Read Something Like Summer Online

Authors: Jay Bell

Tags: #romance, #love, #coming of age, #texas, #gay, #relationships, #homosexual, #sexuality, #mm, #coming out, #lgbt youth, #lgbt fiction, #lgbt romance, #tasteful

Something Like Summer (27 page)


Security scan initiated,”
Jace said in a robotic voice. “Mm-hm. I think you’ve passed. Let’s
see about getting you something to eat.”

Samson hopped to the floor
and followed Jace to the large kitchen. Ben watched the cat being
served a plate of canned food while taking in as many of the other
details as possible. There was an inordinate number of paper
fortunes lying around, implying that Jace liked Chinese takeout. He
also enjoyed cooking, judging from the well-equipped
kitchen.

Ben strolled back into the
living area and headed for the bookshelf. The selection was almost
exclusively biographies without any common theme. Jumbled together
were politicians, comedians, historical figures, famous serial
killers, and celebrities. The Dalai Lama was neighbors with Hitler,
Ben noted with some amusement.


I love reading about
people’s lives,” Jace said from behind. “Do you read?”


Yeah, but mostly
fiction.”


That’s what some of these
are,” Jace said. “If you were writing an autobiography, would you
really be able to resist the temptation to doctor the past? Who
wants to write about crapping their pants in grade school when it’s
more fun to exaggerate success and talk trash on old
flames.”


Good point,” Ben
chuckled.


Biographies are even
worse since they are mostly speculation written by adoring fans,
spoon fed false information from the celebrity’s agent. Regardless,
I can’t help but read them. It’s a guilty pleasure of
mine.”

Ben pulled his attention
away from the books and noticed that Jace was holding two glasses
of champagne. “Oh, wow! I didn’t hear the bottle pop!”


It didn’t,” Jace
confessed. “More freebies from the airlines. They only have the
single-serving bottles with the screw top.”


It’s cool that you get
stuff that like for free.”


Not exactly free.” Jace
grimaced. “At least, it’s not supposed to be, but who doesn’t
pilfer from their job?”


Just promise me you have
something better in bed than those dinky airline pillows,” Ben said
as he accepted his drink.


Wait and see.” Jace
raised his glass. “Here’s to new millenniums and new friendships.
Assuming the Y2K bug doesn’t destroy us all, that is.”

Ben clinked glasses and
took a sip. For his first champagne, it tasted great. “How much
longer until the New Year?”


About an
hour.”

They moved to the couch,
which faced a large window. City lights sparkled, the neighborhood
Ben had found sinister now tranquil from above. Once Jace was
seated, Samson claimed his lap, closing his eyes and purring as
Jace scratched his ears. Ben set his glass on the coffee table,
pushing paper fortunes out of the way to do so.


You sure like Chinese
food!”


Not really.” Jace looked
embarrassed. “I just
really
like fortune cookies. There’s a restaurant down
the road that sells me full shipping boxes. I know it sounds
insane, but they’re my absolute favorite treat.”

Ben laughed and shook his
head. Every time Jace opened his mouth, another eccentricity was
revealed. Maybe it was this strangeness that scared potential
boyfriends away. After all, Jace was attractive, intelligent, and
funny, and he had a steady job. What else could anyone want in an
eligible bachelor?


So explain to me how it
is that you’re still single?” Ben pried.


I could ask you the same
question.”


Well, I wasn’t until a
week ago.” Ben took a good swig from his champagne.


Right, right. The
burgling boyfriend. Have you heard from him since?”


Nope, and don’t change
the subject. Are you the kind of guy who can’t settle
down?”

Jace looked pained. “Quite
the opposite. I’ve had my share of boyfriends. It’s just the job
that gets in the way.”


What do you
mean?”


The hours suck. I’m gone
for days at a time, and until I have more seniority, my schedule is
constantly shifting. So I can’t promise anyone when I’ll be home,
or if I’ll even be there at all. Something about sleeping in a
hotel every night gives people ideas, so if it isn’t the hours,
it’s the jealousy.”

