Chapter Nineteen

Will Comes Clean—And Comes Out

Will And Aiden Play Hide The Polish Sausage

Will kicked off his boots and then dumped his overnight bag next to the couch. "So what's the plan? Which bar are we hitting first?"

"I hadn't given it much thought." Well, he had —right up to the moment he'd heard Becca telling some other guy she loved him.

Beer was pretty far down Aiden's list of priorities.

Will frowned. "I thought you had an itinerary all worked out." Midnight was winding himself in and out of Will's ankles, purring up a storm. He bent down to stroke him. "Your kitty likes me."

He's not the only one.

Except what he felt for Will went way beyond mere liking. And if Becca was doing the dirty on him, Aiden was going to be there for Will, one hundred percent.

Then Will straightened. "Can I be honest? I'm not really in the mood for a bar crawl." Before Aiden could say a word, he held his hands up. "I know, I know, you've gone to a lot of trouble to organize this, but… could we do something else instead? Like… grab a pizza again and watch a movie? No one has to know, right? We'll say we were having such a good time, we forgot to take pictures."

Aidan was done being reticent.

"Look, there's something I need to talk to you about."

Will gazed at him, his eyes warm. "I haven't told anyone in your family about…about you, if that's what this is about."

"It isn't, but thanks. I knew you'd keep my secret." He paused. "But someone else around here is keeping something secret—a pretty big something—and you need to know what's going on."

Will walked over to the couch and sat, his gaze fixed on Aiden. "You're starting to worry me." He didn't seem all that worried, but maybe he was one of those people who internalized everything, the human equivalent of a swan, serene on the outside, but churning like crazy beneath the surface.

Aiden sat beside him, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, fingers laced. He couldn't look at Will so he stared at the rug instead.

I really should clean it soon. He dreaded to think how much of Midnight's fur was on there.

That wasn't helping.

With an effort, he forced himself back into the moment.

"The last few times I saw you and Becca together, I had a feeling that all… Well, that all wasn't quite right between you. Something felt off."

Will didn't respond for a moment. Then he spoke in a low voice. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

" You might not have, but I think Becca does."

He wasn't sure if he'd imagined the hitch in Will's breathing. "What?"

Aiden sighed. "The night we met, when I came looking for you and found you in the lobby?"

"Yeah."

"Well, just before that, I found Becca sitting in a corner with her phone, talking to you. You know… mushy stuff."

"Where are you going with this? So we talk on the phone. So what?"

Will's voice had lost its serene quality, and an edge of irritation had crept in.

"This evening, when you and Dad were playing in the snow like a couple of school kids, I heard her having the same kind of conversation. The kind of conversation I shouldn't have been listening to, I know, because it was clearly intimate, but it shocked the hell out of me."

"You're losing me."

Aiden turned his head to meet Will's gaze. "You don't see where I'm going with this? I heard my sister say ‘I love you'—but it wasn't to you. It couldn't have been, because you were with my dad. And that makes me think about the first phone call. What if that wasn't you either?"

Will was like a statue beside him, and the truth of the situation dawned on Aiden.

"Oh my God. I'm right, aren't I? There is someone else. That's why this feels wrong. And you didn't know, did you?"

Will's silence was beginning to unnerve him.

Aiden drew his legs onto the couch and held his knees against his chest. Will didn't look at him: his attention was focused on Midnight.

The dullness in Aiden's chest and the tight knot in his belly would not quit.

"I'm sorry, but I had to tell you." He stared at Will. "You do see that, don't you?"

Will nodded, moving his hand gently along Midnight's back.

He has to be feeling sick to his stomach right now.

The silence was killing Aiden.

"What are you going to do? Will you get her to give up whoever this guy is, to save your marriage that hasn't even happened yet, or will you just call it off? Because—"

Will let out a noise of pure exasperation.

"Will you please stop talking for a second?"

Fuck, where do I start?

There go my plans for a pleasant evening.

There was only one way out of this mess—tell the truth. Okay, it wasn't his place to share personal stuff about Becca, but considering everything that had gone on thus far?

Fuck it. She'd understand, given the circumstances. And he wouldn't be going through any of this if she hadn't dropped him in the shit and been too chicken to dig him out of it.

Will lowered Midnight to the floor, then sagged against the cushions.

"The most important thing you need to know is… Becca isn't cheating on me."

Aiden frowned. "Then who was—"

"No, you don't understand," Will interjected. "She isn't cheating on me because… because we're not engaged."

Aiden's eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. "But… but she told Mom…"

He nodded. "I know. I was sitting right there during that conversation." He chuckled. "So you can imagine what a shock it was, hearing my best friend tell her mom that I'd proposed." He grinned. "It was obviously so forgettable, I slept through it."

"Your best friend… So you're not in love with her?"

Will smiled. "I love your sister, okay? I'd have to love her, to put up with the mess she's created, but…" His heart raced. "She isn't my type."

"Then what is your type?"

