Month: March 2018

**And we’re back with episode 6 of Kyle and Asher’s tale. (Click here if you need to catch up) And as an added bonus, it also has a cameo from Alan…who’s finding his own relationship with Jon over at Nell’s house. I adore Alan so much, I asked if I could borrow him. And Nell decided to use Kyle as well. So here’s the other side of the conversation, and what happens next. Enjoy!**

I heard Kyle’s voice before I saw him, and just that much made me smile. The past few weeks had been amazing, and I looked forward to coming home more than I ever had. Because I was coming home to Kyle.

I just finished my shower when Kyle’s voice drifted up through the cracked open window. I stopped mid-towel.

“Okay. Stop being an idiot.” He paused for a second, and then “What’s going on that you need to be reminded of this?”

I chuckled. That answered whether he was talking to himself or not. Clearly he was on the phone. I dropped the towel in the hamper and pushed up the sash a bit more. Kyle paced back and forth on our patio, and he’d already lit the fire. Now that I’d cleaned the worst of the day off me, I was anxious to get down there and enjoy the evening with him.

I dressed at top speed, occasionally catching snippets of Kyle’s conversation that out of context meant absolutely nothing. But just as I was pulling on my sneakers, I heard something that made me freeze.

“Alan, babe, you really are an idiot.”

Babe? He was calling someone else babe? No. There was no way in hell he was dating someone else. I wouldn’t believe that. Kyle was not that guy, and even though we hadn’t talked in explicit words about what we wanted, it seemed clear to me we were on the same page. Or at least, I thought we were. I wasn’t worried, exactly, but I did jog down the stairs at a greater than normal speed. I needed to talk to him.

“You got that right. Go. Call me later and let me know what happened. Love you.”

Kyle blew out a breath as he thumbed off his phone and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Who do you love?” I hadn’t meant to say that, but now that it was out, it seemed as good a place as any for the conversation to start.

“What?” Kyle gave me his confused face, the one where the line between his brows squinched tight.

“Who were you calling babe and telling you love them?” When Kyle clearly still didn’t get it, I gestured to the phone in his hand. “Who were you talking to? You voice carried through the window.”

“Oh!” Kyle’s face lit up and then he shook his phone at me. “Alan. The fool. I love him, but holy crap. Poor man is high strung sometimes. Totally adorable, but high strung.”

I wracked my brains trying to put face or story to the name, but I was coming up empty. “Alan?”

Kyle nodded and cross the space between us. He shoved his phone in his pocket and wrapped his arms around my neck. “Alan. My best friend.” He inhaled, and added, “Damn you smell good.”

This close, my body reacted to his. I grabbed his waist and pulled him in tight so I could feel him everywhere. Then I bent my head and kissed him thoroughly and completely. I knew he wouldn’t cheat, and I hadn’t even considered the best friend as a possibility. I’d met Alan once a few months ago. Kyle’s assessment of him was pretty spot on.

Kyle eventually shoved me back, needing to breath, and he gave me a wicked grin. “Why Asher. You weren’t jealous were you?”

I shook my head, and then grinned. “For like, two seconds. Before I realized that there was no way you were cheating. Had to be something else.”

“You’re damn right. I’ve finally got you, I’m not letting you go and I’m not going to do anything to mess it up.”

“Same goes for me.” I kissed him again, and then tugged him down next to me in the oversized deckchair. It was a tight fit, and he had to drape a leg over my lap. I was fine with that.

As the night settled around us, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. A few months ago, I’d never have imagined this as my life. Now, with Kyle tucked against me, I couldn’t imagine anything else.

**Episode 5 of Asher and Kyle’s story! Click here if you need to catch up. Enjoy!**

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

I chuckled, and I didn’t miss the way Kyle shivered at the sound. I caught the curl of his lips, and I had to check my own impulse to shudder. God, he was so sexy. And there was something about him wearing a blindfold that I, surprisingly, really enjoyed. I’d picked up the black silk scarf just for this occasion, and I was pretty sure I’d have to keep it around. Maybe Kyle would want to play with it in other ways one day.

