Chapter Seventeen

Theo

It's not every day that a guy sucks his first dick, and while my stomach is trying to eat itself with nerves, there's no denying the tingle of excitement racing across my skin.

"Are you sure you're ready? I don't want to rush you." Perry brushes his hand against my cheek sweetly.

Friends with benefits, friends with benefits, friends with benefits.

"Super ready. I feel like I'm going zero to sixty in like two seconds with this whole bisexual thing, but that's just because…" I glance toward the mattress. "Because it's with you and I trust you. I mean, if you can't trust the man who saved your life, who can you trust?"

"Silly puppy," Perry says, but there's something off about his voice. I can't explain it, but it feels like he's struggling to believe what I'm saying—like he can't understand why I would believe in him, so he's playing it off like it can't be real. Thinking about his situation with his dad, that makes sense. Does Perry not believe someone would really want him? Like for something meaningful?

"I'm serious, Perry. I was when I said I trust you, and I was when I said you're basically my favorite person."

Perry frowns, and for a moment, I think he's going to argue with me, but instead he lies down and silences me with his mouth. I taste my release on his tongue, and something about that turns me on even more, makes the desire pumping through my blood go faster and spread further.

I refuse to let myself get distracted, though, so I begin to kiss down his body, reach and grab his cock in my hand. I stroke it, revel in the weight of it, how natural it feels to have a dick in my hand that isn't my own. To have Perry's dick in my hand.

Goose bumps shoot up my arms at the thought.

I stop when I get to his groin. Using my tongue, I lash at the pearl of precum at his tip.

Perry hisses. It doesn't taste as strong as I know his release will, and the back of my neck tingles at the thought of experiencing it. For some reason, that makes the nerves twist and turn inside me. What if I'm terrible at this? What if I accidentally bite his dick or something?

"Do you want me to tell you what to do?" Perry asks.

The tension inside me relaxes. I don't know how he saw I needed that, but somehow Perry did. He's seen me more than anyone ever has.

"Yes."

"That's because you want to be good for me, don't you, Puppy?"

Yes. God yes. There is nothing I want more than to be good for him. I tuck that truth away because I have a feeling setting it free will cause a whole lot of problems, so I nod instead.

"Settle between my legs," Perry tells me, so I do. "Lick my balls first. I love that."

Well, that's something I never thought someone would say to me…or that I'd like it.

I kiss them first because I like kisses and maybe Perry does too, then taste his sac for the first time. His skin is salty, the scent of musk and man filling my senses. My pulse slams against my skin because I like the smell. A lot. It gets to me the same way his cologne did in the beginning.

I lick him again and again, his balls full and tight in the sac. Perry runs his fingers through my hair, touches my face, watching me, and while I feel like I should be embarrassed, I'm not.

I take one of his nuts in my mouth just to test it out. A tremor of eagerness goes off inside me when he groans like he likes what I'm doing. I mean, it's a mouth on his junk, so how can he not like it?

"Move up to my dick now." Perry grabs the base and holds it up for me. "Lick it like an ice cream cone."

"I love ice cream." I pump my brows at him, and he offers back the grin I like so much.

The feel of his soft skin covering his hard length makes my tongue sing. I inhale, taking in the scent of him, focusing on the taste of sweat and sex and Perry. Seconds later, just licking him isn't enough anymore. I push up some so I can get the right angle, then suck him into my mouth.

He hits the back of my throat and I gag, pulling off.

Perry chuckles. "Don't go for dick-sucking champion the first time. You don't have to take me that deep."

"I want to be good for you," I confess. He could be having much more skilled people doing this.

He frowns, then cups my face again. "You're already good for me. I'm going to like it because it's you."

Oh. Wow. That makes my insides tingly and my heart soar.

I try again, this time not choking myself on him. I suck the head, twist my tongue around, bathe his shaft in my saliva. As I pleasure Perry, my dick is coming to life again. He tangles his hand in my hair, tightening his grip so there's a slight sting. I use my hand on him as well, stroking and sucking, eager to swallow down the cum that fills his balls.

