Chapter 13

Last year, a development company offered to buy a piece of land from us. Madde and I had been going back and forth for months about the strip on the western outskirts of the property, only a few kilometers away from Ed. The project was housing, which the municipality had confirmed, and the offer sounded good, but I wanted to be sure about the company. I had a lawyer looking into them.

With school closed today, I took Madde to the area and we walked around the forest for a bit.

"The part from the lake shore to the road belongs to the municipality. They're going to build on it regardless. But if we sell, they can expand their plans."

"What exactly are they going to do here?" Madde asked.

"One part will be small apartment buildings, three stories at the most. A few lots intended for villas will be sold off to private owners. They'll add a preschool later."

"I wonder why they want to build here. Isn't the number of residents in Ed steadily declining?"

"It used to be. But with the fast train connection to Gothenburg and everybody working remotely these days, things are turning around."

She gazed over the clearing, shielding her eyes from the low spring sun. "Honestly, I trust you, Bj?rn. Do whatever you think is best."

I chuckled. "Then why did you even come with me?"

Turning to me, she grinned. "I wanted to spend time with you. And it's nice here."

We sat on a rock in a small clearing, and Madde opened a thermos of coffee.

"How was your date last night?" I asked.

"Okay." Her tone was curt. I waited for her to elaborate, but she sipped her coffee and said nothing.

"What does he do?" I prodded.

"He works for money."

I snorted at her non-reply. "Madde? Is something on your mind?"

"Not really. I've just decided that I'm going to tell you as much about my private life as you've been telling me about yours."

Then she raised her eyebrows at me and smirked.

"Not fair," I grumbled.

"Tough."

I almost wanted to tell her about Eric. Hell, some days, I was bursting with the desire to babble about him to someone. I could talk about how sweet he was, how tender and thoughtful, yet how sexy. How he made me shiver with a simple kiss on my cheek. His eyes seemed to glow when he looked at me, as if he felt the same giddy flutter in his belly that I did whenever he was close.

I wanted to tell her I might be falling in love.

But it was too soon.

"Lars hasn't asked me out in ages," I said instead.

"You don't miss his advances."

"No. I really don't."

"I feel sorry for the boy. With Linda fading away, it must be incredibly hard on him."

"The moment she dies, he'll be selling the house and moving away. He can't wait to get out of Gryta."

"He could have left ages ago and moved her into a home," Madde said.

"Nah. He'd never do that to her."

"And you've never…?" she asked, squinting at me.

"With Lars? Lord, no. We're like oil and water."

"But you've been spending time with him and the rest of the group."

"Well, yeah. Olaf, Fredrik, Theo, and now Eric."

"Eric mentioned the Eurovision party and that he made sushi for you lot."

Danger. Danger."He's a great cook. Olaf was waxing lyrical about it."

"And Eric and Lars…"

I almost spit out my coffee. "No!"

"Why not?" she said innocently.

"Lars is crass and a sl…um… He's…" I didn't have to look at her to know I'd put my foot into my mouth.

"Slut-shaming? Really? Since when are you such a prude, Mr. I'm-just-going-shopping-to-Gothenburg?"

I gaped. Did she know about that? Of course she did.

"Don't look at me like that," she said. "When my adult gay son goes for a weekend trip to the city, I'm not going to assume he's merely getting a pedicure."

My face was on fire. Lord knew what she'd been imagining. "I haven't been there in months."

"I noticed. Why?"

I looked away and shrugged. "It's been…unsatisfying. Made me feel icky afterward."

She was silent for a while, then threw an arm around my back. She pulled out her phone and showed me a picture of a neatly shaved gray-haired man in glasses. He had kind blue eyes and a shy smile. At first, I was confused, but then I recognized the app's design. Tinder.

"His name is Johan. He's fifty-two, divorced, and has two adult daughters. We've met twice so far. He lives in Trollh?ttan, but we went out in Mellerud and then in Ed, so I wouldn't have to drive that long."

"Do you like him?"

"So far."

"Did you run the test?"

She cackled at that. "Of course, I did. He thinks immigration is necessary and economically beneficial, but Sweden hasn't been handling the inclusion well. One of his daughters is bi and dating a genderfluid person. He's against private schools and private health insurance, and despite being a businessman, he votes left and green."

"Damn. He sounds like a unicorn."

Madde wriggled against me, her curls tickling my face. "I know! I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"Hopefully, both shoes are on the ground already."

She was quiet for a moment, just looking around the spring forest.

"Bj?rn."

