When he reached Knight’s latest comment though, the smug one about the necklace not looking particularly right for the period, his finger just hovered over the ‘delete’ button and he left the comment alone in the end. It did lead him though to Knight’s shirtless man-bun video, which was so drool-worthy Elliot sighed loudly when Knight gave him bedroom eyes and smiled from the tiny cracked screen.
How could one man be so handsome, so funny, so sexy, and yet also interested in history, and a badass who’d smashed Martin’s face on top of that? Just remembering how Martin’s head had bounced off the floor of the trailer made Elliot’s hairs bristle. So much force in those fists, and all on his side.
But while Martin wasn’t as handsome, or interested in William Fane, back when they were together, Martin only had eyes for Elliot, whereas Knight clearly didn’t. Even if it had been just because Martin was in the closet and Knight could pick and choose, at least for Martin, Elliot had been the only man who mattered.
Despite things getting so ugly later, there had been good times before. Like that night Martin came over when Father was away for business. They’d fucked twice and watched a whole season of Breaking Bad on top of that. Or that other time when Martin invited Elliot over to his place and ordered three pizzas for the two of them to share.
Elliot drifted off to looking through old text messages, and even though they were cryptic, because Martin had never wanted to write anything ‘gay’ in them, Elliot remembered what each of them meant. How ‘You wanna grab a beer?’ was code for ‘Is your dad home? Can we fuck?’.
He remembered that time not long after they’d met when Elliot was taking the TV to a pawn shop, and Martin had texted Elliot that he’d buy it off him if he delivered it to his home.
Elliot had, and Martin fucked his brains out the same day. He’d been so needy, so grabby, so rough and horny. And after they were done, he’d told Elliot that he bought the TV just to have Elliot come over. Wasn’t that the sweetest gesture?
So many good memories, all in the past now because Elliot had felt rejected and had said some shitty things. Maybe it was time to put his pride on the back burner?
Elliot swallowed and texted Martin. [Hey, how are you doing? I’m sorry for how things went…]
He turned his face away when someone walked past the staircase. He didn’t know who it was, and he didn’t want to accidentally catch anyone’s gaze. The wrong person would surely urge him to help out with preparations, and he refused to put any work into an event that would surely culminate in Knight fucking a stripper in front of the fucking fireplace like it was some eighties porno.
He really didn’t want to participate in any of this.
His heart trembled when a reply came.
[Sorry for lashing out. I panicked because of rumors. Deserved it. You friends with this guy?]
Elliot thought back to the stripper who ticked all the boxes Knight had once mentioned. [Just an acquaintance. I hope you’re healing well? I never wanted for any of that to happen.]
Martin replied almost immediately, as if he couldn’t wait to hear from Elliot again. [Still hurting in some places. If you wanted to nurse me back to health, I could order us some food.]
He actually wanted to see Elliot after all that had happened? The flash of heat going through Elliot’s entire body was like a warm blanket. [You still live at the same place? I could bring a six-pack, we could get smashed and I’m sure I could make you feel better.] Would the last bit be too forward over text? Would it make Martin angry?
Elliot was holding his breath until he got a reply as last. [It would be good to reconnect. Been too long.]
Elliot smiled and hugged the phone to his chest.
Chapter 12
Star’s calf flexed gently in Knight’s hands, and he held on as she playfully tried to pull it back while making no effort to cover her exposed body. He grabbed her other foot—clad in a red stripper heel—and pulled it from beneath her so she had to support her entire body weight only by holding on to the pole. Chuckling loudly, Star wiggled her hips, pretending an attempt to get away yet again.
“This is outrageous. It’s my first time here.”
“I thought that must be. I’d have recognized such a hot cookie if I’d seen you before,” Knight said, eventually getting his hands on her hips and pulling her to sit on the edge of the small stage. Her flesh was supple to touch and completely hairless, the faint scent of her body so inviting he wanted to spread her thighs and bury his face between them already.