On the Road
The next day, the tension in Eddie's chest felt as heavy as the humid summer air.
Blake was behind the wheel of his Corvette, one hand resting casually on the leather gear shift, his sunglasses on. Axel was in the shotgun seat, laughing and messing with the radio, totally oblivious to the silent war raging in the backseat. Eddie stared out the window as the highway blurred past, the music blasting over the roar of the engine as they headed upstate for spring break. Every time Blake caught Eddie's eye in the rearview mirror, he gave a slow, knowing smirk.
Eddie felt a cold sweat prickle his neck. Axel was a monster. He stood at six-foot-two, with golden blond hair that settled just below his ears, a thick neck, broad shoulders, and arms like pythons. He was a state champion wrestler, wildly popular, and a brutal bully. Axel had never targeted his friends before, but Eddie had seen what he did to guys he suspected of being gay at school, cornering them in locker rooms, intimidating them, using his massive size to force them into humiliating situations just to satisfy his own sick power trips. If Axel found out about Eddie, Eddie’s life would be over.
The hum of the highway finally faded as Blake pulled the Corvette into a sun-baked rest stop off Route 9. After three hours trapped in the cramped leather seats, the release of opening the doors was instant.
"I'm grabbing a protein shake and jerky," Axel grunted, slapping the flat of his hand against the roof of the car. "You guys want anything?"
"Surprise me, man," Blake said, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. "Just grab a water though. And some beers for the lake house."
As Axel jogged toward the air-conditioned convenience store, the glass doors sliding shut behind him, the atmosphere between Blake and Eddie instantly shifted. The easy camaraderie of the car ride evaporated, replaced by a heavy, thick silence.
Blake walked to the side of the car, unscrewing the gas cap with a sharp click. Eddie leaned against the rear bumper, pulling a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He flicked open his lighter, shielding the flame with his palm, and took a long, deep drag, letting the gray smoke escape slowly into the humid afternoon air.
Through the haze of smoke, Eddie could feel Blake watching him.
Blake didn't look away. He gripped the gas nozzle, his forearm muscles flexing under his tanned skin, his eyes locked onto Eddie. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the low, mechanical thrum of the gas pump.
"You know those things are bad for your lungs, Eds," Blake said, his voice dropping to that low, lazy register he only used when they were alone. "As your captain, I should probably confiscate them."
"You're not on the field, Blake," Eddie muttered, taking another drag, trying to sound tougher than he felt. His heart was already beginning to trip over itself.
"No," Blake agreed, stepping away from the pump. He let the automatic latch take over, leaving the nozzle in the tank, and walked slowly around the back of the Corvette. He stopped just inches from Eddie, crowding him against the warm metal of the trunk. "But I'm still your captain."
The smell of gasoline, cheap asphalt, and Blake's clean, expensive cologne swirled together in the heat. Blake reached out, his hand surprisingly warm as he took Eddie’s face in his hand, his fingers squeezing Eddie’s cheeks. It was a casual gesture, but the pressure was deliberate, holding Eddie firmly in place.
"Axel’s going to be back in a second," Eddie whispered, his words slightly slurred by the grip on his face. His eyes darted nervously toward the convenience store window. Through the glass, he could see the silhouette of Axel’s broad shoulders near the back coolers.
"He’s paying," Blake said softly. He slid his thumb down, his finger now playing with Eddie’s lips, feeling them tremble under the unrestricted touch. A smug, knowing smile tugged at the corner of Blake's mouth. "You're shaking, Eds. Still got a taste of me on your tongue?"
Eddie’s breath stalled. He wanted to push Blake away, to yell at him, but the sheer physical presence of the boy. only a few months older than him, yet holding all the cards, was completely paralyzing. He dropped his cigarette and crushed it beneath his sneaker.
"Stop," Eddie pleaded quietly, though he didn't move an inch.
"You love it," Blake murmured. He leaned in closer, his chest brushing against Eddie's, his voice a hot whisper against Eddie's ear. "Just think... two more hours, and we'll have a whole cabin to ourselves. No Lucy. No parents. Just you doing what you're told."
Before Eddie could respond, the loud thunk of the gas pump shutoff valve echoed across the pavement.
Blake instantly stepped back, the intimate, predatory intensity vanishing in a fraction of a second. By the time the convenience store doors slid open and Axel walked out clutching a plastic bag, Blake was already hanging up the nozzle and screwing the gas cap back on, looking completely unbothered.
"Got the blue ones," Axel called out, tossing a cold bottle toward Blake, who caught it cleanly with one hand. "And some oranges and chips. Let's hit the road before the bridge traffic gets bad."
"I need to use the restroom," Eddie said quickly, before dashing off toward the far side of the gas station.
Inside the restroom, Eddie stood over the urinal, his heart slamming against his ribs. His dick rock hard. He stood there begging his erection to go down so he could actually piss, his sweatpants tight against the shape of him. The terror of Axel finding out, mixed with the residual heat of Blake's touch, had his body in a complete frenzy.
Just as he was finally soft enough to pee, the door swung open. Axel came in and took the urinal right next to Eddie.
"Can't wait to see all the chicks this spring break," Axel said, casually pulling his dick out to begin. "Me and Blake have a bet who is gonna bag the most."
The sound of Axel’s stream was incredibly loud, sounding like a fire hydrant in the small, tiled bathroom. Eddie tried to keep his eyes forward, but the gravity of Axel’s physical presence was a magnetic force. His gaze drifted down.
He saw the massive snake of a dick in Axel’s hands. It was rumored in the locker room that Axel was hung like a horse, but Eddie had never seen it in person until now. It was thick, veiny, and heavy. Eddie’s stomach twisted with a sickening mix of terror and sudden, hot arousal. He knew what Axel did to gay guys. He knew Axel used his size to intimidate them into blowing him. The thought of those python arms pinning him, of that massive weight crushing him, made Eddie’s throat go completely dry.
"You wanna get in on the bet, Eds?" Axel asked, totally oblivious to Eddie's staring.
Eddie thought about the three of them chasing girls together, how easy and normal things used to be before he started blowing Blake. He desperately hoped this trip could be like that again. But then he looked back down at Axel’s thick, veiny dick and wondered, with a sudden jolt of adrenaline, what it would feel like in his mouth. He had never had these kinds of urges before Blake.
Axel caught his eye, waking Eddie up from his daze. "Maybe you're more interested in what I've got than what girls will be there, huh?"
Eddie's face flushed hot with a mix of panic and indignation. "Bro, nah. I’m gonna be giving you two a run for your money," he lied, desperate to sound like one of the straight guys. "I’m not interested in that monster."
Axel laughed, a deep, easy rumble, and shook off his dick. "Maybe you might think differently once you give it a kiss."
Eddie was completely speechless, his mouth drying up. Did Axel know? Did he suspect?
Axel laughed louder at the reaction. "Look at you, bro, you look terrified. I'm playing with you." He stepped over and tapped Eddie on the face. A bit of the piss from his unwashed hands transferred onto Eddie's cheek. "Come on, bro, let's go."
Eddie stood frozen for a second, his cheek tingling in a sickening, humiliating way where Axel had touched him, before quickly finishing up and walking back out into the heat.
"What's taking you guys so long?" Blake shouted from the driver's seat as the two walked back. "I wanna get there before sundown."
As Eddie climbed back into his seat, his mind spinning, Blake caught his eye in the rearview mirror. He smiled and gave him a slow, knowing wink.
To get in touch with the author, send them an email.
