Twelve

GREG

Asex pact.

That's what Julien had called it when he asked Greg if he trusted him (he did) and if Greg had plans the following weekend (he didn't).

So after another week of middling happy hours and late shifts, Greg arrives at Julien's apartment with a box of SnoBalls, which Julien brings into the kitchen and leaves there on the counter unopened. The only snack he's interested in, clearly, is Greg. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Water would be great," Greg says, his throat suddenly dry with nerves.

Julien is wearing this silken maroon robe with white diamonds patterned across it, no shoes, and there's a milky V of exposed chest where the panels of the robe don't overlap. His hair is pushed off his face yet damp at the ends from having just showered.

Greg is undeniably excited, but he's learned the hard way that words are cheap. Just because Julien says he won't be disappointed if Greg can't perform, that doesn't mean he won't be.

He looks around to get the lay of the land. Julien's place is tidily put together—lots of clean lines and muted colors. One wall is dedicated to his paint-and-sip creations. The place smells like cleaning agents, so Julien must've spruced up before Greg arrived.

Julien gets both of them glasses of water before leading Greg down the hall to the bedroom, which has all the same aesthetic hallmarks. Tan walls. Cream carpet. Matching bedspread.

On top of a dresser, a plethora of colorful toys is laid out by size on an unrolled towel. Greg is not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but he's not well-versed when it comes to sex toys. Some might even call him vanilla. But he's likely only vanilla because he's never had the opportunity to try many other flavors.

Julien steps between Greg and the dresser, holding out a different towel for him to take. "You're still okay with this?" The sound of running water creeps in from the bathroom just off to the side.

"Absolutely," Greg says, accepting the towel.

"Use any of the products in there that you like."

The bathroom mirror is already fogged. The steam envelops Greg and stirs his arousal. There's something about humidity that has always awoken a horniness inside him, the shower being the foremost place he's had the privacy to pleasure himself. He strips and tests the water before stepping into the stream, washing away the day and the grime, pumping himself up for the main event.

He and Julien had discussed this at length—that one of Julien's needs was that his partner had to shower at his place. Greg understands requiring mental comfort to unwind fully. He's more than happy to provide proof of his personal hygiene and use only scentless products if that's what it takes to bed Julien Boire.

Ever since the shirt-sharing, he has wanted this, which is why he isn't surprised when his cock comes awake as he lathers it with moisturizing bodywash. Just feet from where Greg is standing, Julien is preparing an arsenal of pleasure devices for them to explore with. It's no wonder he's growing hard. He was chubbing up on the drive over, too.

After a twelve-minute deep scrub, he towels off, moisturizes his face, and steps back into his underwear. He wants there to be some sense of intrigue, something to unwrap, even if his semierect dick is pointing up toward the waistband, threatening to expose itself before its time. He picked out a tiny, risqué pair before he left. Unselfconsciously, he steps back into the bedroom.

Julien is standing by the window near the dresser sipping from his water glass, looking radiant in the light of the streetlamp that filters in from outside and the electric tea lights he's placed throughout the room.

"All clean," Greg announces.

Julien turns back and casts a wicked smile his way. It's clear he likes the view. Both from his face and from the tentpole threatening to part the flaps of his robe. "Care to take a look?"

Greg doesn't know why his legs have become Jell-O shots. It's not like dildos can hurt him. "This is quite the impressive collection."

"What's so impressive about it?" Julien asks.

"It's vastness, I guess." The assortment spreads from edge to edge, no square of towel uncovered. "I don't think I've ever owned a sex toy."

"Never?" Julien sounds surprised.

Greg shrugs. "Just hasn't crossed my mind."

Julien nods. "Okay, we'll ease into it." He taps his phone, and soothing acoustic indie music pipes from a Bluetooth speaker. "Lie down on the bed." Julien has stripped it down to his sheets, probably stowed the comforter and extra pillows away in the closet as not to make a mess of them.

Greg splays out as instructed, adjusts the pillow.

"You can, uh, take those off if you want to." Julien is eyeing Greg's gray Louis Vuitton briefs, which remind Greg of his old life. He doesn't hesitate to wriggle out of them, disentangle himself from those memories while here with Julien. "I'll take them."

Julien folds the briefs and sets them on a chair in the corner. When he turns back, his eyes are alight with interest. Even though Greg has gone flaccid due to nerves, Julien seems to be relishing the view of his naked package. Greg's confidence builds up and out again.

"Don't be afraid to close your eyes," Julien says, but Greg wouldn't dream of it because Julien is finally untying his robe, hanging it up, and then standing there in unclothed, perfect glory. Greg could moan merely at the sight of him. "This is unscented oil. Is it okay if I use it on you?"

Greg's elated words are caught up in the ball of excitement filling his throat, so he nods enthusiastically to convey his consent.

Rippling the bedsheets, Julien climbs up so that his thighs are bracketing Greg's legs. Carefully, he pours out some oil, and even more carefully, he begins massaging Greg's feet, then calves, working his way up and up and up until Greg is melting into the mattress.

