Keeping Sweets (13 page)

E
VAN
pulled the blanket tighter around his body, tucking his feet under and rearranging the pillow beneath his head. The couch wasn’t the most comfortable place to sleep, but it was better than the alternative.

He may have gotten a little drunk, but not drunk enough to be the audience in Kellan and Riley’s exhibitionistic fantasy. He had stripped the comforter from the bed and carried it down the hall like Linus with his blanket. At least it was quiet out here. Finally quiet, but he couldn’t sleep. The thoughts were racing through his head and the room had a slight tilt to it.

He heard the footsteps on the stairs and knew instinctively that it was Bran. He tried to make himself smaller, hoping he wouldn’t be seen. He wasn’t that lucky.

“Evan? What are you doing out here?”

“Oh… uh… a couple of the guys wanted to let off a little steam. I didn’t want to get in the way. The couch is fine. Much comfier than the bed at the motel actually.”

“Want me to talk to the guys?”

“No!” he protested. “No, please don’t do that. I don’t mind, really.” He didn’t want the other guys to think he had gone running to the boss the minute something happened that he didn’t like. All he needed was for them to have one more reason not to like him. It was going to be hard enough to fit in without getting a reputation for being a complete pussy.

“Well, you can’t sleep out here. Come on.” Bran pulled the covers off his body and yanked him to his feet. “Follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

“To my room. You can sleep in my bed with me.”

Evan gulped. “Your bed?”

“Relax, Ev,” Bran snapped. “I’m not going to maul you in your sleep. There’s enough room for four people in that bed. I’m sure I can manage to keep my distance.”

Evan wasn’t sure what he’d said to upset the other man. “No, Bran, it’s not that, it’s just, I don’t want to get in the way. We’ve only been here for a few hours and I’m already causing trouble.”

Bran sighed heavily, turning to look him in the eyes. “You’re not causing trouble. I just want to make sure you’re alright. Just let me do that, okay?”

Evan nodded, gathering his pillow to his chest, and followed Bran up the stairs to his room. The bed that sat against the far wall looked so soft and welcoming that it took everything Evan possessed not to run across the room and launch headfirst into the blankets piled haphazardly across the mattress.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Bran teased, his mood obviously having improved. “Climb on in. You’d better not snore, though.”

Evan didn’t hesitate, crawling in and pulling the covers up over his head. The whole bed smelled like Bran. He had only been in it for a couple of hours, but it was as if the house wanted to latch on and never let go. He buried his face into the pillows and inhaled deeply, trying to memorize the scent.

Bran climbed in next to him and turned off the light.

“G’night, Ev,” he whispered.

“Night, Bran,” Evan replied, closing his eyes and listening to the rhythmic sound of his breathing. He knew what he was doing was borderline crazy, but did not stop to analyze the reasoning behind it as he waited for Bran’s breathing to even out and slow.

It didn’t take long. Evan knew he was asleep but held his breath as he moved carefully, disturbing the mattress as little as possible as he inched toward the sleeping form next to him. He just wanted to be a little bit closer… just a little bit….

He felt the warmth of Bran’s skin against his, the heat sinking into him, warming him instantly, making him feel the connection he was beginning to crave. It felt so good to be touched. The simple contact of skin on skin lulled Evan toward sleep.

He turned onto his side, facing Bran. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness that enveloped them and he was able to see the outline of Bran’s face. He was beautiful when he slept, features relaxed, long eyelashes fanned against his cheeks. Evan had the overwhelming urge to kiss him.

He remembered their almost kiss during the tequila shots. Surges of electricity shot through him at the memory of the feeling of Bran’s mouth against his. There were only two more days until he could feel it for real. He was nervous about his reaction, though, and not in the way he thought he would be. He was worried that the moment Bran kissed him, he would become hopelessly addicted. He would never want to stop.

Bran’s eyes quivered before opening slightly. He rolled onto his side, hooking his right arm around Evan’s waist and pulling him into his arms. “Shhhh, s’okay, Sweets,” he murmured, voice thick with sleep. “I can hear you thinking.”