“Ash?”

“No,” I said softly. “I’m not going to tell you. That would ruin the surprise.”

“You’re no fun,” he huffed, but there was that twitch of his lips again.

I dropped my voice deliberately. “You’ll find I am all kinds of fun.”

He swore softly, then pressed a hand to the front of his pants. I was so enraptured by the sight, I didn’t realize the light had changed until the car behind me honked. I took off, a little faster than necessary, but I was anxious to get to our destination.

It only took another ten minutes, and Kyle was petulantly quiet the whole time. I knew him well enough by now to know it was just an act, but I appreciated it nonetheless. And I knew my surprise was going to make up for any minor disgruntled feelings. I parked close to the entrance, ordered Kyle to stay put as I got out, then jogged around the truck to open his door and help him down. He clung to my arm, and I knew he was uncertain without being able to see. Slowly, carefully, I released the knot holding the scarf, and pulled it away from his eyes.

He blinked, wide eyed and staring, and then turned to me. His grin was huge, but his eyes were narrowed.

“It’s the aquarium.”

“It is.”

“But it closes at eight and it is…” he made a show of tapping his Fitbit so the time popped up. “Eight-oh-five.”

“You’re right about that.” I took his hand and tugged him toward the front doors. My friend Marcel was waiting just on the other side, and he unlocked the doors and ushered us in. It was deadly quiet inside, and the lights from the huge tank in the lobby cast an eerie glow.

“Asher,” Kyle whispered. His fingers squeezed mine and held tightly. “What’s going on?”

“We can only have an hour, but there’s nothing better than viewing this place at night without crowds. Marcel was kind enough to give us time. And since he runs this whole place, I figure he’s got the right.”

Kyle’s eyes were huge again, and I chuckled. Marcel grinned too, and then made a sweeping gesture with his arm. “Enjoy, gentlemen.”

“How did you know?” Kyle asked after we’d wandered in silence for about fifteen minutes. I was happy to meander at his pace. The aquarium was huge, and I knew we wouldn’t get to see everything in the time allotted us, especially with what I had planned. But we could see a good deal of it.

“Know what?” I knew what he was talking about, but I wanted to make him say it.

“How much I love this place? What it means to me?”

I lifted our joined hands and kissed the back of his. “I listen, baby. You told me stories about your grandfather bringing you here as a kid, and how much that time meant to you. And how it’s still a place you love to be, but it’s always so crowded you don’t get to enjoy it. So I called my friend, and he was able to arrange this.”

“This is…amazing.” Kyle stopped dead in the anteroom to the huge cylindrical ocean aquarium. He pushed into my arms and kissed me hard. When he pulled back, his eyes were blazing. “Thank you.”

“You haven’t seen the best part.” I gestured to the doorway, and we went through. When Kyle saw the small, candle lit table already set for two, he clapped a hand to his mouth. I’d had the meal delivered directly here, and Marcel had taken care of the rest. I owed him free landscaping for the rest of the summer, but the look on Kyle’s face was worth it.

I led him to the table and pulled out a chair. His pasta primavera was still steaming, and the sight made me smile. Kyle, however, couldn’t take his gaze off the manta rays swimming by. I sat myself, and poured the wine, then set a bread stick on the edge of his plate. Eventually Kyle tore his gaze from the tank and looked at me.

“This is the best date I’ve ever had. You’ve spoiled me for anyone else.”

I stood and leaned over to kiss him, and I looked him straight in the eye when I said, “Good.”

He chuckled, pecked my lips again, and then set to eating while repeatedly glancing up at the tank. I sat back with a smile. I’d done this for him. Gave him this much joy. And it was the perfect start to what I hoped was a very long relationship.

** And here’s episode 4. If you need to catch up, just hit the serial tag here and you can read all of the adventure. Enjoy!**

I should be freaking out.

It was midnight, I’d just realized I was bi, and that I wanted my neighbor turned best friend. There should be some sort of internal crisis going on. But there wasn’t. Weirdly, I found the realization to be comforting some how. And when I took a few minutes to really analyze why, it was simple. Kyle might be the first man I’d acknowledged my attraction to. He might be the first one that I actually wanted to do something with. But he wasn’t, in fact, the only man I’d ever looked at and considered pretty. And with that thought, everything settled in my brain.

