Cody returned a minute later with a hand towel and gave it to James, who accepted it with an awkward nod of thanks and began to wipe his stomach and chest of the mess he'd made. As he drug the towel across his pubic hair, he became aware of the fact that Cody was still watching him, a look of cool observation on his face.
“You okay?” James asked, dropping the towel on the floor beside him.
Cody nodded rapidly as if shaking himself out of a stupor. “Yeah, just…I don't know, watching you.”
“Yeah?” James tried to stifle a blush. “Well, I hope you enjoy the view.” He reached down and collected his shorts off the rug, pulling them on quickly. “Can you hand me my sweatshirt?” He asked Cody, gesturing to the couch behind him.
Cody obliged and watched James pull it over his head. The two stood there, a thick silence between them. “So…” James finally began. “Are you cool with what just happened?”
“Yeah,” Cody nodded, a faint glimmer of a smile lighting his face. “Yeah, for sure. It was…fun. Are you?”
“Yeah,” James nodded. “Just another Saturday afternoon for me.”
Cody laughed at that one, a loud, surprised, earnest laugh, and all the tension evaporated. “I'm sure it was,” he rolled his eyes. “You ready for dinner ? I'm getting hungry.”
“God yes,” James said enthusiastically. “Let me wash up real quick and I'll help.”
He ducked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him, turning on the faucet and taking a moment to look at himself in the mirror. His cheeks were still flushed, and a bit of hair stuck to his forehead from where he'd broken out in sweat. He looked like he'd just been ravished. To be fair, he had.
The intensity of this experience with Cody was unparalleled, even putting some of his best hookups to shame. Sure, the acts themselves were fairly simple – a handjob and one experimental finger – but the lust, the sensuality, the eroticism of it all was incredible. He wondered if it was the familiarity he had with Cody, the trust between friends that fueled the experience. Or maybe it was the taboo of it all, the blurred lines between a homoerotic friendship and something more. He wondered how Cody felt about the whole ordeal and vowed to find a way to ask him as their evening progressed. He splashed some cool water on his face, rinsed his hands, and made his way back into the kitchen.
Cody was at the counter, already beginning to prepare their meal for the evening, some sheet pan roasted chicken and veggies – a balanced, nutritious meal, of course. James rolled his eyes. Typical Cody, he thought. He walked into the kitchen and cleared his throat, unsure what to do.
“How can I help?” He asked.
Cody turned around, thought for a moment, then pointed at a pile of vegetables near the sink. “Can you wash and chop the veggies while I work on this chicken?”
“Yes, Chef,” James grinned.
It was an easy meal to prepare, but they had fun sharing the kitchen, working together on such a small but practical task. James liked seeing Cody in his element, the confident, if not terribly graceful, way he handled a knife; the reckless abandon with which he sprinkled spices and seasonings into the bowl. James was a recipe guy – meticulous and thorough, rarely departing from the experts’ clear instructions – but Cody was all instinct and spontaneity. James liked this side of him, and he smiled as he hacked his way through a sweet potato.
“How's it going over there?” Cody asked, washing his hands at the sink.
“So far, so good. I think.”
Drying his hands, Cody stepped up behind James, his chest pressing against James's shoulder blade. He surveyed the piles of diced veggies before giving an approving nod, then he clapped James on the shoulder. “Looks good.”
His hand lingered on James’s shoulder for just a minute. It was a warm, friendly hand, platonic but clearly affectionate. “Thank you, Chef.” James said, his voice a little husky.
“Okay, I gotta admit,” James began as he leaned back in his chair, his hand resting on his belly, “that was really good.”
Cody flashed an I-Told-You-So smile and took the last bite of broccoli off his plate. “Yeah, I'm a great cook. What did you expect?”
“I don't know, it just all looked so…healthy.” He laughed. Between them on the table sat two empty plates, a cutting board atop which rested a large, crusty loaf of bread, and a mostly-empty bottle of Chardonnay, the contents of which glowed warmly in two delicate, crystal wine glasses.
“It was healthy,” Cody defended. “But it was also delicious.”
“Well, feel free to make this for me again anytime.” James sighed.
“Sure thing,” Cody nodded. “I'll make it when we live together next year.
