Here Comes Trouble (Nothing Special #3)(33)

Ruxs yanked open the first drawer and dug his hand in to yank out the shirts he had in there. The first one he pulled out was brand new, still with the tag on it. He blinked a couple times, trying to remember buying a new shirt. He unfolded the soft cotton material and saw it was the exact same black AC/DC shirt that he’d ruined at his mom’s house when he was washing dishes. Obviously, Green had immediately ordered him another one. Fuck. Ruxs plopped down on the bed clutching the shirt in his hand. Ruxs groaned. “Why does he have to be straight?”

“Who said I was?” Green’s smooth voice wafted over him like a warm blanket. Is that supposed to be another joke? Ruxs closed his eyes, wishing things could be different.

Ruxs tensed as he heard Green’s footsteps come closer. He felt him standing in front of him, but he couldn’t look at him. Ruxs was humiliated again. He should’ve just admitted to himself that he wasn’t good enough for a man like Green, even if he was gay. He’d been halfway beat to death by his own goddamn mother. Now he had busted into his house a huge, drunken mess. No one —.

“Shut up.” Green’s voice was dark and stern. “You’re actually gonna sit here and have a fuckin’ pity party for yourself. That’s not the man—”

Ruxs cut Green off, jumping to his feet, barking in his partner’s face. “Fine! Then I won’t st —”

“Sit your fuckin’ ass down!” Green yelled back louder, bumping his chest, making Ruxs fall back down on the bed. Ruxs grunted at the pain in his back, in his head… in his heart.

He didn’t quite know what to do when Green stepped in between his legs. Ruxs didn’t know why he was breathing so hard either… he just was. He felt a strong hand grip his face, tilting his head up. He stared into Green’s dark eyes. Beautiful eyes. Green looked at him like he was the most important thing in the world. God, Ruxs would do anything for this man to want him back as much as he wanted him. Green stroked the cheek with the bruise and Ruxs flinched lightly. Green didn’t talk, he just manipulated his head, turning him left and right, surveying his injuries. Then Green did something that had Ruxs’ last reserve cracking. He gently cupped the back of his head and brought him forward until Ruxs cheek was resting on his hard stomach. “Hold me back,” Green whispered.

Ruxs’ arms felt like they weighed a ton. He managed to put both arms around the man in front of him, and when he did his whole world crashed down around him. Everything that had been weighing him down the last few weeks. All the pain of wanting something permanent in his life. The hurt of losing his mom forever. He squeezed Green to him, held on to him for dear life. Held him like he’d die if he let go. And Green held him right back, whispering quietly, “It’s okay. You’re going to be okay now. I’ve got you. I never meant to hurt you. I swear. I didn’t know. I promise you I didn’t. I never would’ve gone out with her. Why didn’t you just tell me? Damn you.”

Ruxs finally calmed after several minutes and looked up at him. “What are you saying, Chris?”

Green went down on his knees so he was eye level with him. “I’m saying: Why didn’t you talk to me, Mark? How long have you been feeling like this?”

“Long enough to drive me crazy.” Ruxs laughed humorlessly.

Green stared at him. He put his hands on Ruxs cheeks. “Com’ere,” he whispered.

Ruxs’ eyes widened slightly, his voice a hushed murmur, “Are you gay?”

Green smirked. “Are you? Just shut up and come here.”

Ruxs leaned forward and let Green close the rest of the distance. He ignored the constant throb in his head, now more focused on the pulsing in his cock. Green’s lips were soft and supple. He couldn’t help the sigh that escaped him. Finally. This is what he’d been fantasizing about for weeks. Ruxs opened his legs wider inviting Green in. When he was close enough, Ruxs tilted his head, wanting to deepen the kiss. The shallow pecks he was receiving now just weren’t cutting it. But Green pulled back, rubbing his face against the cheek that wasn’t cut. His hands rubbing up and down Ruxs’ arms, and oh god it was wonderful. Different than how he usually touched him. Green placed a soft kiss on his cheek, his jaw, dragging his mouth back up to his ear. “Tell me,” he whispered. “Tell me how you feel about me.”

Ruxs just barely cracked his heavy eyelids. His voice was so ragged, so pained when he responded. “I can’t.”

“I’m not going any further until you say it.” Green licked lightly at his ear and Ruxs groaned at the pleasure. Damn, he didn’t want Green to stop, he wasn’t even close to getting his fill. He had to take his chance now. He leaned forward, his forehead resting against Green’s chest. He inhaled deeply and a surge of anger shot through him more powerful than anything he’d ever felt. He bolted up to his feet, pulling Green up with him. The shocked look on his partner’s face was little consolation. Ruxs pushed his chest flat up against Green’s, his fist clenched in his nice button-up shirt. He propelled them backwards until Green slammed into the wall so hard that the framed picture of the 1965 Shelby that hung on the wall came crashing down to the floor. Ruxs ignored it, staring into Green’s wide eyes.

“Mark what the fuck, man?”

Ruxs leaned in, his lips ghosting over his partners. He growled low, his voice harsh and angry, “You smell like her. That’s not how you smell.”