"I call," Matt said from behind his poker hand.
He rubbed his toe against Shannon's ankle and smirked when the boy's cheeks colored a nice rosy hue. So far, he'd managed to evade every flirtatious advance Matt had mounted against him and it was beginning to irritate the older Hardy brother. He knew Shannon wanted him. He'd had this crush for years. Why was the kid fighting this all of a sudden? Well, that would end tonight. He knew Shannon was a shitty card player and that was going to be his downfall.
He looked at his watch. Midnight. Perfect time for this drinking game. After all, they were already in their own room, supposedly for the night. And it was even more convenient that they were playing this game on Matt's bed. No heavy lifting necessary.
"Pair of tens," the blond said weakly, laying down his hand.
"Full house," Matt said triumphantly. He then reached over to the nightstand for the bottle of vodka and filled Shannon's glass with vodka.
"Um …"
"You owe me three shots, Shan," Matt said seriously. "That's the equivalent."
The boy looked at the glass with trepidation and Matt didn't blame him. He'd already had to down two smaller ones in the last hour. This one would likely be the last Matt would need to get him to drink. Shannon wasn't a heavy drinker and hadn't yet learned to hold his alcohol. Finally the blond picked up the glass and held it to his lips, looking at Matt for a last-minute reprieve. Matt only shook his head and raised a dark eyebrow. Shannon sighed and took a hefty sip, choking as it went down fast.
"You should just knock the rest of it back at once," Matt suggested.
Shannon visibly shuddered at the suggestion but Matt wasn't about to give him a pass, so he sighed again and raised the glass back up, swallowing the rest of the liquor in one big mouthful.
"Good boy," Matt purred and leaned back against the headboard.
It didn't take long at all for the blond's pretty green eyes to get that glassy look to them and in just a minute or two more he fell forward, right into Matt's waiting arms. He chuckled as he pulled Shannon under the covers with him and kissed the boy deeply. Shannon whimpered and moaned Matt's name, giving in almost immediately.
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Jeff lay curled on his side in Randy's bed, wide awake and feeling a bit sick to his stomach. They'd just finished making love for the first time after getting back from an early dinner and Randy slept peacefully on his stomach not two feel away from him, his face serene and content looking in the moonlight. Poor Randy, he thought morosely. He didn't deserve this kind of boyfriend.
True the actual act itself was fine. Nothing earth-shattering ... fireworks didn't go off or anything. But it was nice and … well, safe. It had been sweet enough, Jeff supposed. Randy was warm and gentle, and very careful to make sure he was pleasing his lover. And Jeff felt like an asshole for picturing Shane with every touch Randy gave him. In fact, he'd bitten the inside of his mouth to keep his roommate's name from escaping his lips when he finally climaxed. With one kiss, Shane had apparently ruined him for all other men.
He had to get out of there, he'd decided, slowly sitting up so as not to wake Randy from his slumber. He should leave a note though, so Randy didn't think he was using him for sex. Ironic, he thought as he located a small pad all hotels provide and the matching pen. He'd been longing for someone to want him as more than a casual fling, and here he was lamenting the relationship he'd been building with Randy. He scribbled a quick note about forgetting his antibiotics back in his room, along with a promise meet for breakfast in the morning. He cringed as he laid the note down on his abandoned pillow, knowing that Randy was probably going to insist they travel together again … and might even try to convince Jeff to start rooming with him. That last thought left him feeling cold and sad. But Shane was straight, Jeff kept telling himself. He had to get over this damned obsession.
Sighing, he quietly put his underwear and pants back on then slipped into his shoes. He couldn't find his shirt so he decided to abandon the search and silently padded out the door. Hopefully Shane would be fast asleep by now.
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Where is he? Shane mused as he tried to concentrate on the TV blaring in front of him. Jeff usually didn't stay out this late. He recalled with venom Jeff leaving for his date with Randy earlier. The younger man had seemed oddly nervous for some reason. He glanced over at the clock radio and noted the time again. 3:47 a.m. Definitely too late to be coming back from clubbing in this small town ... which left only one other conclusion and Shane's blood ignited at the thought. That prick Randy had worked his way into Jeff's pants.