James perked up. “Yeah?”
“Sure,” Cody shrugged. “Only if you'd want to, that is.”
James smiled. “I'd like that. Last chance to make it happen, I guess.”
They cleaned up from dinner and found themselves back at the table with a deck of cards, looking at each other over half-empty glasses of wine.
“What are we gonna play?” James asked.
Cory furrowed his brow, passing the deck of cards back and forth mindlessly between his hands. “Not sure. I’m suddenly realizing my card game knowledge isn't what I thought it was.”
James chuckled. “Me too. I know poker, and I know Go Fish.”
“Poker for two seems a little…dumb,” Cody admitted.
“Go Fish then?” James suggested.
Cody shrugged in agreement and began to shuffle the cards, dealing them out between the two of them. They fell into a quiet rhythm, asking and answering, exchanging cards and fishing from the deck and finishing the bottle of wine. It was a calm game, easy and thoughtless, aided by the warm fog of the wine that was slowly settling over them both. Night had fallen, and the cabin had transformed into a haven of warm lamplight and plush accents, creating the illusion of timelessness that often exists in the long nights of winter. Whether it was 6:00 pm or 3:00 am, they couldn't tell. They didn't care.
James won the first game by one book, eliciting an exasperated sigh from Cody who, apparently, only needed one card to best him. This of course led to a rematch, and James gathered the cards to begin shuffling. Cody reached for the wine, attempting to refill his glass only to discover they'd finished the bottle. He set the empty bottle on the table and contorted his face into a disgruntled frown. James laughed.
“Go grab another one,” he suggested.
“I didn't see any more in the fridge,” Cody lamented.
“Check the wine fridge.”
Cody raised an eyebrow. “Where the hell is the wine fridge?”
“Laundry room,” James uttered, fanning the cards in an impressive bridge shuffle that would've fit right in at any respectable Vegas table.
“God Bless Alan and Patricia,” Cody muttered as he left the table.
James chuckled to himself as he dealt the cards, draining the last sip of wine from his class while he waited for Cody to return with more. He was reaching his preferred level of tipsy, just enough to gain a little bravery without risking anything sloppy or stupid. Fortunately, he thought to himself, after this afternoon's events it would be pretty hard for him to cross any lines because of a little alcohol. An idea popped into his head just as he heard Cody's voice approaching behind him.
“Found it!” he exclaimed. He unscrewed the bottle and quickly refilled each of their glasses before settling into his chair and inspecting his new hand of cards. He rearranged a few of the cards and then looked up at James, noticing the look of inspiration that had graced his friend's face. “What?”
“I've got an idea,” James said conspiratorially.
“About?” Cody inquired.
“How to make this game a little more interesting,” James flashed a devilish grin.
Cody just chuckled. “Let's hear it.”
“Every time we complete a book, the other person ditches an article of clothing.”
Cody raised an eyebrow. “I feel like we've already pushed past a little nudity for the weekend.”
“Exactly,” Cody shrugged. “So why not?”
Cody took a sip of wine and cocked a half-smile. “You got yourself a deal.”
The new game began with an air of heightened stakes, totally manufactured by each of them committing to the bit. Cody stared at his hand with a lazy posture and casual intensity like someone in a world championship poker match; James punctuated his questions with dramatic pauses and narrowed eyes. The whole scene was right out of Casino Royale, minus the tuxedos and international espionage. With a wicked smile and elegant flourish, Cody displayed his first book – the set of fours – and sat back, looking at James expectantly. James sighed, holding back a smile, and wriggled his way out of his joggers.
“What?” he asked, seeing the confusion on Cody's face.
“Who starts with their pants?” Cody asked.
“I want to keep my sweatshirt on, it's cozy!” James defended.
Cody rolled his eyes. “Got me playing against Winnie the Pooh over here.”
James swallowed a laugh and carefully studied his hand.
He got the next two books, causing Cody to part with his hoodie and his socks. He made a little show of unzipping the hoodie, flashing a seductive smile and treating James to a parody striptease. James laughed but admired the way his olive green tee stretched across his chest and tightened over his biceps, the color contrasting nicely against his pale skin, making him look more cast from marble than ever.
