12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Locke

A fter two intimate nights together, sleeping entwined, and bringing each other pleasure, I found myself already missing having someone in bed with me. I fought the urge to drop in at his place or ask him to come back to mine. It was hard enough not immediately messaging him after he'd left my house, but I was trying to let it breathe for a moment.

Everything had moved quickly with him, but it also didn't. I felt more comfortable with Adam in the short time I'd known him than I had with any of the few guys I had relationships with. I couldn't contain the spontaneous combustion of intense joy that would burst through me as I thought of random moments with him.

Editing teaser video and graphics, and bam…smiling like a fool as I thought of him in my chair. Taking a shower, bam—Joker-face—as I saw the washcloth he'd used hanging from the shower caddy. Lying in bed and smelling him on my pillow, I pressed my face into it, grateful no one could see how deliriously happy it made me. In such a short time, there were reminders of him in every room of my house. I was smitten, completely and utterly by the short, exuberant man.

I wasn't sure how much time I should allow before talking with him again, but luckily he saved me from having to worry about it for too long when he messaged me that night.

Adam: Sweet dreams, baby.

Those three words made me combust once more. It was so simple, and yet it meant being the person on his mind as he laid in bed, making me feel special.

Me: Thank you, same to you. I know I'll be dreaming sweeter thinking of you. Goodnight, Adam.

Adam: (GIF of a swooning woman falling to the floor) Goodnight, Locke.

The quick exchange had me drifting off with a smile on my face, a blessing cast over me and fulfilling the sentiment with the sweetest, and hottest, dreams I'd had in a long while.

Over the next week, I didn't see him, but we chatted a lot. Sometimes, quick and simple messages to let the other know we were thinking about them. Other times, catching each other up on the day, especially since Adam couldn't check his phone while he was working. I loved all of it.

As much as I wanted to see him and hold him every day, I was enjoying this phase, too. It was nice to know that I was on his mind as much as he was mine, it made it feel even more meaningful. That it wasn't all physical, that there was a genuine connection and companionship growing between us. I also loved that I never knew what to expect from him, in a good way.

Adam: Guess what I found at the Revere House today?

Me: Paul Revere's house?

Adam: Yes! I don't know if you've been there or not.

Me: *Hides* I'm a terrible Bostonian.

Adam: It's okay, most of the folks we see are from out of state or school children. OMG! I should totally give you a tour sometime.

Me: Does that mean you're going to dress up for me?

Adam: Oooh, yes! I've had so many fantasies about having a man kneeling before me and undoing the buttons of my waistcoat and breeches. I want to get fucked like our founding fathers.

Me: Fuck, Adam! I suddenly find myself ready for a very thorough history lesson.

Adam: I'll teach you so good, baby.

When would this be happening? Could we make it soon? Or now? With how the blood rushed to my dick, and how hard the thought made me, I was so ready for some historical cosplay action. Out of all the cosplay fantasies I might have imagined, especially within the gaming community, I never thought it would be one based in actual history. I palmed my dick through my pants, chasing the ache that was building.

Me: I had no idea I would be into that, but damn, it makes for a great image.

Adam: You're welcome. (Winky emoji)

Me: So what did you find?

I attempted to get the conversation back on track before I started to stroke myself at the mere thought of it. Fuck, everything about him made me hungry for more.

Adam: Oh! So, there's a courtyard outside of the Revere House. It was built up by a historical foundation, trying to allow room for visitors, but it's actually part of the original Revere property. After a walk-through of the museum inside the house, we lead our guests outside where they can rest and check out the visitor center and gift shop.

Me: Ok…?

Adam: I was standing by a planter box, available to answer questions as people milled about, and I found a sticker with Dwayne Johnson's face on it.

Me: Random. Is that significant?

Adam: I don't know, but maybe. There have been sightings of The Rock at other sites, too. I'm not sure if it's like a calling card or something. At least they didn't stick it on something inside the house. But I gotta say, as much as I am a stickler for taking care of the historical sites, it made me laugh to see it. I was almost sad to have to remove it.

Me: That's funny. I wonder if it's a Fallout thing or something.

Adam: Hopefully not. I heard they got hit pretty hard when the game came out in 2015 and people discovered the quest to follow the red brick path of the Freedom Trail. I'm a big fan of inserting historical events and locations into games…if they are done well, but not to the detriment of the actual locations.

Me: I remember thinking it was cool as a little kid to see my hometown in a game. Makes me want to dust it off and play Fallout 4 again.

Adam: Ooh, if you do, can I watch? I mean, I already love watching you play, but I think it'd be even better in person. Besides, I'd love to compare it to the trail I walk almost every day.

Me: Absolutely, that sounds really nice.

Adam: (Grinning emoji) It will be like my own private Locke_N_Load session.

Me: You can have a private session any time you want, Adam.

