Seb’s Summer by K.C. Wells

Chapter Eighteen

 

July 12

“Marcus.”

“Hmm?”

“Dude, it’s eight-thirty.” Not that Seb wanted him to go.

Marcus’s breath stirred his hair. “I fell asleep. You felt so warm, you sucked me right into a doze.”

Seb chuckled. “You do realize your dick is still in my ass.”

“It was happy there. I didn’t want to disturb it.” Seb laughed, and Marcus’s breathing hitched. “Do that again. I can feel it all the way along my cock.”

“And you say I’m a distraction?” With extreme reluctance, Seb shifted forward, freeing Marcus’s shaft. He rolled over to find himself looking into Marcus’s cool blue eyes. Seb ran a finger along Marcus’s jawline. “This has gotten longer,” he murmured, stroking the short gray beard. When they’d first met, it had been little more than scruff.

“Want me to shave it off?” Marcus’s eyes twinkled.

“Don’t you fucking dare.” He sighed heavily. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope your family is a royal pain in the ass this week.”

“Don’t worry. I guarantee you’ll come home to find me on your couch a couple of times at least. I might even be making you lunch again.”

Seb smiled. “That was really sweet, you know. I could so get used to that.” He reached around to slide his hand down Marcus’s back to the firm swell of his ass. “Still need to get in here.”

“I said I’d work on that, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but that was a week ago.”

Marcus laughed. “You impatient kid.” He rolled onto his back, taking Seb with him. Marcus pushed Seb’s hair back. “Let me see those pretty eyes.”

“I have pretty eyes?” Seb batted his lashes. Then he did a slow grind of his dick against Marcus’s hardening shaft. “Fuck,” he breathed. “One more time for good luck?”

Marcus burst into more laughter. “The rate we’ve been going at it, we’re the luckiest men in the whole state of Maine.” He kissed the tip of Seb’s nose, and the intimacy of the gesture made something flutter in Seb’s belly. “Okay. If I promise to use the butt plug so you can have your wicked way with my ass, will you let me get out of here so you can get some sleep? I don’t want you dozing off tomorrow and falling overboard.”

“Deal.” Seb clambered off him and knelt on the bed while Marcus got up and dressed himself.

Marcus glanced at the rumpled sheets. “Never mind working on the couch—I may work from here.”

“Seriously? That couch is really comfortable.”

Marcus pulled on his tee, then leaned toward him. “I wasn’t thinking about comfort—I was imagining being surrounded by sheets that smell of you.”

Aw fuck.

“You say things like that, when you’re about to leave?” Seb grabbed Marcus and fell back onto the bed, taking Marcus with him. Marcus laughed, and suddenly Seb was at the mercy of Marcus’s fingers that teased and tickled him until he was breathless with laughter. “S-stop that!”

Marcus relented, and got off the bed once more. “Now let me get dressed. Mom will already be complaining she’s hardly seen me this weekend.”

“Am I getting you into trouble?” Seb didn’t want to be the cause of upset between Marcus and his family. He genuinely liked them.

Marcus let out a wry chuckle. “There are so many people in that house, she won’t miss me.”

“Any signs some of them will be leaving soon?”

Marcus nodded. “Chris is going home next weekend, and I think Jess and Lisa too. So if you want to say goodbye, you’d better come for dinner on Saturday.” He smiled. “I’ll let Mom know I’ve invited you. She won’t mind one more mouth to feed.”

Seb got to his feet. “If you’re sure.” He shifted closer. “How did you know I was ticklish?”

Marcus’s eyes glittered. “I pay attention when we fuck.” Then he drew Seb close and kissed him, his hands on Seb’s ass, squeezing gently. “You, Seb Williams, are fucking addictive.”

Seb smiled. “There are worse things to be addicted to, right? At least this addiction can’t kill you.”

Marcus stilled for a moment. “Not unless I die from exhaustion.” Another kiss, this time to Seb’s forehead, then Marcus walked out of the room.

Seb squirmed into his shorts and followed him, watching as Marcus searched for his car keys. “They’re in that bowl on the coffee table.” Marcus grabbed them, then headed for the door.