Cody came back with another book a few minutes later, and James returned the striptease as he pulled his sweatshirt off over his head. Cody whistled a catcall, so James played along, twirling the sweatshirt playfully and tossing it into the living room. Now in his briefs and t-shirt, he felt a chill in the air and jumped up from his seat.
“Hey, don't think you can run away from this now!” Cody teased, reaching for his wine glass. James flipped him off and grabbed the remote for the fireplace, which roared to life and immediately began to heat the spacious room.
“Look, I'm just trying to do us both a favor for when these underwear have to come off,” James shot back sarcastically.
“Speak for yourself,” Cody winked and grabbed his crotch.
James groaned. “Oh, spare me.”
A few minutes later, James snagged the book of Jacks and emphatically slammed it down on the table. Cody obediently laid down his hand and pulled his shirt off over his head, tossing it to the floor beside him. James let himself admire the view, the curve of his pecs, the broad strokes of his collarbone where it met his neck. Cody watched James watch him and grabbed his glass of wine, which he raised in a toast. “To the fun part,” he teased.
Next to go was James's shirt, bested by the book of sevens. He felt Cody’s eyes on him, and was conscious of his nipples hardening in the cool air. His socks were forfeited mere moments later. He retaliated with the book of Kings, and Cody made a show of scooting his chair back, standing up in a lumbering motion, and pulling off his sweatpants. His boxer briefs clung to him in all the right ways, and he didn't try to hide it.
Just like that, the two boys had arrived at match point, each sitting in their underwear without the faintest bit of embarrassment or shame. They played quickly now, letting themselves get carried away by the friendly competition, their hearts leaping in their chests with each draw of a card, both a little excited about the inevitable results. With a stroke of luck, James snagged his final card – the nine of clubs – and froze, looking up at Cody with the biggest, shit-eating grin he could manage.
“No,” Cody groaned.
“Aha!" James slammed down his final book, wine glasses shaking on the tabletop. “Suck it!”
“Hey now, that wasn't part of the rules!” Cody teased. “Fine.” He threw his cards onto the table, downed the remainder of his wine, and stood up beside his chair. “Hope you're happy, ya jerk.”
“Don't be a sore loser!” James retorted, his pulse quickening.
Cody stood there for a second, and their eyes met, expectation heavy in the air between them. Then, for reasons unknown to even him, Cody stepped a little closer towards James. He hooked his thumbs into his briefs and pulled them to the floor. He stood up, adjusting himself where his balls had stuck to his thigh, and dropped his arms to his side.
James stared. Openly and admiringly, James stared at his friend. Somehow, outside of the hot tub and without the surreal glow of porch lights, Cody felt more real, more tangible, standing naked before him. James didn't know where to look first – his broad torso, his strong legs, or his plump, gorgeous cock.
He looked up and met Cody’s eyes, which betrayed little emotion. “Like what you see?” Cody asked, his voice more vulnerable than the sarcastic question suggested.
James exhaled. “Jesus, dude. You have no idea how amazing you look.”
“Yeah?” Cody asked, taking another step towards him. “What about me?”
James craned his neck, and took a deep breath. “I mean…all of it. Your chest. Your shoulders. Your arms. Your abs. Your legs. Your cock…”
His eyes lingered on Cody's groin for an endless second. Then, propelled by some unknown force, James rose from the chair and stood before his friend. “I think you're the hottest guy I've ever seen.”
Cody smiled earnestly. “Thanks, man. That's kind of you to say.”
James's eyes scanned over his body, his excitement starting to strain against his own underwear. Cody's cock was still soft, but he hadn't made any efforts to cover himself or rush through this consequence of his defeat, so James took a fortifying breath and met Cody's eyes.
“Want me to…return the favor?”
Cody's eyebrows raised. “Favor?”
“You know. From earlier?” James cautiously reached forward and took Cody's cock in his fingers. Cody sucked in a breath. James gently stroked his fingers along the underside of his shaft, his thumb caressing his plump, pink head. It was velvety smooth.
“Oh,” Cody breathed out. “Sure.”
James continued to stroke Cody's cock, feeling it steadily grow in his hand. He stood frozen, as one might around a wild animal, careful not to scare it off. Cody stood just as still, his eyes glued to James's hand as it toyed with his cock.
