Better Than Good (15 page)

“We’ll go slow. At least at first, okay?”

I could only nod in agreement. Speech was beyond my capabilities at that point. I felt Aaron place my cock at his entrance. My breathing was erratic and a sheen of sweat broke out all over my body as he slowly lowered himself onto me. The look on his face was pure rapture. I placed my hands on his hips but let him control the pace. He watched me closely as he shifted his weight forward, creating friction for his cock trapped between us. I was deep inside him now. It was pure ecstasy. Aaron licked my mouth, requesting entrance. We kissed and he quickened his pace.

“Can I touch you?” I could feel his hard cock leaking on my belly.

“No. I want to come when you do. Get on top of me.” I groaned as he slid off of me, missing his weight.

Aaron lay flat on his back with his legs spread wide. Fuck, he was beautiful.

“Matty, please. Fuck me.”

I positioned myself between his thighs and pushed inside him. I heard myself whimper at the feel of his heat wrapping around my cock.

“You feel amazing. So good, baby.”

“Do it, Matty. Fuck me hard.”

I needed no other encouragement. My hips rocked into him repeatedly. His legs were wrapped around my hips, his arms around my neck, and our mouths were at each other’s necks. He smelled so potently male. It was intoxicating. I felt my balls begin to draw up and knew I was close.

“Baby, I’m gonna come.” I held myself up on one arm and looked into his stunning hazel eyes before I came apart. Wave after wave crashed over me. I heard a shout but wasn’t sure whose it was. I felt Aaron’s body shudder beneath me as his orgasm overtook him as well.

I couldn’t move for the life of me, but I was probably crushing my partner. I braced myself on my forearms and took a long look at our bodies fused together with sweat and semen. Aaron was watching me through hooded eyes, probably trying to gauge my reaction.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Hmm. Yes. Better than okay,” Aaron purred, running his tongue over his bottom lip. I traced the same path with my own tongue before I gently pulled out of him. I made my way to the bathroom, flushed the condom, and grabbed a washcloth. I ran warm water over it before returning to my lover’s side. I carefully wiped the come off his chest and the lube from his hole.

“Thank you. Lie here with me, Matty. Are you okay?” Aaron’s voice was soft in the aftermath of our love. I caught a glimpse of snow lightly falling outside his window as I joined him under the covers. He rested his head on my shoulder and closed his eyes.

“Better than okay.”

And I was.

We spent the remainder of that Sunday in his bed, alternately talking and fooling around, just naked kissing and touching. We were warm and snug wrapped in the big red comforter and in each other. A perfect way to spend a cold winter afternoon. When one of our stomachs protested that there had been too much activity without sustenance, we reluctantly gathered up our discarded clothing and made our way out into the now-dark living area.

“How about a sandwich or, let’s see… I could make a veggie omelet?” Aaron stood barefoot, staring at the contents of his refrigerator. He had opted for comfort, changing into a pair of sweats and a tight-fitted T-shirt. I fought the urge to tell him he should put some socks on. His apartment was still a bit cold even with the heater turned on.

“Whatever you feel like making is good for me. Want any help?”

“Well, if you’d like a glass of wine, you could pour one for both of us.”

He showed me where to find glasses and a wine opener while he presented a bottle of pinot noir.

“Everything goes with a pinot, I always say.” He turned his attention back to gathering ingredients for an omelet while I poured the wine.

“I say that about beer, but this is good too.” I winked at him and offered a toast.

“I’m not a beer drinker. Too many calories for something I just never really got a taste for. I tried to like it in college, but I couldn’t get there. Ended up drinking shots of tequila before I realized it was out ‘to kill ya’,” he quipped, making a silly face.

I almost spit the pinot out. I was sure his wine appreciation didn’t extend to showering the veggie omelet. His joke wasn’t particularly funny, but his timing and the expression on his face was unexpected and endearing.

“That was bad. Warn a guy, would ya?”

“Impossible! I’m unpredictable, Matty. Who knows what I’ll say next?”

