Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

heavy and deep, like a storm rising off the coast, sending electric shocks through him.
    "Guess we better take 'em for their walk." Jimmy said finally, his voice a little rough as he started to pull back. "Wanna go down to Green Lake or…" the man asked, rising up and getting to his feet.
    "Dog park so they can come off the leashes."
    "Yeah, I just hate that little poodle that tries to scare Seph."
    Sitting up and tugging his t-shirt down, "Hasn't worked. Last time she nearly took that dog's tail off."
    "True. I guess we should let 'em have their showdown."
    "That's right, can't teach them to run away from bullies." Scott joked, finally standing up, slipping his boat shoes on, not even bothering with socks.
    ****
    Sunday night, Scott was exhausted but he was as prepared as he was ever going to be for Monday's finals. His papers that were due had been sent in two whole hours before the deadlines and he knew more about East Asian history than he'd ever wanted to.
    Jimmy was still locked in his study group, but he was true to his word and had called every night. They didn't talk about anything important, but Jimmy made him laugh when he insisted Scott put him on speaker so the puppies wouldn't forget him.
    It was the last thing he thought about before he drifted off.
    ****
    Two weeks later, they had both survived finals. Jimmy said he was sure he bombed, but Scott knew that was Jimmy-code for, "I owned it." Academics being the one area where the man showed any sense of modesty and Scott decided early on it was probably good for him.
    "You and Rob are comin' tonight, yeah?" Jimmy asked, his head popping around the corner of Scott's doorframe.
    "God, I wish," he muttered, flopping back on his bed, having just been thinking about the fact that he and Rob had sort of transitioned into friends and he hadn't had anyone's hand but his own on his cock in far too long.
    "What?"
    "Nothing. Coming where?"
    "Sharon's; she's throwing a finals-are-over-summer-is-here-let's-blow-what's-left-of-our-braincells party."
    "Just the med school crowd?" Scott asked, crinkling his nose as he sat back up.
    "You say that like we're lepers or something."
    Laughing, Scott told him, "No, but you all stand around for the first hour gossiping about each other and bitching about your course load, then get shitfaced and start pairing off for meaningless drunken sex."
    "Since when is meaningless drunken sex a downside?"
    "I didn't say that."
    "You implied it…"
    "Maybe I can come late and just show up for the sex?"
    "You're practically engaged, none of that for you."
    Shaking his head, Scott stood up and turned Jimmy around to push him out of his room, "I'm very much not engaged. But I might swing by and have a couple drinks tonight."
    "Good enough. See ya then, pumpkin."
    "Yes, see ya then, pop tart."
    Jimmy turned, laughing, "Pop tart?"
    "I'm a pumpkin and you can't be a pop tart?"
    "I'm sure there's a joke in there about popping tarts somewhere…"
    "Oh God." Laughing, Scott leaned in and gave Jimmy a small kiss on the cheek, then pushed him out again. "Gimme fifteen minutes and we can take the pups for a walk before we go."
    ****
    After a long afternoon at the park and a quick stop for hamburgers on the way home, Scott told Jimmy he was taking a nap before heading off to Sharon's. Jimmy called him an old man and reminded him to put the baby gate up for the puppies in his room before leaving.
    Scott didn't really need to sleep or do anything in particular; he just didn't feel like being around a crowd of people. He did eventually go to the party, but Jimmy was nowhere to be seen and Rob was ensconced in a conversation with three or four guys Scott didn't know, so he said hi to a few people, made a quick round and went back home again.
    He took the puppies for a long walk and made sure they were settled happily before finally climbing into bed alone. He hated to admit it, but he missed Jimmy and wished the man were with him, but he couldn't bring himself to send a text telling him as much. Instead, he called his sister and talked with her until he was falling asleep on the phone.
    ****
    Wet heat and a slick tongue stroking over the head of his cock. It had to be a dream. Scott's stomach tightened, his shaft rigid as it slid down deeper into the warmth. His own voice shook him awake, groaning loudly as his hips started to rock, body curling around the sensation, his knees pressed against a bare chest, his hand finding thick hair on the top of a head