Shane shot off the bed and began to pace the room, his rage growing at the very idea of someone else's hands touching that smooth, soft skin. Randy wasn't the kind of man Jeff needed, Shane seethed. And to make it all worse, he knew it was his own damned fault. He should have shut his damned mouth that day and just kissed Jeff senseless. None of this would be happening. He should have told him before he left that Molly was out of the picture. He knew Jeff still thought he was straight.
Funny thing was, he didn't think he could act straight anymore, not after the realization that he was in love with Jeff. No, he had to tell him. He had to tell Jeff that Randy was the wrong man for him because he, himself, was the right one. Shane stopped pacing and looked over at the door as it quietly creaked open and Jeff slipped into the room, head down and tears tracking down his cheeks.
"What happened," he asked softly.
It still made Jeff jump in surprise, as he apparently hadn't expected Shane to still be up waiting for him. He swiveled around and froze, his eyes red from crying.
"Wh-what are you still doing up?" he croaked pitifully.
Shane just shook his head and opened his arms, holding his breath to see what Jeff would do. The younger man looked at him for a moment longer then trod over to where he was standing and let Shane envelope him in a hug. Shane didn't even think about how good it was to hold the man; he was too busy imagining all the ways he was going to hurt Randy for making Jeff cry.
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"Matt!" Shannon shrieked as he came, his climax triggering Matt's own.
Man is he tight! Matt slammed into Shannon one final time as the last of his seed spilled into Shannon's pliant body. The boy shuddered and whimpered beneath him, filling Matt with a satisfaction he couldn't describe.
"I love you, Matt," Shannon whispered groggily. "So much."
"I know you do, baby," Matt cooed, kissing the matted blond hair at Shannon's temple. "And I know you always will."
When Shannon's eyes rolled back and closed, Matt smirked and tucked the smaller body into his own, getting comfortable. In the morning he knew he'd still have to dispel Shannon's doubts, but for now, he could just try to savor the victory.
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"What did he do to you, Jeff," Shane asked softly, his hands rubbing the younger man's back soothingly.
All Jeff wanted to do was cry. Shane was here, awake and concerned. If only he could also love Jeff life would be perfect! Well, maybe not perfect. Jeff would still have to deal with the aftermath of Randy and his relationship. But it would be better than loving one man and dating another.
"Nothing," Jeff sniffled.
"Why you crying then?"
Jeff sucked in a gulp of air and let out another sob, sure his tears were soaking Shane's t-shirt.
"It's … not that … okay?" he finally bit out through his tears.
Shane sat them both down on the end of his bed and took Jeff's hand. "Then what?"
"I … c-can't … t-talk about it."
Jeff went to pull away to prepare for bed but Shane gripped his hand tighter and held him in place. Short of physically ripping his hand away, Jeff had little choice and sat back down.
"I'm not letting you drop this without an explanation," Shane said, breaking the silence. "You can't come in crying and not expect me to want to help you."
"You can't help me!" Jeff shrieked.
"I think I can."
"You, of all people, can't!"
"Oh, so it's my fault now?" Shane smirked. "Why's that?"
"You know why," Jeff whined, pulling away as far as he could with one hand and huddling into a ball on the bed. "You did this to me."
"Did what to you?" his roommate asked in horror.
"Made me … made me …" Jeff broke off on another sob.
Shane curled his body around Jeff and rocked him back and forth to soothe him, wrapping his arms tightly around Jeff's waist.
"It's all right," he whispered into the crying man's ear. "It's gonna be fine."
"No it won't," Jeff sniffled. "It can't be."
"Yes, it will."
"It can't be if you can't love me like you made me love you," Jeff cried. "Can't be all right if you're straight!"
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Shane kept rocking Jeff back and forth, stunned into silence. He felt like an even bigger ass now. How could he convince Jeff that he did love him now, after all the damage he'd already done?
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NOTE: Drama, angst and Matt finally gets Shannon where he wants him. Can I hear a collective "Oh no!" from all two of you who are reading this?