair trying my best to change a battery in a smoke detector that’s been beeping since we got here. But I’m struggling hard. The damn thing won’t screw back on. I’m using both hands and my feet wobble on the chair for just one second. Luke rushes to me and wraps his good arm around my waist.

“It was nothing,” I say. “I’m fine.”

“You can’t risk a fall. You’re done with concussions.”

With my arms raised, Luke takes advantage of my vulnerable position. My shirt has ridden up above my waistband and Luke slides down my body until he is eye to eye with my navel. He hasn’t done anything yet, but I’m already giggling in anticipation. “Don’t you dare! I can’t lower my arms right now and defend myself.”

“Defend? Like I would ever– Hey! I see you’re wearing Adidas underwear today.” He squeezes me tighter, holding me steady.

My jeans must be sagging. I blush, “All my secrets have been revealed.”

He drags his finger across the currently stretched, taught skin of my lower abdomen and my giggles turn to laughter. He pushes my shirt up higher and blows a ridiculous raspberry into my tummy. I’m quickly hardening within my jeans, mere inches from Luke’s face.

I almost drop the smoke detector. “Okay, now I really am going to fall.”

He winks, “You know you’re safe with me.”

Of course I am. “I also know that I just finished mowing the lawn. I’m sweaty, smelly and gross right now.”

He nuzzles his nose in my belly button and takes in a comically deep breath, “My manly ripe man. Just one of the many ways I love you. I had to watch you strut all around in front of me with the lawn mower and I couldn’t do a thing about it. Now, you’re at my mercy.”

I finally get the damn thing aligned with the treads and it twists into place. His face is still in my navel, but he’s kissing now, so I stay where I am and enjoy the attention. Luke has spent time kissing and caressing my stomach every day since I took that brass-knuckled punch in the gut two weeks ago. He continues to kiss and lick my belly and my knees begin to buckle. I entangle my fingers in his hair and he lifts me off the chair with just his one good arm. He carries me into my old room and we collapse onto the bed. We’re here right now because my mother isn’t. We knew she would be at work.

I’m on my back and he kisses me deeply. His tongue invades my mouth and wrestles my own tongue into submission, causing my cock to stiffen even more in my pants. Luke tastes so good. Over the course of six years of friendship, I tried to not think about what this would feel like. Little did I know that Luke was battling the same thoughts. He tugs one-handed at my shirt and I wiggle out of it. He takes me in with his eyes and defying all logic, his grin tells me he likes what he sees. And so does the steel rod in his pants.

He slides his tongue down my chin and my neck and says, “Yum,” as he tastes my skin, salty from sweat. Despite the fact that it’s not like a meat locker in here, his attention to my neck gives me goosebumps. His fingers trail from my wrist down my arm. I giggle as he teases my armpit, strums my rib cage, tickles my side and caresses my hip bone. I am now at full erection.

Luke stops and says, “Umm, I know this is the complete opposite of sexy, but I can’t unbutton your jeans with one hand. Help!”

I laugh. And then I comply. And suddenly, I’m naked except for white crew socks with grass stains around the ankles. Luke’s eyes dance all over me once again. He wordlessly makes me feel the opposite of scrawny. The opposite of weak.

He wraps a big paw around my raging tentpole and I bite down on my lip. He grips, rubs and tugs and no one in the history of the world has had a harder erection than mine right now. Next, he licks up and down my length furiously like he’s battling a melting ice cream cone and I begin to moan uncontrollably. Then he swallows me whole and my fingers find their way back into his hair. I guide him up and down, on and off, fast and slow… I’m feeling sensations I never before knew existed. I’m panting breathlessly as my heartrate kicks up. Luke does a swirl maneuver with his tongue and my fuse has been lit. There’s no going back now. It will only be a matter of seconds. Luke senses it and he swirls me again. And again. I actually scream out as I pump out the biggest load of my life.

I end up proud that I last five minutes against his violent attack, but I’m happy to succumb in blissful defeat. I orgasmed so hard that I’m not sure my toes will ever uncurl. My whole body is shaking and shuddering in the aftermath of insane pleasure. He slides his tongue up my abdomen, my chest, my neck and back to my mouth where we kiss a whole lot more.

Then, we switch places. His cast prevents me from taking his shirt off, but I push it up to his armpits and take in the sight of my chiseled hero. I bury my face in his chest and breathe in the scent of man. I kiss and nibble my way down his sternum and Luke giggles as I cross his belly. I take the drawstring of his sweatpants in my teeth and playfully tug until it’s untied. Pulling his pants down I can see that I was wrong before. He is at least as hard as I was. It blows my mind that this is all is response to me. Me! Luke is this turned on over me! Unreal. I regard my favorite seven inches of my favorite person and I go at him like a wild animal. I devour him. I make him make noises that hardly sound human. In the end, victory is mine as he only lasts four minutes against my assault. Tough guy.

I’ve only just gotten my jeans back on when the front door opens and closes. Luke and I look at each other with wide eyes, like guilty kids caught in the act. Except we’re consenting adults with nothing to be ashamed of. I thought this was hours early for Mom, so the bedroom door is open. I guess I really don’t know her schedule anymore. I slip my shirt back on and quickly tie the drawstring on Luke’s sweatpants.

I lead Luke out to the kitchen where Mom is looking at the old battery from the smoke detector lying on the table.

I say, “I’ll take that with me and recycle it.”

She startles and turns to us, “It’s not beeping anymore,” she says vacantly.

“Mom, you remember Luke?”

She seems to come into focus. “You think I’d forget your best friend?” She narrows her eyes, “How come your cheeks are flushed?”

I blush even harder, “From mowing the lawn. It’s hot outside today.”

She shakes her head, “I’m pretty sure that Mister Broken Arm here wasn’t pushing any lawn mowers and his cheeks are flushed too.” She looks closer at us and then she actually smiles. “You two… You actually… You’re in…”

Luke cocks an eyebrow.

He smiles, approving of my correction.

Mom seems…not drunk. Yet, anyway. Though come to think of it, there are no empty bottles decorating the house today. And it’s way cleaner than usual. “So… We’re finished here. We were just leaving.” I say, grabbing the old battery.

She looks at me hard for a long minute. Her eyes are clear and focused. And then they turn watery. “I’m glad you…” she trails off. “When I heard what happened, I wanted to… I didn’t think you’d want…” Her eyes move from me to Luke. She holds his gaze and says, “Thank you for saving my son’s life.”

I had no idea she was aware of any details. Luke just nods.

I clear my throat, “The lawn is mowed, the bathroom faucet is holding up, the smoke detector is fixed and the garbage cans are out. We’re gonna get going.”

We move for the door and Mom says, “I was thinking about ordering pizza. Would you both join me?”

Luke puts his good arm around my shoulders and says, “That would be nice.”

She looks from him back to me again, registering the 5″ difference in our heights. She tells him. “Ten feet tall and bulletproof. You’ve always looked out for him, haven’t you?”

He nods again, “And I always will.” He kisses the top of my head.

I say, “He also makes the best big spoon.”