Chapter 12

They had dinner much later.Eli opted to stay the night at Parker's—as if he'd do anything else once the man had asked.

Sleeping over came with the benefit of not needing to deal with shades on the way to his car, but the downside of having to text James. His brother hadn't said anything when Eli mentioned he was hanging out with Parker, but there was no way James wouldn't know what was going on now that Eli was spending the night.

But that was fine. Eli wasn't worried about James finding out he was starting something with his best friend. Eli was more confident about where he and Parker stood now, and if anything, it would probably make James happy to see Eli with Parker. It'd probably give him hope Eli would stay in Moonlight Falls.

For the first time, thinking about James's desire to have him around more didn't fill Eli with guilt. Not seeing James enough was one of the things he hated about living so far away.

The next fewweeks were the happiest of Eli's life. His research went well, he enjoyed working at the diner, and the time he spent with Parker blew his mind.

It wasn't just sex making him feel that way. One Wednesday afternoon, Parker took Eli hiking. They chose a trail west of town, so Eli hadn't brought any of his research equipment. Which was fine with him. He would much rather spend time with Parker, not working, not researching, just being together.

The trail Parker suggested didn't have a lot of elevation change and made for easy walking, with a wide path winding through the trees. Parker grabbed Eli's hand as they started and didn't let go. Holding hands was so simple, yet Eli's heart just about exploded. He leaned into Parker, their shoulders touching, and squeezed their palms together.

"Look." Parker pointed through the trees. Two deer stood barely a hundred feet away. Parker and Eli froze, watching. Parker leaned in to whisper in Eli's ear, "They're so cute."

Eli smiled. Parker was adorable.

When the deer moved on, Parker let out a soft sigh like he'd wanted to watch the animals longer. "Come on, there's a good picnic spot not far away." He pulled Eli along, smiling like he was having the best day ever.

As they walked along, Parker commented on the surrounding plants. "Did you know there's a wildlife club in town now?"

"Really?"

"Don't sound so surprised." Parker bumped Eli's shoulder playfully. "Stuff changes around here. It's not all exactly the same as when you left."

Eli knew Parker was right. In the past, the comment might have annoyed him. Now, it didn't bother him at all. Parker wasn't hassling him, and Eli wasn't trying so hard to dislike Moonlight Falls. The club sounded cool. "Did you join?"

"Of course. I had to keep my plant knowledge up to date after you stopped taking tree classes."

Eli laughed. "I never took a tree class, but I wish I had. Sounds awesome."

Parker talked about some of the trips the club took and a summer program they were putting together for local kids. It sounded like Parker loved it, and it seemed like he'd gotten into it all because of Eli and his apparently infections enthusiasm for nature facts. Which was wild. Eli was an important part of Parker's life and had been for a while.

Eli liked everything about that. It made it seem like there were endless ways for them to fit their lives together. "How often does the club meet?"

Parker stopped at a wooden picnic table nestled off the path. "Once a month, but we organize walks and things more often than that."

"Can I come with you next time?"

"Of course." Parker beamed, cupping Eli's face in his hands. "You'll love it."

Eli had no doubt he would, and he'd enjoy it even more, having it be something he and Parker did together.

Parker pulled off his backpack and set it on the table. He produced a thermos, and upon opening it, Eli was greeted with the sweet smell of coffee, prepared with cream and sugar, just how he liked it.

Parker handed Eli a cashew nut granola bar. "I've got fruit salad and sandwiches too."

The granola bar was the one Eli always chose out of the mixed pack. "Yum. I love this one." He smiled, and Parker's cheeks flushed.

Parker handed Eli a Tupperware container of pears, apples, pomegranate seeds, and chopped walnuts. The sandwiches were cucumber and turkey. This wasn't just any fruit salad and sandwiches. They were Eli's personal favorites.

Eli got choked up, emotion stealing his breath. All this had been prepared just for him. Maybe that was simple, and Eli was easy to please, but it felt meaningful. "Thank you, Parker. This is perfect."

Parker slung an arm around him and kissed the top of his head. "Glad you like it, gorgeous. I've had this afternoon in mind for a while."

Eli's heart swelled. This thing with Parker might be new, but it felt like his whole life had led him to this perfect day, sitting in the arms of a man who knew him better than anyone.

The restof the week flew by. They still hadn't defined what they were, but Eli knew what he wanted. There was no point waiting to bring it up. He was sure he wanted to be with Parker. He'd never clicked so well with another person and needed to see what the two of them could build together.

He arrived at Parker's house for another overnight and knocked on the door. As soon as it opened, Parker pulled him into a deep kiss. Eli had planned to talk to Parker first, but the next thing he knew, they were in Parker's bedroom, and he wasn't complaining.

