Apples to Oranges Read online

  “Yeah…I guess.” A lump formed in the back of Jace’s throat.

  “Can I kiss you? It’s okay if you say no, but I really want to.” Preston chewed on his bottom lip.

  Jace nodded. He wanted this to happen.

  “Yes?” asked Preston, his voice wary. He scooted closer to Jace on the bed. “I’ve thought about you so much since we fooled around at school.”

  “Me too,” Jace admitted as he felt Preston touch his forearm.

  Preston leaned in, his lips tracing Jace’s. “You’re so cute,” he murmured.

  They kissed. It was slow at first and when Jace felt Preston’s tongue merging with his, he thought he’d jump straight out of his skin. Gingerly, he slid one hand around Preston’s shoulders to hold onto him. Preston smelled so damned good, freshness and masculinity mixed together. The scent was intoxicating.

  Preston was the first to pull back, their noses still touching. “Wow,” he said. “You have the sexiest lips. Let’s take off our shirts.”

  Run, that’s what Jace’s mind screamed at him, but his heart and cock yelled something else. When you’re eighteen and horny as fuck, your cock overrides all common sense.

  “You have such smooth skin.” Preston traced his hands across Jace’s bare chest once he’d removed his shirt. “Touch me too.” He guided one of Jace’s hands and placed it against his chest. “Don’t be nervous, man. We’ll make each other feel good.”

  Jace wasn’t nervous. Well, okay, just a little. And he wanted to touch Preston, desperately. To be this free with another guy, to not have to hide his true desires was overwhelming.

  Jace grazed his hand across Preston’s chest and when he moved it up again, he rested it on Preston’s shoulder. Both leaned in for another kiss, this one much more passionate than the first.

  “That’s nice,” Jace said. “I love kissing you.”

  “We can do more, Jace, if you like?”

  Like a vise, Jace’s stomach tightened at the thought of more.

  Preston reached for Jace’s belt buckle. He fumbled with it and when it came undone, Jace stood up from the bed to allow him access. “I’m so hard,” Preston said, as he massaged Jace’s crotch. “And so are you.”

  Jace nodded and pushed his jeans to the floor, leaving him only in his white briefs. They left little to the imagination as they tented out with his erection.

  “Lay back on the bed,” Preston suggested. His eyes didn’t leave Jace for a second. “But first, let me help you with these.” He hooked his thumbs into the waistband of Jace’s briefs, sliding them down over Jace’s slender hips. Preston then kissed Jace’s bare thigh. His lips lingered, skin against skin. “I wanna suck you.”

  Jace lay back on the bed watched anxiously as Preston assumed position between his legs. This was happening really fast. One minute they were at school and the next they were here in Preston’s bedroom making out. What a day this had turned out to be…

  Chapter Two

  Jace gasped when Preston drew his cock inside his mouth. The last time all they’d done was jack each other off. This was new territory for him, but fuck, it felt like nothing else he’d experienced.

  Jace’s cheeks grew warm, both sets of them and he felt like every sensation was on bust. When he looked down at Preston, he was enthralled watching the guy suck his cock, his lips stretched tight around his shaft. Preston met his stare and Jace’s cock surged with lust and excitement at the horny sight.

  Jace watched as Preston reached down with one hand and undid his jeans, sliding them down his ass with Jace’s cock still inside his mouth. Now clad in only his boxers, Preston reached inside and started to stroke his own cock, soft groans escaping from deep in his throat.

  Hearing Preston whimpering was enough to cause Jace’s balls to tighten. He closed his eyes and then it happened, he shot off his load. He tried to push Preston away as a warning, but Preston wasn’t having it. He kept on sucking and swallowing until Jace was thoroughly spent.

  “Oh yeah, I’m going to come,” Preston said, pulling away from Jace. “You taste so good, man. Oh fuck, here I go!” He grunted and fell over on his back, his fist pounding his dick, cum squirting in the air like an erotic rain shower.

  “Shoot it,” encouraged Jace. It was the only response he could muster as he revelled in his own orgasmic afterglow.