Not that he's hard. Not completely. But by the time Julien gets to his groin and then...God WHY...bypasses it, he's wishing for some slick, tight attention between his legs.

Instead, Julien, seemingly in no hurry at all, presses his palms into the meaty muscle of Greg's chest. Greg can feel Julien's erection grazing his stomach, low hanging balls hovering just below. The warmth of Julien's palms spirals down into Greg's bones, liquefying them until he's a puddle of relaxation and arousal.

Arousal.It's in that relaxation that Greg senses the irregular stiffening down south, from pool noodle to telephone pole.

Overjoyed, Greg inches his head off the pillow toward Julien's, but Julien's hand presses into the center of his chest, knocking him lightly back into place. "Remember our rule..."

Oh, right.Julien is meeting Greg where he's at, so he needs to do the same for Julien, despite how desperate he is to kiss him, feel their mouths unite. Boundaries are boundaries for a reason. Maybe it's a germs thing. Maybe it's an intimacy thing. It doesn't matter. Julien has the right to enjoy this experience however he chooses.

"Sorry. Wasn't thinking."

Julien's expression grows alluringly bashful. "But I do enjoy using my mouth in other ways."

Before Greg can utter a single syllable, Julien swallows him down to the base. He bobs and teases and uses his tongue with such impressive efficiency Greg would half expect him to be part sex machine—made up of some of those toys on top of the dresser that Greg keeps eyeing.

Greg grows harder inside the warm wetness of Julien's expert mouth. At this point, he doesn't care if it lasts, if it flags, he's not in his head about it. He's here, memorizing the ceiling, exhaling into the ether. He's in heaven.

"This is the best head I've ever had," Greg moans.

Julien removes his mouth and stands.

Greg worries suddenly he's said the wrong thing, but then Julien returns to the bed with a strip of studded leather.

"What's that?"

"A cock ring. Have you ever used one before?"

"No." Greg wishes his inexperience didn't come across like na?veté.

"Would you want to try it?"

"Ye-yeah. How does it work?" His breath hiccups.

Julien smiles. "I clasp this around the base of your cock or around your balls and cock. It traps the blood flow, and for some, it even helps you keep the erection harder and longer."

"That sounds ideal." Greg's penis is already dipping the longer they talk. What if it doesn't work?

"It's not a cure-all, okay?" Julien says kindly as if he can read Greg's mind. His eyes are reassuring in their softness. "It could help. It might not. Doesn't matter either way."

Greg is relieved by Julien's words. A burden flutters out of his chest and explodes in midair. Again, words are cheap—you're going to grow stronger here or I love you no matter what—but Julien's actions are mirroring his words. That's enough proof for Greg to know that Julien won't turn his back on him.

They start with just the shaft, adjusting it to Greg's thickness. Even half-hard, Greg feels the difference. As soon as Julien begins sucking him again, he notices a heightened sensation, new nerve endings coming out to play.

He watches as Julien strokes his own dick between his slim thighs, hard tugs as he works Greg deeper down his throat, and Greg experiences a physical hunger that needs immediate satiating.

JULIEN

Julien is surprised when Greg practically growls, "Can I have a turn?"

The only possible answer spinning in Julien's mind is "yes."

So they switch places. Just Greg's bulkier, more muscular body hovering over Julien's causes his dick to pulse. Greg smells clean yet earthy. His body glides easily over Julien's thanks to the oil, which has matted down Greg's chest hair in a way that is wildly sexy.

The minute Greg licks the tip of his dick, Julien lets out an otherworldly yelp. It's been a while, his head is sensitive, and he's not even the one wearing the cock ring.

Julien's amazed that the cock ring he bought for this occasion looks stunning on Greg. Though he wouldn't be surprised if a trash bag with holes in it would look stunning on Greg.

Julien won't tell Greg he bought the cock ring just for tonight. While his arsenal of sex toys includes some silicone ones he's used on himself, he figured the new adjustable ring would be more sanitary and more suited for a beginner. And suit Greg it does.

Greg lies on his side, angling Julien's penis between his lips, giving Julien the full display.

"Would you mind going...lower?" Julien asks. While he enjoys getting blowjobs, he much prefers a man's tongue at his other entrance.

Greg's eyes suddenly possess a new fire. "Not at all."

Julien might've been experiencing a sex drought, but his routine still came like second nature. Before Greg arrived, he cleaned, preened, and even got to use the subtle fruity-flavored scrub he'd bought right before Colin moved out of town. Julien finds pleasure in his preparedness.

He finds even more pleasure when Greg pulls away and groans, "Fuck, you taste good."

Julien's head lolls back as he continues hoisting his legs up by the knees, happy that he remembered to stretch before this. For minutes, Greg's tongue swirls at his spot before he presses the pad of his thumb to Julien's hole eliciting a gasp so sharp and loud Greg laughs to himself before entering him with his thick finger.

