"Hey," I breathed, trying to catch my breath as I flopped down on the couch.
"Were you running?" Magnus asked.
"No, well I mean I ran to the phone. I may have been in the shower when I heard it ring," I said adjusting the towel that I had flung around myself.
"I'm glad my phone calls are important enough to warrant you running out of the shower to answer them," he said, and I could hear him smiling.
"Well we don't talk a whole lot, at least on the phone, so I don't want to miss them," I confessed.
"Cute, though you could have always just called me back."
"Shut up, let's stop talking about my need to run to your calls," I sighed.
"Okay, okay," he relented. "How was your day?"
"It was pretty good, busy which made the day go by faster," I said. "After work, I grabbed coffee with Julia though, and the whole time we were there she kept insisting that the barista was checking me out."
"Was he?" Magnus asked in a rush.
"I think so, he may have written his number on a napkin and gave it to me before we left," I said as I played with the towel.
"Well it seems like he was definitely checking you out then, are you going to call him?" Magnus asked, and I thought I could detect a hint of…jealousy? In his voice.
"I don't know, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to."
"Why was he not attractive?"
"He was just fine looking," I sighed, already wishing I hadn't brought it up. "It's just like…what about us?"
"Us?" Magnus asked, sounding shocked about the word.
"Yes, us, if there is an us that is," I spit out, annoyed that we haven't really talked about it before.
"Are you alright?" he asked, and the softness of his voice, laced with worry, made me feel bad about the way I snapped.
"I'm fine," I sighed running my fingers through my damp hair. "I just, you seem like you don't want me to call him, but we also haven't really talked about what we are doing."
"We're having fun. I mean we're talking and…other things…we're friends."
"Is that all we are though?" I asked sliding further down the couch. "The friends I have don't get off with each other." Magnus laughed at that.
"True, neither do any of my friends. It's just, we're so far away from each other for the time being," Magnus explained. "Do we really have to figure out what we are right now?"
"I guess not, I just want to know if we're ever going to be something other than friends."
"Of course we are, at least I want to be. It will be so much better once I move back," Magnus said, and I could tell he was just as frustrated. "I really like you Alec, more than I've liked anyone in a long time, and I know that I'm hardly going to let you out of my sight once I get back there." I couldn't help but smile at that. "But long distance relationships hardly ever work out, and I don't want us to end before we really even start. So I don't want to label us right now and tie you down from doing other things. You're really important to me Alec, and I want to continue doing what we're doing, and what we started doing last week."
"You're important to me to Magnus, and I get what you're saying. I really don't want us to end now either, I guess I just like everything sorted before jumping into it. But we can just take it like it is, and we can definitely continue what we've started," I told him, and I couldn't help the giant grin that took over my face.
"You do know you're amazing, right Alec?" Magnus breathed.
"I do like it when you say that," I smiled.
"So what are you doing tonight?" Magnus asked, and I thought I could detect a hint of something in his voice.
"I'd thought I'd stay in, talk to you some more," I said.
"Mmmm that's a good answer. Are you naked?" Magnus suddenly asked.
"What?" I sputtered, wondering where that came from.
"Sorry, I just remembered you said you ran from the shower."
"Oh, I have a towel on, that's about it," I confessed, looking down at myself a little self consciously.
"God Alec, if only I was there right now," Magnus all but moaned down the phone.
"Magnus," I murmured, and I could hear my voice cracking with…something. Nerves, or probably lust.
"I should probably say that I've never done this before," Magnus said, getting it all out in a rush. "But you're in only a towel, and with what we were just talking about…I want you."
Just like that, the low breathy frantic hot timber to Magnus's voice caused my toes to curl.
"I've never done this either," I breathed out. "But we are so totally about to have phone sex."
Magnus groans down the line, and my nerves rolled over with something like electricity. "Oh my god you can't just say stuff like that."