It was sort of like a piece I didn’t know was missing slotted into place. And with that, I took a deep breath and relaxed. So what if I was bi? It didn’t change anything about me. Just who I might have a relationship with. And in this case, that was a very good thing. Because I wanted more than just to hang out with Kyle on the patio, talking with him. I wanted to do that and then kiss him. Touch him. Fuck him.

I just didn’t know how to get there.

***

Three weeks later, and I was still in limbo. Kyle recovered from his ordeal with no issue. He’d been a little off for a couple of days, but hanging out seemed to fix it. He relaxed and was himself again.

I’d been trying to figure out if he felt anything for me. He’d always been free with his affection, and a touch on the arm or his hand ruffling my hair wasn’t anything new. But I spent so much time just watching him, trying to see if there were signs, that he kept asking me what was wrong.

“Seriously,” Kyle said, a bemused sort of grin on his face. “What is with you?”

“Nothing.” I didn’t know why I just didn’t come out and say something. Maybe before that whole thing happened to him, I might have. But I didn’t want him to think I was being forceful. “I’m just tired. What were you saying?”

“I knew you weren’t listening.” Kyle chuckled and threw me a fond look. He sipped his wine and then sighed happily after swallowing. “And I was saying that I have a date Friday.”

My blood ran cold and he had my complete and undivided attention. “What?”

“Yeah,” he said and smiled. “Jane…you remember, my friend Jane from work. Anyway. Jane has this friend, and he’s exactly my type, so she was telling him about me and me about him, and we decided to meet. We’re getting together for drinks.”

For a split second, I froze. He seemed happy about it. But I knew this was the moment I had to speak or forever lose my chance.

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

My words came out soft, and for a second, I wasn’t sure Kyle had even heard. Then he turned to me, his brows creased in confusion. He set his glass down very carefully on the table between us.

“What?”

I cleared my throat. “I…I don’t want you to go out with that guy.”

He squinted. “Why not?”

“Because I want you to go out with me.” The words were rushed, but Kyle heard them.

“Friday night? You’ve got something you need my help with?” He was so confused. I heard it in his voice.

“Uh, no. I mean…” I let out an explosive sigh. “I want to date you. I don’t want you going out with someone else. I want you with me.”

Kyle went very quiet and I held my breath until he spoke again. “I don’t understand.”

“Yeah you do,” I responded softly.

“But you’re straight.”

I shook my head. “Bi.”

“Huh. You never said.”

It sounded a little bit like an accusation. And I got it. I did. He’d told me he was gay, and I’d implied I was straight. How did I explain that I’d been denying the knowledge of my own sexuality? It hadn’t been on purpose, but I’d still ignored it. I wavered for a few minutes and Kyle’s frown grew. So I took a deep breath and told him everything.

He listened quietly, nodding occasionally but never interrupting. After I was done, he still didn’t speak. I got fidgety and had to clasp my hands together to keep them from shaking. As the silence stretched, the crackle of the fire and the burble of the pond all I could hear, my worry grew enough that I finally spoke.

“If you’re not…” I cleared my throat and tried again. “If you’re not interested, I’ll understand. We, us, this doesn’t have to change. I would never–”

I stopped because Kyle stood so fast, and before I could figure out why, he was in front of me, his hands on the side of my neck. He looked down at me, and I got lost in his deep gaze. I couldn’t read his expression. Then he swept his thumb along my jaw and I shivered.

“I was hoping,” he whispered. “I tried not to, because falling for the straight friend is such a bad idea. But you…I wanted you. And you came when I called and you hugged me so tight.”

I turned my head and kissed his palm, then looked up at him again. His face was much closer, and I parted my lips. Kyle’s mouth kicked up into a sexy grin, and then he closed the last few inches between us.