He shrugged. "I like redheads."

Aiden blinked. "Not seeing a problem here."

Will raised his eyes toward the ceiling. "Fine. She's… missing something."

"Like what?"

Will locked gazes with him. "Something you have. Something I happen to like, a lot." He glanced at Aiden's crotch. Up to his eyes. Down to his crotch again.

Come on, Aiden. You're a smart guy. Work it out.

Aiden's gasp told him he'd struck oil.

"You're gay ?"

" There ya go."

"Okay, we are gonna talk about this, but right now?" Aiden's brow furrowed. "I still don't understand. Why would she tell Mom she was engaged?"

"Because your mom kept trying to set her up with guys from the hotel. She'd grown tired of it, so she took the easy way out and told your mom we were engaged." He huffed. "Easy my ass. It was only supposed to be for the party, then we were going to ‘break up'" he air-quoted. "Your mom changed everything."

Aiden crossed his legs. "I still don't get why she claimed to be engaged. Why not just say, ‘Hey, Mom, stop setting me up with guys'?"

"Because this way was safer than telling her the truth."

"Which is?"

Here we go.

"You have more in common with your sister than you know. You see, I'm not Becca's type either." He smiled. "Get the picture?"

Aiden's jaw dropped.

Bingo.

"Becca's a lesbian?"

Will laughed. "You two really should talk more, you know?"

"Why didn't she tell me?"

Will stared at him. "Why didn't you tell her ? All she says is she can't come out to your parents. And seeing as you're in the same boat, I guess that goes for you too. Because there has to be a reason why you haven't told them."

Aiden frowned. "It's not something we ever discuss. I mean, ever ."

"Becca told me something like that too. But now I've gotten to know them? I have to admit, that theory doesn't hold water. Some of my D & D buddies are unfortunate enough to have homophobic bastards for their parents, and they talk about the shit that goes down." He looked at Aiden. " Your parents are in a different league."

Aiden's breathing quickened. "Can we get back to the I'm gay part?"

Will shook his head. "These last few weeks have been torture."

Aiden's gaze grew sympathetic. "Pretending to be straight?"

Will's heart hammered.

You've gotten this far. Don't stop now.

He took a deep breath. "No—pretending I'm not attracted to my straight soon-to-be brother-in-law. Who I then learn is about as straight as a corkscrew."

Aiden's breathing caught. "Oh my God."

"That's twice now you've said that. You need a wider vocabulary." The attempt at humor was nothing but obfuscation, and he knew it. Will sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come out with it like that. It put you on the spot and I have no right to—"

Aiden darted forward, their mouths meeting in a fervent collision of lips, stealing Will's breath and sending his heartbeat into overdrive. Will reacted instantly, cupping Aiden's head as he held him there, unwilling to break the kiss.

You'll have to let him go some time.

It seemed Aiden had the same thought. He sat back, pulling free of Will's embrace, his eyes shining.

Will shivered. "Whoa. You have no idea how long I've wanted you to do that."

Aiden smiled. "Then tell me."

"I guess since you helped me to my feet in the hotel lobby." He returned Aiden's forthright gaze. "You knocked me flat twice. The first time was when you sent a luggage cart flying into me. The second was when you smiled."

Aidan leaned in and kissed him again, only this time it was sweeter, their lips brushing softly, Aiden's hand on his cheek, his fingers tracing the line of his jaw. Warm breath ghosted Will's ear.

"I can beat that. I wanted to kiss you the moment you walked into that hotel."

Will shivered as Aiden pressed warm lips to his neck. "So… Where do we go from here?"

"That depends." Aiden drew back and looked him in the eye. "Do you want to stop at kissing?"

Will grinned. "Didn't I say that for a smart man, you ask dumb questions?"

"Then how about a few intelligent ones?" Aiden picked up his phone, scrolled, then handed it to Will. "The results of my last test, two months ago. And by the way, I haven't been with anyone for the last six months."

"Ooh, a dry spell. I can beat that. It's been eight for me." Will grinned. "But seeing as you've shown me yours, I'll show you mine." He pulled up his results and showed the screen to Aiden.

"I'm on PrEP."

"I'm not." Will put his phone down. "Ask your question."

"Are you okay not using condoms?"

He smiled. "Perfectly—now. You've just scored an A+, Teach, for talking safety first. Some guys don't, and that's why they don't make it past my bedroom door."

Aiden blinked. "Are we moving this to the bed?"

Will grinned. "Did you have someplace else in mind?"

"I was all for fucking you right here on the couch."

Will chuckled. "Ohh, you sweet-talker, you." He stood. "Think you can keep a lid on it until I get back from your bathroom? I won't be long, I promise. I just didn't expect to be… active this evening." He cocked his head to one side. "Which leads us to your second question."

"I think you just answered it." Aiden's eyes gleamed. "But for my final question of the night—

"Thank God." Will narrowed his gaze. "I'm so hard right now, Midnight could use it for a scratching post." He winced. "Wait. That was a really bad example."