Ben chewed his lip
thoughtfully. “I don’t know. It doesn’t sound all that bad to me.
Being apart and not seeing each other every day would keep things
fresh. I think I could deal with that.”


That’s what they all say
at the beginning. Not that I’m trying to discourage you. I’d love
for you to prove me wrong. Speaking of which, I fly to Chicago all
the time.”


What are you suggesting?”
Ben smiled.


That I like you and that
I want more than to just sleep with you.” Jace studied Ben’s face
as he spoke. “I know we’re moving fast, that we don’t know each
other very well, but what I’ve seen so far is a charming,
considerate, and surprisingly mature college student who is on his
way to becoming someone great.”


Thanks,” Ben grinned. “I
think you’re the bee’s knees too.”

Jace laughed. “What I’d
like to know is how serious you and your prince of thieves were.
Are you coming out of a relationship of years? How long before
things turned sour?”


Just a few weeks. He was
nothing. Really.” Ben paused. None of them had been. Not a single
guy had made his heart beat to a funky fresh rhythm, not since his
junior year of high school, but Ben thought Jace was the first to
have that potential. “What about you? Any emotional baggage I need
to know about?”


There was, but the
airline lost it all,” Jace said. “Typical really.”

The silence that followed
was heavy. Both of them were done with talking, and Ben couldn’t
help but look to the loft bed above, causing Jace to
chuckle.

Samson leapt instinctively
to the floor before Jace stood. Before Ben knew what was happening,
Jace had slid an arm under his back and another under his legs. He
scooped Ben up effortlessly and carried him toward the ladder
leading up to the bed. Jace paused in puzzlement once he reached
it, before tossing Ben over his shoulders in a fireman’s
carry.


Put me down!” Ben said,
but Jace had already begun to climb.


This is like a hot, gay
version of King Kong,” Jace gasped as they reached the top. He
leaned over, allowing Ben to fall into bed first before climbing
the rest of the way up.


Airline pillows!” Ben
complained when he saw the pile of them. He tossed a couple at Jace
in protest.


You won’t be sleeping
much tonight,” Jace promised as he climbed on top of
him.

Ben fumbled at the buttons
of Jace’s shirt, but Jace moved his hands away and kissed him
instead. Ben wanted to tear his clothes off, but each time he
tried, Jace restrained him. Only after Jace was satisfied with
kissing was Ben allowed to proceed.

So far, Ben had only seen
Jace in his work uniform and in winter clothes, never gleaning a
clear impression of his physique. As he peeled back the dress
shirt, a lean but toned torso was revealed. Ben ran his hand along
the lightly haired chest and followed the happy trail down to the
waist of his pants.


Nuh-uh,” Jace said,
taking control again. He pulled Ben’s shirt off next, and began
kissing his neck and touching his nipples. Jace stroked his fingers
lightly over Ben’s skin, moving tantalizingly south before pulling
his hand away again. Ben felt like he was about to explode and they
hadn’t even started!

Jace teased and taunted,
but eventually Ben was allowed to seek out his prize. His amusement
at Jace’s skimpy Speedos faded when he realized what was making
them so tight. He wasn’t as thick as Tim had been, but he was
definitely longer.

Finally Jace set him loose
to do as he pleased. Ben went wild, but Jace kept his cool. Somehow
he managed to control his desire, to rein it in, but Ben could tell
he was just as fired up by how hard he was. They took turns, both
equally eager to pleasure each other as they were to receive.
Several times Jace brought Ben to the brink with little effort, and
sensing he had done so, backed down just before the point of no
return, until Ben thought he would go insane from the
euphoria.

Suddenly Jace’s urgency
increased as he finally lost control and brought them both to a
climax at the same time. The sensations were so powerful that Ben
felt as if his entire body was coming and not just his cock. He saw
stars and heard fireworks. The stars cleared, but the sound of
explosions didn’t. Flashing lights from the window caught his
eye.


