Chapter 9

Eli wasn'tsure when it had happened, but he was wholeheartedly enjoying working at the diner. He'd stopped trying to escape conversations with customers and even found himself getting sucked into stories about people's personal feelings on the magic here. There was so much love for Moonlight Falls, and Eli had to admit he got it. This place was special, even if it was a bit odd with the shades and places like Storm House.

Eli understood why people liked it here, and while sometimes the familiarity made him melancholy, there was a lot of comfort to be had in Moonlight Falls. He certainly wasn't an outsider. He wasn't really a city boy, no matter how long he'd lived in LA.

He overheard some tourists discussing how creepy they found the town as he delivered their meals. They said the magic felt foreboding, but it was exactly what they'd expected, coming here on a supernatural tour looking for a thrill.

Moonlight Falls wasn't creepy. Eli shook his head at the ridiculousness.

"You up for a movie after work?" Parker asked as Eli brought some dirty dishes into the kitchen.

"Yeah, why not." They'd probably be getting out of there on the early side that night, so there was no reason they couldn't hang out.

Still, when the time came to leave, Eli experienced a flutter of nerves. He wanted movie night with Parker to be more than just two friends hanging out. He wanted to see if his crush could ever be more, wanted to find out if there was a chance his feelings weren't one-sided.

But he was scared. He worried Parker would never see him like that, that they'd met when Eli was too young for him to ever be a potential romantic partner in Parker's eyes. But Eli was less worried about there being no future for them if Parker shared his feelings. Maybe there could be. Not hating Moonlight Falls and holding on to every bad memory felt good. A relief Eli hadn't known he'd needed.

Eli might not be as in love with this town as some of its citizens, but there were worse places to live. There was plenty he didn't like about LA and a lot he wasn't looking forward to returning to.

For the first time in Eli's life, it felt like there was potential in this small town.

He shook his head as he got in his car. Was he really getting sucked into Moonlight Falls? The one thing he swore he'd never do. Or was he just falling for Parker Hayes and, by extension, Moonlight Falls, unable to help seeing the good in the place Parker loved and devoted his life to?

Maybe it was Moonlight's magic drawing him in at long last. Eli laughed at himself for even having the thought.

He shot off a text to James, letting his brother know he was hanging out with Parker after work. James would worry if Eli didn't come home, and even though sending word made Eli feel like a kid staying out late, it was worth it to know James wasn't working himself up, thinking something had happened to him.

A shade followed Eli as he drove to Parker's. It stayed back as he got out of his car but seemed to watch him. He'd seen the beasts more nights than not and was almost getting used to them. At least none of them had tried to grab him since that first night.

"Mind if I take a quick shower?" Parker asked as they got inside. Parker had driven his own car home, and Eli had followed. "I smell like the diner."

"No problem." Eli glanced around Parker's entryway. It looked the same, but being here felt different without James. "I usually shower after work too."

Parker hung his jacket up on a hook by his front door. "There's a shower in the guest bathroom if you want one."

Eli took his own jacket off. "Eh, my clothes probably smell like fries, so what's the point?"

"I can lend you something."

Eli paused. The idea of wearing Parker's clothes was appealing. "Okay, thanks."

Parker disappeared into his bedroom, returning with a folded pair of joggers and a T-shirt. "Knock yourself out."

Eli shut the door to the hall bathroom. Showering after a restaurant shift always felt like heaven. Even being in an unfamiliar place didn't detract from Eli's relaxation. He sniffed the shampoo sitting on the edge of the tub. It smelled like Parker.

The clothes were too big, but Eli didn't mind. He didn't really care how he looked. He was doubtful Parker would ever look at him that way, no matter what he wore. But that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy tonight. He liked being here with just the two of them.

Eli found Parker in the living room, sitting on the couch.

Parker's eyes swept over him, probably noting how badly the borrowed outfit suited his smaller body type. But Parker smiled. "I've never seen you look so cozy."

Eli's cheeks flushed. He had no idea how to respond, so he didn't. He just made his way over to the couch.

