Long Pass Chronicles 02 - Canning the Center (19 page)

Silence.

Trevor’s eyes were cast down.

Could some little part of the song have been for Jamal?

Ev’s voice finally broke in. “Oh my God.”

Will grinned. “See why we had to take Jamal to see Trixie?”

Jamal’s dad started to clap, and they all joined in. Noah whistled, and everyone laughed.

Trevor looked up, half amazed and half pleased.

His mom leaned forward and put her hand on Trevor’s arm. “My dear, you’re very, very talented. It seems to me you could just as easily be a professional singer as a math teacher.”

He smiled shyly. “It’s just for fun.” Funny. Trev was so self-contained most of the time. Jamal had never seen the guy so—what? Uncertain? Maybe vulnerable. That could be a good thing.

His mom clapped her hands. “Time for dessert.”

“I’ll get it.” Jamal wiped a sleeve over the last of the wet on his face and headed for the kitchen. Ev followed.

She pulled the plates from the refrigerator, and Jamal wielded the whipped cream spoon. As she handed him the next plate, she gave him the look again. “You have a pretty extraordinary creature out there. You prepared?”

“What does that even mean?”

“I’m not sure. But you gotta take care of him.”

“He’s not very trusting, Ev. I don’t know if he wants me to care for him.” He meant that on a lot of levels.

“Try.”

Jesus, how was dragging Trevor to Arondel’s house taking care of him? Jamal grabbed some plates and hauled them into the dining room, where everyone had reassembled. Ev carried the homemade strawberry shortcake and ice cream back to the table. When she set one in front of Trevor, he got a sad sort of smile. “My favorite.”

Jamal sat next to Trevor and took his hand under the table. Trev turned the blue eyes on him with a slight rise to one golden eyebrow.

“Thank you. For the beautiful song.”

“I hoped you’d like it.”

Wow, can’t breathe
. He glanced up and found his mom gazing at him with a very pleased expression.

Will swallowed a man-sized bite. “This is good. Hey, Jamal, why do you think that woman came to see me and Noah? We started talking about other things on the phone the other day and never got back to that subject.”

Jamal glanced at Trevor, then back at his shortcake. “I mentioned to her my best friends were in the art department at UCLA, and she said she knew people there.” Yeah, he wished it were that simple.

Trevor looked at him. “Who?”

“Lavinda.”

His eyes got that deer-in-headlights expression.

Will nodded. “She went to a lot of trouble to seek us out. We’re not there all the time. She had to plan.”

“Gorgeous woman.” Noah licked some cream from his lip. “But she never really said why she was there. Just showed up, confirmed we were your friends, and left.”

His dad frowned. “Who is this?”

“Boogaloo’s sister, Dad.”

“Boogaloo’s sister is looking up your friends? Do you know why?”

“Uh, no. Not really. I—”

Trevor had put down his fork and now stared fixedly at the plate. “Somebody’s been asking if there’s a math student named Trixie.”

“What?”

Trev kept staring at the plate, but Jamal could see his eyes getting wider. “A guy in one of my classes asked if there was a math student named Trixie. He said a friend of his wanted to know. When he described the friend, he said ‘she.’” He looked up. “It’s got to be her. Nobody else knows Trixie’s a math student. Nobody. Lavinda’s trying to find out about you, Jamal.”

His mom leaned on the table. “Why would a teammate’s sister be investigating your friends, Jamal?”

“She kind of wanted to date me, but—”

Noah chuckled. “Oooh, shades of
Fatal Attraction
, man. Look out for rabbits in the stew.”

Shit, that was only half-funny in light of his nickname.

His mom full-on frowned. “Trevor, is it a problem for you if this person finds out you’re Trixie?”

Well, hell, leave it to his mom to dive to the heart of the matter.

Trevor shook his head, but his pretty voice got higher. “I don’t think that would happen. I mean, no one had any idea who Trixie was when the guy asked. I mean, I heard him. He was just fishing. I imagine Lavinda just wanted some juicy gossip about someone she thinks is her rival or something, but I don’t think she’d ever find out.” By the end of the speech, he was breathless.

Why had it never occurred to Jamal that Trevor had more to lose than he did?

M
USIC
PLAYED
softly on the radio, but sitting next to him in the car, Trevor definitely vibrated to a different tune. Jamal glanced across the seat. Full view of a lean back and a golden tail. Trev stared out the passenger window.

