Nemesis: Because I Want You - 8. Chapter Eight: Because I Want You

CHAPTER EIGHT

Because I Want You

Dave’s jeans were far too long at the leg, but only a little bit too wide for Nick. He had hung his wet clothes in the en suite bathroom to Dave’s bedroom to dry and looked around as he zipped up the jeans. Dave’s room was more than twice the size of his own. Nearly everything in the room was twice the size of the things he owned, too. Dave had a king size bed, a thirty inch computer screen and a walk-in closet that was, on its own, nearly as big as Nick’s entire bedroom. Everything was beautifully decorated in various shades of blue, green, and off-white, though the effect was rather ruined by the dirty laundry and general messiness one would commonly associate with the bedroom of a normal teenage boy.

Nick tiptoed down the stairs into the living room, lingering in the doorway. It was a handsome room, decorated in creamy whites and earth tones, with a comfortable looking sofa in beige suede leather and matching arm chairs, several bookshelves in dark wood lining the walls, a glass topped coffee table, and a very large flat screen TV. There were several paintings on the walls and an antique, Victorian fireplace. The rain was still pitter-pattering on the tall windows facing the garden. The sky outside was darkening.

Dave was reclining on the sofa. He had gone for the rather more leisurely option of pyjama bottoms and a very silky looking dressing gown, and he was reading a magazine. He was wearing a pair of fashionable black-rimmed glasses, and his blond hair was still damp from the rain. He looked so delicious where he sat that Nick almost had to stifle a whimper.

All the same, Dave must have heard him enter, because he looked up, smiling, and took off his glasses, laying the magazine aside (somewhere in the back of his mind, Nick managed to note that it was a science journal).

‘Hey, you,’ said Dave softly.

Nick blushed. ‘Hi . . .’ He looked away. ‘I, er . . . I never knew you needed glasses.’

‘Yeah. I normally wear contacts, to school and stuff.’

Nick nodded, his gaze fixed on a spot on the floor a few feet in front of him.

‘Well, come on, then,’ said Dave, encouragingly. ‘Have a seat.’ He scooted over a bit on the sofa, making room.

Nick looked up, his tongue absent-mindedly flicking out of his mouth and brushing his upper lip. He took a hesitant step forward, drew a deep breath, and went to sit down, looking as casual as he could possibly manage. He sat down gingerly, pulling his left foot up to rest under his right knee, and glanced uncertainly at Dave.

‘So,’ said Dave cheerfully. ‘What would you like to do? I’ve got XBox, movies, we can pop popcorn, heat up a pizza . . . Whatever you like, really.’ He smiled at Nick. ‘Honestly, just tell me what you want.’

God, I want you, Nick thought, but he didn’t voice it out loud. Instead he said, ‘I . . . I don’t really know . . . What games have you got?’

In the end they picked a random dual-player racing game and amused themselves with that for a while, occasionally glancing over at one another.

‘Haha, yes!’ Dave exclaimed triumphantly when he creamed Nick for the third time.

Nick laughed as well, putting down the controller and leaning back in his seat, a bit more at ease now.

‘You are way too fucking good at this, you know,’ he said shaking his head.

‘I’ve been grounded for a week and couldn’t play football. What else was I supposed to do with my time?’ Dave joked. He put down his controller on the coffee table and had a sip of cherry Tango. ‘What can I say? I have no life.’

Nick snorted a laugh at this. ‘What, you? Mr. Popular? No life?’

‘Not one that matters much, anyway,’ said Dave, shrugging. He pulled up one leg under him and turned so he was facing Nick, resting his elbow on the backrest and his face in his hand. He was still smiling, but it was a different sort of smile now, more serious. His blue eyes were boring into Nick’s, making him feel exposed and bare.

Nick felt a flutter in his gut, and before he knew what he was doing, he had leaned forward and placed a kiss on the other boy’s lips. A small, chaste one, no tongue. Dave made a sharp intake of breath, and Nick broke the kiss, petrified. His heart rate had doubled, and his palms were sweaty. He waited for what felt like an eternity, his face mere inches away from Dave’s. Was he about to get punched again?

But Dave lifted a hand to Nick’s cheek and ran his thumb over his bottom lip. Nick shivered at the touch and closed his eyes.

And then Dave brought their lips together, and it was as though something erupted inside Nick. Dave’s tongue traced the contours of his lips, and Nick parted them willingly, welcoming Dave’s tongue into his mouth. The kiss was warm and soft and tasted of cherry Tango and Dave smelled like rain and fresh laundry and autumn.