  “Preston?” called a loud female voice. “Are you home?” It sounded like it came from downstairs.

  “Crap,” Preston gasped. He jumped up from the floor and pulled on his jeans quickly. He then glanced at Jace. “Get dressed, it’s my mom. She must have decided to come home early for some stupid reason. Fuck!”

  Jace dressed and at the same time had the most insane urge to laugh his head off. It was just his luck to have this happen when things were starting to get extremely interesting.

  “I’m home. Jace is up here with me. We’re working on the yearbook together,” Preston called back. “You’re back early.”

  Footsteps were heard on the stairs and then Preston’s mom was there, looking in at them as she opened the bedroom door. “My plans changed.” She nodded and smiled at Jace. “Hello, Jace. It’s nice to finally meet you. Pres has talked about you many times. If either of you are hungry, you can order a pizza.”

  Preston swiped the back of his hand across his brow. “We already ate.”

  She sniffed the air and wrinkled her nose. “Open a window, it smells funky in here. Just a thought.” She was gone.

  “Jesus, that was close.” Preston shut the door. “I hope she doesn’t suspect anything. This so would not go over well with my dad.”

  “I’m going to head home.” Jace grabbed his backpack. “We’ll get together again soon.”

  “Ah, Jace?” Preston held him by the arm. “I do want us to hang out again. I wanted to let you know that before you leave. It’s strange and this feels a bit weird for me.” He paused, his eyes full of confusion. “I like you.”

  Jace wanted to kiss Preston again, but resisted the urge. It was too risky with his mom in the house. “Sure, I’d like that.” He noticed the pen and notebook still on the floor where Preston has tossed them. Jace reached down and retrieved both. He scribbled down his cell number and handed it to Preston. “Call or text me whenever.”

  “I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” Preston kissed Jace lightly on the lips. “I can drive you home.”

  “Naw, I only live a couple streets over. The walk will help clear my head. Like I said, text me or whatever.”

  Preston tucked the pieced of paper into his jeans. “Will do, definitely.”

  ****

  “How was school?” Jace’s mom asked when he got home. From the light inflection in her voice, he could tell she was having one of her better days. She sat in the living room in front of the television with a can of soda in one hand and the remote control in the other.

  “It was the usual, boring and stuff.”

  “That kid, the one whose house you went to…”

  “Preston,” Jace said.

  “That’s him. Isn’t his father a doctor?”

  “Yeah. We’re working on the yearbook together and will get most of it sorted next week.”

  “Good.” She smiled, something she rarely did these days. “I’m glad you’re involved at school.” She paused, her eyes distant. “I never had the interest. I wanted school to be over and done with. I can’t say that I miss it.” She shrugged and withdrew a cigarette from the package resting on the coffee table. She started smoking again two months ago, after being smoke free for five years. Jace didn’t bother to admonish her for it. It wasn’t worth the hassle.

  Since his dad’s death, she’d been off on leave from her job at the Food Stop Supermarket. Jace couldn’t foresee her going back anytime soon in her current state. She was a mess mentally and emotionally. He hated to think of her like that, but it was the truth. There were days when she did nothing but cry in her room. Jace’s dad had been everything to them both. Luckily his dad did have
the good sense to take out a hefty insurance policy. That money along with regular checks from the army left them secure financially. He was thankful for that.

  “I’m going to my room to mess around on the computer for a bit,” Jace explained.

  “And I’m going to watch whatever’s on the tube.” She laughed again. Her medication did work when she bothered to take it. “Sweet Jesus. There are some crazies out there.” She pointed to the television, which was playing some rerun of a stupid reality show. “Imagine that, one woman having to pick from all those men. She won’t be married a year. You can bet on that!”

  Jace smiled slightly. It was a sure thing.

  ****

  Brandon rolled his eyes and grabbed the milk carton from the fridge as he listened to his mom prattle on the phone to one of her many newfound friends.

  “But, Rhonda, he’s rather old. I mean, I don’t mind if they’re a few years older, but he could seriously be my father. That’s just downright creepy and then some,” she said, the phone’s receiver cocked to her right ear. “Oh, no. Do not tell me that he said that and don’t you dare think about setting me up with him. I have zero interest in that man. I can’t believe you even said that to him. You should know better.”

