Tackling the Subject Page 6

  “We lost power. The heater doesn’t work without electricity.”

  A flashlight clicked on and illuminated the trailer. Even in the minimal light, Sam could tell Gordy was down to his briefs. Not that Sam was wearing much more, he’d left on his T-shirt and underwear. Gordy pulled out another blanket and motioned to Sam.

  “Come on. You’ll freeze. We can share my bed and help keep each other warm. We can pile all the blankets I have on top of us and we should be fine. There isn’t another source of heat.”

  Sam hesitated, unsure of what he wanted to do. A strong gust hit the trailer and freezing air curled close. He pulled the blanket tight and scooted to the edge of the bed. Gordy flicked the flashlight toward him and he hoped he didn’t look as panicked as he felt. Gordy dashed that hope with his next words. “I promise. No funny stuff. But the closer we get, the warmer we’ll be.”

  Sam’s teeth chattered, and he made a decision. “Okay. I’m freezing. If we can keep warmer huddled in the bed, then let’s get our shit moved.”

  “Give me your blanket and hold the light for me. I’ll get the extra quilts from storage.” He gave Sam a grin. “The equipment shrinkage is so bad that I couldn’t find the goods if I had to.”

  Sam couldn’t help chuckling but tossed Gordy the bedding he’d had and took the flashlight. It only took a minute or two before he was motioning Sam. “Get in. Dang, it’s cold.”

  Sam shot forward, crawled to the far side of the bed and wriggled under the blankets. He watched Gordy slip in beside him and work the bedding to cover them. He turned so they faced each other. “We need to get close. Tell me what you want to do.”

  Sam nodded and swallowed hard before he shook his head. “What if we spoon together?”

  “Works for me. Who’s the little spoon?”

  Sam chuckled at the visual. “What if I’m the big spoon?”

  Gordy flipped to his side and scooted closer to the middle of the bed. “Start spooning, I’m freezing.”

  Sam nodded and steeled himself. He scooted across the bed until their skin pressed together. After a few minutes, he’d warmed enough to stop shivering. That’s when he trembled for reasons other than the cold.

  “Get closer. I’m freezing.” Gordy reached for Sam’s hand, pulled his arm around and held it against the middle of his chest. Sam inhaled sharply, and his senses filled with Gordy’s scent. He braced for a reaction, but instead felt a warmth curl through him. A few minutes later, Sam was warm and content before slipping back asleep.

  * * * *

  Sam woke with a sigh as they shifted. He ran his hand over Gordy’s chest, enjoying the heat and textures of his body while the two of them became more and more awake. He pressed himself tight and ground his cock against Gordy’s hard ass. Sam was so rigid that his cock ached. With only two thin layers of cloth between them, Sam’s erection slipped between the cheeks of Gordy’s muscular butt. A soft groan filled the room—Sam froze.

  Now, wide awake, Sam considered his options. There was a part of him that wanted to hide, gibbering, in a dark corner. But he was in charge. He was the one controlling the situation. Another part of him wanted to rip off what few clothes they were wearing and fuck Gordy’s round ass. He pressed his hands lower, circling the fan of hair on Gordy’s flat stomach. The tips of his fingers slipped along the top of Gordy’s briefs and Sam wanted more.

  “You go any farther and you have to make breakfast afterward.” A soft chuckle filled the room.

  Sam’s fantasy shut down quicker than if he’d had a bucket of ice water dumped over him. He jerked away from Gordy, uncertain of anything other than he missed the heat he’d left. Gordy turned until they faced each other. It surprised Sam that the only emotion he could see from Gordy was concern. “You okay? It’s nothing to freak out about. Boners happen, you know.”

  Sam grinned at the bad pun and took a minute to study the man lying beside him. Gordy had a thick covering of morning stubble and Sam wanted to rub his hands over it. His lips were full and called to him. His dark nipples were hard. A thin line of hair gathered in the center of Gordy’s torso and traveled downward until it disappeared under the blanket. Mesmerized by the sight, Sam let himself be drawn to Gordy. The linebacker seemed to feel the attraction, too, and moved to close the distance.

