Chapter Nineteen

Charlie

T hree months later.

Holding Trent’s hand was not enough today, neither were his lollipops or even the dino pancakes he’d eaten. I wanted to talk to him alone, but that would have to wait.

We were sitting at Randy’s in a packed booth: Trent and I on one side along with Louise, Trent’s sister. Facing us were Sabrina and Trixie with her fiancée, Cindy.

The tiny minx had Trixie wrapped around her pinkie, to the utter amusement of all of us. With her high voice, small stature, and angelic face, Cindy could fool anyone that she was a demure girl. In reality, her small stature packed bad-ass energy she utilized when running an independent record store downtown. Once Trixie had introduced her to us, she became an integral part of the group. Good thing too, as Trixie proposed to her last week, and Cindy now sat sporting a sparkly ring on her finger.

The usually shy Sabrina leaned over the table to draw something on Louise’s napkin as the two bonded over serial killer documentaries. Louise was as tall as her brother and with the same kind expression, but with long blonde hair tied in a high ponytail and dressed in a colorful mini skirt and a denim jacket.

Since she’d moved in with Trent two months before, she’d latched onto helping Trent launch his business and flirted the socks off Sabrina in the meantime. Resourceful and sexy. Must run in the family.

“Oh, Trent said I could decide on the office space furniture as long as I don’t interfere with the gym equipment,” Louise told Sabrina. “Right?” She elbowed Trent, who snapped to attention from looking into the distance with a lost expression on his face.

“Yeah. I told you you’ll have a lot of freedom of decision in some areas. You said you wanted that.”

“Yup. I reached out to several sponsors this week. I don’t know much about gyms but I’ve been doing admin for a local flower shop, so I’m familiar with that side of the business and customer service. I can learn the rest if needed.” Louise swirled the straw in her milkshake and winked at Sabrina.

Once again, she was downplaying her resume that had a BA in Business Administration at the top.

“I’ll help you if you need me.” Sabrina volunteered, smoothing her sky-blue dress.

“I can put you in for part-time.” Trent tapped the small notebook he’d been carrying around since he’d started investing his time and sweat into making his dream a reality.

“Nah.” Sabrina waved a hand in dismissal. “I’d be happy with a free membership. Then I can look over Louise’s shoulder and whisper gym advice.”

“You’ll get that, anyway.” Trent pointed a finger at Sabrina. “But don’t you go corrupting my baby sister.”

“Hey, I’m not a child!” Louise gasped.

“You’ll always be my lil sis even when you’re sixty and I’m sixty five, so better get used to it.” Big brother Trent was hot as hell.

Louise rolled her eyes so hard I was sure she saw her brain. “I swear if you use the phrase ‘while you live under my roof’, I’d barf and move out.”

“Geez Louise, I won’t.” Trent teased, reminding me how I witnessed him bickering with his sister when we were kids.

“Not this again.” She groaned, burying her face in her hands.

It was my cue to act.

I cleared my throat, bringing everyone’s attention. “We’re leaving on tour in two days, and no offense to any of you, but I want to spend that time with Trent.” I took Trent’s hand, and he followed me out of the booth.

“He has a point,” Trixie said and scooped Cindy closer.

A lot had changed since the memorable day we recorded a demo without knowing that Trent talked the pants off everyone at the building. We’d had several offers from agents and had decided on Flora, who’d shown passion for the punk scene and got us a record deal within the first week of getting her on board. Thank fuck, that had meant they offered us some money upfront, and I didn’t have to look for a new dead-end job, and let myself write more music.

Normally, nothing would happen for months after a band gets signed with a label. Sometimes even for a year or two. But the driving force behind Flora scouring for talent had been cutting one of her bands from an upcoming tour. Without going into detail, she’d told us she’d rather send them to a rehab and see them well again then push them to do the tour and witness a tragedy.

Her honesty and apparent care for the people she managed led us to believe she’d be a good match for us. Little did we know she’d book us on a tour as the opening band.

And we said yes.

It’s unheard of to be so lucky and jump on a big promo train right away. The huge downside for me was I had to leave Trent.

For a month.

I squeezed Trent’s hand as we made it to the door of my apartment. He’d been unusually quiet, but I wanted us to walk once we sat down.

We removed our shoes, and I led him to the living room.

“Surprise! I opened my arms, presenting the silly idea that had taken me hours to set up.

“Why did you pitch a tent inside your house?” Trent frowned, then his expression changed into one of teary wonder. “Is it for me?”

“For now, it’s the best I can do to compensate for the camping trip we’d never gone to.”

“Oh, babe.” Trent kissed my cheek, then climbed on his knees into the tent.

I joined him, sitting amongst the mountains of pillows and blankets I dragged into the small space.

“This is amazing, Charlie.” Trent hugged a pillow to his chest. “I’m sorry that I’ve been acting weird. I’m stressed and scared about the big changes.” He shrugged. “The gym is one thing, but you being gone fucks with my head.”

“I want to ask you something, but don’t get mad or take it the wrong way, okay?” My stomach turned as I geared myself.

“You’re breaking up with me?” Trent hugged the pillow tighter.

“No, baby, absolutely not. Since I’m leaving, I thought you’ll have time to reflect on our relationship. Like, would you want to experiment with other people? After all, that’s how this—” I mentioned between us—“Started in the first place. I don’t want you to regret it down the line.”

