Chapter 11

Corrin

After the charity event, everything changes. Austen and I manage to avoid any mention of the word ‘fake' when it comes to what we're doing. With every kiss and touch of his hand, I fall even harder for him.

He's become my muse in every sense of its meaning. I think of Austen nonstop, so it stands to reason that every note, every lyric I write for the new album has undertones of my love for him. It can't be avoided.

And in the most unrepentant manner, I play these songs for him. I don't admit that they"re about him. About us.

This is all too new for me to go around declaring how strongly I feel. He'd run for the hills if he knew. No doubt he didn't sign up for any of this to become real.

Plus, there"s the entire issue of Tennyson. My best friend isn't going to take kindly to me being with Austen. Not in a permanent way. I can't see how he'd go for it.

He's avoided looking at pictures of us kissing, and we keep to ourselves the little bit of time he's around us. But the urge to hold Austen, to keep him close, bears down on me more and more as time goes on.

I'm torn between wanting to rush into the future to see how things pan out and slowing down this train car we're speeding in to enjoy every second we have. I don't want to wake up in six months heartbroken as I wonder why I didn't do more when I could have.

"You ready for this?" Tennyson asks, interrupting my negative thoughts.

I turn in my seat to face my friend. He's sitting beside me in a mostly empty airport terminal. Strange, I know, but that's what happens during a red-eye flight sometimes. Tennyson swears it's the best move given Austen and I are becoming somewhat celebrities in our own right.

"Ready to see my amazing niece and her two cool dads? Heck yes!"

"And my kind of boring uncle who is somehow less boring thanks to Bailey."

"How is that going by the way? We haven't talked much since the holidays. You didn't give me much to go on about how you felt about him with someone so young," I prod.

Tenn smirks as he looks out the windows across from us. It's too dark to see much besides the lights of the planes and the glow of the runway beacons.

"I'm good with it. He's happy, which is all I truly care about. Bailey was cool. Really fucking young, though he didn't act like it. I think that's why Uncle K was all about him. Bailey's got an old soul."

Tennyson and Austen's uncle fell in love with one of his students this past year. They had some kind of secret relationship thing that turned very public along the way. Since Bailey was a student at the college Kelvin teaches at, they were worried it would blow up into something more. Nothing like an ethics committee and the risk of being fired to make a man tremble.

Granted, Kelvin is much like his nephews in the sense that he could not have given a fuck less about the college once his heart was set on Bailey. Having known Kelvin for years and then meeting Bailey recently, I can see how they'd just fit.

"I'm glad it's all good. Would have hated for something like that to come between the two of you."

He hums beside me, his gaze leaving the window to fall on Austen's sleeping form on my other side. The look he gives his brother is pure brotherly affection. I knew it from the moment we met that Tenn was protective of Austen. After a few minutes, I understood why.

The younger Page brother isn't meant for everyone. Some would say he's an acquired taste even — given his grumpy demeanor. People flock to Tennyson, while they're more cautious with Austen.

In the face of his reluctance, I found myself fascinated. While he would be considered a storm cloud by others, Austen Page is a ray of sunshine in my world. I couldn't look at him too closely, lest I be burned by his beauty and goodness. But I also couldn't look away, because there was nothing quite as inspiring in my mind.

"You know," Tenn starts slowly, his words dragging out, "if there was something more to this, then I'd be fine with that too. I'm not saying there is. Just that if there was, I'd be ok."

I don't confirm or deny his accusation. He's not going to pull the information out of me when Austen is asleep and can't give his input. Though knowing him, he's likely to tell me I don't care if he knows or seems obvious to me.

Tennyson's phone goes off, so he dives into replying to whatever late-night message he's getting. He stands and stalks off to deal with whatever it is. I'm too stunned by his insinuation to even inquire who might be trying to talk to him this late. My mind won't go there. Not yet anyway. Maybe later, after I've had a few minutes to panic in peace.

Not that I'll get much peace anytime this week. We're going to be surrounded by friends and family during the entire break since the elementary school's and the local college's schedules lined up perfectly with Austen's. That puts all three of us, my niece Star, her dad Smith, his partner Zach, Uncle Kelvin, and his boyfriend Bailey in the same place. Because of course my dumbass booked a large Airbnb space for us to gather at.