He tasted like his wine and the steak we’d had for dinner, and I groaned and pulled him closer. He came easily, collapsing down into my lap as he wound his arms around my neck. It was all heat, and lips and tongue, and I couldn’t stop even when I needed to breathe. A quick gulp of air and I dove in again, devouring his mouth as though it was the last drink of water and I was parched.

After a while, Kyle gentled the kiss, sweet little nips of his teeth and tiny licks of his tongue. He pulled back and my gaze immediately dropped to his kiss swollen mouth. God, he was so damn gorgeous and with that mouth and the firelight playing across his features? I could have stayed right in that moment forever.

“So,” he husked. “A date?”

I chuckled and kissed him again, quick but full of heat. “Yes. A date.”

**Here’s episode 3. You can catch up by following this link. Enjoy!**

Kyle had a date.

I was weirdly edgy and restless. I’d grown used to hanging out with him in the evening, winding down, shooting the shit, enjoying our fire and our pond. The reason for the hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach was as easily explained as that. For weeks we’d been spending our evenings together, and since I didn’t get that tonight, everything felt off. Unsettled.

I tried to remember what I’d done before Kyle. After a shower and dinner, I used to sit down in front of the TV and watch whatever until I was tired enough to sleep. But there was nothing on TV tonight. Nothing to hold my interest anyway. I flicked aimlessly through the channels. All the way up to the top until they started over, and then did it again. And again. My agitation grew because what the hell? A few weeks with Kyle and I suddenly couldn’t entertain myself anymore. That was bullshit.

The phone rang, loud in the room, and I scrambled to answer it. I was stupidly pleased when I saw Kyle’s face on the screen. It was a shot I’d playfully snapped, and the firelight danced on his features, making his eyes shine.

“Hey.”

“H-hey. Uh.” Kyle’s voice shook, and I sat up straight. “Uh, can you come get me?”

I was on my feet before I even thought about it. “Yeah. Of course. What’s the matter?”

Kyle drew a ragged breath. “He, uh…he didn’t understand the word no. I got away but…” I heard a small whimper. “I need a lift.”

Rage boiled in my veins but I managed to keep it out of my voice. “I’m coming.”

“Shit. Lift. I should have called a Lyft or an Uber or…never mind, Asher. I’ll just–”

“No!” My voice came out loud and harsh, and I softened it immediately. “I’m coming. Are you somewhere safe?”

“Yeah.” He blew out a breath, and I knew I didn’t imagine the relief in that one word. “I’m at a diner. Plenty of people. I’m okay.”

Thank God for that. “Which one?”

He told me, his voice a little surer, and I relaxed.

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Okay?”

“Okay. Thanks, Ash.”

I drove faster than I should have, and maybe ran a red light or two, but I was anxious to get to him. I didn’t like the way he sounded, and I was worried. Whatever that rat bastard had done to him had shaken him up, and I’d be sure the asshole got what he deserved. After I made sure Kyle was okay.

The diner was brightly lit, and I saw him the moment I pulled open the door. I beelined right for him, and he looked up as I approached. The tears in his eyes were a surprise, but the utter relief I saw on his face was a gift. I grabbed his wrist as soon as I got close enough, and yanked him out of the chair and right into my arms. I squeezed him tightly, pressing his body into mine, and held him. His breathing was harsh against my neck, but he hugged me back just as tightly. I rubbed up and down his spine, wanting to soothe.

He made a noise and I literally felt him calm and settle under my touch. After a moment, I chanced a whisper into his hair. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Another breath shuddered out, ghosting on my skin, and it made me shiver. He sucked in a breath and then eased out of my hold. “I’m all right.”

I looked down at him, and that’s when I noticed the red mark on his cheek. I grabbed his chin, and narrowed my eyes as I tilted his face.

“I’ll kill the fucker,” I growled.

“Hey, no.” Kyle wrapped a hand around my wrist, and buried the fingers of his other hand in my shirt. “He didn’t hit me.”

My scoff let him know I didn’t believe him.

He gave me a tremulous smile, and something else, some other emotion I couldn’t name, seeped into his eyes. “He didn’t. I swear. I fell when I was running away. This wasn’t him.”

