The Star (Charleston Condors Book 1)

RILEY’S HEART WAS STILL thumping hard when the Uber dropped them off in front of Landry’s townhouse.

It shouldn’t have been.

He shouldn’t still be feeling the press of Landry’s fingertips into his hips, the ghost of his tongue in his mouth. But he was. He couldn’t stop feeling it, even though it had been at least half an hour since he’d been caught up in Landry’s arms. In the interim, he’d had to make more pleasant small talk with Jem and Deacon and then Rex and Eric and Beck, even though a part of his brain—and all of his cock—had been screaming to get Landry alone again.

But Riley couldn’t deny he was still experiencing all those things, and from the dark, intense look Landry shot him as they got out of the car and headed up the stairs towards the door, it seemed very likely he wasn’t the only one who felt like this.

“You still good?” Riley asked as Landry unlocked the door with his code because if he didn’t say something, he was going to go out of his mind. The whole ride home, Landry had been quiet. But then his eyes had said everything he hadn’t. Then there’d been his touch. Insistent and warm, his hand pressing into Riley’s knee.

He’d never considered that particular place an erogenous zone, but by the time they’d arrived at the townhouse, every nerve ending in his knee had been on fire.

Really, not just his knee.

“Am I still good?” Landry asked, chuckling darkly.

They were standing in the foyer. Landry hadn’t bothered to turn the light on, so most of his face was shadowed.

“Yeah.” Riley was uncertain. He’d been so sure the minute they were alone again—actually alone this time—they’d be all over each other, but so far, Landry hadn’t made a move towards him. He’d just stood there and stared at him with an undeniably hungry gaze.

But Landry still didn’t say anything.

“I just…” Riley hesitated. “I know it was a big thing tonight. Like dancing with me and…uh…” Nearly having sex in public?

“You think I didn’t like it?” Landry asked.

“It was just a lot, that’s all.” It had been. Riley had pushed. He knew he had. Maybe he should feel guilty about it, but Landry had been with him every goddamn step of the way, looking like he’d enjoyed every minute of it.

“Come ‘ere,” Landry said roughly, and Riley went because there was never going to be a time when Landry wanted him and he didn’t immediately feel compelled to go. There’d been too many years wishing and hoping and dreaming about this exact request to turn it down now.

Not when he wanted it so much himself.

But instead of kissing him the way Riley had expected, Landry folded him into a tight hug.

Landry gave the best hugs.

Riley hadn’t been lucky enough to experience them that many times, but he’d had enough as a teenager that Landry’s big, warm embrace had only fueled his crush even more.

Now, his hug did more than just fuel a crush.

It was like a spark hitting a pool of gasoline.

“You don’t have to worry about me or about anything we’re doing,” Landry said, his voice a deep rumble hitting Riley square in the chest. “I want this. I want you.”

It was so easy to tilt his head back, and see the desire there in Landry’s eyes, obvious and evident, even if he hadn’t just said the words, and then reach up and kiss him. Riley’s tongue dipped into Landry’s mouth, and that was all they needed to re-kindle the lust between them.

“God,” Landry groaned as Riley’s hands skimmed down his chest, around to his sides. He was so big, so solid. And all Riley’s.

“Come on,” Riley murmured after he broke the kiss. “Let’s go upstairs. As fun as that was, I don’t want to fuck on the stairs again.”

Landry nodded and let Riley lead him upstairs, and this time they didn’t get stuck halfway up.

They made it all the way to Landry’s bedroom at the end of the hall before Landry was on him, kissing him fiercely, tugging at his tank, and yanking it off.

Riley landed on the edge of the bed and was surprised to see Landry fall to his knees in front of him.

Not that it wasn’t a really great fucking look. It was. It was so many fantasies come to life, and Riley could barely believe how good he looked like this.

Like he was ready to give Riley everything he’d ever wanted.

But instead of immediately reaching for his cock, Landry went lower, carefully untying his shoelaces and pulling them off. Then his socks. It wasn’t a particularly sexy striptease, not if Riley was using his normal rubric, but by the time Landry made it to his jeans, his heart was racing. Not just because his fingers were hovering right by where his cock was currently hard and leaking in his briefs.