  Their lips touched and fire oozed through Sam. His cock throbbed and flexed inside his underwear. Gordy cupped his head in one hand as they pressed their lips together. He ran his hand over Gordy’s chest, rubbing his thumbs over the hard nipples. Gordy groaned into Sam’s mouth as their kiss continued. A few minutes passed as Sam’s lust for his tutor grew. He pushed forward until he had Gordy on his back and Sam lay across him, grinding against Gordy’s hip. He reached lower, the tips of his fingers slipping inside Gordy’s briefs when he gripped Sam’s wrists.

  “Sam. I think we should cuddle and smooch for a little longer. This is nice, and I want it to end as good as it started.”

  Sam sighed but slipped his hands from Gordy’s underwear. He leaned over and kissed Gordy again. “You’re right. I want it to end on a good note, too. Besides, it’s still cold here.”

  Sam pressed Gordy onto his back and lay on top. He kissed down Gordy’s neck and soon had him groaning and making small thrusts upward. Their confined shafts rubbed together. With another hard kiss that ended with a playful nip on Gordy’s bottom lip, Sam laid his head in the middle of Gordy’s broad chest and sighed. A few minutes later he realized Gordy was still making little squirming motions and panting. The air became laden with a now-familiar masculine scent and the spice was delicious. He inhaled deeply, filling himself with Gordy’s musk. It surprised Sam when Gordy lifted him off and to the side.

  “Sorry, Sam. It was great. But a few more minutes and I’ll lose it.”

  Sam felt a sense of peace and playfulness. He coiled downward and flicked his tongue over Gordy’s nipple then bit at it.

  Gordy growled through gritted teeth and jumped from the bed. Sam admired the almost-naked body before him. His briefs were wet where the tip of his hard cock had been trapped. Gordy’s dick flexed again and clear pre-cum oozed through the fabric. The combination left nothing to the imagination as Gordy stood there, his briefs tented. He tried to adjust himself, but failed miserably. He looked down to Sam’s smirk.

  “It’s funny, huh?”

  Sam chuckled. “Maybe a little.”

  Gordy reached down and ripped the blankets off Sam, who yelped and rolled onto his stomach. His cock was so hard that he had to arch his groin off the bed. Gordy reached out to slap his ass but hesitated then dropped his hand. But the grin never diminished.

  “Yeah, big boy. I’m going to take a shower. We at least have hot water for a little while. And it’ll be quick.” He smirked at Sam. “The towels are in the shelves just outside the door in case you need one.” In a final move, Gordy stripped his briefs, tossed them beside Sam and left the room.

  Chapter Eight

  Someone knocked as Sam moved around the room to dress after his shower. His weekend with Gordy had become more fun than Sam had expected, but neither of them seemed ready to talk about waking up together. It impressed Sam that Gordy had been good to his word. He’d chauffeured him to work and just about everywhere else, until Sunday when they restored the power and the branches were cleared from the roads. The previous couple of days he had heard nothing, but both of them had finals coming soon. Gordy also said the last game of the season was in a few days, so he was preparing. A text from Gordy inviting him for pizza surprised Sam.

  The pounding resumed at the door, startling Sam back to his present state of nudity. “Hang on. Hang on. Don’t get your knickers in a knot.” He found a pair of pants clean enough to wear, slipped them on and tugged the zipper closed before opening the door. Rachel stood grinning at him. “About time, slow poke. You said we’d go to lunch. I don’t think you’re following the dress code. Get a shirt on. And I’m staying right here. Otherwise, you’ll fall back asleep.”

&nb
sp; Sam opened his closet and grabbed one of the few shirts left. He slipped into it and buttoned up. She waved her hand in front of him. “It’s December. We’re going Christmas shopping. Remember?”

  “Okay, okay. I’d forgotten. Let me grab a coat.” He looked for a minute before spotting the coat Gordy’d loaned him hanging behind the door. Sam smiled and tugged it on. The hint of musk drifted to Sam as he zipped it shut. He glanced to Rachel with a grin. “Ready.”

  Rachel stared at him for a moment and lifted an eyebrow. “Did you go to Goodwill or something? Where’d you find that thing?”

  Sam ran his hand over the outside of it and couldn’t keep from grinning.

