Page 9 of Tagging Bases

“So, who wants to be kissed first?” Harrison whispers, his pupils dilating as the guards count down from sixty.

When they get to ten, my heart kicks into overdrive. When the clock strikes midnight, I’m certain I’m having a heart attack.Because Harrison’s lips are suddenly on mine, his tongue seeking permission to enter my mouth.

I willingly part my lips and let him taste me at the same time that fireworks explode outside, lighting up the room in bursts of color.

His hand gently cups my face, and my body instantly sags. There’s a sweetness to him that I’ve never tasted before. It’s a new and exciting flavor, and I instantly want to drown in it. In him.

My hands find his waist and pull him closer. A growl escapes him, causing the fireworks in my head to become even more explosive than the ones outside. My belly tightens to the point that my ass clenches. Any blood that was left in my head has dissipated, leaving me lightheaded and almost too weak to stand.

Harrison pulls away from me sooner than I’d like, his warmth vanishing from my lips. He walks back over to Daniel, and there’s not even a hint of doubt from either of them before their mouths collide.

At first, Harrison is the aggressor, his tongue flicking in and out of Daniel’s mouth, his thumb stroking Daniel’s cheek. But it isn’t long before Daniel shows Harrison that he can be dominant as well. One thick hand rests on the small of Harrison’s back, the other finds purchase in his hair.

They fight for dominance. It’s hotter than any porn I’ve ever watched, and I’ve watched my fair share.

The longer they go at it, the harder I become. The more I want to be a part of it.

Harrison’s hand slips inside Daniel’s mankini, and I fear I’ll explode before I’ve even had a chance to touch myself.

Minutes later, Harrison steps away from Daniel, leaving my friend panting, wide-eyed, and staring directly at me.

His eyes are dark and hungry, his pupils are mere slits, as he stalks his way over to me. My cock throbs, letting loose a dollop of precome that stains the pink fabric.

The air crackles between us, and the moment our lips collide, I realize three things in rapid succession.

One, where Harrison kisses sensually, Daniel kisses with power.

Two, where Harrison makes my toes curl, Daniel makes my eyes roll back.

Three, where Harrison feels like kissing a stranger, kissing Daniel feels like we’ve been doing it all along.

Chapter 4

A Hard Bargain

Daniel

Three Months Later

The breeze feelswonderful on my skin as I weave through the streets on my bike. I have a cup of coffee in one hand, a bag of pastries in the other, and a smile on my face. New York in the springtime never fails to make me feel alive. I don’t know if it’s because the trees along the avenues no longer appear skeletal or if it’s the exploding colors in the flowerbeds in the parks. But something about it all has my heart singing for all to hear.

I dodge a taxicab trying to pull out of its spot on the side of the road, only to nearly get sideswiped by a sightseeing tour bus. The driver shouts at me through the closed door, and I give him the middle finger in return. A couple of people who are seated atop the bus aim their phone cameras at me. Whether it’s because they recognize me or because they can use this moment as part of a scavenger hunt—take a picture of a true New Yorker—I couldn’t tell you. But I flip them off too, for shits and giggles, before getting off the busy street.

Charlie and I live in a townhouse, purchased by my parents because, as they put it, “Real estate is a better investment than four years of rent.” Although it was a thoughtful gesture, and I’meternally grateful to have a roof over my head, I can’t shake the feeling that they did it as a power flex.

Locking my bike to the railing outside home sweet home, I gaze up at the brownstone.

It has character, I’ll give it that. A chipped façade and a wrought-iron fence on the outside. Modern amenities, including stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, and a gas fireplace on the inside. The décor is an eclectic mix of my stuff and Charlie’s—a balance of tasteful and tacky that somehow works.

Speaking of Charlie, I find him in the kitchen, shirtless and barefoot, and making what appears to be an enormous protein shake. Kicking off my flip-flops, I sit down on the barstool. “Dude, you really need all that?”

He shrugs. “Trying to bulk up. I kind of let myself go over the winter.”

I snort. Charlie’s idea of “letting himself go” is laughable. Yes, he’s gained afewpounds, but it’s muscle, not fat. His once lean frame has filled out, turning him into more of a power hitter than a pitcher. The guy isripped.

I eye his torso, noting the way his abs form a tight, defined wall and how his pecs have grown more pronounced. His arms are thicker now, too—almost as big as mine. Almost.

“Bro, you could audition for the nextMarvelmovie.”

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