Roommates (Maxley)

Chapter 17

Max's mom had died in childbirth, something the doctors had warned about but she refused to listen to them. Sometimes he wondered if she knew they were right, that her body was too weak from surviving cancer, other times he cursed her for birthing him altogether. Guilt, a feeling he had grown to associate with seeing happy home vlogs of her, because he felt nothing but despair watching them. She would've been a wonderful mother had she lived. His earliest memories were at church, hands clasped as he prayed for her to come back but she never did. He was too young to understand then yet young enough to know his family was a person too small. Now he felt he had that person, the void hidden in his heart closing whenever they were close.

Brad had been staying at his house for a couple weeks now, long enough for some of his things from the dorm to transfer over and for his skincare and hair products to decorate Max's bathroom. He had claimed Max's bed as his at this point, stealing his blankets to pillows during the day and using Max's body as a mattress at night. Clingy, he stuck to Max like glue and could only be pried away by promises of cuddles at a later time. Max still had his classes and while on campus he'd stop by Brad's classes to grab his work. The rumors had calmed down but his presence made them resurface, along with questions. Where was Brad? How was he? Tank, one of Brad's Frat brothers asked Max a thousand times but never believed his answer. Eventually Max showed him a picture of Brad reading on his bed and Tank finally took his word. Brad was always reading or writing, always occupied by unnecessary academics. Max didn't like seeing him stressing over it but Brad stressed more about falling behind, so every weekday he'd have a packet of papers in his hands to busy himself with. Work kept him from thinking too much and off of Max, something he was sure Max would eventually get annoyed by.

"You're back." He says in a tone too high, too eager. Brad turns to face him, pencil pinched between his fingers. His cheeks warm when Max smiles and closes his bedroom door behind him. "I missed you."

"Missed you too, Pretty boy." Max kisses his forehead, laughing when Brad spins back around to the desk. Even his ears are red, his glasses held up by them, how cute. "What are you working on? Have you eaten?"

"Not hungry." Brad tells himself to focus on his work instead of Max's snake piercings but they tease his eyes."I'll eat later."

"Good, Dad is trying to make that pasta you like." Max's hand hovers over Brad's shoulder, eyes on his neck. It's been a while since- Mind out of the gutter, Goof. "How long have you been working on this?"

"Only a couple hours." His stare is distracting, he can feel the heat from his hand. He's thirsty but his mouth isn't dry, the opposite really at the thought of- No! Work, focus on work.

"Almost done?" Max leans over his shoulder, watching cursive letters scribble across the lines and fill in blanks. "You're still supposed to be taking it easy, y'know. Just because the doctor cleared you doesn't mean you should just rush back into things."

"I'm already absent, I can't risk letting my grades drop." Brad leans back into Max's arms as they wrap around him, sighing when he looks up to see his frown. "I'll take a break once I finish this page."

"Or you could take one now, I'll make it worth your while." Max's hand slowly slips down his thigh, dipping into his pants. "How's that sound?"

His response is a soft gasp as Max's hand wraps around him, each soft stroke making his hips buck up. Max's mouth is hot against his, tongue cooling him down with each flick against his lips. Quiet, he can't be loud, not when Max's dad is downstairs making lunch. His hands squeeze Max's wrist, a pitiful plea fleeing from his mouth as Max's strokes speed up. He reaches up to take off his glasses but Max won't let him, kissing and nipping at his palm as Brad whines. Cruel, so mean, Max won't let him squirm as his thumb presses down on his tip. He's too sensitive there, Max knows that but he twirls his thumb around it until it's oozing precum down his fingers. His stomach clenches as he struggles to hold back, nails digging into Max's wrist as he mewls and throws his head back.