Parker sat in the middle, meaning wherever Eli sat, they'd be close together. Parker must have thought nothing of it, but Eli was feeling nervous. He didn't know what he was supposed to be doing or even what he wanted to be doing. He needed his crush to be a secret but was also dying for more.

He plopped down to the left of Parker.

"Can I pick the movie?" Eli tried not to stare at Parker's wet hair or breathe too deeply now that Parker smelled fresh and inviting.

Parker held out the remote. Eli reached for it, but Parker snatched it back. "I don't know. I was kind of hoping to pick. Unless you really want to."

"I do." Eli snatched at the remote, but Parker kept it out of reach. He laughed. "Why are you being like this?"

Parker dangled the remote above Eli's head, a mischievous grin pulling at those full lips. "Like what?"

Eli pounced, grabbing the remote and falling onto Parker in the process. Parker didn't give in. He grabbed Eli around the middle and dug his fingers in, tickling him. Eli shrieked and squirmed but didn't let go of the remote. He flopped back onto the couch, trying to get away. Parker followed him down, pinning him to the cushions with his firm body.

Eli gasped as Parker's weight came down on him. Parker grabbed for the remote. Eli wasn't so dumbstruck that he was going to give up. He attempted to push Parker off, but Parker caught his wrists and pinned them above his head.

Eli struggled, no longer caring about the remote clutched loosely in his hand. "Parker." He meant to laugh or sound annoyed, but his voice was breathless. He felt so good with Parker on top of him.

Their eyes met, and Parker held his stare. A devilish grin lit the man's face. "You going to give it up?"

Eli's body flushed with heat. He struggled again, but not really. Not because of the remote or to get Parker off him. He wanted Parker to pin him down tighter, to feel him more. He didn't ever want to leave Parker's hold.

Parker encircled Eli's wrists with a single, large hand, freeing his other. Eli's breath stuttered as Parker plucked the remote from his grasp.

"Got it," he teased, smug and smiling.

Eli's pulse pounded. His body sang. It felt amazing to be pinned like this. By a man. By Parker. Eli wanted more. He wanted this, but with both of them naked. Unable to keep the arousing thought at bay, his dick hardened.

Parker's thigh was pressed tight between Eli's spread legs, so there was no way he'd missed Eli's erection. Parker was still looking into his eyes, all silliness replaced with something that looked like longing.

"Parker?" Eli whimpered, squirming half in embarrassment, half in need.

Parker dropped the remote, his other hand slacking on Eli's wrists but not letting go. "Yes, Eli?" His voice was husky, serious, his attention clearly focused as he searched Eli's face.

"What if—um—I wanted—" Eli sucked in a breath. His gaze locked on Parker's lips. He was terrified, but his desire outshone everything. "What if I kissed you? Would you want—I mean—would you like…?" His words failed and his face burned. He couldn't think straight, and for a second, he was filled with fear of rejection. His clumsy words wouldn't capture a man like Parker's desire.

Parker ran a hand through Eli's damp hair. "Yes, I'd like to kiss you very much, Eli." He moved his other hand off Eli's wrists, letting it rest by his head.

"Oh." Eli's heart soared. Parker wanted to kiss him. Oh god, Parker wanted to kiss him.

Before Eli could second guess anything, his hands were in Parker's hair. He pulled Parker down to meet him, and their lips brushed. Eli kissed Parker carefully, savoring it and letting Parker's intoxicating scent overwhelm him.

Parker kissed back, matching Eli's gentle movements. His lips were as soft as Eli had imagined, but it was like no other kiss he'd ever had. Every scrape of stubble against his cheeks was a beautiful reminder of who he was kissing.

Eli groaned. At the sound, Parker leaned in and deepened the kiss. Eli opened for him, moaning once more when Parker's tongue entered his mouth.

His pulse pounded and his cock ached. The kiss felt like a jolt of electricity. A shock that reset his whole world and pulled things he hadn't even realized were blurry into focus.

Eli squirmed under Parker, and the bigger man smiled against his mouth. Parker rolled his hips, and Eli felt a growing hardness against his hip. Parker was hard for him. For him. The knowledge made Eli dizzy.

