Zone Defense: Desperate longing for my college roommate (Chapter 4)
I knew from the time I set eyes on Aaron, he was going to cause me trouble
Nathan hated the student union pub. The décor was a vomitus blend of Mystery Machine colors and Wild West furnishings with a bit of frat house odor thrown in for good measure—and predictably, the beer was usually stale. He wouldn't be here at all if he weren’t waiting for Jonathan to finish his shift behind the bar. He couldn't understand why a guy with an ass like that, and abs and pecs to match, wasn't working in a more suitable establishment.
He slid down in his chair. He'd contacted Jonathan as soon as he'd returned to his dorm room and verified Aaron hadn't changed his mind and decided to stay with him. That would've been his preference, to spend winter break with Aaron, to have Aaron hold him while he slept.
He closed his eyes …to wake up to Aaron's big goofy grin every morning.
Fuck.
It wasn't to be, and Jonathan made a damn fine substitute. They'd been practically inseparable all winter break, hanging out together at every opportunity.
With only three days left until the rest of the students returned, they'd been discussing how they would continue the practicalities of their relationship.
Nathan's bed had become command central for all extracurricular activities because Jonathan's roommate had stayed on campus as well, and he wasn't exactly same-sex friendly.
Truth be told, he would've beat the crap out of both of them if he'd found them fucking around in Jonathan's room.
Nathan swilled the last of the beer around in his glass and threw it back. A large hand shoved him in the shoulder, almost knocking him off his seat. His reaction was automatic. He hated being pushed around. His arm swung back as he leaped to his feet, ready to fight.
"What the fuck is your problem?" he shouted.
His anger melted.
Aaron.
Aaron snorted with amusement as he helped settle Nathan back in his seat. "Sorry for sneaking up on you," he said and pointed to Nathan’s empty glass. "Can I buy you another?"
Nathan laughed, quelling the urge to pull Aaron into his arms. "Christ, Aaron," he finally choked out. "Ease up on the protein powder, would you? You're going to kill someone if you get any bigger." He grabbed Aaron's outstretched hand and pounded his shoulder affectionately. "It's good to see you, and yes, you can buy me another."
"Can I talk to you first?" Aaron asked.
"Sure. I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon." Nathan reclined back in his seat. "Is everything all right?"
"I broke things off with Sarah," Aaron blurted out, then paused to study the response on Nathan's face. "That's why I'm back early. I took the bus …I needed to …"
What the hell am I supposed to say to that?
"I'm sorry," Nathan said. "What happened?"
"I found out she cheated on me."
Nathan's eyebrows creased and then rose dramatically. "Seriously? You're going to break up with your girlfriend of what, seven years, over something you're guilty of doing yourself?" He crossed his arms. Double standards infuriated him. "That doesn't seem fair at all."
Aaron shook his head, dismissing Nathan’s response.
"No. It was with one of the guys from the team—"
"So what?" Nathan shrugged his shoulders and pointed at himself. "So was yours."
He lowered his hands onto the table and began fiddling with one of the coasters, rolling and knocking it anxiously. He couldn't believe he was saying this. "You need to go back to Sarah and patch things up."
"Nathan …" Aaron reached forward and brushed his fingers across Nathan's hand. "I've been doing a lot of thinking over winter break." He settled his hand on top of Nathan's and clung to it.
"Aaron, what are you doing?" Nathan's voice lowered to barely a whisper; he was having trouble breathing. The pub wasn't full, but it wasn't empty either. There were at least a dozen people, including two guys from their team, milling around. Aaron was holding his hand in the middle of it all, not caring who saw him doing it, and plenty of people were noticing.
Aaron shifted in his seat.
"In the shower," he said. "You said Sarah could give me the life I want."
"Yeah …wife, kids—"
This is crazy.
"What if that isn't the life I want." Aaron leaned in closer. "What if I met someone that completely changed things for me? What if that someone was you?"
Nathan steadied his breathing and looked toward the bar. Jonathan was drying the inside of a beer mug with a ferocity that told Nathan he'd seen Aaron holding his hand.
"Aaron, I'm seeing someone."