“Trev?”

“Uh-huh?”

“Do you want to come to my place tonight?”

“I better get home.”

“Shall I take you home?”

His head shook. “Drop me off at the coffee shop.”

“Are you upset because Lavinda was asking about you?”

“No.”

“Are you angry with me?”

“No.” But he didn’t turn around.

The coffee shop lights shone ahead.

Hell
. Jamal pressed the accelerator and sped past. That got Trevor’s attention. He turned, frowning. “Where are you going?”

“Someplace we can talk.”

“We don’t need to talk.”

“Of course we do.”

Trev turned and stared out the window again. Five minutes later, Jamal pulled into the parking lot of his apartment building. It was still pretty early, but no one was around. He turned off the ignition, then looked over at Trevor’s tense back. “Please tell me what I did.”

He spun around. “What the hell makes you think you did anything?”

“What didn’t I do, then?”

“Nothing. I mean, you didn’t do nothing.” He snorted. “I mean, there’s nothing you didn’t do.”

“I didn’t think enough about how my life could impact yours. All I thought about was me and trying to not make waves.”

“Your life?” Trevor’s eyes widened. “How could your life impact someone like me? Your life is perfect.”

“What?” He cocked his head.

“Look at you. Gorgeous, great job, good friends, and this family.” Tears kind of spurted from his eyes, and he swiped at them with his thumb, then dropped his head into his hand.

“My family upset you?”
What is he saying?
“I’m sorry they were so nosy, but they liked you, and that’s how they are with people they like.”

He looked up wildly. “Upset me? God, Jamal, don’t you get it? I’m this total loser. This weird piece of neurotic shit who can’t give up wearing women’s clothes because—well, just because. The stereotype of the unloved gay boy thinking he’s unlovable doesn’t mean it’s not true!” He kind of fell forward toward Jamal.

Caught ya
. Jamal crushed Trevor to his chest across the console. It had to be uncomfortable, but no way the guy would notice with all the pain he already clutched.

Trevor cried. Jamal rocked. “Let me get this straight. You don’t want to be with me because I have this perfect life and you have crap.”

“No.” He snuffled. “
Am
crap.”

“You don’t believe that. You’re way too smart.”

“Tired of being smart.” He snorted.

“Okay, be as dumb as you want right now.” Jamal rocked some more. “So, you think what? We don’t belong together because—why?”

“You don’t need a guy like me fucking up your life. You could be with somebody normal.”

“Aha, I see. The big, dumb jock who can’t stand to admit he’s gay doesn’t need the beautiful, smart, talented, out-and-proud mathematician showing him how life ought to be lived.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Help me understand.”

He shook his head, but the tears stopped.

“Do you like me even a little?”

“Way more than that. That’s why I don’t want to screw up your life.”

“If you like me at all, I’m not letting go.” Jesus, he meant it. “I’ve never had someone I cared for like I do you.” Also meant that, and it made his breath stop.

Trevor looked up. “You’re not serious?”

“I am.”

Trevor pressed his head against Jamal’s chest. “I should say I feel sorry for you, but I’m so damned grateful, I just want to kiss you.”

Jamal took Trevor’s pretty face between his hands. “You’ve got no reason to be grateful to me. I’m the lucky one. And kissing sounds like a great idea.” Gently, he swiped his lips across Trevor’s, then added a little tongue. God, he tasted like heaven.

Trevor grabbed Jamal’s head and held it still while he deepened the kiss, that soft tongue diving between Jamal’s lips.

Oh yeah
. Jamal’s body was totally willing—but the damned console didn’t give. He pulled his head away. “I seem to recall a bunch of promises about how hot topping a guy like me would be.”

Trevor narrowed his eyes. “You serious?”

“Only if you’re up for it. We can wait if you’d rather cry and tell me how you’re not worthy to fuck my fourteen-carat ass.” He grinned.

“Are you playing me, Mr. Jones?” Trevor’s eyes glittered in the dark car.

“Maybe just a little.”

“Consider your challenge accepted. Just one thing.”

“What?”

He snuffled. “I don’t think I’m gonna be able to carry you up the stairs.”

“Jeez. That’s wildly disappointing.”

