Chapter 18

I leaned into his chest and breathed him in,the episode passing.“You don’t smell like you.”

“What?”

“I mean…fuck…I mean,you smell different.You still smell like you,but different.Different body wash.I noticed it in the shower.”

He chuckled,and the vibrations spread through me.“You noticed that?”

“Um,yeah.Sorry.Is that weird?”He probably thought I was a freak.

“My mom picked up a different kind at the store,but I told her I don’t like it.You don’t like it either?”

“Not really.As I said,it doesn’t smell like…you.”

“Then let’s get the right stuff today.”

I nodded into his chest,not really wanting to pull away.Was it weird I wanted to stay in his arms?If he wasn’t going to say so,I certainly wasn’t.But God,it felt so good.Like reallygood.Like“now just lean down and kiss me”kind of good.Like“run your hands through my hair and pull me into your lap”kind of good.

Fuck.I was in trouble.Funny that my body had figured it out before my head or my heart.But yes,there it was.My gut tingled and my cock twitched in my pants.I yanked away,afraid Jeff might sense the change in me.

His brow furrowed.“Do you think you can do this?Seriously,Aaron,I can do it instead.”

Sighing,I glanced at the window.The sun shone bright and a light wind blew through the trees in the backyard.The world beckoned me,and being in there only prolonged my new future.My gaze slid to Jeff.We were so close I could see the darker ring that edged his soft blue eyes.

“Ready?”he asked.

Nodding,I tore away my gaze and my face heated.“Um,yeah.Let’s get this done.”

Jeff grinned,and as soon as we started,I found I was in no mood to linger.We filled several gym bags and two small suitcases with clothes,books,electronics…anything I could think of needing over the next couple of months.I had no desire to come back to the house unless absolutely necessary.

Afterward,Jeff and I dug around my sister’s room and found the items she’d listed in her text.We also grabbed a few things we thought she’d want,like clothes,books,and a pillow.Then we grabbed her bike from the garage and filled Jeff’s truck.

I took one last look at the house.“Let’s get the hell out of here!”

We spent the afternoon rearranging Jeff’s room to make space for my belongings.Then,once Pamela returned to town,we ran her stuff to the hotel.

We ate dinner with my grandparents at the IHOP next door and made plans to meet at the hospital in the morning.There was still no change with Mom yet,but we all felt hopeful.Grandpa reported she had squeezed his hand earlier,definitely something to celebrate.

By ten that night,I was exhausted.Jeff and I sat watching Star Trekin the living room,but I couldn’t quit yawning.

“I’m heading to bed.Too tired,”I admitted,finally giving in to the fatigue.

“Okay.I’ll be up soon.Don’t forget we’re getting up early tomorrow morning to go running.”

Crap.I had hoped he had forgotten our plan to get in shape before college.We had started running about six weeks ago and wanted to begin working out,too.Well,Jeff was already working out,and yes,I saw the progress,no doubt about it.But working out was the last thing I wanted to do.Damn,I really didn’t want to run in the morning.Sleeping in sounded so much better.There was no way Jeff was going to let me do that though,I was sure.

“Ugh,do we really have to?”

He laughed.“Yes!”

I grimaced as I dragged my body upstairs,putting in extra effort to groan and stomp a little in case he would take pity on me and give me a reprieve,but I got no response.I decided to take a shower,thinking it might ease some of the tension.As I let the water warm up,I stripped and took inventory of myself in the mirror.

Sure,I was shorter than I wanted,but I still secretly hoped for a late growth spurt.My dark blond hair was a mess so I made a mental note to get a trim.My hazel eyes were nothing special,but I supposed they went with my face.All in all,I guessed I might be considered cute,but definitely not sexy.Not like Jeff.

I had to admit,my body was starting to show some definition from the running.If I started working out consistently,I could be more toned and defined by the end of summer.

I definitely wasn’t a hairy person.I had a light dusting of blond hair on my pecs that narrowed into a thin line down the center of my abs,and I kept my blond curly pubes trimmed,but not shaved.

I found myself wondering if Jeff manscaped down there or let it all stay natural.I hadn’t seen him naked in a long time.Not since we were in middle school and changed into our swim trunks one afternoon.I was sure he looked different now.

Jeff had transformed from a geeky kid to a tall,dark,and very hot man.He towered over me and he was filling out,too.Dark,curly hair covered his chest and his arms and legs were pretty hairy,too.I remembered how his chest felt pressed against me last night,and I shivered.Hair on a man was one of my triggers.My cock started getting hard and I watched myself in the mirror as I wrapped my hand around it and stroked.

My mind drifted to Jeff again,and my balls tingled as my cock grew.What the hell?Now,Jeff makes me hard all the time?I needed to cool off!

I stepped into the shower and let the hot water rain down on my sore muscles.What was it about stress that made a person so sore?I washed my hair,letting the scent of Jeff’s shampoo fill my nostrils.I rinsed and grabbed the body wash.As I soaped up,I once again noticed it wasn’t his normal brand and wrinkled my nose.

I slid my soapy hand around my still-hard shaft and began stroking again.I closed my eyes,and a moan slipped from my mouth as I imagined Jeff in the shower with me.Instead of freaking out,I gave in to the fantasy,letting it play in my mind.

Jeff knelt in front of me,watching me jerk off.Would his hands roll my balls?Would he lick the tip of my cock?Oh,God,I wanted him to.I finally admitted I wasn’t just attracted to Jeff—I was fallingfor my best friend.My cock swelled as I jerked harder and faster.My balls tightened and I grew close.I imagined Jeff urging me on as I braced my other hand on the wall.He told me he wanted to see me come,that he wanted to taste it.

“Fuck!”I moaned.“Jeff!”I cried as ropes of hot,white cream jetted out against the tile.I shook with the intensity of the orgasm,grabbing the shower rod to keep from slipping as the image of Jeff filled my mind.My climax was so intense,my heart thundered in my ears and colors swirled before my eyes.

I felt unsteady on my feet,and my breath was ragged.I rinsed off and cleaned up the mess,eager to climb into bed.

I dried off before I realized I’d left my boxers and shirt in the bedroom,so I wrapped the towel around my waist.