They kissed like they'd both been waiting years for this moment. Parker's hands ran up and down Eli's arms and over his shoulders, cupping his upper back. Then he pulled Eli up and over him as he lay back, switching their positions.

Eli yelped in surprise. He'd never had someone pick him up in an intimate situation, but apparently, he liked being manhandled.

Eli spread his legs wide in the new position, straddling Parker's lap. Their erections pressed together, only separated by the soft cloth of their joggers. Parker hummed into Eli's mouth as Eli settled into place. His hands moved from Eli's shoulders down his back, sending tantalizing chills across Eli's spine.

It felt so good. Everywhere Parker's hands went was like a spot no one had ever touched. Somehow, their physical contact felt new, foreign, and exciting, but right, like coming home.

Parker's hands slid lower until they cupped Eli's ass. Eli moaned as Parker took a firm hold of him, big hands spread wide. Parker pulled Eli close, guiding Eli's hips into a rolling motion as he palmed Eli's ass. Eli rubbed against Parker enthusiastically, and Parker squeezed him tighter, kissing him harder.

Eli's whole body was on fire. He cried out as the intense release of his pleasure came out of nowhere. An orgasm overwhelmed him, his whole body stiffening as he came from the feeling of Parker's hands on his ass and their cocks so close together.

Eli broke their kiss, panting, and laid his head on Parker's chest. Parker's hands remained on Eli, his dick still hard between them.

Eli froze. Oh god. How had that just happened? What had just happened? He'd never come like that before, with no warning. And it was so obvious he'd had an orgasm, from the way he'd moaned to the uncomfortable wetness in his underwear that was bound to seep through his joggers for Parker to feel. They'd only been kissing. Eli wasn't supposed to get off from that alone.

He was panicking. He didn't know what to do now and couldn't seem to move.

"What's going through that busy mind of yours, hm, Eli?" Parker's words were soft as his hand stroked Eli's hair.

"I wasn't expecting—um—that," Eli whispered. "Sorry. I—I think I'm just overwhelmed."

"No need to be sorry." Parker continued stroking his hair. "We sure went from zero to a hundred."

Eli smiled and tucked his face into the crook of Parker's neck, his panic abating. "I've never kissed a man before." The whispered words felt safe with Parker. He made Eli feel like he had nothing to worry about. "I've wanted to kiss you so badly." He closed his eyes for a second. "I didn't think quite that badly though."

"I've been dying to kiss you too, Eli."

Eli stopped hiding his face. He pulled back and looked down at Parker. "You have? But you thought I was straight."

Parker bit his lip like he did when holding back a smile. "Did I? We haven't ever talked about your sexuality, but I've got to say, the way you've been checking me out has been far from straight behavior."

"Oh." Eli felt lost again. He'd been totally obvious.

Parker brushed back a stray lock of Eli's hair. "I've been feeling something growing between us for a while now. At least on my end. The last couple of times you visited."

"Really?" Eli's head was swimming. Had he missed this too? Was he totally clueless? Or had he just not picked up on Parker's feelings because of the same assumptions that had caused him to misread his own?

"Yes, really." Parker's cheeks darkened in a blush.

Did that mean Parker didn't think he was too young? Had Parker been trying to take care of Eli not because he saw him as the kid he used to be but because he'd wanted to express his feelings—romantic feelings—for Eli?

Eli leaned in and kissed Parker. This was wild. He was so happy. They were kissing and talking, and Eli had never felt so close and comfortable with someone—with drying cum in his pants, to boot. He let out a slightly hysterical laugh.

Parker cupped his cheek. "You all right?"

"Yeah." It was Eli's turn to blush. "I might go, um, clean up."

Parker's grin turned mischievous. "Good idea." Then he pulled Eli close so his lips brushed Eli's ear. "That was one hot fucking kiss."

Eli's breath caught. "Glad you thought so."

He extricated himself from the couch and went to the bathroom, feeling like he was floating on a cloud.

Him and Parker!