“What?” Trent tossed the pillow aside. “Why would I want that if I have everything I could ever dream of with you?”

I shrugged. “How do you know, though?”

“Charlie, babe, when love slaps me in the face, I can acknowledge it.” Trent being so serious, was making me hot. “You told me I may be a himbo, but I’m not that dumb, right?”

I took his hand and put it on my lap. “Not at all. You’re the best himbo, muscled bottom in the whole wide world.”

He nodded once. “Okay, so I’m calling lime lime lime.”

“You don’t have to say it three times. It’s not Beetlejuice.” I bit my lip not to grin. “But why did you safeword?”

Trent pursed his lips. “I don’t want to talk about the time you’ll be gone. I’ll focus on gym stuff and wait.”

“Okay. Let’s focus on when I’ll be back.” I scooted close to him and sat cross-legged. “I’ll meet you the day we return to Boston. And I’d like you to fuck me. I want to ride your dick all night, my Cupcake. With enough prep, my ass can take your massive cock.” I bit my lip, waiting for his reaction.

Charlie’s lips formed an “O,” and he straightened his back. “I’d love that. But babe, you don’t have to do it for me. I don’t need to top at all, ever. Or fill you with my cock. I’d be content to bottom for you till the end of my days.”

“That means a lot. But I want to feel you inside me. Maybe we’ll practice with toys for a while so you can help me stretch my ass, then fuck me, fill me with your cum like I do you.” My head swam with ideas. I’d thought about him penetrating me for a while. My gender dysphoria had been preventing me from allowing other partners to do that. But Trent changed everything. With him, sex had nothing to do with gender roles and I could let go of all preconceptions, knowing he’d roll along with it.

“Yes.” Trent bounced in his seat. “You’ll tell me what to do and how.”

I’d been contemplating another idea for three weeks, thinking of postponing what I was about to do, for after the tour. But I was ready now.

I pulled out a box I hid amongst the pillows. “Trent, I know we haven’t been together long.”

Trent covered his mouth with both his hands, his eyes blowing wide.

“Everything you just said, and the time we had so far, tells me I want to be with you for as long as you’ll have me. I know I should wait longer but I can’t. You need to know that I’m serious.” I opened the box to show him a simple black band. “This is my way of telling you I’ll be back. And somewhere down the line, maybe you’d agree to marry me.”

“Yes! I agree now!” Trent pulled me over his lap, hugging me so tight I let out a squeak.

He kissed my neck, my jaw, then my lips slowly and with the passion of a man who truly loved me.

Then he waved his fingers. “Here.”

I slid the band on his index finger. “We can tell people when we’re ready or right away.”

Trent turned his hand over, inspecting his new piece of jewelry. “After your tour. I don’t want the news to distract everyone. Once you’re back, we’ll announce it everywhere.”

“I’d love that. Your hand looks fantastic with the ring on it.” I kissed his cheek, my heart swelling with so much happiness it was threatening to spill from my eyes.

“Now you’re buttering me up so I’d hold my own cheeks open for you.” He chuckled and wiped tears with the back of his hand.

“Maybe.” I poked him in the ribs. Well, abs actually.

“All you have to do is ask.” Trent grinned, showing off his dimples. “But now cuddle with me, Charlie. Please.”

I splayed several blankets on the floor and threw the pillows around. “Come here, my big cuddle slut.” I opened my arms, and he tumbled us to the ground.

“Yes.” He buried his face in my neck, octopussying his limbs around me. “You can cuddle me day and night.”

“I could if you’d moved in with me.” Oops, I was supposed to ease into that. Too late now.

Trent hugged me tighter. “You mean it. I can hear it in your voice.”

“Yeah. You’d been staying here more since Louise moved in with you, and I’ve been loving every second of it.” I backed into him with my ass, feeling his semi through his shorts.

“I have to sleep on the couch in my own apartment because I gave her the bedroom.” Trent grunted and wiggled his hips. “I can only jerk off in the shower now. It’s awful. The cage helps, though.”

“You won’t be wearing it for a month.” I turned around to face him. “You have the key to my place, so you can drop in your stuff here and stay whenever you want. The entire month.” I grinned. “That way, I can call you every evening and watch you jerk off for me.”

“You know how to convince me.”

“So when I’m back, we'll be roommates.” I cupped his face and kissed him.

“But the tent stays.”

I chuckled. “Sure. We can even get fairly lights for it.”

“Now, you got me horny with all the live sex chat talk and romance.”

“I’m so shocked,” I said in a deadpan voice.

Trent dug his fingers into my sides, ticking me. I wiggled and laughed, trying to escape, to no avail.

He stopped, pulling me on top of him. I straddled his waist and ran my hands up his chest.

“I have some new toys to try today.” I tapped in a basket with toys I prepared in advance and covered it with a towel. “You’ll eat me out and give me your ass so I could play with this.” I pulled out a string of anal beads that started with a tiny one and ended with a big bulb.

“Yes, please.” Trent’s cheeks grew pinker, and his cock bounced against my ass.

“I love how eager you are to try new things.” I slid my hands under his jersey, tracing his abs up to his sensitive nipples. Flicking them, I reveled in his gasp.

“With you? Always.”