“Get some sleep. I’ll see you soon.” Then he was gone.

Seb frowned. Marcus’s departure seemed a little abrupt. Then all such thoughts were pushed from his mind when his phone vibrated against the coffee table. He picked it up and smiled when he saw it was a text from Levi.

It’s been two weeks. Just checking you’re still among the living.

Seb laughed and hit Call. “Dude. Really? Time sure flies when you’re working your ass off.”

“Were your ears burning today?”

“Why—was I a topic of conversation?”

“I met up with Ben, Dylan, Finn, and Joel, and we went for a hike up in Camden.”

“Shit, that was today?” He’d gotten Levi’s text a week ago about the meetup, but there’d been no way. “How did it go?”

“Great hike, and then we all went back to Ben’s place and played Monopoly.”

Seb cackled. “Was it as cutthroat as it used to be?”

“More. I think Dylan’s gotten worse.” They both laughed.

“Finn and Joel still loved up?” Levi’s happy sigh said more than words. Good for Finn. “I’m glad it’s working out.”

“They asked how you were. Ben sends his best.”

“Aw. How is he? I got his text about getting the job—and who his boss is. Bummer.”

Levi sighed. “He’s… struggling. I think he’s going to have it out with Wade. He needs to. He can’t go on like this.” He paused. “He was concerned about you, because he hasn’t heard from you. None of them have.”

Seb’s chest tightened. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been pretty crap lately at keeping in touch.”

“I made excuses for you. Told them you were having a rough ride, working hard… I didn’t mention you’d met someone. I figured they didn’t need to know you had the hots for someone who wasn’t interested.”

“Yeah… about that part…”

There was a moment of silence. “I swear, every time I call, the finish line has moved. Come on, hit me with the latest development. No, wait—I already know, don’t I?”

“He says I’m addictive.”

Levi laughed. “I take it you’re happier than when we last spoke?”

“Yeah, but listen—don’t tell the guys, all right?”

“Why not? They’d be happy to know you’re not languishing on a lobster boat, that you’re getting something out of being over there.” Another pause. “Seb? What’s wrong with telling them you’re getting your itch scratched?”

Because it feels like more than that.

“Maybe I’ve decided my sex life isn’t for public consumption. Maybe I’ve decided to keep my exploits to myself.” He loved them like brothers, but… It was a feeling Seb struggled to articulate, even to Levi.

“I think I’ve hit a nerve.” Levi’s voice was quiet. “Something you’re not telling me? I mean, it’s not serious, is it?”

Seb had thought it wasn’t, but the intimacy of the last moments he’d shared with Marcus had felt… special.

“It’s a summer fling, okay?” Seb kept his voice light. “Come August, I’ll be back in Ogunquit, and he’ll be here or in New York or wherever.” Then why does it feel as if it could be so much more than that?

“Okay. I guess I’d better let you sleep. It’s probably already past your bedtime.” A pause. “Seb, you know I’m here, if you ever need to talk, right?”

“Yeah, I know. Love you, man. Give my love to Grammy.” They said goodnight, and Seb disconnected. He locked the front door, made sure everything was turned off that needed to be, and headed back to bed.

As he got beneath the sheets and laid his head on the pillow, what hit him was Marcus’s smell, as strong as if he were still in bed with Seb. It was a comforting scent, and Seb pulled the sheets up to his chin, breathing him in.

He imagined Marcus’s arms around him, the warmth of his body at Seb’s back, his breath stirring Seb’s hair.

I wish he was here.

 

 

Marcus let himself into the house and headed for the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water. Laughter and raised voices came from the living room. Sounds like it’s movie night. He wasn’t in the mood. The door opened and he swore inwardly, then sighed with relief when Jake walked into the kitchen.

“I thought I heard you come in.” Jake leaned against the countertop.

“Hey. What’s going on in there?”

“Oh, they’re all watching some old movie Granddad was raving about.”

Marcus raised his eyebrows. “What’s your definition of ‘old’?”

Jake grinned. “It was made before I was born.” Marcus laughed. Jake bit his lip. “If you’re not coming in… can we go someplace and talk?”