Adam: Mmmm, yes please!

Fuck trying to be patient and letting things breathe, I wanted him…needed him. After almost a week since he'd been at my house, I didn't know how much longer I could wait.

Me: When can I see you again?

Adam: I have plans tonight, but soon, I hope. Wait!!! You should come.

Me: What are these plans, exactly?

Adam: I hit up the alternative night at the Athens Club with some friends sometimes, and I've missed it for a while, so they've been begging me to go.

Me: A club?

Adam: Yes! I love to dance, and it's so fun and freeing. I'd love for you to go with me.

Me: I've never been, but also…I'm not sure I would want to.

Adam: Hold on, allow me to present Exhibit A.

I shook my head. There might have been a period of time as a teen when I would have wanted to be invited to something like that. I probably wouldn't have gone, but I still wanted to be seen and acknowledged. It felt nice that Adam asked, that he wanted me with him, and with his friends, but it wasn't my thing.

Not my thing at all, but when the next message came through my jaw dropped. Adam sent a photo of himself in the mirror. His short hair was spiked up in the front, and he wore thick eyeliner that made his brown eyes look huge and so sexy. But the outfit he wore…I wasn't prepared. Adam had a see-through black mesh crop shirt, with the faint outline of skin-colored tape beneath it and two black exes over the tape where his nipples would be. He wore black suspenders and wide-legged black pants that had zippers and buckles down the sides. The outfit was made complete with tall, black combat boots.

The look was vastly different from his Keroppi hoodie, or the picture of him in his work outfit. He'd been beautiful in everything I'd seen him in, but this…was a whole other level.

Me: FUCK! You look insanely hot! I had no idea you were goth.

Adam: Well, I went through a whole phase in my tweens, but I wouldn't really consider myself goth anymore. But I do love getting decked out for alt nights. It's empowering and makes me feel like I can do anything.

Me: You can, Adam. You can do anything. I'm in awe.

Adam: Come with me, please! I'd love to show you this part of my world, too.

Me: I don't know. I wouldn't know what to do with myself at a club and I definitely don't have any clothes that would work for it.

Adam: Baby, you could wear a potato sack and still be sexy. I like to dress up, but you don't have to. A lot of people go in normie clothes. As for what to do there…anything you want, but preferably join me on the dance floor so we can get all hot and sweaty together.

I thought of him grinding against me when I was cooking breakfast, and how sexy he was when he was simply in my underwear, in the privacy of my own home. But imagining him dressed the way he was, and me being the one he focused all of that hotness on, I had to admit it was very appealing.

Me: I really like the sound of that, but I'm not sure. What if people recognize me? I don't want it to turn into a whole thing, especially with the possibility of the awards.

Adam: The club is huge on privacy and consent, so I think it will be safe. Besides, I will happily play interference for you. I can be your bodyguard.

Thinking of how small he was, it made for a laughable idea to have him as a guard, but I had no doubt he would step in or swoop me away. As much as I liked feeling his smaller frame in mine, I loved the idea of having someone who would look out for me, too. This whole thing was way outside of my comfort zone, but…Adam. I wanted to be with him and get to see him in person. And he made me want to take a big leap out of that zone.

Me: Ok.

Adam: Wait? Seriously? You'll go?

Me: Yes, but I'm sticking to you like glue.

Adam: I wouldn't want it any other way. OMG, I'm so fucking excited. Thank you, baby! I can't wait to see you.

After spending way too long staring at my closet, which consisted of several hoodies and game-related gear, I settled on a t-shirt I'd gotten as part of a promo package for an audio company that was a simple black shirt with a skull on it. It was as close as it was going to get. I was sure I was going to stick out like a sore thumb, but I didn't have time to go buy something.

Throwing a hoodie over it, I left my house to meet up with Adam. When he came out of his apartment, I stood in disbelief. I'd already seen the outfit, but it was even hotter in person. He was grinning as he bounced down the steps, looking like the bubbliest goth person I'd ever seen. Adam hurried toward me and threw his arms around my neck, pulling me in for a searing kiss. My hands went around his back, gliding over the bare skin exposed by the mesh crop top. The thought of touching him like this on the dance floor for all to see was admittedly a huge turn-on.

When his lips left mine and he stood in front of me, slightly taller than usual with his big boots on, he raised his brows in expectation. "Well? What do you think?"

"Shit, Adam. You are one sexy fucker. I can't get over how hot you are."

That grin returned, and he gave me the up-down, too. "I feel the same way."

I scoffed. "I'm not wearing anything special. I don't exactly have club attire. I have gaming stuff and a few dress shirts for special occasions, but I figured I would be better off in a tee than a button down."

"Tee shirts are perfectly acceptable, and you would look hot no matter what you wear. I'm just thrilled you're going with me. Are you ready?"

I bit my lip, uncertainty making me hesitate. "I suppose."

