Off Limits (Secrets Kept 1)

Ryder grinned.

I flipped him off.

“Why is that?” Isaac asked.

“Because you don’t get to fuck everyone,” I replied. Isaac was one of the most sex-positive people I knew. He enjoyed hooking up, and he did it a lot. He’d always told me monogamy didn’t suit him and that he didn’t think it ever would. More power to him. I loved that he owned who he was and wasn’t apologetic about it.

“You’re no fun. Meet you at ten outside Revelry.”

“See you then.”

Ryder nudged my stomach with his big toe. “Are we one of those couples? The ones who never spend time with their friends because they can’t get enough of each other?”

“I know I can’t get enough of you.”

He grinned. “Tell me more.”

“No.” I grabbed a couch pillow from the floor and threw it at his face. Ryder swatted it away.

“Seriously, though, you can go out with your friends. I realize I’ve kept you home—”

“We’ve kept each other home, and you’re going with me.”

He cocked a brow. “Oh, am I?”

I eased his foot off my lap and crawled over him. I knelt between his legs, looking down at him. “Yes. Then I’ll suck your cock when we get home…or I’ll let you have my ass…or both.”

“You’d suck my dick or let me fuck you anyway.”

“That’s beside the point.” I kissed him. “Go out with me. We’ll just be two queer men at a gay bar. Nothing wrong with that.”

“I want to go. You don’t have to beg.”

I shook my head. “I wasn’t begging.”

“Yes, you were. Please, Ryder, go out with me. Nothing is ever the same without you. The word fun doesn’t exist unless it’s about you.”

“Please, Ryder, go out with me. I don’t know how I ever got out of bed each day without you.” I felt around for the pillow on the floor, then smacked him on the head with it, Ryder none the wiser until it connected.

He laughed and we wrestled, trying to get control of one another until we rolled off the couch and hit the floor. My breathing had picked up, this swell of happiness in my chest that was so foreign to me before I had him, but was now becoming part of my normal. We were both on our backs, Ryder half on top of me, chuckling, before he rolled over. “The only thing I want more than to go out with you, is to go out with you as your boyfriend. I’m not saying that to rush us. I only…”

“Wish our situation was different,” I finished for him.

“Exactly.” He gave me a loud, smacking, playful kiss. “Now let’s get ready. I hope you know I plan to look damn good. It’s gonna be a battle for you to keep your hands off me.”

“Oh, baby. You ain’t seen nothing yet,” I teased.

We took a car service to Revelry. Isaac was in line when we arrived, staring down at his phone with a frown. He was lost in whatever he read there, a look I couldn’t decipher creasing his brow.

“Hey,” I said when we approached, and he fumbled his phone, then shoved it into his pocket, clearly not wanting me to see what was on it.

Before I could question him, Isaac said, “Hi,” then turned to Ryder. “Goddamn. I can see why he wanted to keep you all to himself.” His voice was smooth as honey, his eyes running the length of Ryder.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to,” Isaac replied. “Jesus, you’re beautiful.”

“Okay. That’s enough.” I patted Isaac on the shoulder, unable to stop myself from using my other hand to place it at the small of Ryder’s back.

“This is interesting. I’ve never seen you jealous before.” Isaac grinned. I knew he would never truly do something with Ryder if he thought I was interested, and obviously I trusted Ryder too.

“I’m not,” I replied.

Ryder shrugged. “You can be because I sure as shit would be.”

We were already horrible at this—at being a secret and not giving away our hand.

Isaac let out a loud laugh. “Just a friend, huh? If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re in love. I’m crushed, Hutch. I thought your heart belonged to me?”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re not looking for anyone’s heart, and you know it.” Isaac visibly flinched. “Hey, I didn’t mean—”

“You weren’t lying,” he cut me off. “Now, do I get to know this sexy man’s name or what?”

“Ryder. Nice to meet you.” He held his hand out and shook Isaac’s as the line moved forward.

“This is just between us for now,” I told Isaac.

The words tasted like betrayal, but then Ryder said, “It’s complicated,” reminding me he was on the same page as I was. Ryder wasn’t any more eager for this to be out in the open.

Isaac gave a humorless laugh. “Believe me, there’s nothing I understand more than complicated.” At some point, he’d pulled his phone from his pocket and was now twisting it around between his fingers.