Chapter Eleven | Liam

It was Sunday night, and I hadn't seen Jamal for days. He was ever present in my mind. We'd had an amazing day going to the park, the warm fuzzies starting with waking up in his bed.

I filled my glass with ice water and took my seat in the snug with the other guys. It was the Salish Sea Society meeting night, and for once, I was going to share first.

"I have news," I said.

"That's Ethan's line," replied Owen.

"I'm curious about this news," Noah added. "Someone hasn't shared with me yet."

"Processing," I responded. "I'm ready now."

"Spill," Ethan said.

"The path of friendship Jamal and I were on veered off in a different direction."

Owen set his glass down. "You're not serious. Are you in a relationship?"

"I posted a picture of us on social media."

"How did I miss that?" Ethan lifted his phone and started typing. He looked up at me when he found what he was looking for. "Aw. You two are so cute together."

"I stayed over at his house a few nights ago."

Noah's eyebrows rose. "Don't go into detail, but how did that go?"

"We didn't have sex. Just lots of kissing and cuddling."

"And how did that feel?" Ethan asked. "Taking it slow."

"Refreshing." I looked down at the table. "I think I may have found my person. "

"Too soon to tell," Owen said, attempting to reign me in. But spending time with Jamal felt as natural as breathing. He'd uncovered what was once a path choked by self-obsession undergrowth and through his acceptance of the inner me, encouraged me to start clearing it.

"We're enjoying one another. We'll see where it goes."

"I'm happy for you both," Noah said.

"Me too," Ethan added.

"Even Liam is somehow finding love—" Owen sighed. "I'm destined to be alone."

I sat up straighter. "Chad was asking about you."

"So?" Owen frowned at me. "Probably looking for more ammunition." He tipped his head. "Thanks for that by the way, Liam. Saying he gets under my skin. He hasn't let me forget it."

"Sorry about that."

"I'm not sure how his husband puts up with him," Owen said. "The guy is such a prick."

"Me thinks doth protest too much," Ethan responded, grinning.

Owen waved his hand at him. "Fuck off."

"Have you met his husband?" Noah asked.

"Briefly. He's a petite nerdy-looking twink. Thick glasses. Very serious. Femme pretty. Big doe eyes and pouty crimson lips. He was wearing a pleated skirt. Can't be more than twenty-four."

"So, you barely noticed him," I teased.

"I admit … I thought he was hot."

"Does that mean you're jealous of Chad as well as hating him?" Ethan asked.

Owen sighed. "Maybe a little."

"Do you think they might be open?" Noah asked .

Owen coughed, spitting out some of his ale onto the table. He glared at Noah. "My entire brain cannot believe you just suggested I fuck Chad's husband."

"He's probably a bottom anyway," Ethan said not helping in the least.

I smirked. "Or maybe he's a blouse … a complete femme power top."

"I'm shutting this down," Owen said and looked at Ethan. "What have you been getting up to? And I'm not talking about the latest place you and Daniel have had sex."

Ethan practically bounced in his seat. "Carlos is doing an entire book featuring me."

That perked me up. "That's amazing. What's the theme?"

"Lace and silk manties and matching corsets." He clapped his hands together. "I can't wait."

"Have you ever worn a corset?" Noah asked. "Sounds uncomfortable."

"Daniel and I have been playing with them recently. That's what gave Carlos the idea."

"You share stuff like that with him?" Owen asked. "I thought you only told us."

Ethan shrugged. "He's become a good friend. He's seen me naked more than most people. Plus, I'm interested in the whole process of photography from an art perspective. We've started spending quite a bit of time together. He's teaching me about cameras."

"Daniel doesn't mind?" Noah asked.

"Why would he?" Ethan replied. "Carlos and I are strictly hands-off."

"You must be in love," I said. "That guy is seriously hot." I had heard Carlos was versatile. I was surprised we hadn't fucked. Ethan and I had substantial overlap in our hookup partners .

Now, not a single fibre of my being wanted to pursue random sex. Jamal and I were thoughtfully cultivating something unique to us. Where we were headed—held meaning.

The talk turned to Noah, Brody, and the kids. I was only half-listening. I loved my noodles. Loved hearing about them, but I knew they were happy. My focus was on Jamal, his life, and his happiness. Together, we were finding joy that I felt neither of us had expected.