Dave slipped an arm around Nick’s waist and pulled him closer, his other hand tracing the line of his jaw up to his ear and then disappearing into his hair. He lowered Nick onto his back on the sofa, and his dressing gown fell open to reveal his toned torso. Nick put his arms around Dave’s neck as the kiss intensified.

Dave broke contact with Nick’s lips and instead kissed a trail down his cheek and his jaw to his neck, where he started to lick and suck and nibble, and Nick threw his head back and uttered a groan. Dave seemed to like hearing that, because his mouth became more insisting. There appeared to be a direct line from Nick’s neck to his dick, because the feel of Dave’s lips and teeth and tongue there, combined with the weight of his body on top of him, was almost enough to make Nick come right then and there.

Dave found Nick’s earlobe and sucked on that for a moment, enticing small whimpers from Nick’s mouth, before returning to capture his lips again. He bit gently at Nick’s lower lip and let his tongue flit in and out of his mouth teasingly. Nick moaned into Dave’s mouth, feeling as though his entire body was about to burst.

Now, Dave slipped a hand under Nick’s t-shirt (technically Dave’s t-shirt) and stroked the soft skin of his stomach. Nick’s hips bucked involuntarily and Dave smiled into the kiss.

‘Eager, aren’t you?’ he said in a throaty voice. Nick could make no reply, too amazed at what this was doing to his body. Dave’s hand moved up to his chest, brushing his nipple, which hardened at the touch. Breaking the kiss and looking into Nick’s eyes again, Dave squeezed the nipple gently between thumb and forefinger. Nick drew a shuddering breath and bit his lip. Dave shifted a little, and Nick felt the heaviness of Dave’s hard-on against his leg, through the layers of fabric.

‘Oh fuck, no!’ Nick gasped, as his hips bucked again. ‘Dave, stop, I can’t—‘

But it was too late. With a spasm, he came in his pants, shuddering all over.

* * *

Nick looked away, blushing furiously. ‘I’m sorry,’ he mumbled as Dave climbed off him, surveying his face.

‘Hey, don’t worry,’ said Dave softly. ‘Happens to the best of us, doesn’t it?’

Nick sat up, still not meeting Dave’s gaze. Dave ignored his hard-on as best he could and sat next to him. He felt suddenly a little awkward. That had turned him on so much more than it ought to have done, though he supposed that imagining kissing Nick in the first place should have been a clue that he might not be entirely straight after all.

‘Really, Nick, it’s okay,’ he tried again. He reached out and touched Nick’s shoulder. Nick quickly stood.

‘I’m just—I’ll go change.’

‘All right,’ said Dave, uncertainly. ‘Hey, if you need to borrow clean pants there are some in my room. Top right drawer of the dresser.’

Nick said nothing and disappeared into the hallway. A moment later, Dave heard him climb the stairs. Dave leaned back on the sofa, heaving a heavy sigh. He tried to examine his feelings again. He had enjoyed that, and he’d wanted to do it. That had to mean that he was bisexual or something. He had wanted to do it with Nick, and no one else, so that had to mean he was attracted to Nick. Awkward though it had been, part of him felt almost smug that he’d been able to have that effect on him.

Was there anything else he wanted from Nick? He picked his way through a mental list, rationally and methodically. He wanted to kiss him, that much was clear. Did he also want to hold him? Yes, holding sounded like a thing to do. Spend time with him? Well, he certainly wanted to get to know him better.

So how did he feel about Nick? He found him attractive. His features, though not classically beautiful, had a sort of elegance to them that he hadn’t seen in anyone else. His eyes were grey and sad and haunting, and amazingly gorgeous, but what he loved best about them was the way they lit up when Nick smiled. The way he got embarrassed, looked away, bit his lip, was adorable.

Hearing Nick play guitar and sing that time had made Dave wonder what else he didn’t know about him. He was fascinated and he wanted to learn more.

Nick reappeared a few minutes later, back in his own jeans, which were now mostly dry. He stood in the doorway again, as though unsure of whether he was welcome. Dave tried to smile encouragingly, and Nick returned to the sofa.

‘I’m sorry if I moved too quickly,’ said Dave after a moment’s awkward silence. ‘I guess you don’t really have much experience, so really it was my fault.’

Nick looked up at him and smiled uncertainly. ‘No, I should have . . . You know, I should have had some self-control.’

They sat still, looking at one another for a few moments.

This time, Nick broke the silence. ‘So . . . What happens now?’

Dave swallowed and looked at his hands. ‘I dunno,’ he said slowly. ‘I mean, I guess I’d like to, you know, spend some more time with you . . .’

‘Me too,’ said Nick quickly.