Eli's body burned for Parker. Every sweet thing Parker did only made Eli's desire grow. There was still an exciting newness to being with Parker and the way their bodies felt together, but it was the familiarity between them that really made Eli's heart race.

They stripped each other naked and fell onto the bed. Parker's body caged Eli in, pressing him into the mattress and filling his whole world.

"Parker." Eli cupped his face, breaking their kiss.

Parker gazed down at him. "Yes, gorgeous?"

"I just—I like you so much."

Parker's look turned sweet as he smiled. "I like you too, Eli. I don't think I'll ever get enough of you."

"Same." Eli took a heaving breath. "But we don't have to get enough of each other. I want to be with you. I want to date you, tell everyone we're a couple, and call you my boyfriend."

"I'd love that," Parker whispered. "I'd love to be your boyfriend."

Eli pulled Parker's lips back to his and kissed him. They were nothing but hands on sweaty skin, hard cocks grinding together, and Eli was so happy. He felt like he had everything, but a greedy part wanted more.

Eli arched his back, his breath heaving. "Fuck me, Parker. Please."

Parker stilled on top of him, hunger in his eyes. "You sure, gorgeous?"

Eli nodded emphatically, and Parker seemed to soak up his enthusiasm. He kissed Eli hard on the mouth until Eli was squirming.

Parker moved his lips down Eli's body, kissing him hungrily. He knelt between Eli's legs, and Eli spread himself wide. Parker ran his big hands along Eli's inner thighs like he was touching something precious. He took his time caressing Eli, giving attention to his balls and taint.

Eli squirmed. "Please."

The pad of Parker's thumb brushed his hole. "You sure you want this?"

"Yes." Eli's whole body quivered. "Every time I finger myself, I think about you fucking me."

"Shit." Parker closed his eyes like he needed a second to collect himself. He squeezed his cock and fixed Eli with a hooded gaze. "I need to see that sometime."

Eli bit his lip. "Yeah, I'd love you watching me." He wanted to see Parker get himself off too.

"But not now." Parker reached for his bedside table, retrieving lube and a condom.

Eli's heart pounded. He wanted this badly but couldn't deny the tinge of anxiety beneath his arousal. He'd never had anything as big as Parker inside him. No one else had even fingered him. It had always been something he'd done alone.

Parker's slick finger massaged Eli's puckered flesh. Eli whined needily, even as his muscles tensed. Parker stroked his hip soothingly with his other hand. "Relax for me. I've got you."

Eli tried to relax. It felt amazing. Having someone else's finger down there was so different.

Parker began stroking Eli's cock as his other hand worked between his legs, and Eli felt himself unwind. When Parker finally pressed his finger in, Eli moaned in relief, not only relaxed but desperate to be touched at his core.

Parker finger-fucked him slowly, in and out, until he was buried deep. Then he crooked his finger, stroking over Eli's prostate.

Eli moaned, back arched, as pleasure coursed through him.

"That's it, gorgeous," Parker murmured as he did it again.

Eli writhed and pressed into Parker's touch. Firm fingers slowly opened him up, and when Parker got to adding a third, Eli had never felt so full.

"More," he begged.

Parker withdrew and smiled at Eli's whimper. He rolled on a condom and lubed up but sat up against the headboard next to Eli. "You want to be on top?"

"Like ride your cock?" Eli asked, dazed.

"Yeah." Parker pulled Eli up next to him. "It's a good position for your first time. You set the pace."

Eli blushed. Which was silly, given Parker had just been knuckle-deep inside him. "Okay."

He straddled Parker's lap, his hands braced on Parker's shoulders. They shared a look. Parker's expression seemed bright with excitement and wonder. It floored Eli. He crashed their mouths together, trying to show Parker how much this meant to him.

Eli reached back and took hold of Parker's cock. He broke the kiss and looked down at his erection painting Parker's abs with precum. He lined Parker up with his hole. At the feeling of Parker's blunt head against his pucker, Eli's eyes snapped back to Parker's.

Parker gripped his hips, not putting any pressure on Eli to sink down, just holding him. "You're so fucking sexy right now, Eli."

Eli bit his lip. Parker was the hottest man he'd ever known, and he was laid out beneath Eli, ready and waiting. How mind-blowing was that? "So are you, Parker."

Eli pressed down. The head of Parker's cock pushed past his tight ring of muscle, and Parker groaned, his hands tightening on Eli's hips. Eli gasped. A dick was so much bigger than fingers. The stretch burned, so he waited, holding just the tip inside him. It wasn't bad, not painful in a way he couldn't get past, just a lot.

Parker pressed their noses together as Eli took a second to adjust. "Take your time. You feel amazing."

