Chapter 24: Out in the Open

Cody POV

I’m tangled with Ryan on his bed, sweaty and close. Headlights flash bright through the window, sharp and fast. My heart jumps, hard and quick. Ryan’s up, shouting my name, naked and wild. I scramble after him, sheets slipping off. My legs shake bad, weak from us. He peeks out, face tight. “Paparazzi,” he says, voice rough. My stomach drops, cold and fast. That photo from months ago flashes in my head. They’re back. I grab my jeans, pulling them on quick. My chest’s tight, scared and mad. “What now?” I ask, voice shaky.

He turns, eyes dark. “We go,” he says, firm. He yanks on boxers, then a shirt. My hands fumble with my shirt, sweaty and slow. We sneak out the back, air cool on my hot skin. His car’s quiet, engine soft. We drive fast, streets blurry past us. My heart’s pounding, wild and loud. He grips my hand, warm and tight. “Diner?” he says, low. I nod quick. “Yeah,” I say, soft. My throat’s dry, nerves buzzing. We need normal. Just for a bit.

The diner’s small, lights warm and yellow. Smells like grease and coffee, thick in the air. We slide into a booth, vinyl cool under my jeans. My leg bounces, shaky and fast. He sits close, knee brushing mine. My chest loosens a little, warm with him. We order burgers, fries hot and salty. My hands wrap the mug, coffee steaming up. He grins small, sipping his. “You’re cute,” he says, quiet. My face heats up, blushing hard. I kick his foot, soft and dumb. “Shut up,” I say, grinning back. My heart’s loud, happy and scared.

We eat slow, talking easy. My fries crunch loud, ketchup sticky on my fingers. He steals one, smirking big. My stomach flutters, light and good. His hand rests on my thigh, warm through my jeans. My breath catches, soft and warm. We’re good again, like before the mess. I lean closer, shoulder on his. “Missed this,” I say, low. He nods, squeezing my leg. “Me too,” he says, soft. My chest feels full, trust growing slow.

We step outside, night cool and dark. My shirt’s tight, sweaty under my arms. He pulls me close, arm around me. My heart jumps, fast and happy. Then his lips find mine, sudden and deep. I kiss back hard, hands on his chest. His tongue slides in, warm and wet. My head spins, dizzy and good. Flashes pop bright, loud in the quiet. My eyes snap open, pulling back fast. Paparazzi. Cameras click wild, voices yelling. “Ryan! Who’s he?” My stomach twists, cold and quick. I freeze, hands shaky.

He grabs my hand, pulling me to the car. My legs stumble, weak and fast. We jump in, doors slamming loud. Tires squeal, peeling out. My chest heaves, air stuck. “They got us,” I say, voice small. My throat’s tight, scared bad. He grips the wheel, jaw hard. “Good,” he says, loud. My eyes go wide, heart pounding. “What?” I ask, shaky and dumb. He turns, eyes fierce. “I’m done hiding,” he says, firm. “I want out. With you.” My breath stops, warm and wild.

We get to his place, quiet wrapping us up. My chest’s buzzing, scared and hot. He shuts the door, locking it fast. I pace slow, hands in my hair. “What if they hate us?” I ask, voice breaking. My stomach churns, sick and fast. He steps close, hands on my arms. “They won’t,” he says, soft. “And if they do, screw them.” His voice steadies me, strong and real. My eyes sting, blurry and wet. “I’m scared,” I say, quiet. My legs shake a little, weak.

He pulls me close, chest to chest. “We’ll be fine,” he says, low. His hands grip my shoulders, warm and tight. My throat burns, doubt loud. “You sure?” I ask, small. He nods, eyes locked on mine. “Yeah,” he says, firm. Then his lips crash mine, hard and deep. My hands grab his shirt, tugging fast. We argue with kisses, wild and mad. My chest heaves, needing him. He pulls back, breathing fast. “Kitchen,” he says, rough. My heart jumps, hot and quick.

We stumble there, hands ripping clothes. My shirt hits the floor, jeans next. His follow, quick and messy. I’m naked, skin sweaty and warm. He lifts me onto the island, cold under my butt. My legs spread, shaky and wide. He steps between, eyes dark. Lube’s on the counter, grabbed fast. He slicks up slow, fingers wet. My breath catches, soft and needy. He slides in gentle, one finger first. I moan low, head tipping back. Then two, stretching me slow. My hands grip the edge, knuckles white.

He pulls out, cock hard and thick. He lines up, pushing in slow. My chest tightens, full and warm. I feel him, hot and deep, sliding easy. My legs wrap his waist, pulling close. He rocks gentle, hips rolling soft. My moans spill out, quiet and good. “I’d scream it from rooftops,” he whispers, lips on mine. His tongue slides in, kissing my sounds away. My heart bursts, loud and wild. “Okay,” I say, nodding fast. My voice shakes, trust sealing tight.

He moves faster, steady and deep. My back arches, chest heaving. Sweat beads on my forehead, dripping slow. His hands grip my hips, warm and firm. My cock rubs his stomach, slick and hot. I moan louder, “Ryan,” breaking soft. His grunts mix with mine, low and rough. My legs tremble, weak and tight. He thrusts harder, hitting deep. My head spins, warm and good. Sweat slicks us, bodies sliding easy. My chest’s full, love loud and real.

We keep going, slow and intense. My hands claw his back, nails digging light. His skin’s hot, sweaty under me. My breath’s fast, shaky with him. He kisses my neck, wet and warm. My stomach flips, needy and dumb. “Love you,” he says, soft in my ear. My eyes sting, tears slipping out. “Love you too,” I say, hoarse. My throat burns, full of him. Our rhythm locks, sealing us tight. My chest heaves, trust growing strong.

I come slow, spilling hot on my stomach. My moan’s loud, shaky and good. He follows fast, groaning deep, warm inside me. My legs shake bad, dropping loose. He stays close, panting hard. My chest sticks to his, sweaty and warm. His arms wrap me, tight and safe. My head rests on his shoulder, nose in his neck. He smells like us, sharp and good. My heart slows, steady with his. “We’re out now,” he says, quiet. My chest warms, scared but sure.

We slide off, shaky and slow. My feet hit the floor, cool under me. His hand finds mine, squeezing tight. My chest feels big, roaring with us. “No hiding,” I say, soft. My voice shakes less now. He nods, forehead on mine. “Never,” he says, low. My tears dry, eyes clear. My hand rubs his arm, warm and real. We’re together, public and bold. My heart’s loud, happy and strong.

Then a bang hits the door. Loud. Hard. My eyes snap wide, heart jumping fast. Ryan pulls back, face tight. My stomach drops, cold and quick. “Who’s that?” I ask, voice shaky.