Jared Abitol is ugly, past his prime, and desperate for love.
Years of being hyper-aware of his own looks have made Jared develop social anxiety. When you look like Jared, love isn't easy to find. Jared might not have the looks or confidence, but h...
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Sitting at the edge of the bed in his bathrobe made Jared feel nervous. Should he take off his bathrobe? Should he stand? Maybe even pull his legs up on the bed? He didn't know. Maybe he shouldn't have showered first.
Darnell was in the bathroom connected to Jared's bedroom. Jared could hear the shower. Darnell must have had it up to the highest flow. Jared looked down at his feet as he waited, wondering why Darnell was taking so long. Maybe the man was reconsidering his options and didn't want to do this again. Unlikely, but Jared's mind fear mongered him with everything, even though those things made little sense.
They had gotten to Jared's house an hour or so ago. Jared had offered Darnell some food, and the two had talked a bit before heading for the man's room together. Jared had made sure to prepare everything. His bed, the lights, the lube, down to the protection. He wanted things to be perfect, but he was also scared that he was coming off as trying too hard.
Jared raised his head when he heard the shower go off and the door to the bathroom creak open. His eyes went wide when Darnell walked into the room stark naked, and he looked away immediately, feeling like he didn't have a reason to ogle the man the way he did.
"I forgot my towel, so I hope you don't mind that I used yours," Darnell said. Jared bit down on his bottom lip as he heard the man's footsteps approach the bed, but he couldn't keep himself calm. He just couldn't. His hands were shaking, and his stomach was swimming with nerves.
Darnel took a seat beside Jared on the queen-sized bed, his weight sinking the mattress in a bit. Jared was still looking down at his hands. They were shaking, and his whole body probably was too. Jared tried to keep them in check by squeezing his hands into fists that he rested on his lap.
"Are you nervous?" Jared heard Darnell ask as the man turned a bit and leaned close, his lips almost brushing Jared's cheek. Jared shut his eyes, nodding. He wasn't Austin. He couldn't make demands on the spot, and he was very uncomfortable with voicing what he wanted or doing what he wanted to do. It was one of the many reasons sex workers got frustrated with him. Jared had to remind himself that although Darnell was sleeping with him for money, he was also supposed to spend time with him, so much so that it seemed like a little relationship.
Darnell wouldn't get frustrated with him, and even if he did he wouldn't be condescending and cruel about it.
"Okay, it's alright," Darnell whispered giving Jared's kiss a bit. "It's alright," he said again taking hold of Jared's face and turning it towards him. Jared's eyes fluttered open and Darnell smiled, making Jared's heart skip a bit. He couldn't see Darnell as well as he had in the morning but under the dimmed orange light he looked just as good-looking. You could say he went from adorable to sexy, or maybe it was just the mood.
Darnell leaned in, pressing his forehead against Jared's as his brown eyes glared into Jared's equally brown ones. Jared took a deep breath as Darnell's breath fanned his face. With a quick movement, Darnell connected their lips. The kiss was sudden — soft, warm, sweet — and it took everything in Jared not to let out the moan caught up in his throat.