Adam leaned up and pecked another kiss on my mouth. "We'll go for a few minutes, and if you hate it, or it's too much, we'll leave. No biggie."

"Okay." It was nice to know he was willing to leave for my sake, but I hated to think of ruining his night out. Still, he looked incredible, and I wasn't ready to walk away from him.

He held my hand, entwining his fingers with mine. It was then I noticed the green straps over his shoulders and saw the mini Keroppi backpack on his back. I let out a laugh.

"You always bring that bag with you to your alternative night?"

"No, not usually, but I'm hoping I'll need it later." He gave me a wink.

"How are you so sexy and so adorable at the same time?"

Adam gave an innocent shrug, "It just comes naturally."

I bumped my shoulder against his as we continued walking, feeling ridiculously happy to have him at my side. I normally walked through town with my hood up and my head down, but with Adam at my side, looking as incredible as he did, I had no doubt that if anyone was looking, it wouldn't be me that caught their attention. Adam strolled along at my side in his mesh shirt and exposed belly, giving off major big dick energy. I was completely captivated by him and in awe that it was my hand he was holding.

A breeze swept around us, making me hunker into my hoodie, but he seemed unaffected. "Aren't you cold?"

Adam flashed a grin at me. "Power of positive thinking. Well, that and I know I'm going to be hot again once we get inside. Besides, the heat of your gaze on my skin is enough to keep me going."

"Oh, uh, sorry. I just can't take my eyes off you."

He whirled around in front of me and put a hand on my chest. "There is absolutely nothing to be sorry for. Look all you want. I like it. You make me feel like the sexiest person who ever walked the earth."

"I'm pretty sure you are."

He smiled and gave me a quick kiss before tugging me along. After another few blocks we came to the club with a line of people all in black and neon wrapped around the corner. A tall person in a short black skirt, leopard print top, and fishnet stockings waved us over.

"Adam! Over here!"

"Those are my friends, come on." Adam drew me along.

I suddenly felt nervous all over again. I wasn't simply going out to a club, which was something I'd never done, but I was also meeting his friends. It hadn't really occurred to me. This made it feel…official. A weird mix of excitement and anxiety came over me. What if they didn't like me? How much of their opinions would matter to Adam?

He must have felt me tense up, because he squeezed my hand reassuringly as he led me to the couple in line.

The tall one in the skirt held their arms out to give Adam a hug. "Hey, there, stranger. I'm glad you could join us, it's been a minute. But now I think I see why. Who's your…friend?"

"This is Locke, my boyfriend." He slid a glance to me, looking for assurance at the sudden label he gave us. He must have seen it in the smile that stretched my lips. It felt really good to be claimed as his. This thing between us was real, and now he was telling others.

"Locke, this is Avery, and her boyfriend, Myles."

I shook Avery's hand, and Myles gave me an awkward wave. It was okay, I could totally relate. He was tucked inside of a black hoodie, looking like he hadn't seen daylight for days, but the way his eyes landed on Avery, you could see how smitten he was for her.

"So, boyfriend, huh?" Avery hooked her arm through Adam's, which was a comical sight, considering their height difference. "I want to know everything."

She tugged him to her side, and I was left with Myles, as we both seemed unsure of what to do with ourselves.

"So, what do you do?" I asked in a sad attempt to people.

"I'm a desk goblin who survives on coffee."

I let out a chuckle. "Uh, okay? Like office work?"

He made a face. "Fuck no, I think I would shrivel up and die in that environment. I'm a writer."

"Oh! That's cool. What do you write?"

He pursed his lips, as though considering whether he wanted to tell me, which I understood, because I wasn't super eager to talk about my work either. "Sorry, you don't have to answer that."

"I'll just say I write very gay, very explicit books."

I thought of my collection of Orion Sampson books that sat on my shelf. Gay alien-fucker books were my favorite escape. "Sounds right up my alley."

Myles offered me a genuine smile, before Avery and Adam returned back to us. Adam snuck an arm around my waist and leaned up to kiss my cheek. Relief flooded me, and it seemed to for Myles as well, both of us hopelessly desperate for our extroverted counterparts to save us.

The line began moving, and we made it inside. The music was loud, and the lights were flashing. It wasn't that I couldn't handle lights and sounds; I did all the time in games, but this was different. The bass vibrated through my entire body.

Adam leaned into my ear so I could hear him. "Okay?"

I gave a nod. It was a lot, but Adam looked ecstatic to be there, so I could handle it, for a while, at least. "So far."

The number of bodies inside and the heat wafting off of them had me already dying to pull my hoodie off. Adam pulled me along as we followed Avery and Myles toward a table where a small group of people were waiting. Hugs were exchanged and names thrown out. I'd caught a few, like Claude, Greg, and Xavier, but it was all a lot to keep up with, especially with the music blasting.

