Chapter 10

Austen

The rest of the night goes much smoother once we're away from the cameras. I don't have to keep my smile up all the time and there's no one I want to impress. Well, no one besides my date.

Corrin has held my attention since I watched him trip over himself to tell me how good I looked back at the apartment. There was such appreciation in his eyes I knew he couldn't be faking it. Not the attraction anyway.

After that, I made myself a promise. I'd be open to whatever happens.

While I might not have a good track record (see: any track record) of dating, I know a good thing when I see it. And Corrin is good. In every way possible.

The man is loyal to his friends, as evidenced by his relationship with my brother. He's humble despite earning millions of dollars every year. He's protective of me and of others. He loves with his whole heart even though he knows great loss and the risks associated with giving your heart to people. And he's a family man, something I know from his love for Star and Smith.

He's quite literally the whole package of what people want in a partner.

And for some reason, he chose me to be his. It might be for pretend, but still. It's something.

"What are you thinking about?" he asks near the end of the dinner service. The too small servings didn't do much to fill me up. Thankfully, that gives me something to say besides ‘I was thinking about you and me.'

"I'm still hungry."

He chuckles when I rub my stomach for emphasis. "We can grab some burgers on the way home. It's not enough for me either."

We make more small talk with the people at our table for a few minutes before Corrin announces we're going to leave. I stand with him, easing his chair back so we can leave.

While the food may have sucked, I made sure to drink enough water to put down an elephant to quell my hunger. My bladder tells me the car ride with a pit stop for food isn't going to be enough.

"Let me just run to the restroom really quick," I tell him once we're free of the maze of tables.

Corrin nods my way, then pulls me into the hall and points in the direction of the restroom. "You're good to go alone?"

I huff a laugh at the question. "Of course. No one is going to mess with me."

He gives me a once over. "Highly doubt it. Even in that suit, all your delicious muscle is visible."

I'm not sure if it's the late hour or the drink he had earlier that has his tongue so loose. Sure, he's complimented me on this journey of fake dating. But never like this. Never with desire written so plainly on his face that even I, Mr. Clueless, can pick up on it.

The need to kiss him has me moving before I can stop to overthink it. My lips press against his in a soft caress, showing a closeness I don't understand. I leave him there in the hall as I stomp my way to the bathroom, my head a mess of feelings.

I think I'm having a quarter life crisis.

Ok, maybe not a crisis. Nothing is inherently wrong.

It's an… epiphany maybe. An enlightening.

I feel like I'm opening my eyes for the first time to truly see what's around me. And what I'm seeing is amazing. Who I'm seeing has me ready to change my whole world.

Now I don't prescribe to the whole notion of coming out. Not really.

Corrin has just always been Corrin to me. Whether he dated men or women, it didn't matter. And Uncle Kelvin made it clear of his preferences when I was still very young. I've never been led to believe that one type of love is better than another.

What I did believe was that none of it was for me.

I didn't get urges the way other boys did. My body wasn't a slave to short skirts or low-cut tops. Hell, I saw more than my fair share of nudity when I was in high school, but it never mattered much. I didn't want it then, and I don't now.

Or rather, I didn't.

Being with Corrin makes me crave things I never thought I would. I want his touch and attention. I want to learn all the ways to make him sigh and whimper. I want him looking at me like he did earlier tonight. I need it.

It's a ravenous beast inside me that's been unleashed after years of me thinking I was some docile man without a libido.

With my size and looks, people always assume I'm sleeping around. I knew it when I played soccer, and the sports groupies followed us around. I knew it when I quit, and those same people pursued me even harder. Granted, it took my brother explaining it for me to put the dots together, but I understood the attention was because of my appearance.

None of those people cared to know more about me than what the mirror reflects.

Corrin though, he cares. He already knows me thanks to his relationship with Tenn. Their friendship has put him on the cusp of my world for years, hovering but never coming into contact.

Not until recently.

I do what I need to do in the restroom, then clean up to head out. I'm still contemplating how to deal with these new feelings when I exit and catch someone saying Corrin's name. I pause, curiosity stealing my normal avoidance tactic.

The voices are soft and feminine. They're coming from the barely cracked bathroom door right next to the men's room.

"Did you see who he brought? That giant bodyguard?" One says, her voice climbing with each word.

A softer tone answers, "Sure did. Silly of him to think he needs security here. At least it wasn't a woman. Couldn't have stood seeing that."

"When are you going to let it go? He'd have asked you out by now if he were interested in something more. You've been to how many events that he's attended, Maisey?"

"I'll go to as many as I need to. He's not married, nor is he in a serious relationship. Everyone knows the bodyguard thing is just for his image. Those photos online aren't even romantic. They're always close, but they don't even kiss."

Clearly, she's not as obsessed as she thinks. There have been a few different pics of us kissing, though most are from odd angles. Maybe someone delusional like her would think they weren't actual kisses.

"Still, Maisey, I think you should let it go. Date that guy your dad tried to set you up with. Maybe he'll increase your allowance..."

I leave the hidden alcove of the hallway, their conversation no longer of interest to me. Corrin is standing right where I left him, except now he's talking to Ken and another man. Someone I'm not familiar with, but who"s looking at my date like I imagine the woman named Maisey would: like they want him to be theirs.