  Brandon quickly slapped together a ham and cheese sandwich and headed to his bedroom. God, he missed their house in the city. This trailer was an absolute dump compared to it.

  “Honey?” his mom called. “Could you like mow the lawn and clean up later? It’s a little overgrown and I don’t have the time to do it.”

  “Sure,” he called back. Brandon slammed the door to his bedroom and did his best to block her out. Time? She had all the freaking time in the world. Since they’d moved here, she hadn’t done anything other than party her ass off.

  Brandon kicked off his sneakers before flopping back on the bed. He took a gulp of milk, but no longer felt hungry. He examined the ceiling as he placed the near empty glass on the floor next to the bed. A large crack ran the length of the ceiling along with a bunch of water stains. “Dive,” he muttered.

  “Jace,” Brandon said the name aloud. His heart lurched slightly as he spoke and pictured the guy. It was so weird how they shared that moment during history class. He closed his eyes and pictured the cute boy. Jesus, he did think that Jace was cute. Brandon felt a stirring inside his jeans and tried to push the thoughts of Jace from his mind. It wasn’t normal to think about other guys like that. He hadn’t, up to now. Well, okay, sometimes in the locker room at his last school, he couldn’t help but stare at some of his classmates. He was always careful never to make it obvious. And why did he write that note and give it to Jace? That was so unlike him. He never cared what others thought about him before now.

  He’d see Jace this weekend. Maybe they’d get a chance to chat again one on one without anyone else around like Mike. Shit! There it was again, rearing its freaking ugly head. “You’re fucked,” he said, turning on his side towards the wall. “Think normal. Think straight.”

  ****

  “I’ll pick you up first and then we’ll get Brandon,” Mike explained, after classes ended the next day.

  “Brandon?” Jace asked. His heart fluttered at the mention of the guy’s name. “He’s going with us?”

  “Yeah, you don’t mind do you? He hasn’t got many friends and I thought it would be shitty to not include him.”

  “No, not at all. It sounds good to me.” Jace felt strange. His cheeks were hot as hell and he was definitely blushing. He swallowed hard to release the lump that had formed in his throat.

  “I have the van and that can sleep two easily and there’s the tent for you and Brandon. You will need to bring your own sleeping bags and gear.” Mike smiled wickedly. “If I’m lucky, I’ll get lucky.” He waggled his brows. “Anyway, man, that’s the plan. I was telling Brandon earlier today and he’s cool with it.”

  Jace and Brandon sleeping together? Well, not together, but within an enclosed space? He hoped that someone was bringing beer, because he was going to need it.

  “I almost forgot,” Mike recollected. “Brandon’s bringing beer.”

  “Good stuff, I’ll head home and get things together. What time will you be around to pick me up?”

  “Six-thirty,” Mike replied.

  Jace would have more than ample time to eat and pack.

  “Man, don’t look so friggin’ down.” Mike patted him on the shoulder. “We’re celebrating your birthday, remember? Fun times and all that jazz.”

  Mike was right. He definitely needed to loosen up. “My birthday was a month ago.” Mike shot him a look of annoyance. I’ll be fine. I’m a little wired is all. It’s all good. ”

  ****

  Brandon had managed to avoid any direct interaction with Jace all day, so far. At one point, he couldn’t stop stealing glances at him in one class and the news that they’d be sharing a tent together on this overnight outing thrilled him, to say the least. He should have said no to this trip, but he would have come across as being weird, and he didn’t want that.

  Brandon glanced at his watch and went over his mental list of things to take along. He had almost everything in place and it was nearing six-thirty. When he heard someone coming up the driveway, he looked out the door. It was Mike and he was early. With the sleeping bag tucked under his arm and the two-four of beer under his other, he headed towards the van with another bag dangling from his hand. It was fucking heavy.

  “Bud,” Mike said, greeting him. “You look like you’ve prepared for the end of the world.” He smirked. “Tons of shit and uff.”

