Aftermath by Bailey Bradford (most important books of all time txt) 📗

Darren stopped himself before he could say any more. He didn’t have any right to feel betrayed. Stefan wouldn’t have ever hurt him purposely, and no matter how close they’d been, Stefan and Darren both had their own secrets. Granted, Darren had told Stefan he was gay, but not at first, not for years, even. Stefan might have been older, but he had been so innocent, and Darren had carefully avoided any talk about sex in an attempt not to accidentally blurt out more than Stefan should hear.

“He knew you didn’t think of him like that,” Lee finally said. “Stefan loved you as a friend first and foremost, but he couldn’t help crushing on you. He wasn’t stupid—he could be very intuitive at times, at least where you were concerned. Stefan wanted you to be happy, settled with someone who was, and I’m quoting directly here, ‘smart, sexy, who’ll give him everything’. That’s what Stefan wanted for you, and he knew he would always be limited.”

Darren wanted to claim otherwise, that Stefan could and would have done anything, but the truth was, Stefan had suffered from oxygen deprivation when the umbilical cord had been wrapped around his neck during birth. The brain damage wasn’t as severe as it could have been, but it was enough that Stefan would never have been able to live on his own.

“Darren, can you tell me why Stefan was anywhere near the ledge above Mercer’s Ravine?”

Darren had wondered that himself later, once the shock of the two sudden deaths had dulled somewhat. “No. I knew he was afraid of heights. He wouldn’t even climb onto the roof of the shed with me and it was only eight feet off the ground.” Darren started to tremble as his worst fear about the cause of Stefan’s death worked its way up to his mouth and spilled free. “I’m afraid he m-might have k-killed himself.” Because Darren had all but abandoned his best friend, choosing instead to lose himself in his grief.

Chapter Six

“No, he didn’t, Darren, Stefan didn’t kill himself.” Lee was as certain of that as he was the Earth was round, and of every other indisputable fact he knew. But Darren clearly didn’t believe him, shaking his head so hard as he wept that Lee feared he would hurt himself. Lee held Darren close and took the few necessary steps backwards to reach the bed. He sat, pulling Darren down with him.

“Come on,” Lee whispered against Darren’s ear. “Lie down and let me hold you.”

Darren didn’t lie down so much as collapse, curling up on his side with his knees hitched up. Lee murmured whatever comforting words he could think of as he wrapped his body around Darren’s. The towel was gone, he realized, as his groin pressed against Darren’s denim-clad ass. Lee started to move back since his dick had perked up as soon as bare skin met firm butt cheeks. Darren grumbled and reached back, his hand grasping Lee’s hips hard enough to hurt.

Lee closed his eyes and tried everything he could to will his erection away, but nothing worked, not with Darren so close, his hand now kneading instead of gripping. Lee grunted when Darren arched his lower back, pressing his ass against Lee’s stiff cock.

“Behave,” Lee scolded, resisting the urge to rut against Darren until he soaked Darren’s ass with cum.

Darren rolled his neck until he could peer over his shoulder at Lee. “But I want—”

Jesus, Lee did, too, but not when Darren was still trembling, his chest hitching with a silent sob every few breaths. “Not yet.” No matter how much he ached to feel the silky heat of Darren’s ass massaging his dick. “Not after everything that’s just happened.”

Darren jerked his head back around, but not before Lee saw the pink cheeks or the mortified expression on Darren’s face.

“God damn it, I just keep fucking this up,” Lee muttered. He hadn’t wanted to take advantage of Darren when he was vulnerable. Yeah, and making him feel ashamed of breaking down after carrying all that guilt for years, that was so much better. I have to fix this! “I just meant I want you to be sure.”

Darren didn’t acknowledge the statement. Lee growled and sat up then rolled Darren onto his back. The shock in those brown eyes nearly made Lee smile but he swooped down instead to put his lips to better use. When Darren groaned Lee softened the kiss, thinking of the bruise that darkened Darren’s chin. He was an insensitive asshole for not considering until this moment that even kissing might be painful for Darren.

Lee lifted his head only to have Darren grab two handfuls of Lee’s hair and pull him back down. The bite of pain to his scalp had a direct effect on his cock as pre-cum leaked from Lee’s slit. Burying his own hands in Darren’s soft brown hair, Lee maneuvered himself until he was lying fully on Darren, only his elbows keeping the brunt of his weight off Darren.

Darren raked his teeth over Lee’s lips before sinking his tongue in deep between them. Lee sucked the slick muscle, loving the way Darren moaned when he did so. Darren’s hands slid from Lee’s hair, down his neck to clutch at his shoulders. Darren’s blunt nails scored Lee’s skin. Lee tightened his hands in Darren’s hair and rutted against Darren’s groin. It wasn’t nearly enough. He lifted his head enough to brush his lips over Darren’s as he spoke.

“Get naked while I get what we need.”

Darren’s lips parted and Lee crushed his mouth to Darren’s again, wanting to drink the man in. Everything about Darren felt right, tasted right, and Lee couldn’t get enough. He was afraid he never would.

Darren was drowning in desire, or burning in it—he couldn’t decide as he opened for Lee’s tongue. All he knew was that he needed more than this, as amazing as it was. Darren twisted his head to the side and moaned when Lee bit at