Page 47 of Strange Lad

“Hot.”

He blushes prettily and ducks his head. “Hardly. My face is like hamburger.”

The acne scars are there but not as noticeable as he thinks. Besides, that beard is really working for him. He’s got this lumberjack vibe, and I’m super into it. I’m intohim, period. I wet my lips, searching for a compliment that doesn’t involve how much I want to lick and taste him.

“Your face is perfect,” I settle on.

“Shut up,” he huffs a laugh and stands to throw away his trash.

I quickly inhale the last of my burger and do the same. Before I know it, we’re back on the couch with that cushion barrier between us. I’m going to rip the damn thing off and burn it. I’m glaring at it, wishing I was a firebender, when Oli clears his throat. My eyes snap to his, and he pats the spot beside him.

Fuck yes.

I casually scoot over, not moving too fast or too slow, and let our shoulders touch.

“Movie? Or can we play some more?” he asks.

“What do you want?” I told him before I’d go at his pace.

Oli always has to think about these things before he answers, which shows how much they mean to him—how seriously he takes this stuff. I don’t have the same mentality. It’s barely even a thought whether or not I want to touch someone.

Holding my breath in anticipation, I wait and wait. I wait so long that I have no choice but to suck in some air, and the little shitlaughs.

“Sorry, but you were just waiting there like a cute kitten,” he purrs.

“Why?” I whine. “Why do you insist on calling me that?”

“Because you are one.”

“It’s an unfair advantage,” I point out.

“How so?”

I pointedly look at my dick. His eyes follow suit, and I hear his gulp. “Oh.”

“Yes,oh.”

“I can stop if it bothers you. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” he says.

“It doesn’t bother me that way,” I tell him, wanting to rub all over his arm and mark my territory.

“I have a question.”

I wait for him to ask it.

“Go on,” I supply when he doesn’t.

Another gulp. “Does the game have a limit?”

“What do you mean?”

“What are we allowed to ask for?”

My dick pulses in my pants, getting far too excited with this line of questioning. “Whatever we’re comfortable with. And we don’t have to do anything if it’s not wanted or welcome.”

He nods. “How do I let you know?”

“Simple. Tell me, and I won’t do it.”

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