Happy New Year,” Jace
said, pulling him in for a kiss.

* * * * *

The morning light cut
through the air like a blade, transforming dust particles into tiny
glowing suns. Ben stretched and looked over the rail of the loft
bed at the apartment below. The unfinished game of Trivial Pursuit
still lay on the table, a half-eaten cheesecake in the center of
the board like the ultimate playing piece. Ben rolled over to find
Jace’s back to him, just like on the previous two mornings. He knew
what he would find if he looked over him, but peeked just to be
certain. Sure enough, Jace’s arms were curled into a basket for
Samson to sleep in.

Ben idly drew a picture on
Jace’s back with the tip of his finger. Tomorrow was the day that
Ben was supposed to fly back to Chicago. It was also the day that
Jace was returning to work and had to bid for his schedule. The
process was complicated, but Jace had explained that when and where
a flight attendant flew was suggested by each individual and then
rewarded by seniority. Ben barely understood the chaotic system,
but he hoped it meant that Jace could fly to Austin.

Not that Jace knew he was
switching schools. Ben was too scared that Austin would be
impossible for Jace, forcing him to choose between going to school
with Allison in Texas or heading back to Chicago to be accessible
to Jace. Now time had run out, and Ben had to confess. Otherwise
Jace would bid for the wrong schedule.

Jace stirred, smacking his
dry mouth. Samson meowed in protest, insisting that Jace stop
moving.


Good morning,” Ben said,
not wanting his boyfriend to fall back to sleep. He needed to tell
him now, while he was feeling determined. He slid out of bed and
climbed down the ladder to fetch a glass of orange juice from the
refrigerator. Jace accepted it gratefully when he returned, sitting
up and sipping it.


Do you ever fly to
Austin?” Ben asked out of the blue.


Austin?” Jace shook his
head. “No. Why?”


I’m thinking about
changing schools. Well, not thinking, really. I am.”

Ben explained everything to
him while searching Jace’s impassive face for reaction.


It would be strange,”
Jace said when Ben had finished. “Arranging my schedule to
overnight in Chicago makes sense, but getting a hotel an hour away
from my apartment?”


It’s further than that,”
Ben corrected.


Not by plane it
isn’t.”


So you don’t want to?”
Ben asked, trying not to sound as defensive as he was beginning to
feel.


It’s not that,” Jace
said, rubbing his eyes sleepily. “I just think the airline will
find the hotel expense superfluous.”


You won’t need a hotel,”
he pointed out.


Look,” Jace said,
reaching out to take Ben’s hand, “no matter what, I’ll find a way
to see you. I can fly for free and Austin is only an hour away. You
go wherever you feel like you need to be. We’ll work something
out.”


Really?”


Really,” Jace laughed.
“Now, is it going to be breakfast or are you getting in the shower
with me.”

Ben chose the
shower.

 

__________

 

Chapter 19

 


Our duplex, is a very,
very, very fine duplex. With a hmmm-hmm-hmm yard. And a
hmm-hmm-hmm-hmmm-hm.”

Allison glowered at Ben
over her bowl of cereal. He grinned cheerfully back, forcing her to
move the jumbo box of cereal until it blocked him from view. Ben
didn’t let this bother him. She was probably still hung over from
another night out with Kenneth. Her boyfriend was drop-dead
gorgeous but he drank like a fish.

Ben considered singing
another line, but decided he better not risk it, especially since
he didn’t know the lyrics. Regardless, it really was a very, very,
very fine duplex. Living here with Allison was a dream. He
originally feared that being together so often would strain their
friendship, but instead it had been strengthened. They were even
closer now than they had been in high school.

Ben considered making an
omelet before opting for much less complicated instant oatmeal. He
would probably be eating proper food for dinner when Jace got into
town tonight anyway. There was a new Indian restaurant down on
Sixth Street that Ben was eager to try.

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