Bran pulled him in tighter, bringing their bodies flush together. Evan felt shivers wrack his body with the affectionate name. He couldn’t keep himself from nuzzling against Bran, getting as close as possible. It felt so fucking good to be in his arms, to feel so much less vulnerable. He felt protected and wanted. He had never imagined it would feel so good.

In such a short period of time he had come to look up to Bran, to trust him with everything he had, and he chose to trust what he had been told earlier. It was confusing and frustrating. He wanted to dive into these brand-new feelings head first, but he wasn’t sure if what he was feeling was a product of the hormonal rush from the promise of his first sexual experience or if it was real. Either way, he needed to keep the feelings to himself. He didn’t want Bran to see him jumping up and drooling like an overexcited puppy. For now, he would just enjoy the experience. This felt right. This felt real, and in that moment nothing else seemed to matter. He closed his eyes and relied on Bran to keep him safe as he slept. He closed his eyes and let the sound of Bran’s steadily beating heart lull him to sleep.

T
HE
next morning Evan awoke to the sound of water running in the other room. He sat up in bed and surveyed the room in daylight, noticing the bright windows and views out over the water. A few moments later, the low—and off-key—sound of Bran singing floated into the bedroom. Evan smiled, holding near to his heart the thought that most people never got to see this side of Bran. He was glad. He wanted something of Bran that was all for him.

He avoided looking at the alarm clock as he lay back against the pillows, wishing to draw out the morning as long as possible. He wasn’t ready to let go of the daydream that he belonged to Bran and Bran belonged to him.

He wasn’t deluded enough to assume that Bran felt the same way about him, though. This was a job; Evan, an employee. Bran was a good man: strong but gentle, thoughtful, and compassionate. He cared for others without trampling over their feelings and opinions, and although Evan wished Bran saw something special in him, he was realistic enough to assume that some of the guys Bran worked with felt the same way.

He didn’t want to be just another groupie, so as much as he wished he could stay in bed with him all day, basking in the warmth and comfort, he needed to get up and get himself a real wake-up call.

He heard the shower turn off and knew he was running out of time for indulging in his fantasy. What was the protocol here for having a slightly less than platonic sleepover with a man who was also your boss, who you were less than twenty-four hours away from having sex with? Should he leave the room, letting Bran come back to find an empty bed? Was it rude to leave without at least thanking him for giving him a place to sleep?

Evan was still considering the merits of each option when Bran emerged from the bathroom, steam swirling around him. He looked like a fucking fantasy. His skin was still damp, hair dripping small droplets along his broad shoulders. The white towel clung low on his hips. All thoughts flew from Evan’s mind as he stood there half in and half out of the bed with his mouth hanging open.

Evan shook his head, trying desperately to act normally, when all he wanted to do was rush across the room and tear the towel off of Bran.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” Evan asked, cringing at how gravelly and deep his voice sounded. He had been attempting casual, but what had come out had been closer to a Barry White voiceover.

Bran chuckled. “Well, my first scene starts in about an hour. If you want to come and watch you’re more than welcome to. Might give you a better idea of how things are going to go tomorrow.”

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Who else is on today?”

“It’s just Riley and I.”

“Hope he’s got some energy left after last night,” Evan grumbled.

“Yeah, me too. Not in the mood to do all the work.” Bran laughed again. “I should get a move on. The crew has set up already and they’re ready for me. You gonna watch?”

“Uh, yeah. I think so. If that’s not weird.”

“Not at all. After a while you kinda forget about everyone else and just do what you have to do.”

“Alright, well, I’ll meet you downstairs, then.”

It sounded so clinical, and maybe for Bran that’s how it was. He couldn’t possibly have feelings for all the guys he slept with. Maybe even none of them. It was a sobering thought, and Evan needed to remind himself that whatever he was feeling was one-sided.

E
VAN
bounded down the stairs, wanting to grab something to eat for breakfast before the shooting started. His stomach was uneasy, but he hoped putting something in it would help to settle it.

Colt was sitting at the counter, shoveling heaping forkfuls of eggs into his mouth, when Evan came around the corner.