Green coats my vision as I move through the crowd recklessly. I bump into a few people, all of whom are scandalized by my Neanderthal ways.

Corrin turns to me right as I'm closing in. His face lights up, proving to me that his smile for the unknown man beside him was fake. This one, the one he points my way, is real.

I soak it up for a second before I bend down, wrap my arms around him, and kiss him as if my life depends on it. He doesn't pause or freeze. Corrin merely sinks into my hold, his mouth dancing with mine, and he gives me everything in return.

Ken laughs and the other guy excuses himself. It's all muted noise around me as I devour the man I've only just realized I want for real.

When I pull back, Corrin has a shy grin on his face. "I didn't… you… What was that?"

I don't answer right away. Not when my body and my brain are both in overdrive. It takes me a couple of deep breaths to get the words out.

"There were two women talking about you. They said things. Things about us and about one of them being with you."

A look of wonder covers his features. "You got jealous?"

I nod, too far gone to lie. Not that I really even want to. It's best we keep things honest now that we probably aren't as fake as we told people. At least, I'm not faking. I hope he isn"t either.

"I did. She made it seem like she could have you. Like all it would take is —"

Corrin shuts me up with another kiss. He has to jump up to tug me down closer to him. The move makes me laugh, though it only lasts a second when his tongue sweeps across my lips. That's when I let go to give my body control.

Wrapped in my embrace, he melts even further into me until there's nothing between us. I keep him close, my grip firm but not brutal. I'll save the more savage energy within me for when we're not in a room full of people.

It's then my brain comes back around.

We're in a room full of people. People with cameras. People who love to gossip.

Maybe now wouldn't have been the best time to have this realization and act on it. I pull away once some sense of rational thought returns.

Ken leans close to us. "That was hot, you two. Excellent performance."

I shake my head. "Not a performance."

Corrin eyes me, his gaze full of questions. While I'd love to answer them all, now isn't the time.

"Let's get out of here. You promised me food."

That seems to snap him out of it. He links our hands together, tells Ken he'll text him, then leads us out to the car waiting in the queue.

The minute we're enclosed in the space after he tells the driver to go grab burgers, he pounces on me. Wide eyed, he demands, "Speak. Tell me what you meant in there."

"What I meant when? You have to be specific."

He groans, the sound so guttural my cock thickens instantly. Not that it wasn't already half hard after the make-out session we just had.

"I mean, tell me why you said it wasn't a performance. Tell me why you got jealous. Tell me it's not just me."

The last part is whisper soft. If I weren't so focused on him, I'd have missed it.

Reaching up to rub my fingers along his jaw, I give him the honesty he deserves.

"I said it wasn't a performance because it's the truth. I did what I wanted to do. And I got jealous because I didn't want anyone thinking they could have you. I hated hearing her confidently speak about taking you from me," I growl.

A smile blooms across his gorgeous face as he leans into my touch. "From you? Do you own me, Austen Page?"

I shake my head roughly. "You've got it the wrong way, Corrin. You own me. I've been so blind to it, to this. To us. I… feel things now. Things about you, and I want them. I want you. I — I'm fucking this up. I know I am."

When I move to pull away, he grabs my arm. "Don't," he whispers a second before he kisses me.

Unlike the one we shared just minutes ago; this one is languid. We savor one another with gentle strokes and teasing nips. I'm hot all over, my body alive for the first time maybe ever.

"I want to touch you. Can I do that, baby? Will you let me?" He says the words between kisses, his pleas desperately matching my own needs.

Rather than answer with words, I pull his hand to my erection. The second I feel him press against the fabric of my suit, I drop my head back and moan. It feels good. No, better than good. There's a word for it. I know there is. I just can't remember the damn thing. Hell, I barely remember any words right now besides please and yes and more.

Corrin doesn't waste any time in his touch. He doesn't ask for anything else. I've given him every bit of permission he needs.

I watch him in a starstruck manner as he undoes my pants and pulls me free of my briefs. His fist is firm around my length, the touch familiar but not. There are calluses on his hand from years spent playing his guitars. And those fingers, while long, are much smaller than mine. I look enormous in his hold.

Leaning over my length, he spits down, a long stream of saliva moving from his mouth to my crown. It's the sexiest thing I've ever seen in my life. I want to record it and replay it on loop until I'm old and gray.

"You're bigger than I'd thought you'd be," Corrin whispers breathlessly.

I wince. "Is that bad? We don't have to…"

"Oh, we have to. I'm going to stroke this bad boy until you come for me tonight. Then another day, when I know I can get you alone again, you're going to fuck my mouth. And eventually, when I know you're ok with it, I'll bend over while you fill me with this beauty. You can have everything. You hear me Austen? Every fucking thing I have is yours to use. My mouth. My ass. My hands."

The passion with which he speaks is enthralling. I'm caught up in the force behind each word. It takes me a minute to even realize my body is tightening in that way I'm only vaguely familiar with.

My balls draw up right as Corrin gives me another stroke. His eyes light up.

"Are you going to come for me, baby? Do I get to see how sexy you are when you fall apart?"

As if he summoned my orgasm, I break. Millions of little pieces, each with their own stamp of Corrin's touch, scatter into the universe as the whole of me shifts.

I'm not just Austen Page anymore. I'm something, someone else entirely.