3. Oh Fuck! It’s A Couple Cruise: Todd

After totally crushing Drew's boyfriend, Justin, in Mario Kart online, I turned off the game, tossed my glasses on the nightstand, and crawled into bed. It was late, and I'd spent most of the evening walking him through how to get set up. We'd talked about gaming at that lame party while most of the others were chatting about money and yachts and crap. Levi was busy playing host, so I fell in with Justin. It was cool to have a new friend. He was a little older than me but super cool and outgoing. That helped since I would otherwise have been sitting alone in a corner, playing on my phone. Actually, that's exactly what I was doing when he struck up the conversation, asking me what I was doing. That led to gaming and, ultimately, this late-night session.

I stared at the slightly blurry ceiling, trying to fall asleep without much luck. I grabbed my phone and flipped to messenger to see who was on. I didn't think anyone I wanted to talk with would be, but surprisingly, Levi was. Hell, if he was awake, he should be getting some sexy time with that man of his, not flitting around online. I tapped the messenger and typed out: Wanna talk? Call me.

My phone rang seconds later, and I answered. "Yo! Why are you up?"

"Ugh, man. I can't sleep. Dad—I mean, Hudson is out cold."

I laughed at his slip-up. He was normally pretty good about not calling his man daddy in public, but this was between us. "Dude, I know he's your daddy. Call him what you want."

"I know. It's just…it's private. You know?"

"Sure. I get it."

"Why are you up?" he asked.

"I was gaming, but now I can't sleep, either." I took a beat before I confessed. "Actually, I'm thinking about that cruise coming up."

"Are you worried because everyone is coupled up?"

I bit at my thumbnail. He wasn't wrong. "Something like that. I mean. I guess. Why is he inviting so many couples?"

Levi laughed. "You've known him longer than I have. You tell me." He wasn't wrong about that either, but I was frustrated. "You can worry over it, or…" He sounded like he was planning something I might not like.

"Or what?"

"You can bring someone. A date."

I had nothing to say to that.

"Todd? You still there?"

"Yeah…" I sighed. "I…I don't have anyone." Compared to them, I was not worthy. Even Levi had a handsome, wealthy man. I had nothing. I wasn't being picky, either. I didn't even need a wealthy man. I only needed self-sufficient and willing to get into pup-play.

"Then, how can we get Jax to invite more singles?"

I scoffed. "Jax is strong-willed. When he gets set on something, it's hard to change his mind."

"Well, there is a third option. Just come and enjoy the cruise and don't worry about it."

"Yeah, you're right." I knew he was, and that was probably what everyone expected of me. I was Todd—Sunshine Pup—always bright and happy. But something in me didn't want to keep trying to let it all roll off my back. It wasn't rolling so easily anymore. It was sticking, and I was hurting over it.

"Hey, what were you playing anyway? On the game thing?" Levi tried to change the subject—bless him. He was a sweetheart and probably understood me better than Jax and Royce, whom I'd known and been super close with for years. But Levi grew up like I did. He had the same issues, concerns, and worries. Hell, he'd had severe money and parent issues when he came to live with me. I let the subject drop, and we talked a bit more about gaming before hanging up.

Afterward, I couldn't help but think I could find someone to be an arrangement for the cruise and nothing more. Not a real date or boyfriend, but someone willing to go along with it so they could go on the cruise. Maybe someone closer to Jax and Royce in social status. I sure as hell didn't want Jax and Royce to think I couldn't get a boyfriend. But who would I get anyway?

I didn't want my best friends to think I was less than them. Though, that was exactly how I felt. But that was bullshit. Why was I thinking that? I could land my own billionaire but…I didn't know anyone…

Except maybe that Larry dude who was such a dick at Levi's party. He was sexy but such an ass. At first, he wasn't, though. He was nice. He was friends with Hudson, so I wanted to trust in that. He let me crawl in his lap, and it felt comforting with his strong arms around me. And I wanted what Levi'd found.

And damn, was Larry sexy? Hell yeah. His shoulders were broad, but not too broad. He was tall, but not too tall. Dark hair and eyes. His hair was cut short and professional. He didn't try to style it fashionably like I did, but it made him look more mature. He was a little older than me, but damn. And his arms were warm around me, and he nuzzled against my neck, and my dick was getting really hard. Fuck!

I stuck my hand down my shorts and grabbed it, knowing that wouldn't help. But thoughts of Larry's brown eyes and kissable lips had me dry-humping into my fist. Frustrated, I threw the covers off and yanked my shorts down. I grabbed the lube off the nightstand and poured a drop in my hand. If I was doing this, I was doing it hard and fast.

Instead of climbing back on the mattress, I sat in the chair across from the bed. I had it set up like a reading area. It helped me focus on homework, and I kind of liked it for jacking off, too. I spread my legs and stroked my cock, fucking up into my hand and rubbing my crown. I imagined Larry standing in front of me, looking down at me and telling me what to do.

Then, I pictured him lowering to his knees and whispering dirty things into my ear as he grabbed my cock. I stroked faster then and exploded quickly. Fuck!

I'd never jerked off thinking about him before. And he was not going to be my fantasy.

I immediately regretted it.