Dave hazarded a look, and their eyes met again. ‘And, uh . . .’ he began, not sure how to phrase the next part. ‘I’d like to do more of . . . that . . . Like, a lot of that.’ He felt his face flush.

‘Yeah,’ said Nick, not breaking eye contact this time. ‘Yeah, I think that sounds like a good plan.’ He smiled, and that smile was like a whole new side of him; a Nick that was sexy and daring, and Dave realised that he had barely scratched the surface of this boy who was so much more than he had ever imagined, and he wanted more.

So he leaned over and kissed Nick again, more gently this time. Nick closed his eyes and sighed happily. Dave found that he wanted to see Nick happy a lot more, and he smiled against the other’s lips.

* * *

When Nick got home that evening, he told Zoë that he and Dave had decided to end their feud and become friends, but that she shouldn’t tell anyone. She was gobsmacked, but pleased, though she expressed worry that Dave wanted to keep it a secret.

‘It’s not his fault,’ Nick explained. ‘It’s his dad. You’ve met his dad.’

Zoë thought for a moment. ‘Yes,’ she said finally. ‘George Thompson. At parent’s night. He looked down his nose at me and said, “Oh, so you’re the Davis girl.”’ She sighed. ‘Point taken.’

Nick went up to his room and texted Dave, inviting him over the following day. (Dave immediately responded with a yes.) Then he turned on his computer.

He told Mel everything, leaving out the most embarrassing details, then waited patiently for a response.

Mel: But he doesn’t even want to tell anyone that you’re friends?

Nick frowned. This again?

Nick: You don’t know D’s dad. There would be hell to pay if he found out, even about that. My family isn’t good enough to associate with theirs, and he’s always wanted D and I to keep up the feud.

Mel: So, that means more to him than you do?

Nick: Well, it’s early days, we don’t know what’s going to happen! Why are you being like this? Can’t you just be happy for me?

He waited nervously. He had never really had a disagreement with Mel before, unless you counted the thing about Linda. After a few moments the Messenger window lit up again.

Mel: I’m sorry. I AM happy for you, really. I’m just worried… What if this is another Linda?

Nick smiled in spite of himself.

Nick: For some reason I doubt that D would go to this far just to humiliate me. Kissing me and touching me and stuff, if he doesn’t really have feelings for me… Can’t imagine it.

Mel: You seem very certain. I’m happy for you.

* * *

Dave went to Nick’s house at two o’clock the following afternoon. Zoë and Craig had gone off to the pub to watch the football match, so there were no awkward introductions to be made away with. Dave was grateful for that. He wasn’t sure how he’d react to meeting Craig, knowing what he knew.

Nick showed him around the small house, ending the tour with his bedroom. He seemed to hesitate a bit before opening the door.

‘It’s not much,’ he mumbled as they stepped inside.

Nick’s room was painted blue and simply decorated. It contained a desk, a computer, a narrow bookcase, a closet, and a bed. The walls were covered with posters of various bands. In a corner of the room stood his guitar, a dark blue Ibanez. Dave was tempted to ask Nick to play him something, but he hadn’t yet told him about listening in on him, and wasn’t certain he should, so he was unsure about how to bring it up.

‘I’ll put on some music,’ said Nick, busying himself with his iPod over by the dock in the bookcase while Dave sat down on the bed.

He put on something with synthesisers and electric guitars, and a high, thin vocal. Dave couldn’t quite decide whether it was a boy or a girl singing.

‘Come back to me a while. Change your style again . . .’ sang the voice.

‘Who’s this?’ asked Dave when Nick turned around.

‘Placebo,’ said Nick, pointing to one of the posters on the wall. Dave glanced at it, but it made him none the wiser. The figure in the centre, staring out at him from under heavily made-up eyelids, could have been either gender. Either way, Dave noted, they were breathtakingly beautiful, in an androgynous sort of way.

‘They’re my favourite band,’ Nick continued, sitting down next to Dave on the bed. ‘Their music has helped me through a lot. And I used to have the biggest crush on their singer . . .’ Ah. Probably male, then.

Dave looked at Nick, who glanced awkwardly back at him.

‘Come back to me a while. Change your taste in men . . .’

Dave touched Nick’s cheek, turning his face gently towards him. Ever since Nick had left the previous night, this was all Dave had been able to think about. Kissing him again. Feeling his lips against his own, running his fingers through his hair, holding him close.

So he did.