"Like what?" I asked, desperate to hear that noise again. "Phone sex?" Oh, it's quieter and weaker but it's there, again, like a caress into my ear.
"I hope you're comfortable," Magnus said. "Because I can't promise this will last very long since it's your voice in my ear, and I'll be able to hear everything I didn't last time."
I shivered at the desperate tone of Magnus's voice as I let the towel fall open, then I cradled the phone between my ear and shoulder, eager to have my hands free. I was already starting to imagine them as Magnus's own as I slid one down the smooth skin of my chest, then lower to my stomach. This is Magnus's hand, I tell myself, and the thought of having that man ghosting his palms along my skin right here, following the trail of hair from my bellybutton down to my groin, brings a high gasp from my throat and straight into the phone.
"Alec," Magnus moans. "Alec, what are you doing, what are you thinking that's making you sound like that-"
"You," I said, reveling in blunt honesty. "Your hands, reaching down to touch me-"
"I will touch you all over," Magnus said dangerously. "Just please don't stop."
I couldn't stop for anything right now, much less an incentive that sounds so incredible, the thought of Magnus stroking over my chest, my stomach, the sensitive expanse of my inner thigh. By the time I curled my hand (Magnus's hand) slick and loose around my cock, barely needing to touch its hot hardness to get enough sensation working to drive me completely insane, I was already panting audibly, quick debauched-sounding noise I tried not to think too hard about out of mortification. I focused instead on Magnus's own sweet little cries of pleasure, and on bringing myself to the edge, I was hot for it in ways I didn't know I could even be hot. The towel had fallen onto the floor as I twisted, and writhed on the couch. I was getting so damn close but the edge would stay just out of my reach, and then I'd double my efforts, imagining what Magnus must be doing, fisting himself just as frantic and wishing it were really him, and then imagining myself actually doing whatever Magnus must be imagining I was doing, and the whole thing loops into this elaborate erotic image the hinges on thrusting hips and dripping skin.
Then suddenly, there's this perfect moment when I could feel myself reaching out towards the edge again, and right when I was so close I could practically taste it (and I could, beaded sweat rolling down past my parted lips) is right when Magnus chokes out a high broken cry of "fuck, Alec!" And then that is just. That is it. I come harder than I ever had, across my hand and stomach and couch, keening out my completion into the phone and listening, entranced, as Magnus does the same.
"That was," I said once the haze lifted a bit, breathing heavy but finally steady.
"That really was," Magnus agreed.
I couldn't help but bite my lip, stumped. Because what could I say that would sum up how that just felt.
"I really like your voice," I ended up saying, and then covered my face with how stupid it sounded.
"Yeah?" Magnus asked, and I could tell he was smiling.
"I don't know why I said that, but I mean, it's true. You're positively intoxicating," I confessed.
"So are you, Alec, so are you," he said. And I hugged myself with one arm, wondering how we could talk like this together and still only say we're friends.
"Do you have to go?" I asked, after a few minutes of silence.
"No, let's stay here a little longer," Magnus breathed out, and I smiled. Content to stay like this for the rest of the day if it meant feeling closer to him.
"So, Alec, how's Magnus doing?" My mom asked later that week.
"Oh, umm he's alright," I said, confused as to why she would bring him up. These past couple of months she was fine pretending he hardly existed.
"That's good, are you two still saying you're only friends?" She asked, and this time I caught something flash behind her eyes, but I didn't know what it meant.
"Yeah, he still lives in London so that's all we're going to be until he moves back."
"So you're going to date this man when he moves here is that it?"
"Well, I suppose we are, that's kind of what we've been saying. Though not in so many words," I said, desperate for either Izzy or Jace to come to my rescue, but they just sat there listening. Traitors.
"So, you're currently unattached, because one of my friends has a son-"
"Mom, you're not setting me up!" I protested.
"Well, I mean Alec, you don't know who she's talking about yet. He could be hot," Izzy insisted. I just scowled at her.
