Reg was his usual attentive, jovial, touchy self. He dragged Jeremy onto every dance floor and taught him the fine art of grinding. He sang along, loud and off-key, to any song he recognized. He laughed and joked with random people they met, immediately making new friends, but never failed to include Jeremy, even if it was merely with an arm around his waist.
As the night progressed, it seemed as if Reg was monitoring their alcohol intake more than usual. When Jeremy asked about it, Reg said, “I don’t want either of us too drunk to make smart decisions tonight, superstar. Besides, we’re having a good time, aren’t we?”
Unable to argue with that statement, Jeremy let it go and enjoyed himself, feeling liberated and unrecognizable in his costume. Unfortunately, the rush of being free and happy started to fade as they walked into their hotel, and by the time they made it through the lobby, up the elevator, and down the hallway to their room, Jeremy was on the cusp of a meltdown.
“You shower first, then put on your sleep pants and a shirt and get in bed,” Reg said as soon as they stepped into the room.
The sentence was like a punch to the gut. Jeremy was hurt and confused that, after what they’d shared earlier that evening, Reg would want them to shower apart and get dressed before going to bed. Did that mean Reg hadn’t enjoyed what they’d done in the shower as much as he had? Did it mean Reg no longer wanted their bare bodies to connect during the night? Were the desires slamming through his head and chest and groin one-sided?
His feelings must have shown on his face, because Reg pulled off his mask, drew him into a hug, and gently said, “Earlier tonight you said you wanted to talk, and I can see that you’re getting worked up again.” He removed Jeremy’s wig, tossed it on the bed, and then buried his fingers in Jeremy’s sweaty hair, massaging his scalp. “If we get naked together right now, I don’t think I’ll have the self-restraint necessary to keep from jumping you, and then we’ll never get to hash out whatever you’ve got going on in here.” He tapped Jeremy’s temple. “That’s the only reason I’m not dragging you into the shower and burning all your clothes so you’re forced to be nude. I promise.” He kissed the tip of Jeremy’s nose. “Okay?”
“Yeah.” Jeremy’s cheeks heated. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for.” Reg kissed him again—his cheek that time—and then nudged him toward the bathroom.
Being alone in the shower meant being alone with his thoughts, which meant wondering what was wrong with him and how a guy as charismatic, good looking, and self-confident as Reggie Moore could stand him.
“I’m putting some clothes in here for you, JJ.”
Reg’s voice jerked him from his downward spiral. “Uh, what?”
“Clothes. I put them on the counter. Now stop freaking out and finish up in there. I’d drag you out myself, but then I’d see you naked and wet, and the next thing you know, I’d have you pinned to the bathroom floor with my mouth around your dick.”
“Oh God.”
“The moaning isn’t helping,” Reg said hoarsely. “Get out of there so I can have my turn in the shower. Then we can talk, and if you’re still awake after, I can blow you.”
The door closed with a loud thud. Jeremy snapped out of his stupor and scrubbed down as quickly as possible. Once he was dry, dressed, and had his hair and teeth brushed, he walked out of the bathroom.
Reg was standing by the bed wearing his briefs and clutching his sleep clothes. He stared at Jeremy, his gaze hot and full of longing. Then he stepped by him to get to the bathroom and groaned. “Fuck. You smell good.”
“So do you,” Jeremy whispered. Underneath the odor of beer and bars, there was the scent of Reg’s body, which Jeremy realized made his groin tighten. He had gone from having what he’d considered an average sex drive his entire life to constantly feeling like a bundle of hormones ready to explode at the smallest touch.
Leaning toward him, Reg’s nostrils flared, and his lips parted. Jeremy was sure he was about to be kissed. Despite how close he was to Reg and how comfortable they were touching each other; despite the fact that they’d played with the Fleshlights many times over the previous couple of weeks; despite the fact that Reg had taken him in hand earlier that night and brought him to the most powerful orgasm of his life… they hadn’t ever kissed. As Jeremy stood still, watching Reg’s handsome face nearing him, he found himself wondering what it would be like to feel Reg’s lips against his, to know his taste.
But just before Reg got close enough to touch or kiss, he shook his head and moved away. “I’ll just be a minute,” he said and hurried into the bathroom.