“Was it about your parents?” Noah asked.

“Yeah.”

A pause. “I get it.”

And, Coop somehow knew his friend did. Even though he still had his mom and dad, he got it.

“Do you think he won’t let me come over no more?” Noah asked.

“No…it’s all talk.” He believed that. Yeah, Uncle Vernon was tough, but he wouldn’t take away Coop’s best friend. “If he tried, I wouldn’t let ’em.”

Noah was quiet for a minute. “I bet I’d have dreams too…if that happened to me.”

And for the first time, Coop didn’t feel like such a baby because of the nightmares. If Noah said he would have them too, it must be normal to not be able to forget.

“Thanks, Noah.” Into the darkness, Coop smiled. He had the coolest best friend in the world. His smile stretched even bigger, when Noah’s hand touched his shoulder.

A warm hand came down on Cooper’s shoulder, and snapped him out of the memory. Turning, he took in the sight of his friend, as Noah let his hand fall away. It was like the years had wiped away some of those memories. He’d been devastated when Noah left—when he didn’t hear a word from him, but over the years, those feelings faded. He’d been young and lived a whole lot of life since then. But having him back now made those feelings flare to life again. Had he ever had a friend he felt as close with, as he did Noah? Someone he trusted with everything inside him, and who would always be there for him?

He didn’t think so. At thirty years old, there had never been anyone who touched him as deeply as Noah.

“Thanks, man.” He knew it has probably been at least a minute since Noah had spoken to him, but he didn’t call Cooper on it.

Noah stretched, the corded muscles in his arms straining and tightening. His stomach tensed, showing off his six-pack beneath all that golden skin.

Lust shot through Cooper. His balls started to ache.

What. The. Fuck.

Still, he didn’t turn away. That had always been how he went about life—full speed ahead. He regretted running away from his parents, even though he’d only be a snot-nosed, nine-year-old kid. He didn’t want any other regrets in his life, so he took a second to visually get his fill. To try and make sense of what the hell these thoughts and desires meant.

Noah didn’t seem to notice. He ran a hand through his dark hair. Cooper admired the veins in his hands, and the dragon tattoo on his upper back, that he’d seen the first time Noah has been shirtless in front of him. He shifted his eyes to Noah’s face. To the curve of his lips, and how he’d made Cooper smile that night, and so many others.

And then he remembered the call with his uncle. How much he would disappoint him if he ever knew Cooper was eying Noah like this. And, why he hell was he? He was straight. He liked women. Always had.

Cooper pushed to his feet. He needed to get himself under control, and find a way to wipe these feelings away. “I think I’m about ready to go in.”

“Yeah, me too.” Noah stood as well. They left the chairs in the lawn, but Cooper picked up the cooler as Noah grabbed the plates.

After they put things away, they stood in Cooper’s kitchen. Silent. It wasn’t even dark yet, but still, Coop said, “I think I’m going to head to my room. I’m not feeling too hot.” Really, he needed to get his fucking head on straight.

“Yeah…me too. Maybe watch a movie or something.”

Cooper nodded and then went to walk away. Noah stopped him, putting an arm around his shoulder. “Don’t let it get to ya, man.”

Coop’s body flamed. The spot where their bodies met, a wildfire burned inside him, flaring out from there.

Nodding again, he pulled away because…Jesus, because…he didn’t want to. That meant he needed to back up, and get out of here. Now.

***

A hand shoved beneath Coop’s boxer-briefs…but that wasn’t right, was it? He always slept naked, and he was in his bed.

Any questions or thoughts were cut off when the hand wrapped tightly around his cock. And he was hard. He was already so fucking hard.

“Oh, God.” Cooper dropped his head back, as the hand started to stroke. Quick, strong pulls up and down his dick. Another hand touched his balls, adding the perfect amount of pressure, as it played with them. Those touches somehow traveled the length of his sensitive body. A low buzz of excitement gained strength inside him as the skilled, rough hand jerked him off.

It had only been about five seconds, but it was already the best fucking hand job he’d ever had.