"His name is Mike, he's a very nice man, a doctor to boot," my mom told me.
"I'm sure he's fine, but I'm not interested in seeing anyone at the moment," I said.
"And why not, it's not like this Magnus guy is your boyfriend. You said so yourself that you're just friends, I see no problem with you branching out," she continued talking.
"Fine, give me his number and I'll call him when I get the chance," I said, only to shut her up. There was no way I was ever calling this guy.
"That's the spirit," my mom said smiling. "Let me just find my phone." The second she left the room Jace started laughing.
"Oh shut up," I said. "It's not fair she only picks on me when it comes to dating."
"It's only because she knows you don't get out too much," Jace said, wiping away tears.
"I get out, I went to Izzy's party."
"That was two months ago, you've hardly been anywhere other than to work since then. It's quite sad really," Izzy said, taking a sip of her wine.
"Well I just like staying in," I said. "There's nothing wrong with that."
"You just stay in so you can talk to Magnus," she said.
"Yes, well, I like talking to him. And I mean I go out sometimes…" I trailed off.
"Only when Maia and I practically force you to, and what happens when you do? You get hit on by hot, available guys!"
"Really, what happened?" Jace asked.
"This barista gave Alec his phone number last week, a very attractive barista," Izzy said grinning. "And I bet you haven't called him back have you?"
"Well no, I've just been busy…"
"That's just an excuse," she said. "You need to give other people a chance, and I know you aren't because you like Magnus, but he's not here. Who's to say you can't have some fun?' Izzy said, just as my mom came back into the room.
"Your sister is right dear, and here's Mike's number," she said handing me a piece of paper. I sighed and stuffed it into my pocket. My family needed a new hobby.
Izzy was calling me. I was lounging on the couch, half watching a show and half rereading a manuscript. I debated whether or not to just ignore the phone, but knew she would just call again. And again.
"I feel like I just spoke to you two days ago," I said once I answered her call.
"Why hello to you too, my day is going well thanks," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"What is it you want," I sighed.
"Are you sitting down?" She asked.
"Umm yeah, why?"
"I'm with mom right now, and she wanted me to tell you that she's decided to host a party next Thursday," Izzy said, and I could tell she was just as enthused about it as I was.
"What is it with all these parties, I just went to yours a few months ago," I said, already dreading this.
"I'm sure it'll be fine, what's the worst that can happen?"
"Mom invites all the eligible bachelors she knows and tries to set me up with them all," I said.
"Oh, yeah I suppose that could happen. But I'll let her know you'll be there!" She said, talking louder so my mom could hear.
"Hey-"
"Gotta go, bye," and she hung up. I groaned and threw my phone onto the other side of the couch, narrowly missing Chase's head. He looked up and cocked his head to the side.
"You're living the good life buddy, be thankful you don't have a crazy family," I told him. He barked and then laid back down. I took that to mean he agreed with me. I really was dreading this party.
"Hey mom," I said after finding her in the living room.
"Alec there you are!" She exclaimed, acting like she'd been looking for me for hours.
"The place looks great," I told her. "Seems like everybody's here."
"Well, of course, you know I always hold amazing parties," she said. "And you look great son."
"Thanks," I said looking down at the suit Izzy helped me pick out. I needed a new one anyway.
"Now you go mingle, I'm sure there are plenty of people you'll get on with," she said, a knowing glint in her eyes. I knew she was going to invite people in the hopes of hooking me up with a few of them.
"I will, I think I see Jace over there," I said, kissing her cheek before heading over. Noticing her disappointment that I was going to talk to my brother and not someone else.
"Hey, how long have you been here?" I asked, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.
"About an hour, did you just get here?" Jace asked.
"No, of course not," I lied.
"Not fair, now you get to spent less time here," he pouted. "I've lost track of the number of people who have come up to me asking if I had a girlfriend or not."
