34. Austin

34

AUSTIN

Is Dex normally this dense? Or is it because he's woefully inept when it comes to romance and dating? I want to laugh, but he looks so downtrodden, like I've gone and stomped on his heart.

"Ask me why," I insist, brimming with untapped energy.

He frowns as he pushes the word from his mouth. "Why?"

"Because I'm…" I falter as the nerves kick up in my stomach. "I'm in love with my best friend."

There, I said it. Dex promised that no matter what, it wouldn't end our friendship, but I thought I'd die if I didn't get it out. Ever since the evening we had sex, I've been obsessing over everything we did and said. I was half in love with him before that, but that night sealed the deal for me.

"You…" Dex blinks. My heart thrums so loudly that I'm not sure I can hear above the noise. "Y-your best friend?"

"Now who's tongue-tied?" I tease, though I feel nauseous. But he looks even greener than me, so I need to add a disclaimer as soon as possible. "I know you're not into dating, so I'll just have to get over this—or learn to live with it. It might take me some time, but I don't want to lose our friendship. It was killing me, though, not to be honest with you. That my feelings have changed and grown. That every date meant so much to me because they were with you."

Dex stands, then helps me up, which I'm glad for because my knees are killing me. His voice is thick when he replies, "Every date meant so much to me too."

"Really?" Had I heard him right? I mean, I know he enjoyed himself because of our friendship and all, but the emotion in his expression is surprising.

"Really. That's why—" Dex holds up a finger. "Hang on a minute."

My pulse feels unsteady as I watch him reach for his bag. When I quickly peek over my shoulder to check on Chelsea, she's smiling.

But not at me. At Dex.

When I glance at him, my mouth drops open. He's holding a bouquet of different colored poppies in one hand and a special edition copy of Alice in Wonderland in another. "Holy shit, when did you?—"

"When I realized I'm in love with you too."

I cover my mouth with my palm as he hands me the bouquet. My eyes are burning as I blink back tears. "You love me? Is this really happening?"

"I think so," he replies, looking just as shell-shocked. "Though I admit it feels like a dream."

I reach out to touch his arm. "Thank you for the book and the flowers and…"

"A giant pack of Twizzlers is also in my bag because go big or go home," he says unsteadily, and I huff out a laugh.

"Wow…all the things I love." I marvel at his thoughtfulness and effort. "Damn, that's so perfect."

He blinks. "You think so?"

"Uh-huh. Especially the…embracing your feelings part. And admitting them aloud."

"It's sort of terrifying," he says, and then my chest is trembling with laughter.

Before we know what's happening, we're both cracking up, and Dex is swiping at his eyes as he draws away. What a pair. We've got to look half out of our minds—with either relief or plain happiness. Probably a little of both.

By the time the laughing stops, neither of us seems to know what to do, so we just stand there awkwardly, staring at each other as if our whole worldview has shifted. I suppose it has.

But questions remain. I don't know what any of this means since Dex has been so anti-dating and relationships.

Just as I open my mouth to ask for clarification, Dex cuts me off. "So, hey, do you like my shirt?"

I scrunch my nose as I stare at his tee, one I've seen dozens of times. "Um…sure?"

"Do you know what it's made of?"

I stare at Dex like he has two heads. "Bro, are you okay? Did you hit your head or something?"

He rolls his eyes. "Humor me."

"Okay, sure. It's made of cotton or maybe a cotton-poly blend."

"Nope." He grips the hem. "It's made of total boyfriend material." His smile is so wide that mine can't even compare.

"Oh my God, does this mean…?"

"That I want to date you and be your boyfriend?" Dex asks, and I nod numbly. "Obviously, you dork."

"Hey! You're just lucky I want to date you and be your boyfriend too."

"Thank God." His face falls. "I was…nervous."

"You were?"

"Uh-huh. Every time I saw you with someone else, I felt sick to my stomach."

I look back at the coffee cart, putting it all together. "Is that why you left my line? Because of Brandon?"