They lay down on the bed together, on their sides, facing one another. Dave kissed Nick softly, carefully, one hand resting on his hip. He didn’t want to rush things, just enjoy the feel of it. Nick made a soft sound and parted his lips as Dave ran his tongue over them. Dave took his time, tasting, feeling, moving his tongue slowly around, enjoying the feeling of Nick’s response.

Nick seemed to be growing impatient, however, and soon broke the kiss and instead attached his lips to Dave’s neck, leaving soft kisses there. Dave was somewhat surprised by this, but he leaned his head back to expose his neck and give Nick better access, and the other kissed his way down the length of his neck. Then he stuck out his tongue and licked a trail from the hollow of Dave’s throat up to his chin, and Dave moaned. Nick licked and kissed his way along Dave’s jawline, up to his earlobe, which he slowly took into his mouth and sucked on, causing Dave to groan deep in his throat.

‘Oh, fuck . . . That feels amazing!’

Nick took hold of the hand on his hip, then, and, entwining their fingers, pushed Dave onto his back and into the mattress, swinging one leg over him as he did. He looked down at Dave for a moment, caressing the side of his face gently, lips parted and face flushed.

‘You look . . .’ he began, hesitating as though unsure of what, exactly, he wanted to say. ‘God, you look stunning, Dave. You’re . . . You are so incredibly gorgeous.’

Dave blushed and felt something flutter in his stomach. He had had many girlfriends (three in the past year alone), but none of them had ever made him feel like this. Nick made him feel vulnerable, but in a good way. He wanted to feel that way with Nick, and he realised at that moment that he was falling so hard this boy.

He lifted his right hand, the one that wasn’t currently being pinned into the pillow, and placed it on the small of Nick’s back. Then he pulled him down on top of him, crashing their lips together. He snuck his hand in under Nick’s jumper, running it up and down the warm, smooth skin of his back. Nick’s hand went up into his hair, and he carded his fingers through it. Dave closed his eyes, smiling into the kiss.

He felt his cock straining against the fabric of his trousers as their hips ground together, and desperately wanted for Nick to touch it, and he wanted to see and touch Nick, too. But at the same time, the thought of it made him feel incredibly nervous. He had no idea how to approach the idea of sex with a guy. And besides, he felt like this had to be Nick’s choice. Nick had never been intimate with anyone before. He was in charge.

They didn’t go any further that day. Afterwards, they sat on the bed holding hands, talking and occasionally kissing. Dave wanted to know everything he could about Nick, and listened patiently as Nick told him about his family, his sister, his likes and dislikes.

‘Oh, shit!’ said Nick and laughed, when Dave got up to leave. ‘Look what I did to you!’ He was still sitting on the bed, knees drawn up to his chest. His brown hair was ruffled and messy, his lips red and raw from the kissing. Dave would have liked nothing better than to get right back down on that bed and kiss the hell out of him, wiping that grin off his face in the process.

Instead, he examined his reflection in the mirror on the door to the wardrobe and saw a dark purple hickey on his neck.

‘Oh, fuck!’ he said. ‘You’ve got to be more careful next time.’

Nick grinned mischievously. ‘Guess you’ll just have to tell people you have a new girlfriend or something. It’s almost not a lie . . .’

Dave met his eye. He was wearing that same look, the same smile as the previous day, the one that made Dave want to tear all his clothes off. ‘No,’ said Dave and smiled. ‘Almost not.’

‘Oh!’ said Nick suddenly, standing up. ‘Hang on a minute . . .’ He strode over to the wardrobe and opened one of the doors, rummaging inside. He pulled out a black leather jacket that looked awfully familiar.

Nick turned to Dave, holding out the jacket. ‘I never had a good opportunity to return it,’ he said. ‘Thank you.’

Dave smiled and shook his head. ‘I had almost forgotten about that,’ he said. His parents had given him that jacket for his birthday. It was Diesel, and had probably been very expensive. He smiled wider. ‘You know what? Keep it. Wear it to school some day, we’ll see if anyone notices.’

Nick laughed outright at that. He lowered his hand, dropping the jacket to the floor, and closed the distance between them. Then he put his arms around Dave and hugged him. Dave hugged him back, breathing in deeply. Nick smelled like soap and teenage boy and a little bit like Dave himself.

‘Are you mine?’ Nick mumbled into his shoulder.

Dave chuckled softly. ‘I dunno,’ he said. ‘But you’re mine!’ And he held him even tighter and bit his shoulder possessively. Nick giggled.

‘I have to go,’ Dave whispered after a little while.

‘I know,’ Nick replied. ‘I don’t want to let you.’

‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ said Dave, kissing his neck several times.

‘Yeah,’ said Nick, finally loosening his grasp. ‘See you tomorrow.’