But because every one of Landry’s movements had been so deliberate. Careful. Slow. Teasing. Riley was practically shaking with anticipation.

Maybe Landry was new to sex with a guy, but he still knew what the fuck he was doing.

“You want this? You want me?” Landry asked quietly as he neatly undid the button on his jeans, then slid the zipper down. Somehow managing not to touch anywhere Riley was desperate for him to touch. Not because he didn’t want to or because he was afraid.

No, that much was obvious to Riley. Landry was drawing out the pleasure. Taking his time. Enjoying every moment.

“I think it’s pretty obvious I do,” Riley said wryly as Landry pulled his jeans down. He squirmed a little as Landry folded them and then turned his burning-hot gaze back on Riley.

Taking in every inch of him.

“You are so fucking gorgeous,” Landry said, and he touched him for real now, a palm against his chest, fingertips trailing down his pecs and then towards his abs. Then he leaned in and his mouth followed the same path, meandering down his skin, like there was no reason to rush. Taking a minute here to suck a nipple into his hot mouth, then another to trace every place where his stomach muscles flexed.

Riley swallowed hard. “Any time now,” he ground out.

“No,” Landry said inexorably. “I want this. I’ve wanted this too long to rush it.”

“But—”

Riley didn’t get any more words out before Landry finally made his move, his mouth closing quick and burning around his cock, straining against the fabric of his briefs.

“I’ve never done this before,” Landry murmured as he finally pulled the last piece of his clothing off. “So if I do something you don’t like or don’t do something you want…” Landry trailed off. Curled his tongue around the head of his cock and sucked, and Riley nearly shouted with the sudden wave of pleasure washing through him.

But then he pulled back, Riley wanting nothing more than to chase the intoxicating heat of his mouth, but then he understood.

Not just why he’d said it. But what Landry wanted.

Yes, he hadn’t done this before, but truthfully, it didn’t matter because it was already better with Landry than it had ever been before.

“No,” Riley said, shaking his head. “No, I’m good. I’m so good. Please. God, please.”

Like before, Landry was slow. Cautious. Gradually sliding Riley’s cock into his mouth inch by inch, taking his time. Making a long, leisurely perusal of every bit of it. Cataloging, Riley would guess, every single one of his reactions.

It was the most deliberate and yet the hottest blowjob he’d ever gotten.

His fingers curled into the quilt on Landry’s bed, and he tried hard to just hang on and not blow his load all over Landry’s face.

Not that that wouldn’t be the most ridiculously wonderful outcome possible, but Riley wanted him to want to do it again. Wanted to feel this way again and again and about a hundred thousand fucking times after this.

Not helping was the running commentary Landry was subjecting him to.

You’re so fucking gorgeous.

I love the way you taste.

I could do this forever.

You can’t believe how fucking hot you are right now.

I’m gonna come just looking at you.

Riley panted, trying to fight for control, as Landry tried his best to take him apart.

Landry slipped his fingers lower, exploring every inch of his balls, and then he went lower still, sliding a thumb wet with spit over his hole, and Riley clenched down hard, hovering right on the edge of exploding with the most insane orgasm of his life.

Only too many years of holding back, and a history of ironclad control, kept him together.

“Landry,” Riley groaned, squeezing his eyes shut.

“You practically vibrated when I did that.” Landry sounded awed. And then he did it again, this time his thumb slipping in just the tiniest bit, and Riley cried out again.

“Next time,” Landry vowed, “I’m gonna bend you over this bed and fuck you until you beg for more.”

“You can’t…you can’t say that shit right now.” Riley was at the top of the cliff. Teetering on it. Looking down. Craving the wind rushing by his face when he dove off.

He’d never wanted something so badly in his whole fucking life.

“Why not?” Landry sounded amused. He repeated the movement, the brush of his thumb more deliberate than experimental now, like he knew exactly what this was going to do to Riley.

Like that end goal was one he wanted, too.

“I’m gonna—” Riley broke off in a string of curses. “I’m gonna come, goddamnit.”

“I know,” Landry said and slid his cock back in his mouth. Riley felt it twitch against his tongue, once and then twice, and then he was exploding in a rush he wouldn’t ever forget.

He came down slowly, realizing one moment at a time what had happened.