He winces. "Yeah…I was jealous."

"That's hot."

"That's what our dates were all about, so I was conflicted. I wanted you to see how special you are, but I also wanted to keep you all to myself."

Be still my beating heart. I rub at the ache in my chest.

"I was conflicted too because even though I was getting more experience on our dates, I…only wanted to be with you."

Dex's eyes soften. "Are you sure? You could have your pick of guys…"

"But they wouldn't be you."

His vulnerable gaze makes me pull him in again, this time planting one on his lips. Surreal doesn't even cut it in that moment.

We pull away when we hear Chelsea clapping and cheering behind us.

I meet her eyes. "Do you mind if I…uh, put these in water?"

She winks and shoos us away.

Fortunately, our shift ends in fifteen minutes. I grip Dex's hand and drag him toward the walkway.

"Where are we going?"

"Your place. Bigger… faucet ."

"You little rebel minx."

I grin. "I like that."

By the time we get to Poli House and put the poppies in water—and the pink roses, which isn't lost on me—we're already tearing at each other's clothes. I didn't know if I'd get this opportunity with Dex again, so I'm taking advantage of it. Thankfully, the house is empty.

Dex locks the bedroom door behind him. "Bigger faucet, huh?"

"Definitely a bigger faucet," I reply as he presses me down to the mattress and takes my mouth. I tremble as he kisses across my jaw and down my throat. When he reaches my nipples and lashes his tongue against one, I groan, already oversensitive and eager.

"Look how hot my boyfriend is," Dex says, and I feel a thrill quake through me at his words as Dex nips at the skin around my belly and hips.

"Damn, do I love hearing that." His chin bumps against my stiff shaft, and I hiss as he buries his nose in the patch of hair at my crotch.

"I love saying it."

"Do you?" I grow still, that vulnerability still present. "Guess I'm still worried you're gonna run for the hills any minute now."

"No way I'm running from you." His eyes meet mine. "Sure, it's scary, but it also feels right."

"Yeah, it does."

I shiver as he feathers his lips down my length to my balls. I dig my heels into the mattress, feeling like I'm only a hairbreadth away from shooting all over myself.

"Love your cock and balls," he murmurs as he takes his time sucking each one into his mouth. "And how you smell, which you already know."

I cast my gaze across the room. "Did you?—"

"Don't even ask!" He smirks. "But I will now—now that I know you're mine."

"Fucking swoon." I sigh. "You don't even know how romantic you are."

"Well, I've learned a thing or two from this guy I'm seeing. He taught me that I can make someone happy. That just because things didn't work out for other people in my life doesn't mean they won't for me."

"He's a smart man."

"Smart and hot. Adorable and sweet. The whole package." He crawls back up to kiss me breathless.

"That guy you're dating picked himself a good one too. The kindest, sexiest, most beautiful and giving man."

We make out for even longer before he draws back and says, "Turn over."

I roll to my stomach. "Why?"

"I want to make sure you're okay since the other night."

"But it's been a few days and?—"

My retort dies on my lips when his fingers lightly graze along my crease.

When he parts my cheeks with the heels of his hands, I bury my head in the pillow. My cock immediately fills, standing stiff against my abdomen.

His thumb brushes around my rim. "Yeah, you're still a little puffy here."

Out of my mind with need, I rock my hips against him. "You don't even know what you're doing to me. God, please."

"Please what?"

"I want your finger inside me again. I don't care if it's still sore."

"How about my tongue? That would be softer."

"Oh God." I screw my eyes shut. "I might die."

He chuckles as he leans down, and I can feel his warm breath against my hole. "Is that a yes?"

"Don't make me say it." My skin heats. "You know I want it."

When he kisses each of my ass cheeks, I squirm, ready to combust. "Mmm…you smell like soap and apricots."

"Well, I've been prepping myself every day, in case—ah, hell…"

My words trail off as he spreads my cheeks wider and flattens his tongue against my crease. When he circles my hole, I jerk and twitch as if all my nerve endings are concentrated right where his mouth is.

