CHAPTER SIX

Noah loved his balls to be played with, even when it was himself doing the touching. He cupped them, rubbed, as his other lubed fist rapidly jerked up and down his cock. Each time he reached the head, he rubbed it with his thumb reveling in the feel of it rasping over the little hole there.

He was such an ass to be masturbating at the thought of his straight best friend, but that knowledge didn't stop him from thrusting his hips as he jacked-off. From squeezing tighter and stroking faster, as his other hand teased his sac.

He was right there—his orgasm right at the surface, fighting to break free. Noah wanted to hold it off, to keep feeling his hand working himself. But damn, he needed to come too. Needed the release, because he was wound so fucking tight.

So , Noah let himself do it, let himself pretend it was Cooper's hand on him. Let himself imagine Coop's thumb rubbing the pre-come from where it beaded at his head. His hips thrust faster, and then his balls drew up tight. A jet of come flew up, landing on his abdomen. He jerked again and shot more, pleasure rushing through him before he went limp on the bed.

Noah got up, grabbed a towel and cleaned off. He dropped back into bed, flinging an arm over his head and closing his eyes. Jesus, this lust for Coop hit him hard and fast. Though he guessed , if he was being honest with himself, it wasn't much of a surprise. He'd always been more deeply connected to Cooper than he had anyone else in his life. Only when he was a kid, it was just friendship. Now it was all mixed-up, and fucked-up by the fact that he wanted him. Noah needed to find a way to get over this, before he did something stupid and screwed everything up.

***

Noah slept like shit the whole night. Deciding it wasn't worth it to stay in bed, tossing and turning, Noah got up early. It couldn't be any later than six, if it was even that. He pulled on a pair of shorts and headed for the shower.

Noah let the hot water pour over him until it started to turn cold. Nothing relaxed him like a hot shower. Okay, maybe one thing did , but considering he didn't really know many people in this town—none of them being gay—he didn't think sex was going to happen any time soon.

After washing up in lukewarm water, Noah got out, dried off and wrapped his towel tightly around his waist. If there wasn't a reason for Cooper to be up early, he never was. The man slept like the dead. He could pass out anywhere, which Noah usually could too , but he rose fairly early every day.

Coop's habit of sleeping in was exactly the reason he didn't expect to walk out of the bathroom, round the corner and slam right into him.

He had his shirt off, his hair sticking up as though he'd run his hands through it a million times, just the way Noah had imagined him, when he'd jerked-off last night. "Shit. Sorry." He went to pull back but Cooper was already doing the same. His eyes down the hall, to the floor, on the ceiling, anywhere other than on Noah.

"No problem. Easy to do. I mean, not easy. Well it is but…fuck. I gotta take a piss." Cooper moved around him, with clothes and a towel in his hand, as though he was taking a shower. He slammed the bathroom door behind him.

What the hell was that?

Did he already fuck-up somehow? Cooper's reaction made him think he did.

Shaking his head, Noah made his way back to his room. He dressed and then found random shit to do for a little while. He needed to get out of the house for a while today. Get some fresh air away from Cooper, and get some perspective or something.

And , start getting his life together. He'd sat around for a month. Granted he'd been hurt, but it was still too long. His father used to fall apart when his mom played her games. That wouldn't be Noah.

When he made his way into the kitchen, Coop was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee. This time, with his shirt on. Thank God.

"I'm going to head out. I want to grab some parts for the shower, and maybe see if there's any buildings or shops I can look into." It was probably a good idea to get Cooper's shower fixed so they didn't have the same problem again.

Coop nodded. "Let me know if you need me to ask around. And give me the receipt for whatever you buy , and I'll pay ya back."

"Thanks. I will. Town's not too big, I'm sure I'll figure something out."

"Depending on when you get back, I might not be here. I talked to Adrianna, this woman I see from time to time. We're going out, and then I'm staying at her place tonight." Cooper grinned at him.

A knot formed in Noah's gut , that he had no business feeling. Coop had a right to go out. It surprised him this was the first time Cooper had made plans with a woman. "Guess I don't need to tell ya to have fun," Noah tried to tease, but the words were awkward on his tongue.

"Definitely not." He stood and Noah looked at him. For the first time all morning, Cooper met his eyes.

Coop s tood there for a second, staring at him as though he wanted to say something else. Noah waited, but it never came. "Have a good one. I'll see ya tomorrow or something."

Hell, maybe Noah would go out too. Ma ybe a night with a man was what he needed to get his mind off Cooper.

