It's been a long time. I know. I have no excuses other than that we moved (again) and I'm having a hard time getting this where I've wanted it to go all along. It'll get there. In small chapters probably, but it'll get there. Thanks for still reading.
This chapter is unbetaed but sadtomato held my hand through writing it and I'm sure I'll refresh it after MeteorMuse has gotten her hands on it.
ooOOoo
His dick slides in and out of me gently, setting a steady, reassuring pace. It's wickedly slow but after the relentless way he ravaged me last night, it's about all I can handle.
"Fuck, you feel so good, Edward. Why does it always feel so fucking good with you?" Garrett's gentle whimpers are muffled slightly by the cocoon of my heavy comforter wrapped around us, protecting us from the chill of the early morning hours in my old house.
I push back against him, moaning slightly as he wraps both arms around my chest, spooning me in such a way that every inch of our skin touches, brushes each other's as we move in rhythm together.
Every time has been like this. Incredible. Amazing. He said we could be so good together, and he was right. For three blissful months, we've been nearly inseparable, our new relationship that started so completely fragile now stronger than I thought possible in such a short time. Sure, there were rough moments. We've had many, many late night serious talks, but I think for the most part, we've both moved past the worst of our communication troubles.
"Turn over, babe." Garrett's urgency snaps me out of my memories, and I quickly flip onto my stomach, grimacing as he slips out of me.
"Shit. Sorry." I lift my hips from the bed, eager for him to resume making love to me.
"Don't be sorry. But you turned the wrong way, baby. I want to see your face." He tugs on my shoulder, turning me onto my back in the center of the bed. "That's better. Now kiss me," he whispers, hovering over me, and positions himself at my entrance once more as we kiss, lips making light smacking noises in the silence.
"Fuck." I gasp as he starts to move again. "Fucking hell." I throw my head back against the pillows, and Garrett begins to suck on the side of my neck.
"Can I? Please." He pauses the motion of his hips, waiting for my response.
Garrett knows my feelings on hickeys. They're disgusting and cliche and remind me of white trash. But for once, I relent. It totally turns him knowing everyone can see that I've been up to no good.
"Fine." I sigh. "Just make it a small one - preferably below the collar line." I pull his head up to meet my eyes for a second, and he grins mischievously.
"Of course, babe." He returns to my neck, picking up where he left off, and I rise up to meet his thrusts.
ooOOoo
"Dammit, Garr. Everyone in the world can see this thing!" I'm getting ready for class in front of my bathroom mirror while he takes a shower and just realized that the 'small' hickey he left earlier is at least quarter-sized and entirely above the collar of my polo.
He pulls back the edge of the shower curtain and peers into the mirror with a look of mock concern on his face. "Oh no. I'm really sorry about that. Guess you'll just have to pop that collar or deal with it like a man." He grins, and I throw my deodorant lid at him, hearing the plastic ping around in the bathtub.
"Fuck off. I'm gonna be late. See you this afternoon?" I take two steps across the bathroom. Just like every morning, he sticks his face out of the shower curtain, oblivious to the water spraying all over the floor, and puckers up for a kiss goodbye.
As I dash through the house to the front door, I stumble on Garrett's basketball shoes, trip over his bookbag, and then knock his water bottle off the coffee table. I can't bring myself to be irritated though, loving that his stuff has slowly migrated to my place. I wouldn't have it any other way.
ooOOoo
"Son of a bitch. Will you look who decided to join us this morning?"
I blush and look down at the counter, taking a deep breath. I knew this was going to be awkward. It's been at long time since I stopped by the coffee shop but Garrett kept me up all night, and I've got to have some caffeine. Besides, I can't avoid them forever, and Riley said they wanted to be friends no matter what. I can only hope Garrett will be okay with it eventually.
"Hey, Jazz … how's it goin'," I say softly, and slowly look up at his face.
"Not too shabby, Edward. It's good to see ya. Saturday ball hasn't been the same, man." He winks and gives me his trademark grin, and it's almost like nothing ever happened. "The usual, I assume?"
I grin right back. "Of course."
As he makes my caffeine fix, we make small talk, and I finally ask about Riley as I pay.
"Is Ri, I mean, he's not working this morning?"
"Nah. He's good though. We're good. He just took a few different shifts for awhile. Too much time together isn't always a good thing, know what I mean?"
"Oh, good. That's, that's really great. I mean, I hope you guys are really great." I'm starting to stumble over my words like I always used to, so I toss a casual wave goodbye over my shoulder as he moves on to the next order.
"Don't be a stranger now, E! We'd love it if you and your neck-suckin' boyfriend would show up at the gym Saturday," Jasper calls as I head for the door.
