Page 7 of Their Starlight
“She’s trouble,” I said, eventually.
Lance laughed, heading to his own room. “Oh, I hope so.”
3
LANCE
My trainers pounded the pavement and my breath misted into the cool, early morning air. Although we had returned to the dorms in the wee hours of the morning, I was up and running by six. My father insisted on discipline, regime, and consistency and I have lived with it my entire life. It had its benefits, but it also means that I can’t sleep past five-thirty. Every morning I would run for an hour to clear my head and allow myself to think of nothing. But today my brain was full of last night. Elle was perfection; she’d knocked me sideways when I first laid eyes on her, makeup free with her hair piled haphazardly on top of her head. Then when she came out of her room in that tiny dress, her dewy skin on show, and her face made up in sultry tones, I was hard…instantly.
Girls were always going to be a part of my uni experience, but it was clear that Elle wasn’t a flying fancy. I liked her. I enjoyed her company last night; she was sweet, funny, and confident, which not only turned me on but made me feel at ease. Then she sang and fuck me, she had me enraptured. Her voice held so much emotion, an ocean of feeling that pulled me in and left me adrift. She was something special, that was for sure. And I wouldn’t sully her with a one-time fuck, the only thing I could offer if I acted on my attraction. So as I climbed a hill, the air starting to slice through my lungs, I resolved to keep my relationship with Elle as friends. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy that friendship.
After returning to the dorms and showering, allowing myself longer than usual under the steaming spray, I went to the kitchen to put the kettle on. I made myself a coffee and found myself making a second coffee and a tea for Elle as I didn’t know what her preference was. I’d put on the pyjama set I’d bought just for uni since I sleep naked but thought something comfortable was required for early morning coffee runs to the kitchen. It was justpast eight when I knocked on Elle’s door and smiled to myself hearing, what I could only assume was her falling out of bed and then knocking into a pile of boxes on her way to answer.
The door swung open to reveal Elle in little satin pyjamas that covered very little of her skin. There had obviously been some attempt at removing her makeup last night but there were dark smudges under her eyes. An eye-mask that matched her pyjamas had been pushed up to her forehead and was surrounded by a mass of flyaway hair. I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped my throat, she just screwed her face up in disgust.
“How have you woken up looking like a friggin’ model?”
“I’ve already been for a run and showered this morning,” I said, smiling at her.
“Eurgh, you’re one ofthose.”
I chuckled and presented her with the two mugs balanced in one grip. “One’s coffee, one’s tea. I didn’t know what you liked.”
“Tea, please,” her eyes widened in excitement, taking the preferred mug. I went to leave but she opened her door wide and jerked her head in invitation. “Wanna watch a movie?”
“Sure,” I smiled, coming into her room and resting the spare coffee on her windowsill.
“Would Brent drink that?” She dipped her chin to the mug.
“He doesn’t drink caffeine, didn’t drink alcohol until recently. I think I’m a bad influence on him.” I gave a small chuckle to try and hide the fact that my statement was truer than I would like.
“You guys known each other long?” She climbed onto her rumpled bed, squeezing into the corner against the wall and patted the mattress next to her.
I cocked my eyebrow, wanting nothing more than to climb in next to her but knowing that was not a good idea. “He’s my cousin,” I say simply.
“That’s cute, you two coming to uni together, you must be close.” She smirked at me still stood awkwardly in the middle of her room. “If you want to see a movie on my tiny laptop, you’ll need to get a bit closer, don’t worry, I won’t bite.” She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth a slight flush rising to her cheeks as she gave me a slow perusal.
Fuck. My cock twitched and my lungs constricted so my next breath was a rasp. Her head rolled back as she laughed, a soundalmost as beautiful as her singing voice. I felt my lips curl into a broad smile.
“You really are trouble,” I huffed out on a laugh.
She gave an exaggerated pout. “Who said I was trouble?”
“Brent.”
“Figures, I don’t think the big guy likes me,” she said with a shrug.
“Don’t take it personally, he doesn’t like anyone. Now, budge up.” I climbed on the bed and propped myself up on her pillows. She didn’t budge, so as she laid on her side, the length of her body was touching me from shoulder to ankle.
I grabbed her laptop from the desk, which was within easy reach in the tiny room and opened it up for her to log on. We were arguing over movie choices with amused smirks when there was a knock at the door. Without missing beat, Elle yelled, “It’s open.”
The door swung open and Hayden stood the other side, wearing the same clothes he’d been in the night before. His longer dark hair fell over his eyes which took in the sight of Elle and I sharing the bed with a wicked gleam and his full lips tilted on one side.
“Well, looks like I missed quite the party.”
Here’s the thing. I have always known that my appreciation for male beauty was more than that of other men. I’d never put a label on it because the fact of the matter was I couldn’t do anything about it. I’d lusted after men; fictional men on my television screen or in the pornos I watched to get myself off when I couldn’t be bothered to find a woman for the night. I wasn’t ashamed of it; I knew who I was. But my father would sooner kill me than have a son in a same-sex relationship. Seems harsh but it’s fact. The men that I grew up around, the men who I would be expected to lead when the mantle was passed from my father, would not accept queerness. I’ve never had a problem, I was free to enjoy my private thoughts and imaginings and I have always loved women, enjoyed their bodies and their company and I didn’t need anything more. But then I’d never seen a man kiss another man in person. Not until last night. I’d never been attracted to a man I knew in real life. Not until last night.
Elle rolled her eyes. “Lance just joined me this morning for a movie. What about you, dirty stop out? Did you have fun last night?”