"Fuck, nobody's ever…" I bite out. "I've never felt anything like this."

As if I've given him the green light, he dives in, kissing, licking, and sucking my hole, and noises I've never made before shamelessly burst from my mouth.

"Turn over on your back."

I don't question it. Just do as he asks. I'd do anything for him to put his tongue on me again. When our eyes meet, I can see the desire coursing through his. He's enjoying this as much as I am.

My knees shake as he lifts them to my shoulders, and I feel completely exposed.

"Such a pretty hole," he says, then kisses and licks around the rim.

"Oh fuck." I'm like a whore for his compliments.

"You love this," he murmurs as I squirm and pant. "I could do this all night."

After another round of licking and teasing my hole, a groan tears from my throat. "I don't think I can take any more. I need?—"

"How about my fingers?" He circles a digit around my rim. "Gotta make sure you're ready for me."

"Yes," I hiss. "Hurry."

He reaches over to his nightstand for a condom and lube. He makes quick work of squirting it on his fingers and my hole.

And then, as if he hasn't already blown my mind, he laps at my neglected cock as he pushes a finger inside, then adds another. When his tongue finds my balls, I think I've already died and gone to heaven. "I can't… I need more."

"What do you need?" he asks, lazily stroking my cock, and I swear he's just messing with me. Who knew my boyfriend was so into consent?

"You. I need you."

He lifts forward to kiss me. "Like this?"

"You jackass, now you're just teasing me." I whimper. "Please. I want to feel you inside me again."

"I want that too." He pecks my lips, then withdraws his fingers. I feel momentarily empty and want to beg him to speed it up, but he can only move so fast despite me being a greedy little minx.

Condom finally on, along with more lube, he lines up his cock to my entrance. This time feels different, and not only because we've professed our feelings.

It feels more…intimate, like we're more connected than ever before. I'm overcome with emotion right then, so I lift up to clutch his face and latch our lips together, pouring everything I have into the kiss. All the gratitude, admiration, and love. For my best friend, who just so happens to be my boyfriend.

"Well, damn," Dex gasps against my lips. "Now that's a kiss."

Dex pushes inside me slowly, carefully, watching my every expression, as if he's scared to hurt me. And it does smart, but not like the first time. Instead, the uncomfortable burn transforms into pleasure as soon as I adjust to the fullness.

Turns out, it's the exact thing I've been missing and craving in my nonexistent sex life. As he starts moving, it feels like I'm floating on the clouds, so far in my own head that nothing else matters right then except Dex and me as he buries himself deep inside me.

"Harder," I plead, feeling like it's too much and not enough all at once.

"You sure?"

My fingernails gouge the underside of my knees. "I'm sure."

He adjusts the angle and proceeds to rock my world, hitting my prostate on every thrust. When the headboard knocks against the wall, we snicker, but it doesn't slow our momentum.

"God, Aus." Dex's skin is flushed, his eyes blissed out as he pounds me. "Feels too good. Gonna want to be inside you all the time."

I smile dreamily. "Sounds like a plan."

Eyes pinned to mine, he reaches for my cock and strokes me with a solid grip. Before I know what's happening, my spine is on fire, my balls drawing up. It's not much longer until I'm spurting all over my stomach and chest.

Dex's lips part as my hole constricts around his cock. His eyes glaze over as he loses it and shoots into the condom. I watch him in awe as I continue to pant and tingle all over.

When he finally collapses on top of me, I pull him against me, and we roll to our sides with our legs tangling and our mouths fusing together.

Dex says, "Best sixth date ever."

I grin. "But you didn't even buy me dinner before you screwed my brains out."

"What do you think the Twizzlers are for?"

I chuckle as he kisses me.

"And the book?"

"The one from when you were a kid fell apart."

My heart blooms as big as the pink roses. "You're the best."

"Wanna read and snack while I make a run for some dinner?"

"Tacos from the pier?"

He reaches for his jeans. "Already on it."