Landry had totally goaded him into coming in his mouth, even though he’d intended to take it easier on him.

And yes, that was totally Landry’s mouth swallowing around him as his orgasm pulsed through him.

“Shit,” Riley murmured, reaching down and cupping Landry’s face with his palm. But his eyes were calm. Unbothered.

Okay, bothered some. Like hot and bothered.

Not disgusted or grossed-out bothered.

Finally, Riley’s softening cock slipped from between Landry’s lips, and it took every bit of Riley’s determination to stay upright.

“That was,” he said in a hushed voice, “the most fucking incredible…”

“It was okay?” Landry asked, sounding like he actually worried it might not be. Like it hadn’t been the most mind-altering orgasm Riley had ever experienced.

“It was more than okay,” Riley promised. “I wasn’t going to…you didn’t have to…”

“I wanted to,” Landry said with certainty. He rose with shaky knees.

Riley turned to him, pressing a hot kiss against his mouth. “And I want to, too,” he promised and reached for the fastenings on Landry’s jeans.

“You touch me, I’m gonna come,” Landry warned. “I’m…”

“Did that turn you on?”

Landry looked at him with wide, baffled eyes, the pupils almost totally dilated. “Is the sky blue? I had to stop myself from coming when you did.”

“Really?” That was beyond hot. Riley couldn’t believe how hot it was. If he hadn’t just come his brains out, he’d seriously be thinking about getting hard again.

Landry nodded, and Riley didn’t waste a moment. He shucked Landry’s jeans off, then his boxer briefs, and took him in his hand. Landry was huge and hard, twitching as Riley’s hand touched him. He wanted to lean over and finally get a taste, too, but before he even could, Landry was coming, shaking like a leaf as he shot stripe after stripe of come onto Riley’s palm.

“Jesus,” Landry said on a sharp exhale as he finally finished.

“I don’t think he’s here right now,” Riley said cheekily. Reached over and grabbed a tissue from the box on the bedside table. “But next time, if you ask very nicely, I’ll see if he’s available to come suck your cock.”

“Really?” Landry looked at him with wonder. Like that was more than he’d ever expected.

Riley rolled his eyes as he finished cleaning up. “I’ve only been dying to get my mouth on you for almost ten years. You just beat me to it, that’s all.”

Landry looked very smug. Like he was undeniably proud of this particular fact. He collapsed backwards on the bed, his gaze fond and affectionate on Riley as he tossed the tissues in the garbage can by the door. “I’m not gonna complain if you want to do that. And I’m definitely not gonna complain if you want me to do it again.”

“Good,” Riley said. He arranged himself next to Landry. “Good news, we’ve established we both very much like cock.”

Landry laughed. “Yeah, I think that ship has sailed.”

“Right out of the harbor,” Riley agreed.

For a long moment, they lay there in silence.

It was nice to be able to just be, Riley thought, and not have to make conversation. Not have to be clever or witty or on top of his game. Landry just accepted.

“I hate to do this,” Landry said, actually sounding regretful, “but your brother texted me about you today.”

“You mean, you hate to bring my brother into this nice post-sex haze we’re enjoying or you hate having to bring him up at all?” Riley joked, even though he had a feeling he knew which it was.

“Both, actually,” Landry said reluctantly. “He’s worried about you.”

Aidan was. That was undeniable. Riley knew it just from the texts he’d gotten and ignored.

“Did you tell him he doesn’t have to be?”

“Yes.”

“He’s just mad I didn’t answer his email. Thinks I didn’t read it.”

“You didn’t, right?” Landry reached out and stroked Riley’s shoulder reassuringly.

Riley nodded. “But I haven’t done that before, and unsurprisingly, Aidan isn’t handling that well.”

“Well, you aren’t required to do anything to make him happy. You’re focusing on you, and that’s good.”

It was. Riley couldn’t argue with that.

But he also couldn’t deny he’d been thinking about the email all day, not only because his brother had kept texting.

What if he’d said something good? Something helpful? Even worse, what if he’d said something important and Riley didn’t know because he was too afraid of being chastised?

It was why he’d never deleted Aidan’s emails unread before.

After all, his brother was a very successful NFL quarterback. He had a lot of knowledge, and it was stupid to ignore him just because he could be an asshole.

