Chapter 6

Before fully committing to Early,I needed a second opinion to make sure I wasn’t being blinded by my hormones. That was why I invited him to my house to meet my roommate. I’d wait a little longer to introduce him to my younger brother, who was currently out tutoring at our music school.

Iason sat on his bed and watched me with amusement. “Wow, I can’t believe you’re nervous. I never thought I’d live to see the day.”

“I’m not nervous. I’m unsettled.” I resisted the urge to pace, but my leg bouncing betrayed my excess nerves. “Having you meet him makes it real.”

His blue gaze softened with understanding. “I’m sure I’ll adore him. If he’s enraptured you, he must be someone spectacular.”

Before I could embarrass myself by waxing poetic about how my new boyfriend was special, the doorbell saved me. I headed down to let him inside. It frustrated me I was legit nervous about having Iason meet Early. I didn’t want it to be a big deal, but it felt monumental when I had always scorned relationships.

I opened the door, revealing Early looking cute in his tight jeans and gray tank with a white button-down shirt that was mostly open. When he lifted his gaze to meet mine, time slowed down as everything in the world disappeared except for him. His beautiful smile was for me and me alone.

It left me tongue-tied for a moment, but he had no problem tugging me down for a sweet kiss. While I lived for our fiery passion, fueled by our burning lust, our tender moments did something to me I had never expected to enjoy. I had only indulged the beast half of my heart before meeting Early. But somehow, his gentleness soothed the part of me that ached to take care of someone I loved.

He laced his fingers with mine as I led him inside the house. Since I was still a jumbled mess, he had no problem taking the lead in the conversation. “How do you say your roommate’s name again? Is it ‘Yay-son,’ or did I screw that up?”

“No, you got it right.” I ordered my nerves to settle down, but they didn’t listen.

He squeezed my hand. “It’s cute that you’re nervous about this.”

“I’ve never had to introduce a boyfriend to anyone before.” Even saying it out loud was weird.

“What a coincidence. Neither have I.” He smiled up at me. “But I’m excited about it.”

I led him to the living room, where Iason was already waiting for us. I took a deep breath as I sat on the couch.

My roommate waved hello. “Hi, I’m Iason.”

“I’m Early.” He held his hand out to shake before sitting next to me. “Nice to meet you.”

“I’m amazed to meet you,” Iason said with a laugh. “Maybe there’s a chance for me yet.”

Early crossed his legs to make himself more comfortable. “What do you mean?”

“Duke swore he’d never fall for somebody, and I’ve never been in love before. But now that he has you, it gives me hope someone is out there for me, too. I’m just waiting for all the stars to align to bring him into my world.”

“Whoever he is, he’ll be worth the wait.” Early said it with a shocking amount of confidence.

“I hope so.” There was a note of wistfulness in Iason’s voice that made me think he wasnt quite as content with his loveless life as he led people to believe. “But tell me more about you. I’m dying of curiosity.”

“I’m majoring in business to learn how to run my own café someday.”

“That’s a much better reason to major in it than me doing what my parents demand.” To say Iason didn’t have an ideal relationship with his folks was an understatement. “Do you plan on staying here locally, or are you moving somewhere else after graduation?”

I appreciated his question since it was an important piece of information I hadn’t been able to gather myself yet.

“My family lives here, so I’ll stay in Sunnyside.” His answer loosened a weight on my chest that I hadn’t noticed before. It was an immense relief to know I wouldn’t lose him after we graduated. “I’d love to set up my café near campus. I want to call it the Brewhaha Café but spelled like you brew a cup of coffee instead of B-R-O-U,like the actual word.”

It was cute and creative, which made it perfect for Early. “I like it.”

“What about you two? What are your big hopes and dreams?”

“I’d love to be a professional musician,” Iason said without hesitation, “but it’s a pipe dream.”

“Not with your voice,” I told him. “You just need the right person to hear you sing.”

He shrugged. “Thus, the pipe dream part of it. I can’t build a career out of hoping some executive hears me sing at an open mic night and offers me a contract.”

“It’ll happen. You’re too good not to get discovered.” I had absolute faith in Iason’s talents.

“What about you?” Early asked me.

“I’m running my mother’s music school right now.” I had taken it over once her cancer had progressed to where she wasn’t able to do it anymore. Thankfully, I could rely on her longtime employees to help me keep everything afloat. “Once my younger brother graduates high school, he’ll take over the day-to-day operations since he’s the musician in the family.”

“What will you do after that?”

I shrugged. “Continue supporting him.”