I released my hold on Kyle’s chin, and then slid that hand around the back of his neck, holding him lightly. I stared at him, and I saw the truth of it in his eyes. Okay then. Maybe the asshole hadn’t hit Kyle, but that didn’t mean he didn’t deserve retribution.

“What happened?” I asked softly.

Kyle shrugged, and his expression turned sad. “Just…I don’t know. We were getting along fine, and then he was suddenly all over me. I said no, but he didn’t seem to think I meant it. I finally managed to get him off me and left. But he drove, so I was stuck and…” He shrugged again. “Can we go home?”

“Yeah, of course.” I didn’t want to let him go, but I needed to so we could walk to my truck. I pulled away slowly, but stayed close as we headed outside. I opened the door for him, helped him up, and then made sure he was seated before shutting the door and jogging around to the other side. Kyle closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat as I pulled into traffic.

I kept stealing glances at him as I drove. The streetlights flashed across his face, temporarily lighting up his features. He looked like an angel, his skin flawless and perfect, his dark lashes resting against his cheeks. I wanted to reach out and touch him, rub my thumb along the sharp crease of his cheekbone, or across the fullness of his bottom lip.

What the hell?

I was grateful he was okay. That’s all this was. Just relief that he was well and whole and hadn’t been hurt.

Even as I thought it, I knew that was wrong. I was grateful he was okay, but that’s wasn’t all it was. It took me the last five minutes of our journey to put a name to the feelings swimming around in my gut.

Holy fuck, I had feelings for Kyle.

I pulled into the driveway and stopped a little harder than necessary. The jerk of the truck shook him, and he sat up straight. He blinked as he peered around, and then turned a smile on me.

“Thanks for coming to get me. I really appreciate it. I needed you. To come for me, I mean.”

He opened the door and hopped down before I could say anything and I scrambled after him, dogging his steps up onto his porch. He shot me a curious glance, but let me take his keys from him and open his door. Kyle sighed wearily as he toed off his shoes, and I hung his keys on the little hook by the door where I knew he liked to keep them.

“You need anything?”

Kyle shook his head, then winced a little. “Maybe some ibuprofen. And sleep.”

“Go lie down,” I ordered, already heading for the kitchen. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

He gave me a confused look, but did as I said. I got a bottle of water out of his fridge, then put some ice in a plastic bag and wrapped it in a dish towel. After a stop in the bathroom for the pain killer, I headed into his bedroom. Kyle was just pulling on his T-shirt, and I got a glimpse of his smooth stomach before it disappeared beneath the cotton. He slipped under the covers before he looked up and noticed me there.

I handed him the pills and water, and watched him take them before I sat on the edge of the mattress and held the ice to his face. Kyle gasped at the cold, and then gave me a small, sweet smile.

“It’s really not that bad.”

I shrugged one shoulder. “This will help. You don’t want it to swell or bruise.”

Kyle put his hand over mine where I held the ice pack and I felt electricity dance along my skin. He squeezed my fingers, and then I slowly slid my hand free.

“Thanks for taking care of me.”

“Always.” The word was out of my mouth before I thought it, and Kyle’s dark gaze widened at it. But he didn’t say anything. And neither did I. I didn’t want to take it back, but I didn’t know how to go forward either. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know if I should.

“Make sure you lock the door on your way out.”

I was being dismissed. Part of me rebelled at the thought, wanting to stay and make sure he was okay. But the other part realized that Kyle wanted some time alone. And I didn’t know what to do with myself in the moment anyway. I stood, and then before I could second guess myself, leaned down and kissed his forehead.

“Sleep well. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said gruffly, and then I turned and left.

It wasn’t until I was back in my own house that I let myself think about what happened and what I was feeling. The jealousy earlier tonight that I’d played off as an interruption of my routine. The swoop in my stomach every time he smiled at me. The way he smelled and the way I loved listening to him ramble. It all coalesced into one shining realization.

I sat down hard on my couch, letting the thought seep into my brain and settled there.

I wasn’t straight. I was bisexual. And I wanted Kyle.