"Hm?"

"Why haven't you asked Eric out yet? The real answer."

That propelled me from my seat. I stood and began packing the thermos and empty mugs.

"Just because two single gay men happen to live in the same area doesn't mean they have to be attracted to each other."

"You don't find him attractive enough?" The outrage in her voice could have been bottled.

"I didn't say that."

"Then I don't get it."

I threw the backpack around with more force than necessary, hoisting it up onto my shoulders.

"He's amazing, okay? He's smart and sexy as hell. I've been building up my courage. Happy now?" It wasn't technically a lie.

She smiled like the sun. "He's interested too. He gets all flustered when I mention you."

"Well, I don't want it to get awkward in case he's not," I muttered, grasping at straws. "And don't talk to him about me!"

Hooking her arm around my elbow, she patted my biceps.

"You'll make such a cute couple."

"For fuck's sake, Madde, drop it, please."

She didn't mention Eric for the rest of the day, but her knowing smiles haunted me.

Two days later,Eric was coming for dinner, and I hoped he'd stay over. While I felt guilty about keeping it from Madde, the sneaking around had been fun. We dodged Inger the other day, literally hiding in the bushes. He was giggling into his hands, trying to stay quiet while Inger walked past us with her little terrier. The pup barked at us, but since it barked at everything, she dragged it away, muttering something about squirrels. By the time she was gone, we were wheezing with laughter.

I couldn't wait for tonight. It was our first date since the day at the bastu that wasn't on a school night. I didn't want to seem overly eager, but I also wanted to be ready… So I'd douched. Better safe than sorry and all that.

Madde was meeting some friends for dinner in Ed, so the coast was clear. Eric would come on foot through the forest in case someone saw his car parked in front of my barn.

I had the salmon in the oven, the potatoes cooked, the salad dressed, and a nice bottle of prosecco cooling in the fridge. I'd even made appetizers with shrimp and red caviar. Eric liked seafood.

Looking around my little kitchen, I wondered if I should bring the cloth napkins from the main house. A discreet knock on the door made me jerk.

Why was my heart pounding so hard? Eric had the power to make me nervous, like I was seventeen, about to kiss a boy for the first time.

But then I opened the door, and he beamed at me, his pretty face glowing. I kissed him, lingering for a few breaths. God, he was sweet.

Something hard nudged my ribcage.

"Careful," Eric murmured against my mouth. "I brought dessert."

I'd been so caught up in his expression and the feel of his mouth on mine that I hadn't even noticed he'd been holding something. I took the cloth-covered ceramic plate from him so he could toe off his shoes and hang his jacket.

"What is it?" I asked. "It smells like vanilla and cocoa."

"I made kladdkaka from a recipe online. I only tasted the batter, but it should be good."

"Oh wow." I peeked under the cloth. "It looks perfect."

"I added a little sherry." He waggled his eyebrows like he was admitting to a petty crime, and I had to laugh.

"Come in. Dinner's ready."

He wore a simple blue button-down that clung to his torso, and I couldn't help but look forward to getting him naked again. Soon.

"Your stepmother is onto us," Eric said ominously once we sat down at the table.

"She has no idea we've been seeing each other, I swear."

He scanned the laid-out plates and bowls. "This is a full-on feast. You do know how to cook." We clinked our prosecco glasses and dug in. Eric took a bite of the baguette with shrimp on top and groaned. "Delicious. Thank you."

"I have my moments. But you were saying something about Madde."

Nodding, he chewed, covering his mouth with his hand until he swallowed. "She doesn't know about us sneaking around, but she knows something."

"Why do you think that?"

"She keeps casually bringing you up in the conversation and watching for my reaction. It's creepy."

I winced. "She does the same with me."

"Do you think she saw us?"

Did Madde know and was pretending not to? That was way too convoluted. I shook my head. "Not possible."

The conversation on our trip the other day replayed in my head.

"You're blushing," Eric said. "What is it?"

"I'm not."

"Your ears are red. Tell me."

I groaned. "It's embarrassing, but I think she might be trying to push us together."

Eric snickered. "Really?"

"I'm afraid so."

"This will be fun. So she wants us to go out but doesn't know we're already going out. We're not technically lying to her, are we? She's still my boss."

"Well, I am lying a little. She thinks I've been doing a little too much fishing without catching any fish. I should start making up better excuses."

Eric shook his head, chuckling. "Fishing, really?"

"I had my tackle in the truck bed when I met you by the lake on Thursday."