He'd promised to come into the pub to see me tomorrow night.

My hands were aching to touch him.

When Jamal rolled into the pub and spotted me, his entire face changed. From one of concentration to one of elation, his stunning eyes opened wide and a smile so devasting it caused my heart to stutter. I leapt out from behind the bar to meet him.

"Busy night in here," he said, looking up at me.

"I'll find you somewhere." I scanned the area near the bar looking for a table for Jamal. He was right, the place was filling up fast. It was going to screw up the hosts until I could go speak to them, but I claimed a table where we would be able to see each other and removed a chair.

Jamal wheeled himself to the table and tucked in beneath it. He reached for my hand and played with my fingers. "It's unfortunate I can't sit at the bar and watch you work."

I stood beside him and took his hand. It did little to quench my desire to touch him. Only stoked my furnace of absolute need to be near him. "Not much to see. Just me running my ass off."

Jamal smirked. "I'd pay money to see that ass running."

I moved so I could see his face better. "Something to add to our itinerary. "

His eyes became hooded, staring up at me, smouldering. "I'll start saving my toonies."

My breathing faltered. "I wouldn't charge you much. A couple of kisses would do it."

Jamal licked his lips. "I'm willing to offer you more than kisses."

I nearly groaned. My cock throbbed and suddenly the fact I was supposed to be working escaped me. "Take off your coat, toss it on the seat across from you, and give me a second."

Jamal released my hand, rolled his chair back, and started removing his coat. I hurried to the host station and let them know the table Jamal was at was occupied.

I returned to the bar and attracted Noah's attention.

He leaned on the bar top. "What's up? Why aren't you back here?"

"I need a few minutes," I said. "Jamal just arrived."

"Okay, but you are not sexing him up in my office."

"Not in my plans. I just need some time with him where people aren't looking."

Noah straightened up and pointed at me. "Five minutes. That's it."

"That's all I need." Lies. I wanted hours upon hours with him. I wanted to explore every inch of his skin starting with the sensitive spots behind his ears.

I strode back to Jamal and indicated he should follow me. He had one eyebrow raised as I urged him to leave the table, but he rolled along behind me to the back hallway.

Out of sight.

He stared up at me, his lips parted, as I pushed his chair backward until it hit the wall, securing it from moving. His hands moved to my waist as I did my best to straddle his lap.

"What are you doing?" he whispered.

"Quenching an incredible thirst." Hanging onto the back of his wheelchair, I started by kissing his forehead. Three kisses. From left to right. Slowly. Then the bridge of his nose. He tipped his head up and moaned softly as I kissed each eyelid. I brushed one hand down his chest and found his nipple. It pebbled into a hard nub beneath my fingertips. He squirmed his hips in his seat.

Each side of his face received my attention then I brushed my lips to his ear, breathing gently into it then kissing and sucking, and nibbling on his earlobe. His hands clung firmly to my waist.

I pinched hard on his nipple, making him suck in a breath.

Along his jawline, I dragged my teeth across his stubble until I reached his bottom lip. I sucked it into my mouth and the sound elicited from Jamal stoked a fury of combustion.

I was done teasing. I descended fully on his mouth. He moved his hands from my waist to clutch my face instead and deepened the kiss. Surge—retreat. Again, and again. My cock was straining to be released when my internal clock told me it was time to get back to work.

Jamal was reluctant to let go of me when I removed myself from his lap. I adjusted my jeans, which made Jamal smile. "I'm going to need a few seconds before I go out there," I said.

"Me too. We can talk about your birthday." An even wider smile.

"How did you know it was my birthday coming up?"

"Noah told me." He rolled closer to me, putting him at eye level with my aching nearly erect cock. Having him there did not help the process of calming down. I cupped his face in one hand.

"What do you have in mind?"

"My family has organized a dinner for you."

My next exhalation stuck. My body didn't want to inhale I was so overwhelmed. It took some time before I could speak. "For me?" I needed to confirm the words Jamal had spoken .

Jamal's brow dipped. "Are you against birthday parties?" He gripped the front pocket of my jeans. "I'm sorry. I should have asked, but my family is so excited to have you over to celebrate."