My stride falters, a red blush creeping up my cheeks, and I pop the collar up on my winter coat. I swear everyone in the place is looking at my neck. Garrett's gonna pay for this one.
ooOOoo
"What do you think about going back to the gym this weekend?"
Silence. We're sitting at my dining table, finishing up the steaks and gorgonzola mashed potatoes Garrett made for dinner. It's taken two large glasses of wine, but I finally have the nerve to broach one of the topics that's been taboo ever since we got back together.
Garrett takes his time chewing and takes a drink from his own wine glass, looking at me over the rim. He sits it down deliberately and swallows.
"Well, what do I think? Or what do you want me to think?" His gaze is piercing, and I nearly have to look away.
"Come on, G. I think we need to talk about this soon." I'm speaking softly, treading lightly. I don't want this conversation to escalate beyond discussion. No yelling, no insults, just talking.
"What brought this up so suddenly? I thought we had our own good thing goin', babe." His voice borders on a whine, almost as if he's pleading me not to talk about it further. But I have to.
"It's not sudden," I say firmly. "I've been thinking about it for a few weeks. I think we should go back to some of the old routines we had before we were a couple. You used to meet with your sister and the girls once a week, we used to play basketball every Saturday … don't get me wrong. Our little bubble is nice to live in. I love it in the bubble. But don't you think we need to leave the bubble every now and then?" I know bringing up his old 'girls' nights' is a sore subject. Alice has been bugging him for weeks to come out with them, and I'm hoping if I push a little, he'll realize he's starting to shut other people out. The last thing I want is to become one of those couples.
"Okay. I'll start going out with the girls sometimes. You could have just told me you wanted to be rid of me one night a week though." The corners of his mouth turn up slightly in a grin so I know he's trying to keep the conversation as light as I am. This reassures me so I keep going.
"Progress! I like it. Now, about basketball. We're going this Saturday. You better get your game face on, Garrett."
As I stand to clear the dishes to the kitchen, I hear him muttering under his breath about controlling boyfriends. Like I could ever have the control in this relationship. The boy totally owns me.
ooOOoo
Two days later, we run into the gym, at least twenty minutes late for the game. Garrett has been proving that he owns me all morning long. I'm sure his jealous streak just wants to make sure all I think about as I run down the court is him in me, above me, behind me, standing, sitting … fuck, I'm hard again.
"The lovebirds have returned!" Leave it to Jasper to give us a grand outing entrance. Several of the guys turn to us in confusion, most smiling when they realize who he's talking about. Lots of catcalls and back slaps happen quickly, and just like that, we've been welcomed back into the fold. Guy relationships are so easy.
The game is interesting to say the least. Garrett insists that I need to be on Shirts rather than Skins, claiming I got a pretty bad sunburn that needs to heal. Everyone realizes he just doesn't want me running around without my shirt on, but they all humor him anyway. Some of the guys who are a little slow and have just realized Garrett is gay seem a bit standoffish when guarding him. Not that they do it intentionally. It's just part of a straight guy's internal nature to pull back from the touchy feely when they think the other dude might be getting something a little more out of it.
When we're about to leave, I get a huge shock. I had wandered off to the water fountain for a long drink, and when I stood back up and turned to find Garrett, he was off to the side of the court talking with Jasper and Riley. I hurry over to his side, watching their body language as I go. There are no signs of tension, nor any anger, but they aren't exactly busting up laughing either.
"So, yeah. How about tomorrow? I know we're free, maybe around five or six o'clock?" Garrett is asking questions about tomorrow evening like they're old friends, and I'm afraid my eyes are going to pop out of their sockets.
"Heyyyyyyy … what's … goin' on?" Speaking almost in slow motion, I try to act like it's no big deal for the four of us to be engaged in casual conversation. They all turn to me, and Jasper breaks the silence as usual.
"Your boyfriend here was just inviting us over for dinner and drinks tomorrow night. That is, if you'd be up for it." He flashes his trademark smirk, knowing perfectly well that my mind is spinning with questions, none of which I can ask Garrett in front of them.
"Umm. Yeah, sure. Dinner sounds great," I manage to mumble while staring at Garrett, who is avoiding my gaze altogether.
"Perfect. We'll be there around 5:30. See you both tomorrow then." Riley smiles and follows Jasper out the door, and I waste no time.
"What the fuck was that all about, Garrett? Seriously? Dinner?"
He takes me by the shoulder and turns me slowly toward the door to leave the gym ourselves before sighing.
"I don't know, babe. I guess I just can't find it in myself to hate them anymore. Besides, I love a good dinner party."
He grins, and I get out a half-hearted chuckle, but the bottom drops out of my stomach like I've just crested a roller coaster ride. What the hell is he thinking? I said get outside our bubble sometimes, not let it burst and cover us in goo.
ooOOoo
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