Trevor ripped open the car door and leaped out in one smooth move. “But I can race you.” The little devil took off like a shot toward the door into the apartment.

Jamal laughed, opened his door, and then closed and locked it.
Poor baby
. Jamal fingered the front door key in his pocket.

He ambled over to find Trevor sitting on the step, head leaning on his hand. “I seem to have missed a detail.”

“Umm-hmm.”

Jamal wielded the key and unlocked the door. Trev got up, and Jamal held the door for him. He walked politely through, then laughed and headed for the stairs at a dash. Centers weren’t known for their running speed, but Jamal was faster than most, plus every step of his matched three of Trevor’s. He caught him on the second landing, grabbed him, and hoisted him into a fireman’s carry as Trev protested softly while giggling.
Good
. That should get him out of his melancholy mood.

Jamal peered out the stairwell door.
All clear
. He set Trevor down and handed him the key. “I’ll give you a fifteen-second head start.” Trevor’s mouth opened, shut, and he jogged down the hall to the apartment door. By the time Jamal had slowly counted to fifteen the door to his place was closed.
Hmm
. Didn’t quite think that one through, but when he got there, the lock had been released.

He opened the door slowly. No lights. He started to tiptoe. Uh, who was he surprising? Answer: himself. At the bedroom door, he stopped and peeked in. Just enough light came from the window to make out the shine of Trevor’s golden hair. He’d let it down, and the ends glittered on his shoulders.

“Take off your clothes.” Trevor’s usual silky countertenor had dropped half an octave. Far from a growl, but still commanding. The shiver up Jamal’s spine testified to that.

“Okay.”

He toed off his sneakers, stripped down his pants and briefs, and tossed them on the floor. No place else to put them. Obviously his dick was way ahead of him, because it slapped his belly like
get a move on
. One cross-armed swipe removed his sweater.

“Good. Find the condoms and lube.”

Music to his ears and his cock was dancing. He crossed to the wooden box he had set up next to the king-size bed and pulled out one condom from the package, then felt around for the tube. He tossed them both on the bed and awaited further instructions.

“Lie on your back.”

“Back?”

“Doggie won’t work, Bunny. You’re too tall.”

“Oh, right.” He sat on the edge of the bed, scooted to the center, and lay down.

Trev’s smooth hand caressed Jamal’s chest. “Your heart’s hammering. Excited or nervous?”

“Both. I don’t bottom much.”

“Who’d have nerve enough to suggest it?” He laughed.

“You.”

“Well, there is that.”

“Truthfully, I haven’t had a ton of sex with men where you could say we’re equal partners. Not since high school, really. In college I mostly dated girls and hooked up with the occasional guy, but I like ’em pretty, and most pretty guys bottom.”

“And then there’s me. Are you sure you want to do this? I’m a happy switch.”

“I can’t even tell you how much.”

“Then get your ass in the air, baby.”

Jamal spread his legs, knees bent, then pulled one leg back as far as he could toward his shoulder. His coach in college had seen to it the team got lots of yoga classes along with their weights, so Jamal kept pretty flexible. Right now he mostly felt exposed.

The pop of the lube tube perked his ears, and then a cool, wet finger slipped between his butt cheeks. It inched closer to the target.

“Jesus, Bunny, your ass is made of iron.”

He chuckled but lifted his butt a little to give the explorer better access.

Closer.
Ahhh
. Trev’s finger found his hole and did a little do-si-do around the rim; then the tip slipped inside. Wiggle. He pushed a little farther in, and Jamal whimpered.

“You may be big as a mountain, but your butthole isn’t. Does this hurt?”

“No. It feels good.”

“You need some loosening. Grab your other leg.”

Okay, talk about undignified. Three hundred pounds waving ass in the breeze with legs grasped like a one-year-old at play. “I feel like a giant sea turtle someone flipped on its back.”

Trevor sat on his heels and scratched his chin. “Hmm. Now that you mention it.”

Jamal started to let down his legs, but Trevor dove forward, pressed his hands against the back of Jamal’s exposed thighs and—
oh my God
. Soft, soft lips caressed his asscheeks, and then Trevor shifted his hands from Jamal’s thighs to his butt and pulled the globes apart. Jamal knew what was coming, but, oh God, he wasn’t ready. An edge of the sheet pushed against his hole and wiped off the lube.