My history of birthday parties as a young child was abysmal. A few of my foster parents had put together a celebration for me. Most had not. I'm not even sure they all knew when it was my birthday. It wasn't until Noah, Ethan, and Owen came into my life that I had reliable yearly acknowledgments of my journey into existence. I usually spent my birthday with the guys.

"What night?"

"Your birthday. Thursday. Noah and Brody are coming. Noah says you have the night off."

I put my hands on his wheelchair armrests, pushed him back against the wall, and leaned down and kissed him. As I pulled away, our lips almost touching, I spoke words that had been collecting in me, waiting to be shared. "You're doing all sorts of crazy things to my heart."

Jamal stroked my cheek. "Do any of those crazy things involve coming to a party?" It was an evasion, but I didn't mind. I knew we were travelling the same path forward.

"I wouldn't miss anything where you're going to be."

We touched foreheads, our warm breath heating our lips. Jamal clung to my neck with both hands, pulling me closer. "I need you so fucking bad."

"Liam, time's up." Noah's voice filled the small hallway.

I closed my eyes and groaned then stepped away from Jamal. I couldn't stop myself from touching his fingers when he placed his hands back on the armrests of his chair.

"We'll talk more after the party," I said and winked at him.

"Looking forward to it. "

"Come on, lovebirds, break it up." Noah nudged me until I followed him back to the bar. Jamal didn't appear for a minute or two, then rolled into his place at the table.

I took every spare moment I could to duck away from the bar and speak to him without impacting the steady flow of drinks. A couple of hours later, Jamal finished his meal and the mocktails I had created for him. We shared a hug before he rolled away for the night.

I didn't get home until two in the morning. I had slung my clothes onto a chair in my bedroom when my phone dinged. I figured it was Noah looking for clarification on my bar closing.

A warm buzz built in my gut when I saw who it was.

Jamal: Are you finished work?

Me: Just got home.

Jamal: You in bed yet?"

Me: All tucked in.

Jamal: Wish I was there.

Me: Me too. What are you doing up so late?

Jamal: I wanted to talk to you. There was a long pause. My heartrate ticked up.

Jamal: You're doing crazy things to my heart too.

My spirit took off to chase and cherish those words. We were following the same trail through the crazy wilderness that was our uncertainty and fears.

Me: I need to hold you again .

Jamal: After your birthday party. My gift to you is you can do anything you want with me.

Instant hard-on. There were so many things I wanted to do with Jamal, starting with his nipples. The one I'd played with had responded so well to my touch. I couldn't wait to get my mouth on it. To kiss and taste all the skin on his torso. To inhale and lick the scent under his arms.

And his cock. I desperately wanted to taste his cock.

Me: Scrolling through a long list of ideas in my mind.

Jamal: You'll stay overnight with me again?

Me: Only if you don't mind being bear-hugged all night.

Jamal: Sounds perfect.

I needed to let him go. He'd be getting up in five hours.

Me: See you Thursday. Usual time?

Jamal: Not five again. You're not cooking your own birthday dinner.

Me: Fine. I'll come at six and bring my pajamas.

Jamal: Haha. kiss emoji

Me: kiss emoji kiss emoji

I rolled onto my back and grinned giddily up at the ceiling. I didn't know what it was going to look like, being intimate with Jamal, but I couldn't wait to find out.

The thought of being with him in that way, to have our bodies touch, brought me such honest and remarkable bliss. Whatever we did together was going to be perfect for us.

I could sense it.

Dinner was fabulous. Mamma and Dadi had cooked a meal of grilled chicken breast, mountains of baked broccoli, and a green salad. All the things I typically ate. So much care and attention had been put into planning the birthday meal. Instead of a cake, they had made the best fruit salad.

I did my best to eat everything.

The adults were in the kitchen, doing the dishes, leaving the younger generation to talk.

"Another three years and you'll be forty," Noah said, grinning at me.

"I'm not worried. I'm aging like fine wine."

Jamal put his hand on my thigh discreetly beneath the table. "I have an appreciation for wine."

"Which brings up something," Noah said. "Have you stopped drinking?"

"For weeks now," I replied. "I'm strictly a water guy."

Noah's eyebrows rose and he rested back in his chair. "Congratulations."