“Morning,” Evan said shyly as he pulled the box of cereal from the cupboard and poured it into his bowl.

“Mornin’,” Colt replied, pulling out the stool next to him for Evan to have a seat.

Evan poured the milk over his Cheerios and went to sit down next to the cowboy.

“Excited about today?” Colt asked.

“I guess,” Evan said. “I’m not really sure what to expect.”

“Figure it’ll probably be a lot like what went on in your room last night,” Colt said.

Evan’s cheeks heated until he realized Colt meant Kellan and Riley. He wasn’t even sure why he was blushing. Nothing had happened with Bran. “You heard about that?”

“I heard the whole thing. They weren’t exactly quiet,” Colt said, the laughter evident in his voice.

Evan chuckled, suddenly even more grateful he’d spent the night in Bran’s bed.

“So you’re goin’ to the University of Oregon in September, right?” Colt asked.

“Yeah.”

“That’s in Eugene, right?”

“Yep. I haven’t been there yet, but the website looks nice,” Evan said.

“You haven’t been to the place you’re movin’?” Colt asked. His question held no judgment, but Evan felt uneasy nonetheless. He was nervous enough about moving to a new place, and this conversation was making him even more apprehensive.

“Well, no. Not yet. I planned to find a place to live while I was here. You know, just apply for an apartment or something online,” he said.

“You got a roommate?”

“No. I don’t know anyone in Eugene,” Evan said.

“Do you want one?” Colt asked.

Evan paused. He hadn’t really thought about getting a roommate. He supposed it made sense. There would be someone else to help with bills. He figured he probably would be spending most of his time in the library anyway, so what would it matter if there was someone else in the house? “Maybe, why?”

“Well, my original plan was to take off for Cali when we were done here. Cali’s just a place to go. One place is as good as any other. I figure if you’re headin’ to Eugene, and you need a roommate, and I’m lookin’ for a place to go and you seem like a nice enough guy, then maybe it would make sense for us to room together.”

“Sure,” Evan said. He normally didn’t jump into important decisions so quickly, but this seemed like a good solution to a problem. He felt as though he was becoming a new person: a person who took risks and lived life rather than counting days in a dusty dead-end town.

“Great. I know a guy in Eugene. I’ll give him a call and see if he can recommend a property or two. I’ll let you know what I hear.”

“Great,” Evan said and realized he really meant it.

He finished his cereal and placed the bowl in the dishwasher before walking across the house into the living room. Riley was already there. The premise of the scene today was that the two boys had been out playing basketball. Riley had bet Noah a blowjob that he would win the one-on-one game. Riley lost.

Bran entered the room a few minutes later, hair still damp from the shower. One of the other guys was spraying down Riley with a bottle of water, making him look all sweaty and tired. Bran was next.

Without too much preamble, the filming started. Evan tried to find an inconspicuous place to watch where he wouldn’t be in the way. He looked on as both the guys walked into the room, Riley holding a basketball and breathing hard. They were both wearing athletic shorts, but were shirtless, muscles clearly defined by the droplets of water trailing down their smooth skin.

Bran turned toward Riley, taking the ball from his hands and tossing it onto one of the chairs. “Time to pay up,” he said with a smirk, hands resting loosely on his hips.

Riley laughed uneasily. “Oh, come on, Noah. We were just goofing around. You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I am dead serious. I’ve never known you to welsh on a bet before. You’re not gonna start now, are you?”

With that, he reached for Riley and pulled him closer while pressing down on his shoulders and forcing him to his knees in front of him. Evan couldn’t peel his eyes away from the scene in front of him, unsure of what he was feeling. A hurricane of chemical signals raged through him.

He was angry at Riley for touching Bran, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away. The sight of Riley pressing his mouth against Bran’s stomach, licking and biting as he slowly tugged on Bran’s shorts, was completely mesmerizing. Evan allowed his vision to fuzz for a moment, imagining instead that it was him on his knees in front of this man, his mouth pressed hard against tight skin, his tongue tracing the contours of Bran’s body, and his hands exploring beneath the loose cotton shorts.