  “Oh. My. God. You got laid by the football player.”

  Heat flashed over Sam at the accusation, along with a tightening in his chest. But he scowled at his friend. “I did not get laid by Gordy. You’re letting your imagination run away. I’m not the one with fantasies about jocks.”

  “Yeah, I’m not buying it. You still have that ‘I got lucky’ glow.”

  “Geez! Let it go. I’m hungry. Come on.”

  An hour later, Sam was full and following Rachel on her Christmas trek. More accurately, he was playing Sherpa as she added bag after bag to the pile he was carrying. They passed yet another specialty shop decorated in all shades of pink. “I can get my sister’s present here. I swear, I’m almost finished.”

  Sam waved her on and started toward the seating. “Go ahead. I’ll wait right over here.”

  She disappeared into the sea of pink as Sam lowered himself to the bench with a sigh. He sat for a few minutes before glancing around. He couldn’t help but notice the outdoor store opposite him. Curious, he gathered up the bags he was carrying and made his way inside. The skintight clothing on ripped mannequins drew him closer. He was staring at the end counter filled with shirts of all the popular colors when Rachel found him.

  “Did you get lost? You know the name of this store is not what they sell?”

  Sam looked at her and rolled his eyes. “I know what they sell. I was just…”

  Rachel studied him for a moment then her eyes twinkled. “You’re buying something for the boyfriend.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend, even if he is—” Sam stopped, realizing he was about to out Gordy. “It’s just a nice gesture. He’s helping me pass my bio class.”

  “Nice? Hmm. Interesting.”

  “Shut up and help me pick out a color and size.”

  She turned to the display and flipped through the ones at the bottom before pulling out a black and gray compression shirt. She tossed it to Sam. “There. He’ll like that one.”

  Sam held out the shirt then glanced at Rachel. “It looks huge.”

  “That his coat?”

  Sam swallowed hard but nodded.

  “Then it will fit just fine, and you’ll get to drool over him.”

  “He’s just a friend that—”

  “And how is my gift coming along?” Rachel interrupted Sam.

  He grimaced and headed for the checkout.

  * * * *

  Gordy was chatting as he changed clothes. He and Sam had gotten in the habit of eating together a few times a week. Tonight had been Sam’s pick, and Gordy wasn’t too sure about the choice. The idea of Ethiopian didn’t make his taste buds sing with anticipation. Actually, Gordy had no idea what it would taste like. He’d never had it. He wasn’t sure how to explain it. It didn’t sound good.

  “This is where you want to go? You can always change your mind,” he said.

  “Gordy, you’ve never tried Ethiopian. Why are you so against it?”

  “I’m not sure. It sounds like a place where they serve fried crickets as appetizers.”

  Sam chuckled and made shooing motions with his hands. “Come on. Don’t be such a hick. Get dressed. I made reservations. If it wasn’t good, they wouldn’t require reservations.”

  Gordy walked to the door as he smoothed his clothes with his hands. “I bet it means there are a lot of people around here trying to impress their friends.”

  Sam shrugged. “You could be right. But it’s my turn and we’re going to eat something other than burgers and cheese fries.” Then Sam turned back and said, “No. You can’t order from the kids’ menu. It won’t kill you to eat something that isn’t breaded and fried.”

  “Hey!” Gordy protested. “I’m not that bad. I like just about everything.”

  “Get dressed. You’ll like this, too.”

  With a little quiet grumbling, Gordy took a final glance at his clothes and headed for the pickup with Sam just behind him. They were halfway to the restaurant when Gordy turned to Sam. “If this isn’t good…”

  Sam grinned. “If you don’t like it, you get to pick for the rest of the month.”

  Gordy grinned and relaxed. He was fairly certain he was going to be picking where they ate for a long time. They parked, made their way to the entrance and Gordy opened the door. Delicious aromas washed over him, and he was practically drooling before they were seated.

  Less than an hour later a stuffed Gordy sat opposite Sam. Sam had been right. He’d liked the food. The soft flatbread was a great meal all by itself.

  Gordy waved a last piece of bread at Sam. “This stuff is delicious.”

  “The injera?”