In my defense, I figured us being in one spot would be handy. We could all have our own little spaces to be by ourselves, while also having large living areas to gather in so we can eat and relax as a group.

Too bad I did all that before my best friend hinted at knowing I'm obsessed with his brother.

The speaker overhead goes off to announce our flight. It's loud enough that it startles Austen awake. His groggy eyes meet mine instantly.

"Hey," he grumbles. "That us?"

I nod as I fight to not get hard at the sound of his morning voice. We've snuck around a few times since the night of the charity event, but we haven't made it much past hand jobs and an almost blow job on my end. Almost because we heard Tennyson belting a Blink-182 song outside the door as he hunted for his keys. His terrible singing saved me from being caught on my knees with his brother's dick in my mouth.

While Tennyson hasn't been around a ton, neither has Austen. Between work and school, he's too busy to sit around with me. And while I might want to devour him whole, I refuse to take advantage of his exhaustion for a fun time.

"We should get going," I tell him once I've gotten myself under control.

I look in the direction Tenn headed. Thankfully, he's jogging back over, though it's odd that he made it so far without me noticing. Then again, my mind was reeling and then there was a sleepy-looking Austen. How in the world am I supposed to notice anything else?

The three of us got through the boarding process without much trouble. The attendants give me wide-eyed glances as I pass. They don't speak up yet. I stop the one standing near our seats to tell her what I tell every set of flight attendants when I go commercial.

"If you can ensure I'm not heavily bothered, I'll sign whatever the staff wants and do a group selfie when we land. Can you help with that?"

Viola, according to her name tag, nods rapidly before rushing down the aisle to the others. I'm sure she'll share my deal with them. So far, I've never had anyone turn it down. And I'm definitely not above selling little pieces of me off to make the plan ride bearable.

"I wish you didn't have to do that," Austen whispers.

"It's part of the business. I promise it's not a big deal."

Tenn takes the window seat, putting me in the middle and Austen in the aisle. It makes sense, given I'm the smallest of us three and can give the pair of brothers more room.

Even so, I don't expect to feel pulled in so many different directions. Part of me knows I should hang out with my best friend since he's been MIA a lot lately. A slightly (ok, maybe not so slightly) bigger part of me wants to spend the flight with Austen since he fell asleep at the gate.

I don't get much time to think the predicament over before they start the preflight speeches about safety and everything. Everyone must have boarded already. I glance around to see the plane is empty except for a couple in the far back corner. Austen notices it too.

"Umm, this is weird. I don't think I've ever flown like this before."

I snort a laugh. "It's kinda like a private plane situation."

"Yeah, if you take away the extra staff and the couple in the back. Though I doubt they much care since they're swapping spit."

Viola makes her way back over to us as soon as the safety briefings are complete. "You're welcome to spread out a bit. This type of flight is rare. No need to be smushed together."

"I will take you up on that offer," Tennyson says as he motions for me and Austen to move. "It's my turn for a power nap."

I watch as my friend makes his way a few rows up, then promptly bellyflops onto the seats. Viola giggles at him, then disappears up front.

"Do you want to move?" Austen asks me once we're alone.

"Absolutely not. You?"

He shakes his head. "It would feel weird having you so far away."

My worry disappears at his reassuring answer. I could never have imagined Austen would want to be in my company like this. Up until the fake dating conversation the first night I came to town, I thought he was completely indifferent.

But now I know better. I know that him not talking to me was part of him being reserved. Where Tennyson just walks up to strangers to say hello, Austen likes to assess a situation before diving in. And if there's a chance for him to help without being in the spotlight, then he's all for it.

Ironic, I guess, since I live my entire life in the spotlight. So far, it's not been a problem for us. I hope it doesn't become one either.

"What do you want to do to keep busy? I feel energized after that nap." Austen bounces in his seat a bit, showing a glimpse of a playful nature I've yet to see from him as the plane taxis down the runway.

