Apples to Oranges Read Online Free Page B

including
Brandon
,
had taken to the van.
    By nine, Jace had the flashlight out and was reading a book he’d
brought along, hoping it would pass time while the others drank themselves into
a stupor. Mike had asked if he wanted to join them, but he declined. This
wasn’t his idea of fun, especially with…girls all around him. If anything, he’d
feel like the odd one out. No thanks.
    Jace jumped when he heard a door slam. Then he heard footsteps
walking in his direction. When the zipper opened to the tent, he saw that it
was
Brandon
.
From the way he flopped on his sleeping bag,
Brandon
was dead drunk.
    “Fuck, it’s cold and wet out there,”
Brandon
said. He turned on his side, facing
Jace. “You should have joined us in the van.”
    “I’m okay here. I have my book.” Jace held it up and suddenly
felt lame.
    “One of the girls was asking about you. She was wondering where
you were. I think she was interested in getting together with you.”
Brandon
grinned widely.
“Like I said, you should have joined us. You might have gotten lucky with her.”
    Just what Jace wanted. “Thanks, but I’ll pass on that.”
    “Not interested?”
Brandon
questioned.
    “Correct.” Jace went back to the pages of his book.
    “In her, or do you mean girls, period?”
Brandon
’s face was serious, but his eyes were
full of mischief as he connected with Jace through the dim lighting.
    Jace’s pulse sped up and even though there was a chill in the
air, he felt warm, extremely warm. He swallowed hard and his mouth felt like
cotton. “What do you mean by that?”
    ****
    God, he was buzzed. Otherwise, he would never have had the nerve
to be this open and bold.
Brandon
thought about what to say next, choosing his words carefully. His eyes traced
Jace’s expression, trying to read him. “Maybe you’re not into girls.” It was a
comment and not a question.
    “I…” Jace stammered, his eyes looking from
Brandon
to the book he held. “I can’t believe
you’re asking me this.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with being gay or whatever.” Even   though his hazy judgement,
Brandon
wondered how come he did think this
way when it came to his own ambiguous sexuality. At this moment, he was erect
inside his jeans. That alone told him much more than anything else about how
he’d felt.
    “I know there isn’t anything wrong with it,” Jace replied. “What
makes you think I’m gay?”
    “Well,”
Brandon
lowered his voice. “Call it a vibe. It’s hard to explain. I did notice you
looking at me in class at school.” It was all coming out now.
    “I wasn’t looking at you,” Jace protested. “Besides, how would
you notice me looking at you unless you were also looking at me?”
    Brandon
laughed. Jace was too cute for words. With his hair slightly dishevelled and
his eyes looking so intense…he’d never noticed how green they were before now.
“So.”
Brandon
inhaled deeply and his heard beat hard inside his chest. “What would you say if
I asked if I could kiss you?” And before Jace had a chance to reply,
Brandon
leaned in and did
it.
    ****
    Jace almost came right then and there when their lips connected
for the first time. He didn’t pull away, but the sheer surprise of the moment
did cause him to flinch a little.
    “You taste sweet,”
Brandon
said, his voice husky. “Tell me you liked me kissing you and tell me you want
me to do it again.”
Brandon
ran one finger down Jace’s forearm as he spoke. “So soft.”
    Jace did want it to happen again. “It’s gum and yes, please.”
    Brandon
smelled vaguely of cigarette smoke and he tasted like beer and cherry lip balm.
His tongue slipped inside Jace’s mouth for the second time. Jace fell back on
his sleeping bag and moaned as
Brandon
crawled on top of him, one leg pushing both of his slightly apart. Jace felt
Brandon
grinding against
him, his hard-on pressing and throbbing inside his jeans.
    “You can touch me if you want,”
Brandon
said. “It’s okay.”
    Jace