Jamal squeezed my thigh and stroked it. Getting through dinner was agonizing. I appreciated all the effort but so badly wanted to be alone with Jamal.

"Let's take this to the living room," Meera suggested.

As we settled, the rest of Jamal's family joined us. It was a full room. I claimed a chair with space beside me so Jamal could position himself next to me.

On the coffee table, there was an assortment of wrapped presents. I hadn't noticed them from the dining room. Seeing them there, knowing they were for me, I was overrun by emotion. It felt as if Jamal's family had taken me in. Would they be as welcoming if they knew my history?

I'd lived my adult life chasing outward beauty and every man I could get my hands on. I hadn't spent much time on the inside. In fact, my insides had been damaged by life. Nothing like what Jamal had been through, though. I wanted to reach for Jamal's hand. I felt guilty for even considering my issues to be worthy of attention when I thought about Jamal. How shallow was I for thinking my problems and obsessions deserved any kind of recognition?

"Hey." Jamal nudged me with his elbow. "Mamma is talking to you."

"Sorry." I frowned and shook my head to dislodge the disruptive thoughts, then smiled at Mamma. "Got lost in my head." She held out a present to me.

"Winter is coming," Mamma said. "Hope you like it."

I tore the wrapping away. It was a toque and scarf in a dark rust colour. I ran my fingers over the knitted wool and looked up at Mamma. "Did you make these?"

"I hope they're all right," Mamma replied. "I had to make them in a hurry. Jamal didn't give us much warning that it was your birthday coming up."

"They're perfect. Thank you." I pulled the toque onto my head to distract myself as I fought to contain the threat of tears. Mamma had made these with me in mind.

Dammit.

A tear travelled down my cheek.

"Oh, sweet boy." Mamma rose from her seat, came over to me, and hugged me. "You are such a tender soul. It's no wonder you and our Jamal have become such good friends."

She obviously had no idea what I wanted to do with her son.

"Us next," Meera said and set a present in my lap once Mamma went back to her seat. "It's from me, David, and Zahir." The shape of the present—it was definitely a book.

I removed the wrapping. It was a mixology book featuring British Columbia spirits. I cracked it open and scanned through a few pages. I could influence our drink menu with this .

I closed it. "I can make good use of this at work." I smiled at Meera. "Thank you."

Meera laughed. "Phew. I wasn't sure."

"I love it," I reassured her.

I looked at Noah. "I'm going to assume you and the guys will give me something later."

Noah smirked. "You've got that right."

Our history of giving each other gag gifts on our birthdays was going strong. Last year, they'd bought me a small vibrating butt plug, knowing damn well I'd never had anything up my ass.

"I'm going to give my gift to Liam when we're alone," Jamal said.

Meera's right eyebrow shot up.

Thankfully, the innuendo didn't appear to land with any of the adults . Mamma drew everyone into a conversation about a trip she and Jamal's pappa were planning to India. They hadn't been back to visit family in over ten years. They'd be gone for a month. Zahir would be in charge.

Brody stood. "We're going to go now."

Noah joined him. "Yes, our sitter has to study for a test." He gathered up Mamma's hands in his. "As always, Mamma, your generosity has been awesome. Thank you for inviting us." He turned to Jamal's dad and shook his hand. I could see the mutual respect in their posture and features. I hadn't got there with Harsha yet.

"We'll walk you out," Jamal said and tapped my leg, alerting me to the fact we were finally getting out of there. I sprang to my feet. I held Mamma's hands the way Noah had.

"Thank you for dinner and the gift. They meant a lot to me."

"You're so welcome, dear boy."

I nodded at everyone else, shook Harsha's hand, and caught up with Jamal at the top of the stairs. He'd already transferred into the chairlift seat. I carried his wheelchair downstairs.

We met Brody and Noah at the front door.

Noah shoved my shoulder and smirked at me. "Enjoy unwrapping your present from Jamal."

"Haha … fuck off." My attempt at a brush-off, but I couldn't subdue the grin on my face.

"Stop lingering," Jamal said to Noah and Brody, smiling, and hauled open the door.

Noah laughed. "Such hospitality."

"Get out," I said, giving Noah and Brody a friendly push out the door.

When we were finally alone, our jovial smiles receded, overtaken by lust-filled stares and slow inhalations and exhalations past parted lips. We'd been building to this for weeks.