  “Something like that.” They put everything in the back of the van and when Brandon climbed inside, he noticed that Jace wasn’t there. Disappointment washed over him. “Your cousin didn’t come?”

  “I’m picking him up next.” A cigarette dangled from Mike’s mouth as he spoke. “On to our next destination.”

  When they pulled up in front of Jace’s house, Brandon nearly held his breath, but was quick to hop out of the van to greet him. “Let me take that,” he offered, grabbing the bundled sleeping bag from Jace.

  Jace smiled sheepishly at him and Brandon blushed slightly and returned a smile of his own.

  “Can you manage?” Mike yelled as he leaned out of the van.

  “Yup,” Brandon replied. “I’ll put this with the rest of the gear in the back.” After that task was completed, he watched as Jace climbed into the van and settled on the back seat. Jace had a cute little butt. Again, Brandon tried not to think about it…It being what he wanted to do to that little butt.

  “You okay?” Mike shot him a strange look.

  Brandon slammed the door and buckled his seatbelt. “Yeah, I was off in space there for a moment.”

  ****

  “It’s small and easy to set up.” Mike handed the two-man tent to Jace.

  It didn’t look like much. “That’s it?” Jace held it up. “Two people are supposed to be able to sleep in this?”

  “It’s cozy and better than sleeping out in the cold,” Mike said. “It’s different when it’s set up.”

  Brandon stepped between them. “Let’s see it. I’ve slept in tents before. I had one as a kid and my dad used to take me camping.”

  Jace handed it over and watched as Brandon searched for a place to set it up. “This is a good spot,” Brandon said. “It’s flat and dry.” He knelt on the ground and unrolled the tent. He then turned to look back at Jace and Mike. “I’m going to need help with this.”

  Some of the other kids from school had started to arrive and were busy setting up their own camps. Jace walked over to Brandon. “Tell me what to do and let’s get this thing up.”

  “It really isn’t that bad,” Brandon said. “Once we get the sleeping bags inside it’ll be quite comfy.”

  Jace blushed at the thought.

  “So, it’s your birthday. I guess I should say happy birthday.”

  “My birthday was actually last month, but Mike thinks I should ce
lebrate it now because we hadn’t bothered to. It was his idea and really just an excuse to party.”

  “You didn’t want to come?” Brandon asked. He held up one tent pole and examined it before inserting it in place. “You should have told him you didn’t want this.”

  “Mike’s a good guy. His intentions are good. He’s been doing his best to get me more out there and involved with everyone.”

  “Mike’s okay. He was one of the first people at school to notice that I was alive. Most haven’t been friendly. You two are cousins, right?”

  “Yes. He’s more like a brother and since my dad’s death, he’s been there for me when I’ve needed him.” It was true. It was Mike who had pushed him to keep living, to move on and get through each day when all he wanted to do at the time was drop into that dark hole along with what remained of his dad. The wake and the funeral had been a nightmare.

  “That sucks about your dad. He sounds like he was a great man.”

  “He was.” Jace smiled. This was a nice side of Brandon. The guy was much deeper than he’d initially thought. Appearances were definitely deceiving. “Thanks for that note,” Jace said. “It was a good gesture.”

  “No problem,” Brandon dismissed. “Hand me that tent peg.” He pointed to a small pile of pegs near Jace. “Hold it still while I pound it into the ground. Nice and straight like that.”

  Jace did as Brandon directed and while kneeling next to Brandon, their shoulders touched. Jace caught Brandon’s masculine scent and drank him in. He smelled of clean soap with just the slightest hint of cologne. Three strikes and the peg was in place. Brandon checked it and as he did, his hand brushed the side of Jace’s. They both froze. Jace’s mind went blank as he pulled his hand away. “You liked living in the city?” Anything to restart their conversation.

  “I sure did. It was awesome. I plan on going back after I graduate. I’ve had enough of this town.” Brandon backed away from the tent. “A couple more pegs and we’re done, but first, I’m going to grab a beer. Want one?”

  “Sure.” Jace watched and waited for Brandon to return.