“That feel okay?” James asked.
“Yeah,” Cody looked up and smiled. “It does.”
He was almost totally hard now, his erection pointing out and away from him, at least six inches long and considerably thick. It was a perfect extension of his body, James thought, undeniably Cody's cock. He wrapped his hand more fully around it and began to stroke more intentionally, friction warming the skin beneath his hand. A bead of moisture appeared on the tip of Cody’s dick. James gently caught it on thumb and brought it to his mouth.
Cody laughed breathlessly. “Jesus.”
James just smiled and started to return his hand.
“Wait,” Cody said, and James froze. “You should take your briefs off.”
James cocked an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” Cody said sheepishly, his cheeks pink. “Seems only fair.”
James could've responded with some quip about how he hadn't lost their game and the he'd already shown his dick for the day, but idea that Cody asked him to get naked, wanted him to get naked, sent a shiver down his spine. He pulled his briefs off and kicked them somewhere behind him, his own cock standing tall.
“You like my cock?” James asked playfully.
Cody shrugged. “It's a pretty nice one, I guess.”
James laughed. “You like my cock,” he teased with the singsong voice of a schoolkid.
“Hey, you talk about my body. I can talk about yours.”
“Touche.”
James returned his hand to Cody's cock, letting it slide down the underside of his shaft and caress his balls. They were smooth and soft and delicate despite their size and weight.
“Do you always shave everything?” James asked cooly, fingers exploring. “Or was this just for the weekend?”
“I usually do,” he replied, his voice hitching sporadically. “I mean, I don't have a lot of hair anyways, but I like to…” he gasped as James changed his grip. “Like to keep it clean.” He looked up at James, his eyes growing dark.
“It looks good,” James purred. He felt a wave of confidence washing over him. Seeing Cody respond to his touch made him feel strong, powerful, and so, so sexy. He was used to being a congenial bottom, but now he felt a surge of dominance and he liked it. “Feels good, too.”
“Yeah?” Cody asked, his eyebrows raised.
“Yeah,” James assured him, tracing a long stroke from the base of his cock to the tip, eliciting another drop of moisture. “It's soft. Smooth. I like it.”
Cody looked down as James swirled the precum on the tip of his cock. A shiver went through his body, and James's own cock twitched at the sight.
“What about you?” Cody asked, reaching out and tracing a finger along James's erection. “You always leave it hairy down there?”
James smirked. “I like to leave a little hair, yeah. Up front at least.”
Cody chuckled and sighed with pleasure. “I noticed.”
James stepped closer to Cody, who responded by placing a hand on James's shoulder, bracing himself with a firm grip. James wrapped both hands around Cody's cock, and he began to gently rock his hips, sliding in and out of James’s tight grip. The two looked at each other intensely, heat radiating between them.
“How do you feel about kissing?” James asked hoarsely.
“I'm not against it,” Cody answered.
“Okay, thank God,” James uttered breathlessly as he leaned in and smashed their mouths together in a fury of lips and tongue and passion. Cody's other hand grabbed the back of James’s neck as he met the kids with equal intensity, still bucking his hips into James's hands.
James was drunk on lust – well, that and wine – and his head swam in the overwhelming sensations of the moment. He broke away from Cody's kiss only to catch his breath and the two looked at each other with bewildered eyes.
“This is really fucking hot,” James exclaimed.
“I know,” Cody smiled, his eyes burning with lust.
“Can I suck you?” James asked, already dropping to his knees. Cody stepped back and braced himself against the table, one hand gripping the varnished wood, the other hand firmly wrapped around James's head. James was ready to go to work but found he need only open his throat and hang on right as Cody began to buck his hips wildly. The wet, squelching sound escaping from his mouth was the hottest thing James had ever heard, and the look of pure concentration on Cody's face as he thrusted was the hottest thing he'd ever seen.
“Fuck,” Cody cursed under his breath, tossing his head back as his abs rippled and contracted. He thrust deeper, eventually causing James to gag and sputter, and he let go of James's head. “Shit, dude, I'm sorry.”
