Disclaimer I Like Boys

Chapter Three

Two weeks after Riley walked out on Easton to help Prince Carter, his best friend was at it again. Couldn’t the precious Sanders cousin take care of his own s**t for once? Everyone gave him slack because of his mother’s death and his father’s descent into the bottle, but did it have to be Riley to the rescue every f*****g time? Not only did Riley jump when his cousin called, he absolutely didn’t see that Carter had no regard for others. He did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. The guy really got on his nerves. The selfish prick.

Easton should be used to it by now, but every time Riley called him about covering for Carter because he had to take care of something, his patience shriveled like a grape in the sun. But what could he do? Riley had the same power over him. When he asked, Easton answered. Anyway, he was already at the garden party so why not? But helping bit him in the ass quick. He repeatedly damned Carter to the deepest pits of hell for abandoning him in the clutches of Amber, the bitter ex. With each word that left her mouth in that high-pitched voice of hers, Easton died a little inside.

I’m being an ass. He sighed.

One of the things he loved about Riley was his readiness to help others. His loyalty for his family was unparalleled. Easton envied him for it.

All Anderson Harper cared about was expanding his business empire. It was already huge, yet it never seemed enough. His father devoured internet startups like a hungry wolf. That drive was what pushed him to ride Easton hard. Nothing less than overachievement mattered in their family. There were countless afternoons when he’d escaped to Riley’s house just to avoid being grilled over what he’d accomplished that day. The only reason his father conceded to him going to Loyola was because Easton had won Nationals. His father bet that he wouldn’t beat his personal time. Easton proved him wrong and even shattered the current record set at the competition. This pacified his father. But for how long?

He resisted the urge to nibble on his lower lip. It was a childhood habit he’d carried into high school to relieve stress. Once he’d chewed on his lip until it bled. That day he’d been worrying about his SAT scores. He was sure he’d tanked his verbal because his mind completely blanked during the test. He hadn’t even noticed he was bleeding until Riley rushed him to the nurse’s office and placed an icepack against his mouth.

As he tuned out Amber, who’d launched into the harrowing experience of being dumped by Carter in front of everyone at the Country Club dining room, he focused on the chill running down his spine. His father had been silent for the past couple of weeks. He hadn’t asked about Easton’s progress on anything. He’d even been subdued at the graduation ceremony. The man was planning something, Easton was sure of it. He’d like to think he was just being paranoid, but Anderson Harper never stayed silent. Not for long, anyway.

“Easton Harper!” came an exclamation from behind him.

Amber’s grimace almost scared him away from turning to see who had arrived. Events like this garden party he’d been invited to always turned into meat markets. He’d been set up with no less than four eligibles already, declining each as politely as possible. If this was yet another daughter or granddaughter sent his way by a matchmaking parent or grandparent then there was no point in stalling. He excused himself from Amber’s scintillating company and braced himself for the newcomer. Plastering a cordial smile on his face, he turned around. His smile morphed into jaw-dropping shock. A tall sss he hadn’t seen in years stood there with shoulders squared, stance wide, and hands on her hips.

“Alicia. Is that you or am I hallucinating?” he asked when he finally remembered to use his mouth properly.

“You bet your scrawny ass!” An impish glint sparkled in her eyes. They reminded him of smoke. She sauntered toward him with her long legs and circled him like a shark scenting blood. “But, from the looks of things, you’ve filled out nicely.” She squeezed his ass, causing him to yelp and dance away. “Mmm, rock solid. Swimming’s done you good.”

He matched her playful grin. “Is that the way a lady talks?”

“I’m no lady,” she said indignantly.

“Looks like it.” He gave her a once over. “I think you’ve shocked the biddies by coming here in pants.”

She spread an invisible skirt with her hands and curtseyed. “This isn’t the middle ages anymore, Easton. We women folk are allowed to walk around in pantaloons. Plus, you know I love making an entrance.”

“And you cut your hair.” He reached up and ruffled the closely-cropped auburn locks. It gave her a pixyish look he actually liked on her. Last time he’d seen her she had a mass of wild hair that hadn’t known the bristles of a brush.

“Stop it.” She slapped his hand away. Then she surprised him by leaping into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. Easton barely braced himself for the tackle. To maintain his balance, he circled her waist with his arms. It was the only safe place he could hold her. Laughs bubbled out from both of them. “Missed me?”

He shook his head, still laughing. “If I remember correctly, you used to beat me up.”

She leaned back enough to slap him on the chest. “That’s because you kept stealing my dolls to give to Riley who would then play hair salon and mutilate them.”