He took another bite, humming as he chewed and swallowed. "Thursday was lovely," he said, smiling.

My mind went back to the way his cock fit into my throat and how he'd fisted my hair when he came. Then he'd pushed me against a tree and licked and kissed my dick until I was shaking. Lovely indeed.

"I will have to tell her eventually, but we're fine for a little longer."

"Okay. Just warn me if it changes."

"I will."

The salmon had turned out great. Eric liked it too, and I felt stupidly proud when he praised the food.

We talked about the school and the property I was thinking of selling, then planned for another bastu session on Sunday. We'd been talking for a while, our plates empty, the sky outside darkening.

"Do you want dessert? I have ice cream in the freezer, but I believe you brought kladdkaka."

"How about we wait with the dessert…until after."

Eric walked around the table, and I pushed my chair back as he straddled me. My hands went to his jean-clad ass, and I caught his upper lip between mine.

"After what?" I asked.

"You've wined and dined me, and now I'd like you to fuck me. If you're up for that."

I squeezed his ass on instinct. I was up for anything.

"Whatever you want."

"Oh? Don't give me all the power, Bj?rn. I get greedy."

I bucked under him, kneading his ass. I was hard already.

"Good. Be greedy."

"I want to ride you, and then I want you to take me on my knees from behind." He pressed down on my erection as he said that. "And one day, if you feel like it, I'd like to make you come on my cock."

I'd come before I even had the chance to take off my pants. "Anytime. I've prepped."

He leaned back, his eyes wide. "You have?"

I ducked my chin and shrugged. I hadn't bottomed in a long time, and with Eric, it would be amazing.

He gripped my chin and pulled me closer for a deep, dirty kiss, stroking my tongue with his.

"I did too. We can switch," he whispered against my wet lips.

"Fuck yes." I clutched him to me, and the chair squeaked under our weight.

"Bed?" he breathed.

Instead of answering, I stood up with him in my arms. He hugged my neck, laughing out loud as I staggered the few steps to my bedroom.

I dropped him on the bed so he bounced. He looked so happy. Beautiful.

When he started pulling off his clothes, I followed. We were naked in seconds.

Then I had him in my arms again, skin on skin, our hard cocks bumping together.

"Lube?"

"In the nightstand." I stretched to open it, and Eric fumbled for the bottle.

"Condoms?" he asked next.

"I haven't hooked up since my last negative tests, but if you want them, they're in the same drawer."

"I tested before I left Stockholm."

I pulled in a shuddering breath. "Can we go bare?" Fuck. I wanted him so much I could weep.

"Yes, we can."

He pushed on my shoulders and sat on my groin before kissing me again.

I loved kissing Eric. Loved it. He tasted of the wine we'd been drinking, but under that was him—more a sensation than a taste. It was in the way his lips and tongue moved against mine, seamless yet surprising. Every kiss felt like a new adventure. He grazed my lip with his teeth just as he gripped my cock with his hand that was miraculously already slick with lube. Damn, he was great at multitasking. I just lay there, overwhelmed, clutching at his lean thighs while he moved lubed fingers in his ass and stroked my cock with his other hand.

His eyelids drooped as he stretched himself for me.

"I wanted to rim you," I mumbled uselessly. He was already lining up.

"Next time. I want you now."

His slippery flesh enveloped my cockhead, and my eyes rolled back into my head.

"Oh fuck! Eric! Slow down. Slow!"

It couldn't be over already.

A firm fist squeezed the base of my cock almost to the point of pain, and I groaned.

"If you come too soon, we'll just do it again," he said breathlessly and sank lower, taking me deeper into the heat of his body.

I could only pant and moan as he rocked, his thigh muscles gliding under my hands.

We were making love. Eric had my cock in his body. Why the hell couldn't I see?

I forced my eyes open and gasped.

"You're beautiful." The words fell out of my mouth, unchecked.

But he was. He smiled softly at me as he slid up and down. Bracing himself on my thighs, he leaned back and circled his hips. His hard cock stuck up from the nest of trimmed dark-brown curls, a pearl of precum at the tip. His thigh muscles rippled as he fucked himself slowly, chest heaving.

So stunning.

He had a small birthmark next to his belly button and a faint bruise on his inner thigh. A couple of round scars sat over his ribs on the left. Had he had chicken pox as a kid?

I wanted to remember every detail.

But then he rocked back and forth, and I cried out.

"Eric, I'll come."

He grinned and thrust harder.

"Do it. I'll play with your ass until you're hard again."