  “Yeah, so good.” Gordy popped the last bite into his mouth and closed his eyes as he savored it. After a few additional sounds of Gordy’s approval, Sam chuckled at the linebacker.

  “For someone who didn’t think he would like the food, you seem to have enjoyed it.”

  “You were right. I’ll admit it. It was delicious.” Gordy decided this was a good time to give Sam his gift. He reached into his pocket, pulled out an envelope then slid it across the table.

  Sam picked up the unmarked white envelope and turned to Gordy. “What’s this?”

  “Just something I want you to try. You know, like a new food.”

  Sam tapped it on the table and lifted an eyebrow at Gordy. “I think I’ve been hustled. What’s in here?”

  “Open it and see. It won’t bite. You might even enjoy it.”

  Sam tore open the end of the envelope and peered inside. He tilted it back and forth for a minute before Gordy became impatient. “Would you pull it out already?”

  Sam tilted the envelope to his mouth, sent a puff of air inside then turned it upside down. A length of stiff paper slid out onto the table. Sam studied it for a minute before looking at Gordy.

  “A ticket to the game tomorrow?”

  “Yeah. You said you’ve never been and you’re graduating in May, so this is the last game of your college career.”

  Sam fidgeted, turning the ticket over and over in his hand. “Gordy, I’m not sure. I’m not a big fan of sports. I—”

  Gordy cut him short, not wanting Sam to work out a way to avoid going. “It’s close to the fifty-yard line behind the players. I knew you wouldn’t like sitting in the student section. Those guys get crazy.”

  Sam sucked air through his nose, refusing to meet Gordy’s gaze. “I’m not sure. It doesn’t seem like a great idea.”

  “Come on. It’s only a few hours. It can’t be the worst thing you’ve sat through since you started college.”

  Sam chuckled and shook his head. “No, I’m sure that’s true. But, a whole football game? I don’t know anything about football.”

  Gordy detected he was weakening. “You can pick where we eat for the rest of the month.”

  Sam grinned and slapped the ticket against his palm. “No complaints?”

  “None.”

  Sam sighed. “Get me a foam finger.”

  * * * *

  Sam leaned against the seat as the crowd roared again. He understood more about the game. It amazed him how crazy all these thousands of fans were. Gordy had been right. His seat was close enough to talk with the players. Gordy shot him a smile when the team first came out. From that point on, Gordy’s focus had been on the game and nothing else. Sam had
to admit, Gordy was good. He’d done a little homework on football and realized Gordy’s role as tackle was one of the toughest. But, at least today, he was stopping anything they put up against him.

  But now they were down to the final few seconds of the game and were behind by three points. Sam fidgeted. It surprised him that he was this wrapped up in the sport.

  “Come on, Gordy! Take ‘em down!” Sam yelled.

  The quarterback called the play and a mass of players sprinted into action. The quarterback dropped back to pass as the linemen fought to protect him. Suddenly one of the opponent’s players broke through, and the quarterback fumbled the ball.

  A moan rippled across the stadium and Sam stood with everyone. He sensed a shift in the players and Gordy popped out of a crush of men. He grabbed the football, tucked it under his arm and sprinted for the goalposts.

  Everyone in the stands was screaming madly, including Sam. The crowd cheered Gordy on as players from the other team tried to run him down. Sam screamed himself hoarse, and a few seconds later, Gordy vaulted over the final attempt to stop him and ran into the end zone.

  The stadium erupted.

  Sam let himself be swept onto the field with the flood of fans and the rest of the team. He cheered at the members of the team carrying Gordy amid the celebration. He dimly knew the students were tearing down the goal post. A few minutes passed and university police cleared the field. Someone grabbed Sam, and he turned to find Gordy holding his arm.

  “Meet me outside the locker room. Okay?”

  “Okay. Sure.”

  “Great! I want to celebrate.”

  The next hour passed in a rush. Several people gave him a questioning look, but nothing more. He tried to stay out of the way, not wanting to bring too much attention to himself. The crowd thinned until Sam was alone. He wondered if Gordy had forgotten him or had been pulled into another celebration with his teammates. He checked his watch again and was close to deciding Gordy had already left.