My Dark Jock: The Complete Series (My Dark Jock Series)

by Arden Long

But he’s still here wearing it, because I want him to. Hell, he’s coming out with the guys, which is a miracle in itself, because I want him to. He could have refused. Sure, he pouted and moaned. But when he’s serious about it, there’s no way anyone can get Mal to do anything he doesn’t want to. Which means he wants to do it because I want him to.

Fuck I think I might really be falling for him. Like, hard. Do I . . . love him?

He half turns his head to the side, his lips open, and I capture his mouth in a sloppy kiss while I jerk his cock with my other hand and fuck him into the wall.

Ok, I concede, maybe I’ll just burn my costume. North can keep his in case he wants to do that again one day. But only if he suggests it, because there’s no way in hell I’m going to.

I was right, he is like the sun; he’s pulled me in and now there’s no hope of escape. But I’m not orbiting around him like the other guys are. Where they bathe in the warmth and joy he radiates, I actively take from him. I feed off him to fill the empty space inside my bones. I’m not a planet in his solar system, I’m a black hole.

“I-I-I prefer dark brunettes, I guess.”

“You’ll be sorry!” he declares as he nestles down. “Dildos in every hole! I fucking mean it. Nostrils, ear holes, everything.”

“Of course I’ll stay with you.” I sit on the edge of the bed. “I’ll do whatever you want, Mal. I’m here for you.” “Can I have a hug?” he asks. It hits me like a punch in the heart.

And fuck, it hits me like a bolt of lightning; I’m going to protect him from everything and anything I can. Even if I have to protect him from the monsters inside his own head. Because I love him.

“Sorry I’m so weird,” he whispers. “Do you still wanna be my boyfriend?”

“And you’re a fucking hot cowboy.” He won’t remember this tomorrow, but I smile. “So are you. You’re the yee to my haw.”

He huffs out a half-hearted laugh that’s wet and ragged. His eyes are puffy and red, his face blotchy and pale, and I love him with my whole heart.

He takes a sip of his coffee and I see he’s using North’s mug. It has a happy cartoon sandwich on it above the letters LGBLT. North thought it was hilarious when we saw it at the mall, so I bought it for him. My fingers twitch at my side with the need to take it from him.

My heart stops. I told him to stay put, I told him to stay put. And now North is here, and so is my father. Together. In the same room. The two halves of my life that I never wanted to meet.

“I told you to wait at your dorm,” I say. There’s a warm pressure on my back, and the smell of North surrounds me. Despite the riot of emotions trying to claw their way out of me, the familiar smell of him instantly helps calm me down, and I take an even deeper breath to get as much of it as I can. “I know. I’m sorry. But I couldn’t. You’re my boyfriend now. Officially. And my boyfriend doesn’t face shit like this on his own.”

He looks for all the world like a friendly dad, just here to watch his son playing football. But he doesn’t fool me. I saw the predator hidden under that smile. I hold his eyes and I don’t smile back.

“Don’t get so upset over him. He’ll be gone soon, and we won’t have to see him for another five years.” I should acknowledge the fact that Mal just said “we” and “five years.” I know there’s something in there that should make me giddy, but I’m just too mad to process it. I file it away to think about later.

“How the fuck can you be so cool?” “I’m not, I just have a lot of practice holding this shit in. It’s a survival thing I guess.” “You’re never this calm with me.” “Because I’m safe with you.”

We’re on his bed. Not the spare bed. His bed. In his bedroom. The nightstand, with the trophy and photo of his mom on it and his glasses that I’ve never seen him wear, neatly folded, and the piles of sci-fi books. I’m here. He’s let me in. I stare around in wonder as he settles down next to me.

And just like that—wrapped around him, his fingers inside me, my fingers in his hair—I fall asleep.

“You really just found these in one of the closets? They look brand new.” I shrug. Hopefully he’ll never find the receipts I threw in the trash. Me buying matching fluffy bathrobes for us? I’d never live it down. Thank fuck I didn’t get them monogrammed. I’d never have been able to play that off as a coincidence.

THE RADIO plays softly in the Porsche as I sit with the windows rolled down, watching the doors of the county jail. Behind me on the back seat sits a bulging paper grocery bag containing snacks, candy, a couple of bottles of soda, a fresh set of wrapped clothes, and a takeaway carton holding a burger with all the toppings and a side of fries.