“It's okay,” James coughed, his eyes watering. “Just need to catch my breath.” He sat back on his heels, hands on his thighs, his dick protruding proudly between his legs. The boys locked eyes and laughed. “This is wild,” James confessed.
“Yeah,” Cody agreed. “I'm glad to hear you say that, I was worried this was what you're used to.”
“Worried?” James asked.
“Felt like I was suddenly trying to clear a very high bar,” Cody blushed, and James laughed.
“Aww, trying to impress me?”
“Shut up.” Cody rolled his eyes.
“Trust me, you could just stand there and I'd be impressed.”
“Oh yeah?” Cody asked, gripping his cock in one hand.
“Oh yeah,” James leaned back and did the same, and they watched each other stroke themselves, slowly, gracefully, making a show of it. Finally James had to lean forward. “Sorry, this damn floor is killing me.”
Cody laughed as he helped James to his feet, and the two naked friends stood there awkwardly for a second, unsure what to do next. “We could…go to the room?” Cody finally suggested.
James raised an eyebrow. “You sure you want to?”
“Yeah,” Cody nodded almost convincingly. “May as well get comfortable.”
James found no reason to strike down the suggestion, so he just smiled. “Lead the way.”
They fell into Cody's bed and propped themselves up on an elbow, each admiring the view of the young, fit body lounging before him, each looking up at each other with a quizzical brow.
“What?” James asked.
“Nothing,” Cody said dismissively, though a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “I just…didn't expect this this weekend.”
“Neither did I,” James agreed. “Daydreamed about it, maybe, but never expected it.”
Cody furrowed his brow. “Really?”
“I mean…it's not like I just sit and pine over you, but…you've seen yourself in a mirror. The idea has crossed my mind before.”
“Okay, fair enough.” Cody laughed. “For what it's worth, I’ve thought about it too.”
“Really?” James asked.
“Yeah.” Cody nodded. “I don't know, I never wanted to, like, be that guy who used his one gay friend for sex. That'd be really shitty.”
“I don't know, if this is what the sex is like, I probably wouldn't mind,” James teased.
Cody playfully shoved his shoulder. “You know what I mean.”
“I do. And thank you, I appreciate it. But also, I am your one gay friend so had I known this is something you've been curious about…I guess what I'm saying is you can talk to me without needing to have it all figured out.”
“Thanks James,” Cody smiled then looked down at their bodies. “If that's the case…there is something I’ve been curious about.”
James's heart fluttered. “What's that?”
“I, uh…I've always wanted someone to, uh…”
“Dude, just say it,” James urged.
“Eat my ass?” Cody's cheeks turned pink.
“Yeah?” James asked eagerly.
“Do you…do that?” Cody stammered.
James just smiled. “Oh hell yes. Roll over.”
Cody lay on his stomach as James positioned himself over Cody's legs, stopping to take in the view of his broad, muscular back and his huge, round ass. “Damn,” he whispered.
“What?”
“Nothing, just…it's not fair you have an ass like this.”
Cody laughed and wiggled his hips, his ass cheeks rocking with the movement. James just groaned playfully and leaned down, placing his hands on Cody's lower back. He massaged gently, kneading into Cody's smooth skin with his thumbs. After a minute of this, he brought his hands lower, each cupping one of Cody's firm cheeks. He gave them a squeeze and his cock twitched.
Never in a million years did he imagine this scene for him and Cody. Sure, in all his most personal fantasies, he'd played out a similar scene a hundred times or more, but the roles were always reversed. He loved a good surprise.
Slowly, he leaned down and kissed the smooth skin at the base of Cody's spine. He licked it and felt the shiver run up Cody's back. Then, he continued to lick, inching his way down into Cody's crack, hands massaging as he went. He drew out a long lick, returning to Cody's lower back, before he plunged his tongue right into the sweet spot, making contact with Cody's hole. Cody jumped at the sensation, but didn't pull away. James took that as his sign to continue.
He continued to lick and prod, circling Cody's hole and grazing the surface of it, pushing gently against it. It was tight and resisted his intrusion, but no matter. Cody breathed heavily and unevenly as James proceeded, his hips squirming against the mattress.
“Like that?” James asked.
Cody moaned in reply.