I had taken off my hoodie, and Adam took it and his backpack and left them on the table, where he told me they would be fine. He rescued me from more mingling by pulling me toward the dance floor. Though, I wasn't sure if straight into the middle of the crowd was rescuing me.

Once we were there, he threw his arms around my neck, and drew my attention to him. "It's just you and me, baby. That's it. Just focus on me."

Now, that was something I could do. It was all I wanted anyway. To see him, to be with him. His dark-rimmed eyes stared up at me as if I were the only one that mattered in the room. Fuck, that felt good. I'd seen others checking him out, but he never even batted an eye.

We moved slowly together at first, in contrast to the pulsing music around us, but it didn't matter. I was entranced by him. The crowd faded away, the room, the lights, the bodies that surrounded us. It was only him and me. He turned around in my arms until his back was pressed to my chest, like he had in the kitchen. His ass ground against me, making me hard and horny and my hands moved freely over his chest, loving that I was able to touch him. To show a room full of people that he was mine.

It didn't take long for me to get lost in the music with him. Whether we were jumping and grinding together, or moving slowly and caressing each other, the whole thing was foreplay, and I was so hot for him. I couldn't take my hands off of him, and he did the same. We kissed, we explored, we touched, we ground against each other. I never thought I would get so carried away in public, though, knowing it was a gay club made it easier, too. There was no judgment here. And everyone else was too busy enjoying themselves to care what we were doing anyway.

It was as Adam had said, fun and freeing. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been able to fully let go like this. Maybe never.

After a couple of hours, I was about done, though. I was in a constant state of urgent need for Adam, with each press of his ass against me, but I was also feeling my social battery start to drain.

I was preparing to try to say something to Adam, but he must have sensed something. He pushed up on his toes and gave me a soft kiss, before grabbing my hand and pulling me off the dance floor. We collected our things, and soon after the group gathered around us.

"You guys going to join us at Randy's?" Avery asked.

Adam looked at me questioningly. I'd had Adam all to myself all night, when this was meant to be a night out with his friends. As long as we were leaving the club, I could tolerate peopling for a little longer for his sake. I gave him a nod.

Soon, we followed the group, walking toward the diner. I wasn't too enthused about going back after my awkward stint last time, but with Adam's hand in mine, I'd follow him anywhere.

We clambered into a booth, Avery and Myles squished together on one side with Claude next to them, Greg pulled up a chair on the end and sat with Xavier in his lap, and Adam and I on the other bench. Adam tucked into my side, and I threw my arm over his shoulder, loving how close he wanted to be.

I felt a little out of place, but eventually relaxed as everyone chatted and ordered food. They were an easy group to get along with, even if mostly I sat and watched their interactions, enjoying having Adam at my side.

When the attention shifted to me, Adam gave my leg a reassuring squeeze, as though he was telling me we could leave at any time.

"What is it that you do, Locke?"

Xavier was now sitting sideways on his boyfriend's lap, his head resting against his shoulder, but he gave me a knowing smirk through his sleepy expression.

"I, uh, do a little gaming."

Xavier scoffed but covered it with a yawn. He must have known who I was, but I appreciated that he kept it to himself. His boyfriend responded, though. "Oh? Like D & D? We love to play."

I shook my head and sat up a little straighter. "No, I don't do a lot of tabletop games. More video games."

Adam connected with me, offering me a warm smile. "He's incredible, you should see him."

"Thanks, Adam." I kissed the top of his head.

The conversation soon moved on, and I was grateful. It wasn't that I was ashamed of what I did. I just didn't know everyone enough yet and wasn't comfortable being in the spotlight.

The server with the long nails came over to our table, his heels clicking on the ground. Henry. When he saw us together, he pursed his lips with amusement. "I see you two finally figured things out, huh?"

Adam piped in, "Yup, thanks for the extra dessert."

After he took our orders, attention was returned to us, everyone curious about what Henry had been implying. So as our food arrived, we relayed our story of how we met and what happened when I came looking for Adam. The entire group was laughing when they heard I'd been Randied. Surprisingly, I found myself smiling too, enjoying the camaraderie.

"See, it's not so bad here." Adam nudged my side with his elbow.

"No, it's not. But I don't think I want to risk coming without you again."

He looked up at me with a sweet smile. "Okay, deal. I'll be happy to escort my boyfriend anytime."

Boyfriend . Fuck, that really had a good ring to it. I leaned down and whispered in his ear. "How about you escort me home…boyfriend?"

Adam's eyes darted to my mouth, before he nodded. "Oh, yes. Absolutely."

He turned to the rest of the group and announced that we would be leaving. I left money on the table to cover both of our meals, and a choir of snickers sounded after us as it was obvious we were in a hurry to be alone.

I could admit, I enjoyed the evening a lot more than I expected to, but alone with Adam was exactly what I needed now.