Page 54 of Dust and Desire
Throwing the sheets aside, I scooched to the side of the bed, putting my feet on the cool floor. The thunderstorm the night before must’ve brought the heat with it. That meant it was probably gonna be hot as hell for a couple days. But honestly, I couldn’t be bothered. Not when I was thoroughly fucked and loved by the most beautiful man I’d ever laid eyes on.
A smile tugged at my lips as memories of last night flooded back. Alex’s hands on my body, his mouth against mine, the way he’d filled me so completely, both physically and emotionally. My cock twitched against my thigh at the recollection, already hardening.
He must’ve been at work already. The bed beside me was empty, the sheets cool to the touch. He must have left hours ago with the rising sun. I reached for my phone on the nightstand, squinting at the time. It was half past nine. He’d definitely gone to work already.
I fell back against the pillows, stretching languidly. His scent stillclung to the sheets, that intoxicating mix of leather, hay, and the scent of his skin. I buried my face in his pillow, inhaling deeply, remembering how it felt to hear those three words from his lips.
I love you too.
God, I was acting like a lovesick teenager, but I couldn’t help it. I slid my hand down my chest, over my stomach, until my fingers wrapped around my hardening cock. Slowly, I began to stroke myself, closing my eyes and letting the memories wash over me.
The feeling of his stubble against my inner thighs. The metal of his piercing sliding against my prostate. The way he’d looked at me when I confessed my love, like I was the most precious thing he’d ever seen.
My pace quickened, breath coming in short gasps as I imagined him watching me, those warm brown eyes drinking in every detail. I was close already, embarrassingly so, my body still sensitive from last night’s activities.
“Alex,” I whispered into the empty room, my back arching off the bed as I came, spilling over my fist and onto my stomach.
I lay there for a moment, catching my breath, feeling simultaneously satisfied and empty. Nothing compared to the real thing. To him.
After cleaning myself up with tissues from the nightstand, I checked my phone again. No messages from Alex, but there was a text from Ali.
Ali: Hey stranger. Been a while since we talked. Can we catch up?
My stomach twisted with guilt. She was right. I’d been so wrapped up in Alex that I’d barely thought about my ex-wife. My best friend. The person who knew me better than anyone else in the world.
Or at least, that’s who she had been. Now there was Alex, who seemed to understand parts of me I’d never even shown Ali.
I tapped out a quick reply.
Me: Of course. Everything okay?
Her response came almost immediately.
Ali: Not really. Broke up with Jason. Need to get away for a bit. Can I come visit?
My fingers hovered over the keyboard. Ali, here? In my tiny house? Where Alex and I had been living in our private bubble of new love? The thought made me anxious, but this was Ali. She needed me.
Before I could reply, another text came through.
Ali: I know it’s last minute, but I could really use my best friend right now. Please?
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. How could I say no to her? After everything we’d been through together, all the years of friendship before and during our marriage, I couldn’t turn her away when she needed me.
Me: Of course you can come. When were you thinking?
Ali: Tomorrow? I already booked a flight to Dallas. I can rent a car from there.
My heart rate picked up. Tomorrow? That was so soon. I glanced around my tiny house, at the evidence of Alex everywhere, his boots by the door, his hat on the hook, his shirts mixed with mine in the laundry basket. What would Ali think? She knew I was gay, of course, but knowing it and seeing me with another man were two different things. For some reason, I felt the need to hide it all from her.
Me: Tomorrow works. My house is a little small for you so I’ll make sure there’s a spot for you in town.
Ali: You’re the best. Love you.
I set my phone down, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. I needed to talk to Alex. This wasn’t just my space anymore, it had become ours in the week since the break-in at his apartment. He had his own place, but he never stayed there. Would he be okay with Ali visiting here? Would he want to move back to his apartment temporarily? The thought of sleeping without him made my chest ache.
I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over my body. As I washed away the evidence of my morning activities, I tried to organize my thoughts. Ali was coming.My ex-wife was coming to the place where I’d finally found myself, where I’d fallen in love with a man who made me feel whole for the first time in my life. The place I’d run to so I could escape the life I’d shared with her.
How would those worlds collide?
