Page 3 of Beyond the Summer

When he glanced up, I realized that his face was unexpected.Instead of matching his chiseled body, his face was...… pretty.He had brown, curly hair that fell in a mess across his forehead and huge, bright green eyes, framed by lashes thick enough to look like he was wearing eye makeup.He had lush, full lips, and a cute smattering of freckles across his nose.

How could someone who looked like they could smash me with a single fist be cute?He met my eyes, and I realized I'd been staring.

"Hey," I said, shoving my hands in my pockets because I didn't want to give the impression that I might be into a handshake."I'm Ben.One of your co-counselors."

His eyes dropped to my hands and he ignored the greeting."Is Parker here?"

"This is the part where you introduce yourself," I prompted."Because we'll be working and living together all summer."

He didn't answer.I frowned, glancing around the cabin, which obviously did not contain Parker Layton, then shrugged and climbed up into my bunk and settled down with my book, trying to focus on that.Socially, this was about par for the course for me.I could have confronted him, or forced an introduction, but it was easier to pretend I wasn't bothered.

A moment later, the door clattered open, and there he was.Parker was a force of nature, gorgeous and fun and always energetic.

"Ben!"His face broke out into a wide smile when he spotted me, but then he looked at the rude guy near the bed and froze.The guy behind Parker crashed into his back, but all Parker could do was stare at the jackass rugby jock like he'd seen a ghost.

And that was when I remembered where I'd heard the name Sutton Holm before: the ex Parker had mentioned in group texts.

Ben

"You'renotmyboss,"Sutton griped as he followed me out of the cabin a few minutes later."I don't have to listen to you."

I ignored him, still reeling from the power rush of taking control of the big jock.Seeing Parker's panic had done something to me, flipped a switch in my brain that had allowed me to take control.I'd ordered Sutton outside to talk, as if I was his master and he was my subject.But why had Sutton listened to me?I turned to him, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes.I forced my lips to curl into a smile that I hoped looked cocky.

"If I'm not your boss, why did you follow me?Why are you outside?"

Sutton's cheeks turned pink and his eyes darted away."I didn't… I mean…"

"I don't know what the fuck you're doing here, but you need to give your ex-boyfriend some space."

"I'll do what I want."He squared his shoulders, folding his arms over his impressive chest, and I had an odd impulse to touch him and see what all that muscle felt like.

"Are you going to be a good boy and behave?If not, I'm happy to punish you."I hadn't meant for that to sound sexual, but… yeah.Maybe it was his muscles.

He blinked at me, his mouth dropping open as his eyes slid down my body, landing between my legs, and he licked his lips.It all happened in a second before he seemed to gather himself and shake it off, but I saw it.And my cock took notice.

"I'm not a good boy, Ben.And I'm not gay."

"I meant… Never mind.I don't care if you're gay."

"So you take all the straight boys across your lap and spank them?"His words were taunting, and felt like a challenge, as if he might welcome that possibility.

I swallowed, trying to regain the thread of what I'd been trying to say."There will be no spanking, as long as you're a good boy."Shit, no, that hadn't been it.I cleared my throat, tugging on my hair."Listen, I don't know why you feel you need to lead with your sexuality, but that's not why I wanted to talk to you."

He smirked at me."I tend to clear the air when a guy propositions me."

"I wasn't propositioning you!All I meant to say was that you need to give Parker a chance to calm down after seeing you.Camp is Parker's safe space, and I'm worried about him.It's a safe space for you, too, by the way.None of us care if you're gay, bi, whatever.And nothing you do here will get back to your douchebag frat bros, or whoever you're worried about.If you want to be yourself, you can."

"I'm.Not.Gay," he said slowly and firmly."So whatever crush you're about to develop on me, shut it down."

I burst out laughing."Listen, man, I'm pansexual and demisexual.I'm attracted to people when I get to know what's in here."That was a lie.There was something about him that stirred something in me that I rarely felt.But he didn't need to know that."And as far as I know from Parker, you've got a questionable personality and a black hole instead of a heart."

"Well… Glad we cleared that up," he muttered with his eyes sliding away, making me feel like an idiot for explaining my sexuality to him."Can I go back inside now, sir?"There was something underneath his sarcasm that itched at the back of my mind.

"Parker needs a minute, and you're giving him a minute."As I spoke, I stepped into his personal space, poking him in the chest, which only reminded me of how big Sutton was.And that reminded me of how thoroughly Sutton could beat me up if he chose to do so.

"Why do you care?"

"Parker is my friend.Frankly, I really don't want to see that expression on his face ever again."

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