Chapter 26: Loud and Proud

Cody POV

I’m curled on Ryan’s bathroom floor, his arms tight around me. My chest’s still shaky from Tara’s twisted texts. His phone rings loud, cutting the quiet. My heart jumps, fast and cold. He grabs it quick, screen glowing bright. “It’s Greg,” he says, voice rough. My stomach twists, scared and mad. Greg’s push to hide us flashes— “Fake a girlfriend”. Ryan’s jaw tightens, thumb hovering. “Answer?” I ask, soft. My throat’s dry, sore from crying. He shakes his head fast. “No,” he says, firm. “I’m done with him.” My chest warms, trust growing slow.

He stands, pulling me up. My legs wobble, weak from us. “We’re out,” he says, eyes dark. “For real.” My heart skips, wild and warm. He grabs his phone again, tapping fast. My hands shake, sweaty and quick. “What’re you doing?” I ask, voice small. He turns the screen, showing me. A photo. Us on his couch yesterday, shirts off, tangled close. My blond hair’s messy, his chest tan and hard. “Mine,” he types under it. My breath stops, hot and fast. “Ryan,” I say, shaky and dumb. He hits post, loud in the silence.

We wait, air thick and heavy. My chest’s tight, buzzing wild. His hand finds mine, squeezing firm. My phone buzzes first, then his. I grab mine, hands trembling bad. It’s online, everywhere. “Ryan Maddox comes out— ‘Mine’ with mystery guy.” My face burns, red and hot. Comments flood in, fast and loud. “Fags,” one says. “Gross,” another. Slurs hit hard, sharp and mean. My throat closes up, tears stinging quick. “They hate us,” I say, voice breaking. My knees shake, cold and weak.

He pulls me close, chest warm on mine. “Look,” he says, soft. He scrolls slow, showing more. “Love you guys,” a fan writes. “So brave,” another says. Cheers mix with hate, loud and real. My chest loosens, warm and shaky. “Some get it,” he says, low. His thumb rubs my hand, steady and good. My eyes blur, tears slipping out. “Yeah,” I say, hoarse. My heart’s pounding, scared but proud. His arm wraps me tighter, safe and strong. “We’re free,” he says, quiet. My stomach flutters, light and new.

We stumble to his room, legs tangled. My chest’s buzzing, wild and happy. He pulls me down, bed soft under us. My shirt’s off fast, his too. Skin glows, sweaty and warm. I climb on, straddling his waist. My jeans hug tight, hard-on obvious. His hands grab my hips, warm and firm. My breath’s fast, shaky with him. “We did it,” I say, grinning big. My voice shakes, proud and dumb. He nods, eyes dark. “Yeah,” he says, low. His fingers dig in, pulling me close.

I lean down, lips on his. Soft first, then deep. My tongue slides in, warm and wet. He groans low, hands roaming my back. My chest presses his, heart slamming loud. I pull my jeans off quick, boxers next. He kicks his off, fast and wild. My cock’s hard, brushing his stomach. His is too, thick and hot under me. My hands brace his chest, feeling muscle. He grabs lube, slicking up slow. My heart jumps, warm and fast. He lines up, pushing in gentle. I sink down, slow and deep.

I feel him, hot and thick, filling me up. My breath catches, soft and needy. I rock slow, hips rolling easy. My moans spill out, quiet and good. His hands grip my thighs, warm and tight. “Cody,” he says, voice rough. My chest bursts, full and wild. I move faster, riding steady. My cock bounces, wet with sweat. His eyes lock mine, dark and proud. My hands press harder, nails digging light. “We’re free,” I say, loud and real. My voice breaks, victorious and strong.

He thrusts up, matching me slow. Skin slaps soft, echoing in the room. My legs tremble, warm and weak. Sweat beads on my forehead, dripping slow. His grunts mix with my moans, loud and raw. “Love you,” he says, low and deep. My throat burns, tears slipping out. “Love you too,” I say, shaky and sure. My chest heaves, full of him. I lean down, kissing hard. Our tongues tangle, wet and wild. My moans get louder, fearless and big. Neighbors might hear, but I don’t care.

We keep going, rhythm tight. My hands slide up, gripping his shoulders. His chest’s sweaty, sticking to mine. My head spins, dizzy and good. He thrusts deeper, hitting right. I gasp loud, “Ryan,” breaking wild. His hands squeeze my ass, pulling me down. Sweat slicks us, bodies hot and close. My cock rubs his stomach, slick and warm. I come slow, spilling hot between us. My moan’s loud, shaking the room. He follows fast, groaning deep, warm inside me. My legs shake bad, dropping loose.

We collapse, panting hard. My chest’s sweaty, pressed to his. 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. “No more hiding,” he says, soft. His breath’s warm on my hair. My chest warms, proud and real. “Never,” I say, quiet. My hand rests on his chest, feeling heartbeat. My tears dry, eyes clear. We’re out, loud and true.

We lie there, tangled close. My legs ache, curled with his. His hand rubs my back, slow and warm. My chest heaves, calming slow. “They can’t stop us,” he says, low. My throat burns, full of him. “No,” I say, soft. My voice shakes less now. His lips brush my forehead, gentle and sure. My chest feels big, roaring with us. We’re free, fearless and bold. My eyes close, warm and safe. His heartbeat’s loud, steadying me.

Time slips slow, room dark now. My body’s sore, good sore. His hand stays on me, warm and real. My head’s heavy, cozy on him. “You’re mine,” he says, quiet. My chest flutters, happy and dumb. “Yours,” I say, soft. My fingers squeeze his, hard and tight. His breath slows, soft on my face. My heart’s loud, strong with him. We’re together, out and proud. My moans still echo in my head, loud enough to wake the world.

Then my phone buzzes. Sharp. Loud. On the floor by the bed. My eyes snap open, heart jumping fast. Ryan shifts, groaning soft. My stomach twists, cold and quick. I reach down, shaky and slow. My hand grabs it, screen bright. My breath stops, tight and scared. Jake’s name glows, big and clear. My brother.