We both chuckled softly. Aaron suggested I turn on some tunes. I knew we didn’t have the same tastes in that realm, so I asked what the chef requested. With the faint sounds of music in the background, I studied my companion busily sautéing veggies and cracking eggs. It was a homey, comforting atmosphere with easy company.

Aaron brushed his hair from his eyes, using the back of his hand to do so. His sweats hung low on his hips, accentuating the curve of his delectable ass. I’d never been the type to stare at a lover before, to just take in their beauty. But I found myself admiring his small, fit form, beautiful eyes and skin. I watched his graceful movements and felt a rush akin to gratitude that we had physically connected. It seemed like an over-the-top sentiment, but a true one nonetheless.

“Are you sore?”

Aaron looked over at me in surprise as he folded a huge omelet onto a plate. He turned to grab utensils and napkins before waving me toward a seat at his small kitchen table. I took my seat and another sip of wine while I waited for my host to join me. The omelet looked fantastic. I was famished.

“Cheers!” Aaron toasted as he finally found his chair. “And the answer is yes, I am a little bit, but don’t freak out. It’s normal. Anyway, I’m one of those weird guys who likes it.” He winked at me before turning his attention to divvying up our dinner.

I was glad I hadn’t taken another sip of pinot.

“Huh? What do you mean? I hurt you, didn’t I?”

“No, idiot. I’m trying to tell you, it was fabulous. But it’s natural to feel a little sore afterwards… for the bottom, at least. And feeling it is a total turn-on to me. No more questions. Eat. No, wait….”

I waited for him to continue for a few quiet seconds. He looked agitated and I was beginning to worry.

“Look, Matt. I need to know something.”

“What?”

“Are you okay? I just need to know if you’re going to freak out.”

I wanted to pretend I didn’t know what he was talking about, but he deserved honesty.

“I’m… I don’t know how to describe what I am, other than… definitely not freaked out. Aaron….” I hesitated. Words failed me, yet I knew I had to try to communicate. “I feel alive for the first time. I know that sounds ridiculous. Maybe it’s the result of post-orgasm euphoria, who knows? I just feel great. I can’t promise that this whole—” I waved my hands between us when again I lost the words. “—us… doesn’t freak me out a little. I’m being honest. I just know that it feels right. You feel right.”

“You too, Matty.”

We ate in silence, staring at one another over the rims of our wine glasses with Adele serenading us softly. I gave into impulse, leaning over to place a chaste kiss on his sexy mouth.

“Thank you. This has been a really amazing day.”

Aaron rewarded me with one of his glorious smiles. Yeah, it was a great day.

7

W
INTER
passed a bit more mildly, with cool days and chilly nights. But other than a flurry of snow to complement the occasional rain, it looked like a safe bet that spring would be timely. I saw Aaron as much as possible. We were both swamped with work, and I still had school and a bar exam to prepare for. If we didn’t see one another, we talked on the phone or sent texts daily. He sent me silly messages that left me with a goofy smile on my face a few times a day. Curt caught my shit-eating grin a couple times and gave me an inquisitive look, but I didn’t share. I wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed of my new relationship or whatever it was Aaron and I had. I was protective of it. I didn’t want to share him with anyone else. The time we had together was special. We still saw our own friends, but more and more often, I spent at least one night of the weekend at his place. He lived alone, so there were no explanations required. Plus we could be as loud as we wanted.

My roommates, of course, noticed I wasn’t sleeping in my own bed on weekends. I decided to just answer with the truth. Or at least a half-truth.

“I met someone.”

“Yeah, Einstein. We figured that out. Who is she?” Dave asked one late Friday afternoon in March. I had stopped by my place to shower and change before going over to Aaron’s. He was having a few of his friends over. He claimed it would be very low-key, but I was feeling a little nervous nonetheless. I hoped Peter and Jay would be there.

“Aaron.”

“Erin….” Dave drew the name out like he was talking about a porn star. “When do we get to meet her?”