“Why do I have a feeling,” Landry asked, a thread of dark amusement winding through his voice, “you don’t necessarily agree?”

“I do, though. I just think…” Riley licked his lips. “I just worry I’m gonna miss something important because I’m being stubborn.”

“Listen, I’m the resident expert on stubborn brothers ‘cause I’ve got two of them—plus a sister, who between the two of us make mules look flexible,” Landry pointed out dryly. “Trust me. You’re not being stubborn.”

Riley didn’t say anything. He knew Landry was trying to help. He didn’t even necessarily think Landry was wrong.

“What else did he say?”

What else did you tell him? was the question Riley really wanted to ask but didn’t quite have the nerve to.

They hadn’t even discussed between the two of them what was really going on. They’d established this was more than just experimentation or letting off steam. But if it wasn’t that, what was it? Was it a relationship? Was it a serious relationship? Had they both caught feelings?

Riley didn’t think he could catch feelings because he’d already had them forever.

Surely they needed to have that discussion before they even considered how to tell Aidan what was going on.

Though, he already knew Landry was going to be much more interested in disclosing the truth than Riley was. As far as Riley was concerned, what he did in his personal time was not his brother’s business.

“Not much else,” Landry admitted. “What if…what if I read the email instead of you? What if I told you if there was something you needed to know?”

Riley stared at him, but Landry’s expression was perfectly serious. He meant it.

“You want to read Aidan’s email and tell me if it’s full of shit or not?”

Landry nodded. “That’s the idea. And it’s a good one, too.”

Except for the part where you’ll know all the stupid things Aidan calls me out for.

But he and Landry were on the same team now. He’d been front and center for every dumb mistake Riley had made, and he was still here, standing behind him, supporting him.

“Actually…it kinda is,” Riley admitted. “I just can’t believe you’d be willing to do that.”

He’d always assumed Landry was Aidan’s number-one supporter.

But maybe that wasn’t necessarily as true as it had always been.

Maybe Riley had managed to steal away a little of his loyalty over the last week.

Maybe more than just a little.

It felt like Landry’s gaze grew even more serious. “Riley, I know this has been…quick…but I care about you. I wouldn’t be here with you otherwise.”

“This is your house,” Riley tried to tease, but he felt the impact of the words deep down. He told himself to not shy away from the seriousness of them, but he didn’t do serious usually.

Landry’s fingers reached up and stroked his face. Like he knew exactly why Riley was joking now.

“You know what I mean,” he said.

Riley did.

“Yes,” Riley admitted. It shouldn’t be hard to admit it, but it was.

Because yes, while Riley’s crush had always been there, lingering in the background, always cropping up whenever Landry came around, the emotions swirling around inside him not only felt new, they were unexpectedly strong.

“Come on, go grab your tablet and let me read it. I’m gonna go get ready for bed,” Landry said, the corner of his mouth tilting up in a gentle smile. That was the other thing about Landry; besides his heart-stopping looks and his ride-or-die loyalty, when he left the football field, he was surprisingly measured and cautious and gentle. On the field, he was a freaking beast, but off of it, he was the kind of guy Riley had always thought he might end up with someday if he could ever slow down.

The irony was he’d had to speed up, and yet the guy had still showed up right in his path.

No, not right in his path. Not blocking him. With him, on the next path over. Encouraging him. Supporting him. Being a friend and now a lover.

Was it any surprise he was a little freaked out?

“Alright,” Riley said. He pulled on his briefs and tank and headed out of the room.

After grabbing his tablet from his room, he detoured downstairs, pulling his phone out.

Instead of texting, this time, he called her. It was a risk, but he felt so unsettled it was worth doing.

That shouldn’t be the case, not when he was finally getting everything he wanted. Right?

“Wow, hell must’ve frozen over,” Paige said, sounding both amused and distracted when she answered. “You’re actually calling.”

“I need your help,” he hissed under his breath.

“Honey, I’m gonna tell you right now I’m not the best person to ask about screens and pass protection and touchdowns.”

Riley huffed under his breath. Just hearing her voice made him feel better. Slightly less out of control, anyway. “Believe me, I know that,” he said. “I need you to tell me I’m not losing my mind.”