“Ah, good times.” He smirked. Then he eased her legs back onto the ground so he could get a better look at her. “But seriously, you look good. And tall.” He stood at his full height and the top of Alicia’s head came up to his forehead. “I think you’re even taller than Riley.”

“I’m sure he’ll like that,” she said, sarcasm dripping from her lips. She looked around. “So, where’s your partner-in-crime?”

The question hit Easton in an unexpected way. He hadn’t thought about it that way, but he actually liked the fact that he and Riley came as a package. One wasn’t always far from the other. But his elation was short lived when he remembered why Riley hadn’t arrived yet.

“Oh, you know him, off to save the day,” he said in the calmest voice he could muster while annoyance burned beneath the surface.

“You don’t look too happy about it?”

Instead of confronting the question, he diverted her attention to a safer topic. “I can’t believe they let you out of prison.”

“You mean boarding school?” She winked. “I’m out on parole for good behavior.”

“Which means one little mistake and you’re back in…where is it this time?”

“Switzerland. All-girls school.” She shuddered. “Girls can be mean.”

Yet the twinkle in her eyes told him another story. He snorted. “Good behavior my ass.”

“Easton?” said an annoyed voice he knew so well. “Mind introducing me to your friend?”

Eyebrow twitching, Easton turned his head to face Riley. Judging from the way his smile quivered and the slicing stare he gave Alicia, his so-called partner-in-crime was barely holding it together. That was when he noticed he still had his hands on Alicia’s waist while her arms were wrapped around his neck. He pulled away from her so fast, he almost lost his balance for the second time that day. Alicia glared at him but said nothing while he adjusted his blazer. Beads of sweat popped along his upper lip. What the hell was he getting nervous for? They weren’t doing anything wrong. Just two friends catching up.

Clearing his throat, he gestured at Alicia, “Riley, you remember Alicia Fitzwilliam. She just got back from boarding school in Switzerland,” he rattled off. The ground suddenly didn’t feel solid beneath his feet as Alicia and Riley gave each other critical once overs. Add a plastic pool filled with mud and he was sure a wrestling match would commence when the imaginary bell rang.

“Hey, knuckle-dragger,” Riley said with a sneer.

“Doll-mutilator,” Alicia barked back.

Yup, they recognized each other all right. But where the hell was the hostility coming from? Like Easton, they hadn’t seen each other in years. He could practically feel the electricity arching between them.

“Who cut your hair? A butcher?” Riley retorted.

“Who dressed you? Lady Gaga?”

Riley crossed his arms and sniffed. “Oh, honey, Lady Gaga would be lucky to be half as fabulous as I am.”

Alicia snickered. “Darling, nobody can be as fabulous as you.”

“Thank you,” he scoffed.

“I didn’t mean it as a compliment.”

Quick as an attack dog, Riley lunged, teeth bared, claws out. Easton barely snatched him back by the collar of his jacket before he landed on Alicia, who grinned in challenge. In a swift move, he positioned Riley behind him. He had to use all of his strength to keep his best friend back. He may be lean, but he sure was strong when pissed.

“Alicia,” Easton grimaced out when Riley’s nails dug into his shoulders. “It’s good seeing you again. If you will excuse me, I have some discipline to give out.” He grabbed Riley by the wrist and dragged him away.

“Easton, let me go!” Riley struggled, digging his heels into the grass.

“Don’t force me to sling you over my shoulder,” he said through his teeth, his grip tightening. The threat quieted Riley enough for Easton to think. He scanned the party. Since they were in a garden, there was very little privacy. Several attendees were already glancing their way. This conversation they were about to have wasn’t fit for public consumption.

“Where are you taking me?” Riley grumbled as they kept moving through the crowd.

“Someplace where no one can hear your screams when I teach you some manners.”

The gasp behind him almost made Easton laugh. Then he spotted the toolshed at the far end of the garden. Its location seemed secluded enough. He headed straight for it with his best friend in tow and yanked the door open. He ushered Riley inside none too gently and stepped in after him, closing the door behind them.

“What the hell do you mean by teaching me manners?” Riley hissed in the semi-darkness, shoving the hair that had fallen over his forehead away. “And what the hell is that awful smell?”

Not ready to respond yet, Easton turned around and slid the latch into place. Then he reached up for the light bulb switch he’d noticed before closing the door. It dangled just above them. He wrapped his fingers around the thin metal chain. With a quick tug and a click, yellow light flickered to life.

When Riley opened his mouth to speak, Easton pushed him against one wall with a hand on his shoulder. Riley sucked in a breath of surprise. He growled the second he saw the protest form on the face of the man he loved. He leaned forward, caging Riley in by placing both hands on either side of his head. There was no fear in those bright blue eyes he knew so well. And those lips. Lips he dreamed of kissing nightly were a straight line across his beautiful face. Easton ached to soften them with his touch.