I shrug. "I'm out of ideas. I'd been prepared for an awkward plane ride between the two of you, not this."

"Why awkward?"

I recount what Tennyson told me earlier about how he'd be fine if there was something between me and Austen. Unlike me, the younger Page doesn't appear to be all that bothered by it.

"How come you aren't freaking out? Your brother is acting like he knows!" I whisper-shout at him.

He grins and shakes his head. "He does know. The world knows."

"It's not the same. They all think we're fake dating."

I realize too late what I've said when Austen's gaze fills with heat. Gone is the teasing way he seemed energized just seconds ago. Now he's a temptation wrapped in loose sweats in a far too empty plane cabin.

I will not fuck him on this plane. I will not fuck him on this plane.

The words repeat in my head on a loop as he leans closer to me. His voice comes out so deep, I swear it's nothing but gravel.

"And what exactly are we doing if we aren't fake dating, Corrin?"

He's not playing fair now.

Austen is well aware of how much I love my name on his lips. He makes something so simple and boring sound like an oath of allegiance from the strongest army. I feel invincible when he does it.

"That's not fair," I whisper back. "You're doing that thing."

His grin makes me want to drop to my knees, laws and privacy be damned.

"I'm not doing anything. I simply asked a question, love. Tell me."

I take a deep breath, then let it out. We've had this conversation multiple times already, yet Austen always asks me to elaborate. It's a push and pull that always ramps us both up.

Looking around, I make note that the couple in back is still busy, and the flight attendants have all but disappeared. Tennyson's soft snores drift back our way as well, signaling we've got a fraction of alone time before we're interrupted.

"Like I said the last time you wanted clarification — you're mine, Austen Page. There's nothing fake about this thing between us. We'll let everyone else believe what they want, but when it's just us two, there's only the truth."

"And the truth is that I'm yours."

"Uh huh."

"And you're mine."

They aren't questions. Simply facts about our situation.

"Both of those are true." I lay my hand on his thigh, my touch gentle as I rub the firm muscle beneath his sweats.

I don't have to look down to know his cock is straining against the fabric. It's a given anytime I tell him we belong to one another.

"Love, I don't need teasing right now…" his words cut off when I press down on the massive tent of fabric. He hisses softly, then pulls me into a rough kiss.

Chancing fate, I move fast and slip beneath the edge of the pants. I wrap him in my fist, his precum lubricating him enough that half my work is already done for me.

"Did you get hard thinking about us?" I tease. "About how we're together now and nothing can stop it. Or was it because you know the minute I can get you alone, I'm going to finally put this glorious baby in my mouth to suck your balls dry?"

His body jolts at the visual I give him.

"Ohh, that's it, isn't it? You were thinking of my mouth and all the fun we'd have. Did I mention I don't have a gag reflex?"

Another jolt.

I chuckle against his ear, my voice barely audible as I give a long, low whine of desire. It would be pretend with anyone else, but with Austen, I feel the ache deep in my soul.

The rest of the world around us is all static noise as I continue to make noises in his ear and stroke his cock. Austen has to bite his fist to keep quiet the longer I go.

By the time he's about to come, I'm so attuned to him that I know before he does that it's coming. I'm already leaning over his lap and shoving the fabric down when he whispers, "Close" to warn me.

My mouth latches onto the crown as the first spray of cum shoots out. The salty liquid lands with force, with loads more to follow.

It's not exactly the most delicious stuff in the world, but at the same time, knowing that it's his attraction to me and what I've done for him with the hand job, I feel greedy as fuck for every drop. I don't let up until his cock stops pulsing and the last drop of come slips out.

I tuck him away, then slowly ease up to see if we've managed to stay hidden. Thankfully, there"s not a person in sight. Not anyone paying us any mind, anyway.

Austen pulls me into a less hurried yet still heavily heated kiss once I'm upright. I return his enthusiasm for a moment before pulling back.

"No more of that. I'll have to come too if we keep going, and we both know I'm not good at keeping quiet. Must be all my years of performing on stage."

He shakes his head from side to side as he gives me a lopsided grin. "You're something else, Corrin Ray."

"Something good, I hope."

"Something great," he replies.