"My room?" Jamal didn't need to ask.

"Right behind you." I followed him into his bedroom and closed the door behind us. And locked it. I threw my new toque onto the top of the dresser.

Jamal sat staring up at me. "You unwrap me however you'd like."

I hummed low in my throat. I knew where I wanted to start. Jamal leaned forward as I lifted his shirt off over his head. Then mine. I was going to match every piece of his shed clothing.

I boxed in Jamal's knees. He placed his hands on my bare skin, warm and tentative, and caressed my abs, running over each ripple, then up to my pecs, filling his cupped hands.

"Jeezus, you're gorgeous," he whispered.

I leaned forward, took his chin between my fingers, and lifted his face. "So are you." I kissed him, famished beyond comprehension, before he had a chance to speak further .

I left his lips and kissed along his jawline to his neck. He sighed and arched his back, extending his chest, as he dug his fingers into my biceps. I nuzzled against him, licking and kissing the skin behind his ear, lost in the essence of him. He swallowed as I moved to his throat.

"Fuck." He tipped his head back, his hands on the move until he was clutching my shoulders as I crouched and licked his collar bones from clavicle to shoulders. He moaned, panting when I encouraged him to put his arms over his head. The hair beneath was thick and black.

I ran my nose through it first, my gut quivering as his scent imprinted itself on me. I took my first taste, dragging my tongue through his hair. My stiff cock's aching throb surged.

Jamal's chest pumped up and down faster.

I smiled against his bicep. "Are you okay?"

"Don't stop," he gasped.

"Wouldn't dream of it." I buried my lips and tongue in the offering of texture, taste, and scent under his arm. His hair licked wet, I moved to the other arm. I finished by licking his skin to his elbow and sucking on it. I switched from one to the other. It was an underappreciated erogenous zone, the elbow. He lowered his arms slightly at my urging.

I held each one as I gave my attention to the sensitive strip of soft flesh on the underside of his forearms until I was licking and kissing his wrists where I could feel the pulse beneath my lips.

Face to face with him, I opened my mouth and flattened my tongue. With one hand cupping my jaw, Jamal fed my mouth two of his fingers. I closed my lips over them—and sucked hard as he thrust his fingers in and out of my mouth. I closed my eyes and moaned, my imagination getting ahead of myself. There was so much more to taste before I got to his cock .

He withdrew his fingers, held my face as I opened my eyes, and kissed me once. I leaned further forward and kissed the centre of his chest. His nipples were already hard. I took one into my mouth and flicked it with my tongue. Jamal whimpered and dug his hands into my hair. After sweeping through the loosened ends, he pulled the elastic to release my bun.

My fallen hair created a perfect world, shielded, the only thing in it—Jamal. I moved from one nipple to the other, my hands travelling to his hips. With Jamal squirming beneath my touch, I peppered a line with my lips straight to the top of his jeans.

He thrust his hips up. "God, please." He dug his fingers into my hair when I unlatched the button and unzipped his pants. I eased his pants off his hips, ensuring I didn't yank hard on them and have him land on the floor. It wasn't easy. It was slow, driving us both a little crazy.

I drew his jeans down his legs, pooling above his feet. Like the last time I'd seen him undressed, he was wearing colourful underwear. I straightened, kicked off my shoes, and undid my pants. I pushed them down to my ankles and stepped out of them. I was wearing a thong.

"Oh my god." Jamal leaned forward enough to touch my thigh. "Turn around for me."

I changed the direction of my body until my ass was facing him. I took a few steps back until Jamal's legs were protruding between my shins. My cock jumped when he took each of my cheeks in his hands and massaged them. I knew I had a nice round, muscular ass. I closed my eyes and moaned when I felt his lips on one cheek. His hands wrapped around my hips, gripping.

I shuddered as Jamal's tongue travelled up the crease of my ass and he slipped one hand through my legs and cupped my balls. He caressed them gently while his hot breath gusted past the corded material of the G-string separating my cheeks. He withdrew and patted my ass.

I turned back to face him and removed my underwear, peeling them away. Jamal's eyes grew wide. I was well endowed. Charlie had joked about my monster. He hadn't lied.