Her silence was pointed.

“About?” she finally said. Though he had a feeling she didn’t really need to ask. She already knew what his panic was about.

She’d probably known this moment was coming from the drinks they’d shared before he’d ever left LA.

“You know what,” he said.

She sighed. “Riley, you’ve only liked him for what…your entire freaking life?”

“It’s not the same,” he insisted. “It’s…it’s…” He couldn’t put it into words. Wished Paige was right in front of him so he could make some big wide-spread gesture. Because that might properly convey what he was feeling.

“I told you, you always sell yourself short. Settle for short term, for people you don’t really like because it’s simpler. It’s what you’re used to. You’re not that involved, so it’s easy to extricate yourself. It’s comfortable, even.”

“I didn’t know what I was doing, or where I’d be living, or even what job I’d have in a few years. That was kind of necessary,” Riley argued.

“Bullshit,” Paige said simply. “You were just afraid, and that was a good excuse. But you’re right there with Landry now, and you can’t get away—and you don’t even want to.”

That was true. The closer Landry became, the more Riley squirmed uncomfortably, but when he had a chance, he still went to him, as easy as breathing.

“You’re the worst,” Riley muttered.

“I know, honey, I know. But it’s good. This is very exciting for you.”

“Don’t be patronizing.”

“Well, don’t be a scaredy-cat, and I won’t be.”

Riley was silent.

“This is where you insist very adamantly that you’re not terrified out of your fucking mind,” Paige continued.

But he was.

There was no denying it.

He was scared of what would happen on Sunday when he took to the field.

He was even more scared Landry might see his fear and not even judge him for it.

“I can’t,” Riley said, and he felt raw admitting it. But it was true.

“Good,” Paige said. “Now I gotta go, but you stay in touch, okay? Don’t be a stranger just because you’re all cuddled up with your own personal Thor.”

“I won’t,” Riley said, and he was chuckling now because that was who Paige was. She could make him smile even when everything felt dire.

She hung up before saying anything else, and he looked up and saw Landry standing in the doorway to the kitchen, naked as the day he was born.

‘Course, he hadn’t looked that way the day he was born.

Are you ever gonna get used to that?

The answer was no, he never was.

Maybe that was why he couldn’t stop squirming.

“I thought I lost you,” Landry said as he walked past him into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Riley said. “Just needed to talk to Paige for a minute.”

“Paige?” Landry raised an eyebrow.

“She’s my best friend,” Riley said. “Kinda the mirror I like to hold myself up to, once in a while.”

“Ah, the mirror you chose. Aidan’s what…the mirror you got saddled with?” Landry was quiet, but he wasn’t stupid. Not by a long shot.

“Something like that,” Riley said.

“Come on,” Landry said. “Let’s go to bed, and I’ll read that email.”

Yes, that was exactly the problem. No matter how scared Riley got, he’d still follow Landry anywhere, anytime he called.

It was a siren song he didn’t even want to fight.

They settled back in Landry’s bed, Landry with Riley’s tablet, and Riley with his phone, scrolling through his Instagram feed.

Someday maybe Landry would make a full confession about what had changed his mind about Instagram.

But today was not that day.

He found Aidan’s email in Riley’s trash folder and opened it.

Landry hadn’t known what to expect. He’d had some idea, of course, because of the things Aidan had said over the years and references Riley had made since coming to Charleston.

But still, Landry hadn’t expected this.

“You know, this would almost be nice if you weren’t currently dealing with my brother’s crap,” Riley said, as Landry was reading the email for the third time, trying to tamp down a spike of sudden temper at the patronizing, blunt way Aidan laid out every single mistake—or even slight misstep—Riley had made during the game, starting with the safety he’d given up and even ending with criticism about the way he’d scored the Condors’ last touchdown. Aidan hadn’t liked the route he’d taken. There’d been a better one, or so he claimed.

Personally, Landry thought that was bullshit.

Aidan ended the email by offering scant praise at the win, adding that he shouldn’t get used to relying so heavily on his defense.

Except the Condors had won twenty-four to five.

By nineteen fucking points.

That was hardly relying on the defense.

Landry tossed the tablet down to the bed before he did something stupid, like hurling it at the wall.