James gently tugged at Cody's hips, a cue he understood with surprising responsiveness. He arched his back, spreading his legs and sending his ass into the air, exposing his most hidden place to James, entrusting him with this new experience. James took in the sight – the tight, pink hole; the tufts of light brown hair that circled it, separating it from his smooth ass cheeks; his balls hanging low and full beneath him – and vowed to make this new experience a pleasant one.
He dove in with fervor, his tongue sliding in and out of Cody's hole, drawing out moans and curses from Cody where his face pressed into the mattress. His hands gripped the sheets and the muscles of his back flexed with ecstasy as his body sent waves of new and intense pleasure throughout his body. “Fuck me,” he groaned as James plunged his tongue as deep into his hole as he could manage. He breathed in the musky scent and felt the precum pouring from his own cock.
Above him, Cody reached in and began stroking his cock, a fast and fervent movement that revealed his absolute desperation to cum. James loved that he could make him feel this way – Cody, the pinnacle of masculinity and discipline and strength, reduced to a squirming, moaning mess at his touch. It unlocked some new side of him, some previously unexplored power, and he liked it. He wanted to explore it more. He reached down and took hold of himself, moaning into Cody's ass as he did.
It didn't take long for the both of them to finish, a loud and explosive affair for each. After, Cody collapsed onto his stomach while James mustered up the strength to return his head to the pillow, where he lay catching his breath for some time. As their heartbeats slowed and the room around them slowly came back into focus, Cody began to laugh. It was a hearty, cheerful, genuine laugh, an infectious laugh, and soon James was joining in.
“Jesus Christ,” Cody finally exclaimed, rolling into his back, arm draped across his forehead.
“Agreed,” James said between breaths.
“That was…that was insane. I've never cum like that before,” he confessed, awestruck. “Is it always like that? With a guy?”
“No. Not always.” James chuckled. “But it's usually pretty good.”
“Damn,” Cody marveled. “Well that was…yeah.” He sighed contentedly, and for a minute they just lay there, basking in the afterglow. “So…now what?”
James chuckled. “Well. We could hot tub?”
Cody looked up at him with a bemused smile. “Sounds perfect.”
The two of them rose, grabbed towels from the bathroom, and walked naked to the back deck. Settling into the hot tub, they each reclined and closed their eyes, contented smiles resting on their faces. The gentle bubbling of the hot tub jets filled the comfortable silence between them as James accepted the reality of what just happened. Sure, he'd fantasized about Cody plenty of times, but he never once expected those fantasies to happen in real life, and now that they had…well, they didn't feel any less surreal. His thoughts were interrupted.
“That was fun,” Cody said casually.
James opened his eyes to find Cody looking at him. “Yeah, it was,” he agreed.
“You okay with what happened?” Cody checked.
“Me?” James asked, a little surprised. “I'm good. Great, actually. Are you okay?”
Cody laughed. “Yeah, I think I am. What's a little fun among friends, right?”
“Right,” James smiled. “And yeah, I don't expect you to, like, change anything after that. Like, I don't expect you're gonna want to get together or whatever. I'm totally cool if that was a one-time thing between friends.”
“Thanks man,” Cody flashed a crooked half-smile. “Although…I probably wouldn't be opposed to something like that happening again.”
“Oh yeah?” James raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” Cody shrugged. “I mean, holy shit, I didn't know it would feel like that. And, I mean, if that felt so intense I can only imagine…well, it felt good and I trust you so…why not?”
“I mean, that's how I think all guys should view sex, so I'm on board,” James chuckled.
“Cool,” Cody agreed, settling back into his seat. “I think next time I want to try eating you out,” he said with comical nonchalance.
James felt his stomach lurch at the thought, and a million different images flooded into his mind. He played it cool, though, saying he was game for anything Cody was comfortable with. In reality, his mind raced with the possibilities in store for this new chapter of their friendship, and he was eager and aroused at the prospect of actually living together if this new arrangement persisted.
For now, though, he tried to push those thoughts aside and enjoy the moment, the warm water massaging his body, the crisp smell of chlorine and Autumn air, and the company of his friend on their weekend away.
He settled back into the warm, swirling water and closed his eyes.