“Mind telling me what that was back there?” he asked.

Tipping his chin up in challenge, Riley countered with, “Not before you tell me why she had her hands all over you? Here I thought I was saving you from Amber’s clutches only to find you in the arms of another girl. You man-whore.”

“Man-w***e? That’s rich coming from a serial dater.” Easton shoved his thigh between Riley’s legs, eliciting a startled inhalation. “How many times do I have to tell you that there is no one else?”

“Didn’t look like it to me. I see others flirting with you too.” He pursed those tempting lips. “I wouldn’t even be surprised if Alicia came home just for you. I’ve heard rumors that she’s had a crush on you since forever.”

“Can you hear yourself right now? You’re not making any sense. You know what these parties are like. Why do you think Carter needs a fake girlfriend just to survive them? Remember, if Alicia wasn’t punching me for something she was being her annoying self. So, no, I don’t think she has a crush on me. She’s probably here because it’s summer vacation. Didn’t you think about that possibility?”

“You know what they say. The boy who throws sand on you in the sandbox likes you.” He shrugged. “In this case, girl. But with that tragic haircut I’m surprised they don’t mistake her for a boy and start setting her up with all the desperate girls out there. Poor thing’s as flat-chested as an ironing board.”

Easton allowed himself a gruff laugh. Because what else could he do? Riley’s words sounded crazier and crazier the more he spoke. Yet being in close quarters with him stretched his control to the limit. By now Riley must be feeling against his thigh what standing this close to him did to Easton. From the way he gripped Easton’s biceps he wasn’t feeling so steady either.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous of Alicia.”

Riley let out a tch sound while his face crumpled in disgust. “Me? Jealous of that—”

Patience snapping, Easton bent his head and took what Riley’s lips offered. The second Ri moaned he took the parting of his lips as an opportunity to deepen the kiss. What tipped him over the edge was that Riley responded almost immediately, matching his tongue stroke for stroke. Taste for taste. He met Easton’s need for exploration with the kind of aggressiveness he wasn’t used to from his best friend. Like he was as hungry for Easton as Easton was for him.

The mingled scents of sweat, cologne, and the musk of the shed created a heady mix that fanned the flames burning in his chest. He wanted…no, needed more. Riley’s grip loosed against his biceps in favor of gliding his hands up his shoulders until fingers curled into his hair. Encourage by the evidence of Ri’s arousal, Easton moved his hand from the wall to Riley’s hip, crushing him against his body to alleviate some of the pressure building inside. Riley shuddered at the contact.

The murmurs of pleasure that came from him pushed Easton further. As Riley bucked against him, his other hand found the hem of Riley’s shirt and slipped it in. First he slid his fingers over the waistband of his pants, eliciting the most delicious moan. It sounded almost desperate to Easton’s ears. Unwilling to give him what he wanted just yet, Easton’s hand climbed the ridges of Riley’s stomach to his chest where his fingertips grazed against an already erect n****e.

As if the touch triggered a return to reality, Riley splayed his hands against Easton’s heaving chest and exerted pressure. When he didn’t back off, intent on continuing the kiss, Riley turned his head away, denying access completely.

“Easton, stop,” he said, panting.

“Why?” He swallowed, still tasting the mint from the gum Riley liked to chew before a party. Their breaths mingled when they searched each other’s faces for the right thing to say. There was no mistaking the desire in Riley’s almost black eyes. Only a blue ring remained. “It’s obvious you want me to keep going.” He rolled his hips into Riley’s to emphasize his point. The move elicited a strangled moan. Taking this as his cue, he kissed the redness that spread across Riley’s cheeks and nose.

“Stop,” he begged.

When Easton pulled back once more he saw the tears brimming Riley’s eyes. His brow crumpled. “Don’t.”

Riley blinked, his hands closing into loose fists against Easton’s still heaving chest. “Please. Please. I’m sorry for overreacting.” He dropped his gaze. “I shouldn’t have interfered. It was selfish of me. It’s just Alicia used to be so mean to you. She practically tortured you on a daily basis back then. I can’t stand seeing her acting all nice when we both know what she’s like. My protective instincts kicked in at the wrong time. I’m sorry.”

Easton cupped Riley’s chin and tilted his head up. “Look at me,” he said when Riley kept his eyes down.

“No.”

He squeezed Riley’s chin, which forced him to meet his gaze. “I’m not attracted to anyone else. I want to be with you. Only you.”