Athena

21. Dingaling

Shadows dance around my room.

By now, it's nearly 1 am, and I can't believe that the two of us have been talking for almost an hour. Cruz lets out a sleepy yawn. I don't blame him. A lethargic ache tugs at my temples. I'm getting pretty tired as well. Guilt tugs at me, too. I didn't mean to keep Cruz up so late.

I feel the need to let him know, "Hey..."

"What?"

"I won't mind," I tell him, "if you end up falling asleep here. Just be careful not to let Ron or my aunt catch you whenever you go."

His breath hitches slightly. "You sure?"

My heart flutters. "Yeah."

For a second, the air thickens between us, and I don't know how he's going to react.

"I'll be careful," Cruz promises in soft but resolute tones.

The tension dissipates. His arms tighten around me. I sigh and snuggle closer. Our bodies meld together like perfect pieces of a puzzle.

As I lay beside him, the dark, on my bed, I can't help but wonder—

Is this normal?

Is this what friends do?

What we're doing is weird, right?

An uncertain frown pulls down my mouth.

Yet, it feels so... right.

Whatever.

I yawn and begin to doze, slipping toward that dreamy, hazy place between consciousness and sleep. Beside me, I feel Cruz's muscles relax. His breathing slows.

Soon, I stop thinking altogether as we fade away into the night.

***

The next morning, I awaken slowly, sluggishly. As my senses sharpen, I feel something poke my bum from behind.

It feels... hard.

Dafuq?

In a drowsy haze, I roll my hips to inspect it, rubbing lightly against the pokey hardness.

I hear a soft, sleepy groan.

Strong arms tighten around my waist.

I tense up when I realize that I'm not alone in bed.

Cruz is still here, and he's spooning me from behind. His long, solid form is pressed up along my back. He's topless. I'm braless. His dingaling is at full attention.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

This can't be a good look for us if someone walks in right now.

Before I can start really panicking about his dad or my aunt catching us in bed, the idiot suddenly moves even closer to nuzzle my neck. He starts grinding his sizable hardon against my ass.

Holy shit!

The sensation sends a burst of confused, horny butterflies fluttering through me. I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with me and everything to do with his morning wood, but I'm getting stupidly turned on, nevertheless.

"Dude! What are you doing?" I squeak, feeling mortified, yet, hating myself for liking it at the same time.

Just then, I feel Cruz's entire body grow taut.

"Oh, shit," he rasps, his voice sounds scratchy and hoarse from sleep, "I'm so sorry, Athena! I-I didn't mean to—"

With a frantic burst of energy, he rolls away from me as though I'm a hot potato and nearly falls off the bed trying to get away. Cruz catches himself right before he topples over the edge.