“How do you do it?” he asked, or really, quasi-demanded.

Riley just shrugged. Like this was normal. “He was probably worked up about the safety and was worse than usual. That’s not…that’s not unexpected.”

“It is to me,” Landry said, and he slung an arm around Riley’s shoulders, tugging him close. “Why is your brother such a…” He couldn’t think of what exactly Aidan was; that was how angry he was.

“Controlling asshole? Total butthead? Unrepentant jerk?” Riley was actually still smiling. Probably because he hadn’t read the email, but Landry had.

“Yes,” Landry said between clenched teeth.

“So nothing worth reading?” Riley asked the question lightly, but Landry heard the uncertainty in Riley’s voice.

The lack of confidence.

“Riley, you led us to a great win,” Landry said, trying to find his patience. Not that Riley had tested it; it was Aidan who was making it so hard not to totally lose his shit. “You did that. Not Aidan. He wasn’t there. But you were. Just you.”

“He kinda was, though. He’s given me lots of good advice over the years. I mean, terrible advice, too, in that a lot of it made me want to throw in the towel, but I’ve learned with him. You gotta take some of the bad with the good.”

“No,” Landry said. “You don’t. You don’t have to do that.”

“See?” Riley sighed. “This is why I didn’t want you to read it. Now you’re pissed off at him. I didn’t want to fuck up your friendship. You were friends with him first, for a long time, before we even…” He trailed off like he wasn’t sure what they were doing.

Landry wasn’t sure what they were doing either, but he knew enough to know he wanted to fight for Riley—tooth and nail.

Even against his best friend.

“I mean this with all the love for Aidan in the world, and honestly, I probably love him more than almost anyone else, but he’s not only full of himself, he’s also full of shit.”

“He can be.”

“Which is why you need to tell him to fuck off. Which is why I’m thinking I want to tell him to fuck off.”

“You can’t,” Riley protested.

He really shouldn’t. Landry knew it. The relationship between Riley and Aidan was their own business. Just like his own relationship with Aidan was between the two of them.

And the relationship he shared with Riley was their own business.

He could imagine that was going to make Aidan really lose his shit, even though it was absolutely none of his business.

“I know,” Landry acknowledged. “I can’t.”

“I can’t believe there was nothing helpful,” Riley said, grimacing.

“You might want to take a look at the route you took on that last touchdown, see if maybe you could adjust it.” Landry hated saying it because the route he had taken was good enough. Good enough to score.

But maybe Aidan had had a point—and if he didn’t, it would be easy enough to see on film.

“I know which one you’re talking about,” Riley said, humming to himself as he recalled the play. “I’ll take a look at it tomorrow.”

Landry buried his face in Riley’s shoulder. Feeling more in this moment than he necessarily felt comfortable with. He hadn’t realized reading that email was going to be taking a peek behind the curtain. That it would be like seeing right into Riley’s soul and what he’d put up with over the years.

That it would make him want to burrow in even deeper.

“Thank you,” Riley said softly. “I know that was…weird. But it feels good to actually not have to shovel through all that crap.”

“You shouldn’t have to,” Landry argued.

“Haven’t your brothers given you a lot of trouble over the years?”

“Yeah, but…but not like this,” Landry said.

It was true. His brothers were seriously going to make him prematurely gray. He’d hated how Logan dealt with the ex-boyfriend who’d outed him the year before. He’d hated how he’d just sat and taken all the bullshit the guy had said about him and his friend—at the time—Dylan.

But Logan was a big boy, and he’d handled it, and it had turned out that all the ways Landry had wanted to take care of it would’ve only made it worse.

It had been tough to acknowledge but necessary to realize that Logan had been right.

And Levi? Landry worried about him being all alone out there in Seattle, with nobody he was close to, sticking just to hookups, the way Logan used to before he’d met Dylan.

Maybe he could use some of what Logan had learned here.

Or maybe he could just call up Aidan and give him a piece of his mind.

“Don’t,” Riley said, but he was smiling. Landry could feel it. “I know what you’re thinking, and don’t.”

“Alright,” Landry said. “But know that I want to.”

“I do.” Riley’s voice was quiet. Serious.

Landry reached over and switched off the light, and it felt so natural to just fall asleep like that.