"Jesus. You're fucking good. Just like that. Damn, I love seeing you with my dick in your mouth, love knowing that no man has ever been inside you but me."

Hello, dirty talk. That's hot and makes me work harder for him, take him deeper, stroke faster. His breathing picks up, his body feeling tight beneath me. Slight whimpering sounds fall from his mouth like he's trying to hold himself back and struggling. It makes even more adrenaline pump through me, makes me revel in this moment on a deeper level and…feel powerful. He's right. There is so much control in this, and while that's typically not my thing, when Perry's dick is in my mouth, it's so totally us.

"I'm close. You want my load, or you wanna pull off?"

"Want it," rushes out of my mouth before I dive down on his cock again. The second he's in my mouth, Perry lets loose. The first jet of his release fills me—strong, thick, salty. I swallow it down, not sure how I feel about it, but then it's Perry, a part of him, and I want to devour it all.

He spurts a second time, and this one goes down easier, and then he's pulling me up to him and taking my mouth again.

We make out as we come down from our high.

When my jaw starts to hurt, Perry can somehow read it. He pulls back, reaches over, and turns out the light, then tucks me close to him. His hand goes to my nape again, playing with the tender skin and making my eyes roll back.

"Did you like it?" he asks softly, unsure.

"I loved it. I can't wait to do it again."

He chuckles in my ear, whispers a quiet, "Good night."

I drift off to sleep, more comfortable than I've been in a long time.

Snuggling with Perryis pretty awesome. The fact that he's willing and seemingly eager to do it is unexpected, and I'd like to stay in his bed all morning, but apparently, my bladder has other ideas. Last time that ended in sucking dick for the first time, and I have to admit, I'm a fan. Maybe something similar will happen this morning.

Since he probably didn't get much sleep last night because of the sex, I do my best to wiggle out of his arms and climb over him without waking him. Perry doesn't budge, and if it didn't make me a little obsessive, I'd probably stand here and watch him sleep for a few minutes. His navy-blue blanket goes up to his waist, and I blush remembering what's beneath that blanket and how ravenous I'd been for it, how ravenous I still am for it.

"Be good, Theo," I whisper to myself, then tug on underwear and my track pants before quietly slipping out of the room.

A clanking sound from the kitchen makes my heart jump into my throat, and I make a beeline for the bathroom. I don't know why I didn't expect anyone to be awake. My reaction is a little ridiculous. There's no doubt in my mind that Ty and Brax realize there's something going on between me and Perry. They also saw me go into his room, and they'll likely see me leave, so they're going to know I stayed the night.

I look at myself in the mirror, at my messy light-brown curls that Perry had fisted, at the—"What the fuck." I lean closer to examine the small red mark on my neck. Is that a hickey? When had he done that? I've never had a hickey before. Pressing my finger against it, a smile curls my lips and my pulse jumps.

"Stop it," I tell myself. "It's just sex."

This whole talking-to-myself thing is getting ridiculous, so I move away from the mirror and take a piss. After washing my hands, I slowly open the door, planning to sneak out—

"Boo!"

I jump, clutching my chest, and Ty chuckles softly. He's leaning against the wall across from the bathroom, one eyebrow cocked.

"Spending the night, huh?"

"Isn't it a little weird that you're waiting for me outside the bathroom?" God, I hope he didn't hear me talking to myself.

"Not if you know me." He waves it off as if that's a normal thing to say and do. "I made coffee. Do you like coffee?"

"I mean, doesn't everyone?"

"Actually, I have this friend, Annabella, who doesn't. It's weird."

"How does she wake up every day?"

"Right? It's madness. One day I'll get her to drink and enjoy it, though."

Ty chuckles, then nods toward the kitchen while I look longingly at Perry's closed door. For a split second I consider making a run for it and locking myself inside, but something tells me Ty would break the door down if he had to.

Reluctantly, I follow. It's just Ty out here, which makes it a little easier. Brax is quiet and scary. "Is your boyfriend sleeping?"

"No, he left for work. That's why I'm up. I like to make breakfast for him when I can. Brax is such a caretaker, so it's nice to do things for him."