The only response Eli could manage was a whimper. He sank a little farther, then lifted himself back up. He wrapped his arms tight around Parker's neck, panting into his mouth, too overwhelmed to coordinate kissing. Parker rubbed his thighs, hands circling around to Eli's ass, then back to his hips.

As the initial discomfort faded, Eli took Parker slowly, inch by inch.

"So good," Parker moaned, his grip tightening, thumbs tracing circles over Eli's skin. "You're being so good for me, Eli. Look at you—you're perfect."

Eli couldn't find words, only moans and whimpers. He felt too full, so consumed by what they were doing, and he loved it. When he was fully seated, he let his eyes flutter closed, just feeling it. Feeling Parker.

"How're you doing, gorgeous?" Parker asked as he caressed Eli's hips.

"Amazing." Eli held Parker close. "Your cock feels so good."

Parker wrapped his hand around Eli's half-hard dick and stroked. Soon, he was fully erect again, the distraction of adjusting to being penetrated replaced with nothing but a need for more.

Eli gave an experimental roll of his hips, and they both groaned. Parker was so deep inside him.

Eli ground himself onto Parker, finding a rhythm that sent pleasure rolling through him. He took Parker's mouth in a messy kiss, and Parker's tongue tangled with his.

Parker met Eli's thrusts with his own, still letting him set the pace, but each snap of Parker's hips rocked Eli's world. Before long, he was bouncing on Parker's dick, his head fallen back, crying out each time he came back down.

Eli made himself focus through his lust haze. He needed to see Parker as well as feel him. Parker seemed mesmerized, his gaze locked on Eli, clearly loving this as much as Eli.

"I'm close," Eli moaned, fucking Parker harder.

Parker matched his intensity, thrusting deep as he jerked Eli off with a tight fist. "Come for me, gorgeous."

That was it for Eli. Cum spilled over Parker's abs as Eli clenched around his cock. He dug his nails into Parker's shoulders as he rode out his orgasm, moaning, "Fuck, fuck, fuck."

Parker thrust into Eli, and just as Eli's orgasm crested, Parker gave a shout, and Eli felt him jolt deep inside him. He pulled Parker impossibly closer as Parker came in jerks, face buried in Eli's neck.

Parker pulled back, panting, a dopey, somewhat smug grin on his face. Eli loved it. Their mouths met in a breathless kiss.

Eli snuggled into Parker. He'd never felt so close to another person. Parker's hand came to rest on the small of his back, and he felt like he was home. Safe. He never wanted to be anywhere else.

After a while, they disentangled themselves and cleaned up, then crawled back into bed. Eli rested his head on Parker's chest and listened to his heartbeat.

Parker's hand found its way into Eli's hair. "How was it?"

Eli huffed a laugh. "Mind-blowing. Something I expect to do again soon."

Parker chucked. "You won't get an argument from me."

"You should bend me over the pool table next time," Eli said without hesitation.

"What?" Parker sounded totally shocked, which pleased Eli to no end.

"It's just something I've been thinking about since we played at the barbecue."

"Huh." Parker trailed his fingers down Eli's spine. "Wish I'd known."

"I'd have died of embarrassment if you'd figured out what I was thinking that day." Eli turned his head to look up at Parker. "I was only just coming to terms with having a crush on you. I liked you before I knew what my feelings meant. That's how drawn to you I am. Not even believing I was straight could stand in the way."

A soft, vulnerable look passed over Parker's face. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." Eli hugged him tight. "I've never felt so comfortable being myself with someone as I do with you. I know I'm having a lot of firsts with you, but what I'm feeling isn't just about fully embracing my sexuality. It's about you. I don't think anything will ever feel as right as the two of us together. The way I want you goes so deep. I think it's always been part of me. I think I'm falling for you, Parker. Like really falling for you."

Parker squeezed him close and dropped a kiss on his forehead. "I've been falling for you for a long time, Eli. You've been dazzling me for years with how clever you are. You're the most fascinating person I know. I never stood a chance. Your smile stops me in my tracks. I love being around you—you make my whole world feel brighter than should be possible—it makes me never want to give you up."

"You won't ever have to."

Parker cupped his face. "Good. I wouldn't know how, now that I've got you." Parker hesitated, fingers tracing Eli's cheek. "I never thought I'd get to spend this much time with you. Never thought you'd stick around. I've held back the last couple of years—even though I liked you more and more each time I saw you—because I didn't want to ruin what we had. You're so important to James. I couldn't risk things getting awkward between us, and I didn't want to become another reason you avoided Moonlight Falls."

Eli's heart pinched. He'd had no idea. Parker had liked him for years and had been waiting for him to give them a chance.

"I'd have been happy being your friend, Eli. But this is so much better."

Eli crawled up Parker's chest and kissed him. So much better didn't even cover it.