Aaron sat back but didn't let go of his hand. "Who?"
"Jonathan. Remember. The guy I told you about?"
"Is it serious?"
Nathan looked over toward the bar. Jonathan was glaring at him. He turned back to Aaron.
Damn those eyes of his.
"No," Nathan answered.
Aaron nodded his head. "All right, so …would you be interested in starting something with me?"
"What kind of a thing?" Nathan searched Aaron's eyes. If Aaron was looking to set up an exclusive fuck-buddy arrangement, he might have to punch him out.
"I don't know," Aaron looked around nervously. "Like boyfriends or something. That kind of thing." He gripped Nathan's hand tight in his own and brushed his thumb over the knuckles. "I really like you—and not just for the sex. We get on good together."
Nathan could easily see himself with Aaron. He'd considered the possibility many times.
Then why are you hesitating?
Nathan groaned in exasperation. Maybe because, deep down, he knew if he agreed, this wasn't going to be a short-term affair, and that frightened him—a lot.
"If we do this boyfriend thing," Nathan said. "I don't want to hide our relationship. I'm sick of sneaking around and being all hush, hush about who I'm seeing …and sleeping with."
"Nathan," Aaron said, then chuckled as he looked around the bar. "I'm sitting in the middle of the pub holding your hand. What makes you think I'm planning on hiding?"
"You do realize people are going to think you're gay."
"I don't care."
"You'll become the butt of jokes, excuse the pun, and you'll be subjected to the same bullshit I have to put up with."
"I don't care," Aaron repeated with incredible sincerity.
"And even when …" Nathan exhaled and shut his eyes. "If—" He opened them. "Even if we break up, you'll be forever labeled as gay. No one ever buys the bisexual thing."
"I realize that." Aaron lowered his gaze. "But I'm willing to go through that for you." He looked up and lifted a hand to cup Nathan's face. "You're important to me. You have no idea how much I want this. Please, give me a chance to prove it."
Nathan felt certain the entire room could hear the thrumming beat of his heart. It was absolutely deafening. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves.
"All right, prove it," Nathan said. "Kiss me."
"Here?" Aaron looked around. "Right now?"
Nathan raised his eyebrows but didn't have to wait long for Aaron to push toward him and take his mouth …and it wasn't a quick kiss. It was a let's get the fuck out of here kind of kiss.
And that's exactly what they did as soon as Aaron released him.
The race back to their dorm room took much longer than either one of them would've liked, but once they'd burst in through the door, it was only a matter of seconds before their clothes were off and they were falling onto Aaron's bed.
Nathan pushed Aaron down, straddled his hips, and attacked Aaron's mouth as if his life depended on it. He fell headlong into it as the caressing warmth of Aaron's tongue turned his muscles to liquid honey. Nathan groaned and pulled away, wanting to set up a game plan.
"What?" Aaron asked, confused by the abrupt interruption.
"Do you mind if I take the lead?" Nathan asked.
"What do you mean?" Aaron struggled under Nathan's weight. "You're not planning on fucking me, are you?"
"Let's not get that far ahead." Nathan leaned in and kissed and pulled at Aaron's lips. "I want free reign to explore."
"You don't need my permission to—" Aaron gasped sharply as Nathan's tongue and lips swept down his chest and pulled a full thick nipple into his mouth. "Fuck, Nathan—" He grasped onto the bedding and threw his head back.
Nathan stroked his cheek across the hard nub of Aaron’s erect nipple. It had responded immediately to his advances, swelling and puckering until it was taut and pale, and the sweet sounds of desire its stimulation had elicited from Aaron had sent warm surges of need straight through to his dick.
He allowed his mouth a final sweep across Aaron's chest before heading toward infinitely more interesting territory.
He drew a thick line with his tongue straight down the center of Aaron's trembling body. Taking his time would be difficult, but Nathan felt like he'd missed out, somewhat, with their two previous encounters. He liked it when guys took control and sucked and fucked him, but with Aaron, it was different. He wanted to know every detail of Aaron's body as intimately as his own and so much more. He needed to possess him entirely.