Julien doesn't understand how anyone could have qualms about Greg's inability to "perform" when he's so adept with his fingers. Greg finds Julien's p-spot with no effort at all, grazing it with a come-hither motion and applying pressure to it that makes his mind twist in two different directions.

"Bigger," Julien croaks, lost in the lavender haze of this. "I want something bigger."

When Julien opens his eyes, he immediately notices Greg's apprehension. Between his legs, the cock ring has only preserved part of Greg's erection. "I don't think I'm up for that right this moment."

"That's okay," Julien says, trying to convey reassurance and need in equal measure. "Grab the medium-sized purple plug and the lube for me, will you?"

Julien watches Greg's apprehension splinter off. He returns to the bed with the toy and ready-to-learn eagerness. Greg slicks Julien's hole with more than spit and slowly, ever so slowly, inserts the plug until it pops into place and Julien yells with vigor, "Fuck!"

With the plug repeatedly caressing the spot Greg already stimulated with his finger, Julien moves to his knees, grabs the oil, and coats his right hand before grabbing Greg by the cock and tugging. He does so with intention. He does so with care. He does so with absolutely no expectations.

He wants Greg to know that, even if he won't speak it. He wants Greg to understand, just through his touch, that it doesn't matter if he's hard or if he comes. All Julien cares about in this moment is making Greg feel good and confident. Nothing else matters.

As Julien strokes Greg, Greg takes it upon himself to reach around, brush the pads of his fingers across Julien's ass cheeks, around the hole, and then he fiddles with the base of the plug. Each micromovement of Greg's fingers serves to heighten the experience for Julien until he feels like he's standing atop the world's tallest mountain, light-headed and ready to fly.

"That feels nice, Julien." Greg's voice is barely more than a whisper.

Julien likes how Greg's body responds to him. The way his strokes seem to dictate Greg's breathing pattern. He feels Greg's cock getting harder under his touch. The more he toys with the underside of Greg's circumcised head, the more little jumps it makes.

Julien isn't worried about how long this will take or if his arm will cramp. He's enjoying the intense, focused, madly sexy squished looks on Greg's handsome face too much to consider anything but this very moment.

Greg lets out a grr. "I want to fuck you."

"I have condoms laid out over there." Julien tries hard to temper his voice; he doesn't want to come across too desperate for it. Even if he is and it's probably already obvious.

Greg exhales hard, pulls his cock away from Julien's grip. As he goes to get the condom box, Julien notices him stop as his eyes land on a transparent eight-incher with buttons on the bottom. "What does this do?"

"Vibrate."

Greg smiles to himself. "I don't think this is up for it right now." He waggles his dick. "Would this do?"

"It would do. It would do very nicely." The phantom stretch of it already has Julien in a state of utter bliss.

Julien lies back once more, pulls up his legs, maximum exposure achieved. Absence floods his body when the plug is removed, but ecstasy takes its place when Greg works him over with the dildo, transitioning between speeds and depths. Julien couldn't be more far gone if he tried. "I think I'm gonna..." He doesn't finish his sentence before he's spilling across his torso.

It takes Julien several moments before he can find clarity again. Once he regains his sight, Greg sits there, smiling faintly, holding the cock ring. "Can I help you now?" Julien asks.

Greg shakes his head, resolute and winded. "I think I want to stop there if that's okay."

"Of course. As long as you're not just saying that because you think I'm tapped out now." Julien doesn't want to be one of those guys who comes and then rolls over and falls asleep. He may be grumpy and standoffish sometimes, but he doesn't ever want to be selfish.

"I'm not," Greg says quickly. "I'm just tired and satisfied. That was intense. I enjoyed myself. A lot, actually." He goes quiet for several seconds, then adds, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For letting me decant you."

Julien cracks up at this callback to their conversation last week. Julien does sort of feel like a merlot spilled all over his sheets, which reminds him: he needs to clean up. "My pleasure. Now, I need to shower. Don't go anywhere, though. It'll only be ten minutes or so."

Then Julien surprises himself by kissing Greg on the cheek. Not the lips. Even his unconscious impulses know that would be too far for two friends who are just helping each other out with a common need.

Julien brushes his teeth, takes a quick but thorough shower—scrubbing himself free of come and lube and oil—and then slips back into his robe. When he returns to the bedroom, he's surprised to see that Greg has redressed and also stripped the bed; he is holding the soiled sheets in a ball while checking his phone.

"If you can point me toward the washing machine, I can get these started for you."

"Oh, you don't have to do that," Julien says, though he appreciates the kindness. He does have a hard time transporting his sex sheets. He usually does that before he showers, but he was so rocked by the intensity of his orgasm that his mind got his practiced order jumbled.

"I want to." Greg smiles winsomely.

Julien refills their water glasses as Greg starts the laundry. And instead of saying good-night right then and there, Greg showers again before coming to sit with Julien in the living room where they discuss at length next steps for making happy hour...well, happy. For them and the patrons.

The slosh of the washing machine muffled by the slatted closet doors underscores the start of something very new for them.