"By the time you're ready, Midnight will be safely stowed in the kitchen."

He laughed. "Thank you. I had visions of him holding up little kitty-sized score cards." Will peered at Aiden. "And the answer to the question you haven't asked yet, is yes, I am happy to both give and receive. So… is that it? Are we done talking?"

Aiden pointed to the door. "You know where the bathroom is."

Will was out of there before Aiden could finish his sentence.

Aiden stared at the door. I do not fucking believe this.

Talk about a night of bombshells.

Becca isn't engaged to Will.

Becca is into girls.

Will is into boys.

Two of those revelations were definitely a cause for celebration—okay, maybe all three—and when Will emerged from Aiden's bathroom, there were going to be fireworks. He wasn't going to think about his parents, or Becca, or the wedding—

Except there isn't going to be a wedding, is there?

The thought of kissing Will again consumed him. Undressing Will. Burying his shaft in—

The door opened. "I said I'd be fast, didn't—"

Aiden launched himself at Will, pinning him against the wall as they kissed, not gentle, not sweet, but white-hot with desire, brimming with need. Something fell to the floor with a clatter , and Aiden grinned when he saw the bottle of lube.

"Good thinking," he murmured.

Then it was back to the very real, very urgent business of getting them both where they wanted to be.

Aiden began to unbutton Will's shirt, and Will got busy with his, but that was taking too damn long, so they undressed themselves, Aiden still kissing him, pausing only long enough to remove his shirt, unbuckle his belt, unfasten his pants, and squirm out of all of his clothing except his underwear, while Will performed a similar ballet of tangled garments. The harsh sound of their breathing filled the air, and Aiden lifted Will into his arms, Will wrapping his legs around him as Aiden carried him to the armchair.

Aiden bent over to kiss him, because fuck , that mouth was addictive as sin, and Will didn't hesitate, reaching into Aiden's briefs to draw out his rigid dick. That first contact with Will's warm, wet mouth forced a moan from Aiden's lips, and he quickly removed his underwear, spreading his feet, his hands on Will's head as he thrust deep into Will's mouth.

At some point they flipped, and Aiden found himself in the chair, Will crouched over him, Will's feet on either side of him as he bounced on Aiden's cock, steadying himself with his hands on the arm rests. Aiden cupped Will's ass and helped him bounce a little faster, come down a little harder, until both of them were moaning constantly.

Then Will turned around and impaled himself once more on Aiden's shaft, only this time Aiden could see their reflections in the TV screen, could watch his dick sliding in and out of Will's ass, and that was hot as fuck. Aiden reached down to feel his slick cock driving into Will's hole, and Will groaned, working his own dick.

"Gotta slow this down, or I'm gonna have an honest-to-God heart attack," Aiden ground out.

Will was off him in a heartbeat, kneeling on the couch, offering his ass.

Aiden was not about to ignore that invitation.

He knelt behind Will, caressing his firm ass cheeks before pulling them apart to lick Will's pucker that contracted against his tongue. He played Will's hole with tongue and fingers, until Will seemed incapable of keeping still.

"Turn over," Aiden instructed, his voice a little hoarse.

Will flipped onto his back, drawing his knees up to his shoulders and rolling his ass up off the cushion. Aiden stroked the head of his cock over Will's hole, dribbling a little more lube onto his shaft. Then he pushed, slowly, so goddamn slowly, until at last he was all the way home.

"Fuck, that's deep."

Aiden pulled all the way out, then slid back in. Out. In. Out. In, until Will was moaning again, his hand a blur on his shaft. He raised Will's legs and hooked his knees over Aiden's shoulders, one hand on the arm rest, the other on Will's face as they kissed, deep, primal kisses, their tongues in synch with every stroke of Aiden's dick inside him. Aiden rested his elbows on either side of Will's head, their kisses connecting them as surely as Aiden's cock joined them. Aiden rocked, his hips pumping in a languid, fluid motion, Will's kisses growing more heated, his moans more frequent, his hand faster, and Aiden knew they were there.

His forehead met Will's. "You're close. Let go. I've got you." And then Aiden kissed him, groaning as Will's body tightened around him, loving that sensual arch of Will's back as he came, the way he pushed the back of his head into the arm of the couch, eyes wide open, a soft cry falling from his lips, his cum pooling on his stomach.

Will locked his arms around Aiden's neck, clinging to him, their bodies slick with perspiration and spunk. The smell of sweat and cum was a heady combination, and Aiden tried to hold back his orgasm, but he was fighting a losing battle, and at last he shot hard, his cock pulsing inside Will.

Will stared at him, his brow damp. "I can feel you."

Aiden nodded, then lowered his head to claim another kiss. He pinned Will to the couch, his energy spent.

Will lowered his legs to wrap them around Aiden's waist.

"And now I've got you ," he said.

You can have me. Every little piece of me.