Early bumped me with his shoulder. “Come on. What’s your big dream?”

It was weird talking about something that I had only told Iason about before. “I’d like to start a bar and grille someday. Like you, I’m taking business classes to make sure I could run it successfully.”

“You can cook?”

I arched an eyebrow at him. “Why do you sound surprised?”

“Because you’re clearly the hunter and I’m the gatherer in this caveman relationship,” he said in a teasing voice.

“Mom never remarried after my father bailed on her, so I learned how to cook from an early age. I didn’t want her to come home after a long day at work and worry about feeding me and my brother.” The look of awe and understanding in Early’s eyes filled me with an unfamiliar, warm glow of contentment. “It turns out I wasn’t half-bad at it.”

Iason snorted. “Not half-bad? Try incredibly good. There’s no need for modesty when he makes burgers that are orgasmically delicious.”

“Orgasmically delicious?” Early’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “Looks like you’re cooking dinner tonight, then. I need to judge for myself if that’s true.”

“I can make that happen.”

Early’s smile turned wry. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. You’re so good at taking care of people that it makes sense you’d be an amazing cook.” He gave me a sweet kiss that caught me off guard when I wasn’t used to public displays of affection. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to use your bathroom.”

As soon as Early was out of earshot, Iason pounced. “Oh, you’ve got it for him really bad, don’t you?”

My cheeks heated in embarrassment. “Yeah, and it’s fucking weird.”

“No, it’s cute. He’s a total sweetheart, which you absolutely need right now.” Iason’s words eased my worries. “I really like him, Duke. He’ll be good for you. And, more importantly, good to you.”

Despite the short time I had known Early, something deep within me agreed without a shadow of a doubt. “Thanks.”

When Early returned to my side, Iason stood up from the couch. “It was great meeting you, Early. I hope we can all hang out sometime soon. But I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of your date.”

Before I could protest, Early replied for me. “I look forward to it.”

Iason left with a wave, leaving me alone with my new boyfriend, who wasted no time in leading me upstairs to my room, shutting the door behind us. “I’d say that went well, wouldn’t you?”

“It did.” My hands sought his slender waist.

“I can’t wait to taste your burgers.” His grin turned impish as he pushed me onto my bed. “But I also can’t wait to taste you.”

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what he was offering. I kicked off my shoes and socks, then stripped off my shirt, making him laugh while he tugged my jeans and briefs off to reveal my arousal that stood at full attention.

He knelt in front of me and put on a show of licking along my length before letting me slide into his mouth. I watched in awe as I disappeared deep into his throat until his nose brushed against my trimmed pubes. Considering my size, I was even more impressed by his talent as he began bobbing his head while sucking my dick as if it held the elixir of life. He’d pull back and tease the tip before drinking me down to the base. The exquisite pleasure made my toes curl.

When he toyed with my balls, I groaned as it sent tingles through me. His masterful talent made my muscles tense as he continued working my cock for everything it was worth. He hummed deep in his throat, drawing a soft moan out of me as I carded my fingers through his blond hair in silent encouragement.

Because of my endurance, most guys gave up on blow jobs and switched to having me fuck them. But Early was unstoppable as he worked my length with boundless enthusiasm. Him being so dedicated to getting me off pushed me to the brink of release. His mouth was a magical wonderland that offered me untold pleasures. Even when I thrust deeper, he effortlessly swallowed me down.

“I’m close, Duchess.” The more I used the nickname for him, the more I loved it. There was something about it that made him sound like he was mine. I had originally used it because I thought he’d hate the name, but now I was glad he liked it. “So close. Your mouth is as amazing as the rest of you.”

He took me so deep that I didn’t know how he didn’t gag. The sight of me buried inside him made me come with a protracted moan. He swallowed my load, then licked his lips to catch the last taste of me.

It was so sexy that I gestured for him to straddle over me so I could plunder his mouth for a heated kiss. His wicked tongue danced against mine, making me burn for him.

Early paused long enough to get off me to strip out of his clothes before he was back on top of me and kissing me senseless. He rubbed his erection against my abs with whimpers of need. I groped his ass hard and helped guide his rocking hips as he frotted against me while plundering my mouth with his magical tongue.

When he moved with more urgency, I reached down and took over. He cried out as he thrust into my grip faster. It didn’t take much before he spilled cum all over my hand and abs.

As he kissed me again, I knew in that moment that he’d be my duchess forever. For the first time in my life, that didn’t seem so scary. I was looking forward to our future together.