“Sure. Let’s go to my space.” He led the way, Jake following. Dad had turned on the lights and they lit up the yard, illuminating the path to the summerhouse. Once inside, Marcus waited till Jake was seated in the recliner, then pulled his chair across and sat facing him, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, hands clasped. “Okay. What’s up?”

“I have a… dilemma.”

“That doesn’t sound good.

“But it should be good,” Jake remonstrated. “I’ve gotten invitations to two job interviews in the past two days.”

“That’s awesome. So what’s the dilemma?”

“One is with a company in Boston, and the other is in… San Diego.”

Marcus gaped at him. “This is your idea of a dilemma? If I had that choice, I wouldn’t hesitate. California, here I come.”

Jake nodded. “That was why I applied for the job in the first place. But I sent the application in months ago. When the closing date passed and I’d heard nothing, I assumed I’d been unsuccessful. Then… then stuff happened, and…” He sucked in a deep breath. “The San Diego job is perfect—so is the Boston one—but…” He looked Marcus in the eye. “He’s not in San Diego—he’s in Boston.”

Marcus swallowed. “Thanks for trusting me with that. I won’t say it’s a total surprise, not after our last conversation.” He cocked his head to one side. “And he still has no idea how you feel about him?” Jake shook his head. “So either you go to San Diego and forget about him, or you stay in Boston in the hope that something might happen between you?”

“It can’t happen,” Jake protested. “I know that makes no sense, but I really can’t say any more than that. At least if I take the Boston job—assuming I get it—I’ll be a damn sight nearer to him than I would be if I were way over on the West Coast.” He leaned forward, his head in his hands. “Tell me it gets better.”

Marcus sighed. “I could tell you that, but I’d be lying. Dealing with disappointment gets easier, I suppose, but only after you’ve coped with a shit ton of it.” He paused. “I can make an assumption or two as to why nothing can happen between you, the number one reason being, he’s married.”

“No, he’s not married, he’s just… unattainable.” Jake raised his chin and locked gazes with him. “Please, don’t ask me why.”

“Because you think it will make me think differently about you?” Marcus got off his chair and crouched in front of Jake, taking Jake’s hands in his. “Listen to me. When I say I know exactly how you feel, it isn’t just a line. If I told everyone in that house over there why I had to come to Cape Porpoise, I guarantee they would all look at me differently. Including you. And the same thing applies—don’t ask me either. Just understand that I’m here for you, okay?”

“You’re all right, aren’t you?” Jake’s brow wrinkled and his gaze grew pained.

“I’m fine. Actually, I’m in a better place than I’ve been for a long time.”

Jake’s eyes held a soft gleam. “Anything to do with a certain schoolteacher who doubles as a lobsterman?”

He laughed. “He might have something to do with it. But let’s get back to you. Maybe you should tell this guy how you feel about him.”

Jake gaped at him. “Why?”

“Because once you’ve told him, it’s out in the open, and you can move on. You need to decide which is better to live with—the regret of doing something, or not doing something. You tell him, and that’s it, done. You interview for the job you want most. What’s your worst-case scenario? Him admitting he feels nothing for you?”

Jake shook his head. “No—him admitting he does. That would make things infinitely worse.”

Marcus frowned. “I can’t pretend to understand that, but I accept you can’t tell me more.” He cupped Jake’s cheek. “I just want you to be happy, kiddo.”

Jake smiled. “You’re the only person I’ll let call me that. Thanks for listening, and for trying to help.”

“You’re welcome. Ready to go back to the really old movie?”

“I’d rather stay out here.”

Marcus had an idea. “The WiFi is decent enough in here. Why don’t I open Netflix on my laptop, and let you choose a movie? You can keep the recliner, and I’ll sprawl on the bed.”

Jake’s eyes lit up. “There’s popcorn left from last week.”

“No way. They’ll have eaten it all tonight.”

“Not the box I stashed in my bag, they won’t. Emergency supplies, I call it.”

Marcus laughed. “Sneak into the kitchen and pop that corn. I’ll see what Netflix has to offer.”

Jake lurched out of the chair and was through the door in an instant.

Marcus shook his head. What is going on, Jake?