***

Cooper stood at the counter in the busy bar. It wasn't the same one he'd taken Noah to the other night. He decided to take Adrianna to Rowdies. Things were a little upbeat here. A band played in the back. The dance floor so packed, it looked like people could hardly move.

T hey always tried to go places that weren't right in town. Rumors spread so fast in Blackcreek, and since neither Adrianna or Cooper wanted anything serious with each other, it made things easier.

"You're awfully quiet, Cooper." She looked up at him from the sto ol she sat on. Coop stood in front of her, close, Adrianna's back to the bar so she could see him.

And she was rig ht. He was being quiet. But he wasn't sure why. "Nah. You're imagin' things." He grinned at her and she smiled back. She really was a beautiful woman. He'd always loved red hair. Hers was this deep shade, with certain spots looking almost purple in some lights. Cooper touched it, let some of the strands slide through his fingertips. All that soft hair. This was what he needed to try and focus on. This and the fact that they both wanted the same thing from each other was just icing on the cake. She wasn't looking for a guy like Coop for the long haul. He guessed he wasn't the kind of guy she thought would be a good fit as her kid's stepdad.

She was right. Not that he didn't like kids. He just never saw himself as a father. The thought of getting hurt and leaving a child behind scared him too much.

Leaning forward, he put his mouth close to her ear. "It's been a while. How have things been with you?" His arms were on either side of her, palms on the edge of the counter.

"Too l ong. And things are good. Keeping busy at work." She had this husky, smoky voice, that had always driven him wild. "How's your friend that you brought to the ER? He hurt his ribs, right?"

At that, Cooper pulled away and stood up straight. It would mean he'd have to talk louder so she could hear. Noah was the last person he wanted to talk to Adrianna about. Which made him an asshole. It wasn't his friend's fault Cooper had a fucked-up dream about him, and started noticing him in ways he shouldn't. "All healed up."

Picking up his beer, he drank the whole thing and then signaled for the bartender to bring another one. "You ready for more?" he asked, but the glass in Adrianna's hand was still half full. She held it up to show him.

"I'm good. So, he's new in town, right? How'd you guys end up friends so fast?"

Coope r fought his groan. She was only being friendly and making conversation, but the point in tonight was to get his mind off Noah, not to keep thinking about him.

It was a fluke. A weird night. I'm not attracted to Noah.

"He and I were friends as kids. He up and disappeared while I was away with my aunt one weekend , and I never heard from him again. Not till he came back last month. Been seventeen years."

He hadn't needed to say all that. It pissed himself off that he did.

Cooper grabbed the new beer and took a couple long pulls. "I want my hands on you. Come dance with me."

She smiled and set her drink down. Cooper joined his hand with hers and led her to the dance floor. The song was fast but he still pulled her tightly against him, moving slowly, letting his hands skate up and down her back. Soft, soft, soft. That's what I want.

They danced a few songs, Adrianna exploring as much as Coop. Afterward, they took a break and he ordered another drink, bullshitting about life and whatever else they could think to talk about. Anytime they went out, Adrianna never drank more than one.

The conversation continued on for a while. Each time Cooper went to ask her if she was ready to leave, he asked her another question instead. I'm putting off going home with her. Why isn't Adrianna turning me on like she always has?

F inally it was Adrianna who prompted, "Not that I'm not having a good time here with you, Coop, but you have to remember, I need to be home early for my daughter. She has a soccer game in the morning, and it's highly frowned upon for me, as the coach to be late."

His pulse spiked. "I thought your daughter was with her dad tonight, so we were going to your place?"

She shook her head. "The soccer schedule got changed and she has the early game. It's not fair to her dad to lose time with her, and have to get her home early. He's taking her next weekend instead. I got a sitter for tonight." Her nose wrinkled, and he could tell she wondered what the big deal was. It wasn't as if she'd never come to his house before.

Coop shook his head. What the hell was his problem? It shouldn't be a problem. He had the right to bring a woman home, just like Noah had the right with a man.

Coop pushed to his feet, the chair accidentally falling backward. "Shit." He bent and picked it up. He needed to relax. Coop had no idea why he was so on edge.

"Let me go pay and we can go." He took care of the tab and then met Adrianna by the door. They had taken her car. There wasn't a place for Coop to hide his truck at her house, so she often drove. She always pulled her car around by the shed at his place.

"Ready?" he asked , as he held the door open for her.

"Always."