"Wait…that scary, grumpy guy is a caretaker?" My words break through my skull, and I add, "Sorry. I guess I shouldn't insult one's boyfriend."

He shakes his head. "No worries. Brax would much rather people think he's scary and grumpy than know the truth about him."

There's a gentleness to his voice I never heard from Ty before, one that's laced with the love he feels for the other man, and my heart squeezes. I never had that, never felt like that, and I definitely never had anyone feel that way about me.

Ty pours me a cup of coffee. "You can doctor it yourself."

I take it from him, setting the mug on the white countertop as I use the caramel creamer.

"So…what are your intentions with my brother?" He crosses his arms and leans one shoulder against the wall, looking at me.

"Um…" What the fuck? Why is he asking me this? "We're friends." Ty's nose wrinkles, and he rolls his eyes. "With benefits?" I add.

"We didn't grow up together, so I didn't get to do this until now. I'm the big brother, so I have to stick up for my little bro, and…well, I think Perry's heart is bigger than he wants anyone to know, and I won't let him get hurt. He's never brought anyone here before, and he's for sure never had anyone spend the night."

What? Never? This is my second time, and—No! Don't do that. Don't start thinking this means more than it does.

"There's zero chance of me hurting him. Perry doesn't like me like that."

Ty laughs, loud and exaggerated.

"He doesn't! I mean, we're…you know…"

"Hooking up?" Ty fills in for me.

"Yes. That. But it's because I just realized I'm bisexual, and I wanted the first guy I mess around with to be someone I trust and feel comfortable with. We might not have known each other long, but there's no one I feel more comfortable with, so it's just a thing. And he's the one who says it's just a thing and nothing serious."

"We'll get back to how big of an idiot my brother is in a minute, but I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have pushed that out of you."

Maybe Ty has a bigger heart than he wants people to think too. "It's fine. I'm not ready to tell everyone, but…well, I think it's pretty obvious."

"Hickeys don't lie."

My hand shoots up to cover it. Shit. I forgot about that.

"Back to my idiot brother. He likes you." He turns and looks toward the hallway as if making sure Perry didn't come out. "Because of shit with our dad, I think he's afraid to let people in, but I can tell he likes you, so just…don't hurt him. And be patient with him. I have experience with a man who keeps walls around his heart, and once he tears them down for you…there's nothing like it."

I nod stupidly because I'm not sure how else to respond. I can see what he means about Perry. He does have a huge heart, maybe the biggest I've ever seen, and there's no doubt in my mind that he keeps himself at a distance so he doesn't get hurt. Even the way he calls their dad Ty's dad or Montgomery proves that, not to mention the way he won't allow himself to enjoy tech or follow his talent.

But I also don't imagine he feels about me the way Ty seems to think he does. Out of all the people someone like him could choose, why pick me?

"I swear, love makes all these feelings come out all the time. Just so you know, that was as painful for me to do. I never would have said that, pre-Brax. For some reason, you don't strike me as someone who has problems with emotions. Who knew my brother liked sweet boys?"

"I'm not sweet," jumps out of my mouth, which is the most ridiculous thing in the world. There's nothing wrong with being sweet.

"He calls you puppy." My face heats. "And you're blushing! You're so cute!"

"Am I interrupting something?" Perry says from the hallway, and I jump back as if I'd been doing something wrong.

"No." I look at the wall, the floor, anywhere but at him. Had he heard Ty say he thinks Perry likes me? Is he going to tell me Ty doesn't know what he's talking about?

Perry frowns as he comes over, looking back and forth between us like he's not sure what's going on.

"I was just being a good big brother and asking about his intentions with you."

Perry flicks Ty in the arm. "You're a dumbass."

"So I've been told." Ty winks and walks out of the room, leaving us alone. When his bedroom door shuts, Perry holds my hips, thumbs brushing over me.

"Are you okay? About last night? If it was too fast and we need to slow down, we can. We—"

I quiet him with my mouth, like there are magnets in my lips and Perry's are made of metal. When I open my mouth, he slips his tongue inside, and…everything is perfect.

I like Perry.

Really like him.

There's no denying it.

And I really, really want him to like me too.