Not taking his gaze off my hard dick, Jamal lifted one side of his ass and then the other as I removed his underwear. His cock was a thick chub, not fully erect. Jamal had told me his cock was slow to react. I would take as much time as he needed.

I dispensed with his shoes and pants along with his underwear and arranged my body so I could grasp his shaft, shift the foreskin back, and swipe my tongue across his slit. Unexpectedly, there was no precum despite his arousal. I accepted it as a difference in how his body worked. I swirled my tongue around his cockhead then sucked him into my mouth.

Jamal groaned and lifted my hair away so he could watch.

I employed every cock sucking technique I'd learned over the years until I found one Jamal's cock responded well to. His chub became a long, thick erect dick. He released my hair, clamped onto the armrests of his chair, and thrust his hips, propelling his entire shaft into my mouth.

Just when I thought I was getting somewhere, he stopped me and lifted my face.

"Straddle my chair … fuck my face."

A shiver ran straight up my spine. Thankful he had the brakes on, I walked my way toward his face, my inner thighs pressed against the armrests of his wheelchair. I grasped my shaft and painted his parted lips with my precum. He licked them and hummed so seductively.

I slowly fed him my cock. Not all the way in. Not many men could take me. I gripped the handles on the back of his chair, slid my cock out of his mouth, then partially surged back in.

Jamal clamped his hands on my ass cheeks, setting the pace. I rocked my hips, smooth and easy instead of making him cough and choke. His lips looked beautiful taking me in.

He began bobbing his head, increasing the speed and depth. He hummed around my cock as he played with my balls, followed the crease, and brushed his fingertip over my hole.

"I can't … I'm going to—" I mumbled.

My orgasm screamed through me. I pumped faster, emptying myself down his throat. He continued sucking until I was fully spent. Still riding high, I was salivating to get back to his dick.

I kneeled to the left of his legs, gripping one to balance myself. I dove back on his cock. It had waned slightly, but I soon had it hard again. Jamal groaned, and pushed my face down on it, hitting the back of my throat. I was close to gagging when his cock tightened. He swore as his legs lifted and kicked away from the footrests and a convulsing shudder rippled through him.

There was no cum.

I continued sucking, not wanting to relinquish him, until Jamal touched my jaw and gave it a gentle nudge. I lifted my head and swept my hair off my face. My gaze met his.

I must have looked puzzled.

"I'm rarely able to cum," Jamal said. "Sometimes I get a small amount."

"But you orgasmed?" I wanted to make sure I had read his body correctly. The cum didn't matter. I needed to know that I had made him feel good.

Jamal smiled. "Yeah … and it was a fantastic one."

I sighed and relaxed.

"I need to hit the bathroom for a minute," he said. "My bladder is complaining. "

I had questions about that. I had seen the catheter equipment in his bathroom when I'd retrieved a toothbrush from his cabinet. Questions would have to wait. We weren't there yet with sharing about our lives. Typically urinating and showering in the presence of a lover was standard fare for me. Men were rarely shy about it. This was different.

"I'll wait until you're finished," I said.

I turned the blankets back on the bed once Jamal closed the door to the bathroom. He was in there for quite a while. I sat on the end of the bed and waited for him. He bit his bottom lip and shook his head as he emerged from the bathroom and saw me sitting there.

"You're a vision with all that long blond hair," he said. "Hurry to bed."

"I'll just be a second." In the bathroom, I found a washcloth to clean myself and was careful not to splash urine on Jamal's special toilet seat. Jamal was in bed when I finished.

I climbed in beside him and moved as close as I could to him. He shifted his nude body until he was in my arms, his head on my chest. I kissed his hair. "That was epically good."

"You're sure?"

"I was with you. Anything we do together is going to be epic."

Jamal stroked my chest. "I wanted to ask you about the picture you posted of us."

I lifted my head. "Did I jump the gun? I felt so close to you. I wanted to share that."

Jamal snuggled closer. "You essentially announced that you have a boyfriend. I wanted to tell you I'm all over that." He tipped his head up and kissed my chin. "I want to be your boyfriend."

I lay my head back and pulled him tighter to me. "Me too. "

But now I was scared. We'd taken a huge step. I didn't just risk losing Jamal … I risked losing his family as well if I screwed this up. I hummed against his hair, breathing him in.

Right now … I was going to soak him up.