Chapter 6: Troy Has To Earn It

“Hey, cutie,” Dylan said, stepping aside to let me in. “Jake’s not here, huh?”

“Nah, he’s on a date with some girl,” I replied with a laugh. “He might or might not come back tonight, depending on how his night goes.” I chuckled, trying to ease the tension in the air.

I stepped inside, only a bit of the lemonade left in my hand, my fingers wrapped loosely around the cup.

Without missing a beat, Dylan reached over and grabbed the drink from my hand. “What are you drinking?” he asked playfully, his eyes twinkling as he looked down at the pink lemonade.

“Pink lemonade,” I said, barely able to keep my voice steady.

He took a sip through the straw, and my heart skipped a beat as he looked at me with that half-smirk of his. He finished the drink in one go, pulling the straw out and licking the last bit of lemonade that had pooled inside. A few drops dripped from the straw as he sucked on it, his gaze still locked with mine.

I couldn’t look away. The way he licked that last drop—slow, deliberate—made everything between us feel even more charged than it already was.

“Oops, sorry. Finished it,” Dylan said, wiping his lips and giving me a teasing grin, like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

Dylan kept the empty cup on the counter, his eyes still locked on me, that same smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He didn’t rush to break the silence, letting the moment hang in the air, thick with tension.

“So,” he said, stepping back casually, his hands in his pockets, “I was watching football. You wanna join?” His voice was low, a hint of something teasing in his tone. “Basement’s free. Couch is all yours. Unless you don’t want to sit near me.”

There it was. The challenge. The invitation. His words were innocent enough, but his body language told a different story. He turned, making his way toward the basement, but not before letting his leg brush against mine as he passed, the subtle touch igniting something deep inside me.

I followed him down the stairs, my mind racing, but my body acting on its own accord. I tried to focus on the dull hum of the TV in the background, trying to calm my nerves, but the energy between us felt like it was pressing in from all sides.

Dylan flopped down onto the couch, leaning back with his legs spread comfortably, his hands resting on his thighs. He glanced up at me, his gaze dark and knowing. “C’mon, man. Sit.” He patted the spot next to him, like it was no big deal. Like we weren’t about to dive into territory neither of us had expected.

I sank down next to him, the couch creaking slightly under the shift in weight. The space between us was close—too close—and I could feel the heat radiating off him. His leg brushed against mine again, this time harder, more deliberate.

He broke the silence first, his voice dropping into a teasing tone. “So, spaghetti noodle,” he said, eyes glinting with something dangerous, “what was that last night? You stopped jerking me off when I was close. My cock was throbbing, man. Kinda fucked up, don’t you think?”

I froze for a second, my heart slamming against my ribs. The words hit me like a shock to the system, but I couldn’t look away from him, couldn’t tear my gaze from the way his eyes bored into mine. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure, but it wasn’t working.

“You’re the one who wanted to take it slow,” I shot back, my voice coming out a little rougher than I intended. My eyes dropped to his lips for a moment, and I could feel the heat building between us again, something primal stirring in my chest.

Dylan’s smirk widened, and he shifted closer, his leg brushing mine casually, making it impossible to ignore the tension swirling between us. “I didn’t say slow,” he said, his voice dropping lower, almost like he was daring me. “I said I wanted you to finish what you started. So what was that?”

“A little game to tease me?” Dylan asked, raising an eyebrow.

I leaned back into the couch, trying to sound casual, but I couldn’t ignore the heat building in my chest. “Well, you started it,” I said, my voice low but teasing. “That grinding had me ... well, you know.” I paused, watching his expression shift for a moment. “And then you stop. Payback’s a bitch.”

I couldn’t help the little giggle that escaped me, the tension between us crackling even more now. It felt like we were both on the edge, like any second, one of us would break.

Dylan gave me a look, his grin widening. “Oh, I started it, huh?” he said, leaning in a little closer, just enough for me to feel the warmth of his body. “Funny, I don’t remember you complaining last night when I had you exactly where I wanted you.” His voice dropped an octave, making my stomach tighten.

I swallowed, trying to keep my cool, but the memory of last night hit me again, and I could feel my pulse quicken. “I wasn’t complaining,” I shot back, voice a little rougher than I intended. “Just thought I’d turn the tables for once.”