Page 46 of Play Mates

I should probably get on the bed. Get ready for whatever Marlon has in store for me. I want to touch myself so bad, I’m so turned on. Marlon probably wouldn’t be happy about that though, so all I do is hastily tear off my clothes, then climb on the bed and sink into the pile of pillows at the head. Should I do asexy pose? I try, but honestly I don’t know how to go about it, so I stop before Marlon catches me in my attempts.

He returns then, unused paint brushes in hand, but stops dead just inside the door. “Freddie,” he breathes. His tone is full of awe, almost reverent, and heat creeps from my face all the way down my chest. Nobody’s ever looked at me the way he does. Nobody’s ever seen in me whatever it is Marlon sees. I’ve had my fair share of people in bed, but this is…different. Better.

“God, you look…” He shakes his head, then comes closer. “I am so utterly in love with you.”

I grin at him. “Embarrassing for you.”

Marlon huffs a laugh, then he drops the brushes and crosses the room in two long, purposeful strides, climbs on the bed without losing speed, then leans over me and kisses me, hungrily and full of determination. “I’ll get those later,” he murmurs against my lips, like I care about bloody paint brushes when he kisses me likethat. “But I just—I need—” He kisses me again, pressing me into the pillows.

I sigh happily into his mouth and follow his lead. We don’t have to have sex today. We can just kiss and I’ll be just as happy. Marlon manages to make me feel loved, cherished, all the things I never thought I’d get to feel in a relationship. He’s so shy and laid back most of the time, but on the field and in bed, another side comes out. Which I love. I lovehim. Words tumble out of me and I don’t pay them any attention until Marlon pulls back and smiles down at me.

“What?” he asks, clearly amused.

I cast my mind back, trying to remember what I just said. “Kissing you is like flying,” I repeat, then wince. “Oh, shit. That’s corny.”

Marlon laughs and presses a kiss to my temple. “Super corny,” he confirms. “But cute.”

“Cute!” I sigh in mock desperation. “Look what you’re doing to me. I used to becool, mate. Now I’m corny and cute.” Then I cock my head and give Marlon my best flirtatious look. “But you know what? I kind of like it.” I lean up and softly kiss Marlon’s shoulder. “And if it were up to me, I’d be both for a bit longer.”

“A bit?” Marlon lowers himself until our noses are pressed together, then brushes a kiss against my lips. “How about…a long time? A really long time?”

Yes. A thousand times yes. Hadidja will be moving away from London for her Master’s degree, soon, and it will be the perfect, natural ending to our fake relationship. After that…Marlon and I might never be able to be together in public, but I’m determined to not make that a problem. Fuck everyone who isn’t us. It will be difficult and probably frustrating, a lot of the time. But now I’ve experienced what it’s like to have him, be with him, love him and be loved, I will never give it up again. So I close my eyes, bask in Marlon’s warmth, and go full-on corny. “How about…forever?”

This time, Marlon doesn’t make fun of me. Instead, he inhales deeply and I can feel his smile. “Sounds perfect.”