Page 33 of Brought By the Storm

Mateo was looking at me like something was off, then came closer and began to sniff me. “Hmm.”

I pulled away in annoyance. “What are you doing?”

“You smell funky,” he answered.

“Shut up,” I demanded, turning to the stove to put the eggs in a pan. “I didn’t shower yet. I need to wait for Carrington to finish.”

Mateo moved behind me and I could feel his nose brush my neck. “That’s not it.”

I was getting nervous and moved away from him like he was threatening me with a dagger. “Get away from me!”

My command didn’t hinder Mateo. He stayed by the stove with an expression of contemplation. Then, his eyes widened as he noticed the front of my pajama bottoms “Oh my God, you had sex!”

“What? Shut up. You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I protested.

“Dude, there’s evidence. And I have a nose for this stuff. You smell like sex.” After a brief pause, he added, “And like him!”

I began to stammer. “I. I don’t know…”

“I thought he said he was straight,” Mateo wondered.

“He is…for the most part,” I replied.

“You little slut.” He laughed. “You turned a straight guy.”

“Mateo, stop. Jeez. You can’t turn someone gay. You want that to become a right-wing talking point?” I shot.

“So, what, he’s bi?”

I went back to the eggs. “I guess. I don’t know. He told me he’s never been with a man before.”

“You believe him?” Mateo asked, unable to hide his skepticism.

“I do,” I affirmed. “I’m sure of it. God Mateo, don’t say anything please. He’s just getting used to the idea that he’s attracted to me.”

“Just to you, huh? Not me or Stefan?” he asked.

I almost felt guilty that I had to tell Mateo that he wasn’t on someone’s ‘must screw’ list. “Sorry. He said he doesn’t like hairy, muscular guys.”

“Hmm,” Mateo murmured. “Did you do something this time, or did you just nibble at his dick and spit out his juice like you always do?”

I felt my face flush. “Mateo…God! I’m sorry I ever told you stuff.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, yeah. So?”

“We just jerked off together, okay? Please stop asking me questions about this,” I pleaded.

“I see,” he replied, tapping his index finger against his lips. “Makes sense. Straight boy figures mutual masturbation isn’t too gay. College experiment kind of thing. Does he seem to want to take it further?”

“Maybe,” I shared, not wanting to say too much, but also interested in Mateo’s perspective.

“Don’t get too attached. He lives halfway across the world,” he pointed out.

“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” I said. “I have just one word for you. Stefan.”

“I don’t have illusions about that being more than a great fuck,” he explained. “I mean, I like him. But come on, how would it ever work?”

I nodded, thinking the same about me and Carrington. “Don’t say anything to anyone.”