That did it. I bucked up into him, and he cried out, arching back.

I sheathed myself deep inside him, and the world went dark around me as I twitched and shuddered through an orgasm of the ages.

Eric sat on top of me, smiling victoriously as he gently scratched through the hair on my stomach.

"Good?"

I could only nod.

He cleaned me up with tissues and lay on top of me, his erection rubbing my stomach.

After kissing from my ear to my collarbone, he shuffled lower and sucked on my nipples. My fingers went into his hair.

"Do you need a break, or can I finger you?" he asked.

"You can do whatever you want with me whenever you want it." It made him laugh, but the scary thing was, I meant it.

He pushed my legs up, folding me into a neat little parcel.

And then he kissed my pucker. Just like that, without warning.

"?h fan."

I held my knees to my chest, lifting my tail end as he stuffed a pillow under my ass.

His tongue dancing over my closed rim was the sweetest torture. The sounds I made didn't register in my memory, but I must have been loud. My mouth was dry and my throat a little sore. By the time he licked inside me, I was hard again, my balls drawn up tight.

He worked me open, alternating between his tongue and fingers, and I lost myself for a while. Time didn't exist. All I could take in was the squirmy, tingly sensation in my loosening ass, the throbbing in my cock, and Eric's voice washing over me.

"I'll fuck you until you're close again, and then you'll fuck me. I'm still wet with your cum in me."

My cultured, pretty teacher had a dirty mouth.

I was so damn lucky.

The fullness when he pressed inside me stole my breath. He inched carefully in and out, and I melted into the mattress.

"Bj?rn, you feel like heaven."

Slow slide out, a push inside, deeper, deeper…

His balls brushed my crease.

"Faaan."

Nestled inside me, he lay over me and kissed me.

Fireworks exploded in my chest and belly.

"I love this so much," I murmured against his lips.

"Tell me when you're close."

"You can fuck me for hours. Just don't touch my dick."

"Mmm. You're such a sweet, eager bottom."

I couldn't reply because his cockhead brushed my gland. I whined.

Eric braced himself on the back of my thighs and began nailing that spot until I saw stars.

Did I tell him I would last forever if he didn't jerk me off? Now I wasn't so sure. I'd never come from fucking only, but Eric could get me there.

Then I remembered he wanted me to bend him over. I took a few more thrusts, savoring every push and slide, but I was getting dangerously close to losing control. I gritted my teeth and let go of my knees. Eric slid out.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Never better," I bit out. "Next time, I want you to fuck me just like that until I come all over myself, but now…get on your knees."

He grinned and scrambled to obey, pushing his ass out. He lowered himself on his elbows and curved his back. He looked like a porn star, but better because he was real and wanted me of all people.

I got behind him, my cock jerking needily. My ass was slick and loose, the sensation adding to my arousal. I added lube to my fingers and worked two inside Eric. My cum is still in him.

My cock sank into him with barely any resistance. I cupped his spread ass cheeks and watched my cock slide in and out of his open body, his pink rim stretched taut around me.

"You can be rough. I like it hard."

He was going to kill me.

I found a rhythm that made him moan and whimper. Grabbing the headboard with one hand, I bent forward to find a better angle. His rim clung to my length and his inner muscles squeezed me just right. Then I saw the old cum frothing around our connection, and my mind got foggy with lust.

I sped up, and he yelled a resounding yes as I worked his gland single-mindedly.

"I want to make you come."

He didn't reply. The noises he made grew more guttural as he shifted a little, reaching between his legs.

Then I felt his hole spasm.

Perfection.

I fucked him through his orgasm until he collapsed under me, dislodging my cock. I rubbed it over his ass cheeks, and he chuckled weakly.

"That was amazing," he murmured.

"Yeah?"

He rolled over and grabbed my stained cock, stroking it slowly. "I'd tell you all about how great your dick is and how nicely you fucked me, but I don't want to sound like cheesy porn."

I wanted to say something witty, but he rolled my balls in his other hand, and I lost my train of thought.

"I love how thick you are and how hard you get when you're close."

He twisted his hand and tugged my foreskin down, and I thrust into his grip on instinct.

"Do you want to come all over me?" he asked innocently.

I gnawed on my lower lip, torn. I could ask him to spread his legs and come on his fucked-out ass or on his soft cock…but we had time. "Depends. Would you like to fuck me after dessert?"

He grinned and let go of my erection, making me hiss.

"I'm going to pound you into next week," he threatened and lifted onto his elbows to kiss me.