"Well now I'm going to have the same issue, though I'm fairly certain mom has invited a number of men she'll be introducing me to as the night wears on," I said, downing the champagne in one go.
"Alec, Jace!" Izzy called out heading over to us, Simon in tow behind her.
"Hey sis," I said, nodding to Simon.
"Did you just get here?" She asked, and I nodded.
"So not fair, though I guess you are the one that mom is going to harass the most," she told me.
"This is going to be a long night," I said, motioning over another waiter. Alcohol was the only way I was going to get through this.
000
I had been there a little over an hour and already three guys have come up to me, all of which I had successfully diverted. Now I was sitting on the couch with a plate of appetizers on my lap, drinking maybe my fifth glass of champagne. It really was making everything more bearable.
"Hey, sorry," a guy said before sitting beside me. "You mom said I should come talk to you, according to her we are made for each other."
"Wow, if that's the case it must be fate who brought us to this party at the same time," I joked looking up at him. He was kind of attractive, but not really my type.
"I'm Mike by the way," he said laughing a little.
"I'm Alec, though you know that already. And actually, my mom gave me your number last week, practically begging that I call you."
"Cleary this has been in the works for a while," he said, rolling his eyes. I laughed, glad that he thought it was just as ridiculous. "So why does your mom want to set you up so badly?"
"She has nothing better to do, and she won't except that I've kind of already met someone," I told him.
"Oh really, why not?" I sighed, not really wanting to get into it, but at the same time having someone else's input on the whole thing would be nice.
"Well, he lives in London so right now everything's long distance. We met on this online dating site, and for now, we've decided to just stay friends until the moves back here. She thinks it's weird since we aren't really in a relationship at the moment, but I still don't want to see anyone else," I said.
"That's hard, long distance is never fun. Especially since you two have never actually been together. All you guys know is distance," he said. "So you like him more as a friend I take it."
"Of course I do, I'm falling for this guy hard, and I think he feels the same way I do. But every time I bring up the whole dating things he doesn't want to talk about it, he says he doesn't want to put such a big commitment on us since we're still so far apart."
"I can see where he's coming from. He doesn't want to do something that could potentially break you two before you really have a chance to be together, he's playing it safe," Mike said.
"I guess yeah, but we've done things," I blushed at that comment, not really knowing why I was saying all this. "And that's kind of making this whole thing even harder, plus the little comments he makes about us being together once he moves back. I just still don't really know how he's feeling."
"Well, and I don't know him, but it does seem like he wants to be with you. Especially since he talks about you two in the future, and that you've moved your relationship into territory that you wouldn't have if you guys were just friends," he said. "But long distance is hard to keep together, and since that would be what you two would only have it might put a strain on everything. He seems to want to keep things light until he can actually be with you fully. I wouldn't think too much about it, everything will work out once he moves back."
"Wow, you're good at this," I said laughing.
"Well I might be a marriage counsellor," he said smiling. "But really, I wouldn't sweat it. How much longer until he's here?"
"He should be here in about three months," I said sighing.
"That's not too much longer, just hang in there," he said.
"Thanks, you've actually made me feel better about this," I told him. He smiled and looked over my shoulder.
"I'm glad I could help, and your mom is staring at us, she's not very subtle."
"Oh I know, I have been talking to you longer than everyone else so she probably thinks we've hit it off," I said.
"It will just crush her that we aren't in fact made for each other," he said laughing.
"Oh I know, but maybe you could sit here a little longer, just so she can't send over anyone else," I said.
"Yeah sure," he said settling on the couch. I smiled and offered him some food. I was feeling lighter about the whole Magnus thing, I could handle another few months of being 'just friends'. I didn't want something to come between us, and if this is what I had to do to keep a hold of him then I would.
Hope you liked this chapter, and I hope you're all having a good week so far :) Don't worry, I want them to finally be in the same place just as much as you do, you'll all just have to wait a little bit longer though... Can't wait to post the next chapter, I'll be back on Friday!