I raised my eyebrows, grabbed my bag, and made a speedy exit. Half-truth. I got angry with myself for not telling Dave and Jason about Aaron, but the whole situation was new to me on so many levels. Aaron was so full of life, easily excitable, and charming. I wasn’t sure what he saw in me. We didn’t have much in common on paper. Our tastes in music, movies (he loved romantic comedies, of course), and hobbies were polar opposite. However, we never ran out of things to talk about. He loved to debate the merit of what made something or someone interesting, be it a musician/pop star or a politician. He was well-informed and well-read. I suppose I was attracted to his intelligence and the fact that he was an avid learner. If he didn’t know or understand something, he researched it so that the next opportunity he had to debate, he was better informed. He asked me questions about cases I read about or that I might be involved in someday. It was intoxicating to be with someone who always seemed interested in you. Aaron was intoxicating. And fucking beautiful.

He opened the door for me, wearing the tightest leather pants I think I’d ever seen on him, with a designer-label blousy white shirt with only a couple buttons fastened. His hair was disheveled, like he’d just blown it dry but hadn’t bothered with product, his feet were bare, and yeah, he looked sexy as hell. I swallowed loudly, making him laugh with pleasure as he took the wine bottle I’d brought from my hand and danced away, leaving me staring after him in the doorway.

The music was blaring. Some techno-pop mix that set my teeth on edge. I needed a drink and to get to the volume control without him noticing. I did both while he finished primping in the bathroom.

“Bad boy! I can’t hear a thing!” Aaron reemerged looking even more gorgeous. His eyes were sparkling with amusement. Thankfully, he didn’t readjust the sound. I had poured him a drink, which I handed over quickly to keep him distracted.

“Thank you. What? No hello kiss?”

He leaned toward me, offering me an exaggerated kissy mouth. I laughed. When our lips met, though, he licked a seductive trail along my lower lip before opening his mouth to mine. We moaned in unison, our drinks forgotten. We were interrupted by his cell phone playing a Lady Gaga tune. He laughed and skipped away to answer it while I adjusted myself and picked up my cocktail.

As he answered the phone, I watched his expression go from pleased to exasperated and maybe a little hurt within a few minutes. He had switched from English to Spanish. Maybe family? The conversation wasn’t long, but it had left him deflated. I moved toward him, wanting to offer comfort or an ear if he wanted to talk. However, the doorbell buzzed before I had a chance. In an instant, I watched Aaron transform his features from angry and hurt to gracious and welcoming host. All traces of his earlier distress were gone as he opened the door for the first of his guests.

Aaron had invited six people for a small dinner party. I’d already met Peter and Jay, so that meant four other of his close friends would be joining us. He’d left work early that day to prepare the food himself. His theme was Puerto Rico. Every party needed a theme, according to him, and he’d been completely mortified to hear I didn’t know if I’d ever eaten Puerto Rican food. I figured it was probably like Cuban or Mexican, right? Wrong. And after Aaron got over being insulted by my ignorance, he decided to cook a traditional Puerto Rican feast to enlighten me. He claimed he was scaling it back a bit, but from what I could tell, there was a ton of food prepared and ready for eight of us to enjoy.

The first guests to arrive were a young man named Ben and his older boyfriend, Mark. There had to be easily ten years difference between them. Ben looked to be younger than me. He was stylishly dressed in tight black jeans and a slim-fitted black V-neck sweater. Aaron commented on his Goth look, which earned him a halfhearted slap on the arm and a grin from Mark. Mark was nice looking in a professorial, unassuming way. I later learned he was a professor at American University, which is where the two met. Aaron had told me they’d been together forever. I wondered what their story was. Ben worked at the magazine with Aaron, and they’d known one another through work for a few years.

Katie, Jay and Aaron’s best “girl” friend, was next to arrive, with a guy named Glen. Aaron obviously adored Katie. He fawned over her choice of outfit and gushed over her handbag. She was pixie small, with long auburn hair and a fair complexion. Her features were sharp, a pointed chin and heart-shaped face with high cheekbones, but they suited her. Poor Glen barely got the time of day. Apparently Aaron and Jay didn’t bother getting to know her boyfriends because they didn’t stick around for long. Katie was fun and boisterous. She seemed a little wary of me, but since I was new I took it as a normal reaction of a protective friend.