“I don’t like that look on your face, Landon Andrews.”
“What about the buddy system?”
“Having a friend with you so you’re safe?”
He chuckles again, and the sound makes me think he wants to pat my cheek like a child.
“No, dumbass. Joining the Corps together. We would end up at basic together, then training, and then we’ll get stationed together.”
“You’ve lost your fucking mind. That doubles the chances of one of us not getting our happy ending.”
He frowns. “That’s not exactly how statistics count.”
“How would you know? You cheated off of Wendy Cris all semester.”
“I took statistics sophomore year here. How did you know that?”
I wave him away. “I told you people talk.”
“I never hooked up with her if you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t. Quit getting me distracted.”
A wicked smile transforms his handsome face as he reaches for the waistband of my shorts.
I don’t stop him, not when he tugs them down and not when he lowers to his knees. As far as I’m concerned, he owes me several blowjobs for the bombs he’s dropped on me today.
“I’m not going to join the Marine Corps just because you suck me off.”
“No?” He pouts, his tongue licking the underside of the head.
I shake my head.
“This is a serious conversation we’re having.”
“This is a serious dick sucking you’re about to get.”
His lips flutter down the side of my cock, enough stimulation to feel good but not enough at the same time.
“Don’t be a fucking tease,” I hiss, grabbing a handful of his hair.
“You may not like,” he licks again, “aggression, but I sure as fuck do. Pull my hair, Daddy.”
I snort-laugh at the ridiculousness of his command.
“I’m going to smack the shit out of you,” I warn.
“I think I may like that as well.” He nips at the side of my dick.
I pop him on the cheek, and he pulls away.
“Okay, yeah. Not for me. You really don’t like the daddy thing?”
I shake my head. “Not so soon after a visit from your parents.”
He cringes at the same time I do.
“Shelve it for now and revisit at another time?” he asks.
I answer with a nod and a smile, my hand on his face to guide him back on my cock. There’s a time to talk and a time to fuck a throat. Right now, it’s the latter.
“We’re very aware of what happens between two people when they’re in love.” He repeats his mother’s words in a high-pitch tone that sounds nothing like her.
“Stop,” I tell him on a laugh. “I’ll lose my erection.”
“Good point.”
He dives in, sucking me off, like on his knees in front of me is his happy place. I don’t even argue an hour and a half later when he does it again. I come to the conclusion very quickly that he’s trying to get me in an orgasm haze so I’ll agree to join the Corps with him, but there is no reality, this one or an alternate one, where I’ll do that.
I want to help people, but I have no desire to do that while carrying a firearm. I decided early in life I didn’t want to be a cop, and as much as I respect Cerberus and everything they do and stand for, I don’t want to be one of the guys.
I haven’t spoken about my dreams and goals with Landon, but we’ll get there, eventually. I just hope he’s as open to the idea of supporting me through them as I am willing to be for him.
Chapter 37
Landon
“You look like you’re going to puke,” Silas whispers, true concern on his face.
“I’m fine,” I grunt, kicking off my sneakers so I can pull on my cleats for practice.
“Maybe you’re not ready.”
“I’m ready.”
I am. I’m completely ready, but that doesn’t mean that I’m also not freaking out a little—okay, a lot—about my plans today.
I can’t even look over at Rick right now.
We’ve spent every possible second together since our last big fight, weeks of the hottest sex of my life, whispered promises, and plans for the future. He hasn’t pressed me about telling others that we’re together, and although I’m mostly grateful that lack of pressure makes my plans all mine, I know a little nudging from him would make it easier. It will also give me someone to blame if it goes wrong. Since he knows me best, he’s not giving me that opportunity.
“Maybe tomorrow will be better,” Silas offers, a weak smile on his face.
I spent an hour in his dorm room last night, pacing the floor and going over every possible outcome to today.
He assured me that everything would be fine. No one was going to freak out or go on some homophobic rant. I can mostly agree with him on that, but others in the locker room aren’t really my concern.
What if Rick says no?
What if when put on the spot he rejects me?