Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

me?"
    "Because there is no fucking way," he said softly, "that the Amazing Fucking Lukas Blake— the terrifyingly straight, fucking amazing Lukas Blake— wants this crazy fucking faggot."
    Damn. What to argue first? Was there any point in arguing at all? Probably not.
    He hadn't shoved me away. He'd called himself names, but not me. That was hopeful. I hoped.
    "Alan," I said. "We can argue are not, are too all day and get nowhere. You have to know I'm at least as—" as stubborn as you are would be a challenge. "That I'm pretty incredibly stubborn when I'm sure. Tell me how to convince you."
    "What if I just tell you to go the fuck away?" he asked.
    "I'm not a jerk. I'll go. But I hope you won't."
    " Why? " he asked, searching my face.
    "How many ways can I say it? You're everything I ever wanted and one thing I didn't exactly expect but it turns out I like it."
    "Bullshit. People don't suddenly change orientation, you idiot. Maybe you effing think you don't care, but—"
    I kissed him. I don't know what I thought it would prove that jerking him off hadn't, but I kissed him and he kissed back and it was sweet and hot and wet. He tasted of blueberry muffin and coffee and strawberry lip gloss, and he grabbed handfuls of my hair and kissed me breathless then tugged my head back just enough we could stare panting into each other's eyes.
    "Fuck me," he said.
    "What?"
    "Prove it doesn't matter. Prove you want me. Doesn't get much gayer than your cock up my ass."
    My heart lurched, and then took off beating double-time in my ears. "I don't have any condoms," I said, wondering if I'd die of embarrassment trying to acquire some. It had been hard enough acquiring a box when I didn't have any idea who I might use them with, but even that would be easier than going home and walking past Lilia to get that box—
    "I do," Alan said. "And lube. Make one more excuse, Lukas."
    I leaned to press my lips to his in a quick hard kiss. "Get them," I ordered. "…please."
    He snorted and bounced up. I looked at the couch-bed thing and realized it was covered in a bumpy braided-type fabric that was probably resistant to wear. No problem when wearing jeans, but naked— "Do you have a sheet?" I asked Alan.
    "Oh sure," he said. "And some nice veils for the canopy bed, and a white dress too." But he tossed a folded set of black sheets on the bed, and even picked the pillow off the floor to stuff it in a pillow case he pulled from the dresser. I spread a sheet on the bed-thing as he leaned on the wall to tug his shoes off. He put an unopened box of condoms and a bottle of Astroglide on the coffee table. I thought hard about him in his Rocky Horror costume and finished making the bed. When I reached to close the blinds, though, he stopped me.
    "It's a brick wall, Lukas. No one can see in."
    "Fine." I caught his wrist and pulled him against me and kissed him. Don't think , my uncle had told me when I was fourteen and he was drunk and giving life advice. Your body knows what to do, all you have to do is get your goddamn brain out of the way. So I buried a hand in Alan's hair, palmed a perfectly-sized butt-cheek with the other, and hauled him against me as he kissed me senseless yet again. God yes, with his body pressed to mine I didn't care about anything but getting closer, more—
    Alan planted both hands on my chest and shoved. "Lukas," he said with a breathless laugh, "you made the bed. That means you have to take your shoes off. It's classy."
    Crap. I sat on the bed to untie my shoes. Alan shucked off the sweatshirt. Staring at him, I managed to knot my shoelace. I pried the shoe off and tossed it. He wriggled out of his pants and I fought the other shoe. Alan slipped between the sheets and lay watching me. I got the shoe, and then my fingers fumbled my shirt-buttons. I pulled it over my head. I stood to get my pants and checked the supplies were within reach from where I was about to be and paused.
    "Alan, I— I don't really know how to use those."
    "And you just hate it, don't you, Batman?" He patted the bed. "Relax. I'll play Robin. Lose the pants and get in here if you're coming."
    I stayed where I was. "I don't think you know either. What if I… hurt you?"
    "Of course I know. I read slash fanfic. Tons of it."
    "Alan—"
    "Lukas, if it was that hard to figure out, don't you think the dangers of anal sex would be on every Beware the Gays flyer printed? Now get over here because if I have to come get you we're going back on the floor