Upside Down (Breaking the Rules #3) - A.M. Madden Page 0,42

with a man who, for all intents and purposes, considered himself straight. He was right; neither of us could know what would happen, but the odds were in his favor. His personal journey toward revealing himself would make any outcome a favorable one. I, on the other hand, could reverse all the progress I’d made over the years regarding insecurities from being hurt.

Then again, we each could be the missing piece we’d been searching for. I felt like a hypocrite. My entire adult life I believed in fate, believed wholeheartedly that finding one’s person was as simple as the universe putting them in your path.

When it came to meeting Rebecca as I had, looking back, I didn’t have a doubt in my mind our fates had collided that day. But to believe that, then I had to believe that every failed relationship in my past was the universe handing me an opportunity, only to fuck it up.

This situation between Cooper and I could be just that. A collision of fates, but how we emerged at the end would set us on our real path toward happiness. To get there, did I have to allow Cooper to use me? That was a hefty price to pay, but wouldn’t it be worth it if happiness was found?

When I pivoted toward him, he did the same. “I think we both proved a point tonight, and I think we both need to take some time to digest what we uncovered.”

“I agree.”

“This time you want to spend together, it might be a good idea to keep it platonic.”

“Fair enough.” A subtle shield lowered over his demeanor, and his posture stiffened. “I’ll talk to you soon, then?”

“I didn’t mean that you needed to leave at this moment. We can just relax, talk, get to know one another.” I couldn’t believe I was considering what he wanted.

“We can… but I think I should go, though.” He again placed his now-empty bottle on the table. “I stand by my request to be honest… brutally honest.”

“I can do that.”

“Good. So I’ll start.” Instead of heading toward my apartment door to leave, he came closer. “That first kiss was most definitely not a fluke, Ricky.” With that, he pressed his firm lips against mine just long enough to stir my libido, with just enough suction to reignite the white-hot flame licking around my cock. The touch of his lips spurred the desire to do all sorts of vulgar things to him, and thankfully he pulled away. A few seconds longer and I couldn’t be sure I’d be able to stop. He ensured I wouldn’t be tested that way when he said, “Night, Ricky.” Turning, he left me with the effects lingering on every part of my body.

Forcing myself to stay on that balcony to calm down turned out to be fruitless. Because by the time I stripped off my clothes and climbed into bed, it felt as though my cock could pound nails. I needed to take care of things or risk a sleepless night while trying not to detonate from the pressure building.

I pulled my cock out of my boxers. Never had it felt so hot to the touch as I began stroking it with slow, consistent drags. Closing my eyes, I saw his face behind my lids. As I continued to stroke, every moment of our kiss replayed itself. But while in my vivid thoughts, I changed course to pull away and undo the buttons on his shirt one by one.

Clear as day in my mind, Cooper took the lead and shrugged the fabric off his muscled shoulders. And then a heady glare bore into me as he unbuckled my belt. Frustrated by my own fantasy, I pushed the imagery along to where he dropped to his knees and looked up at me.

I hadn’t even willed his mouth on me yet, and I was dangerously close to coming already. But I held off my release, slowing my strokes until the next vivid image caught up to what my cock wanted.

Sure enough, when fantasy Cooper leaned closer, first hitting my throbbing cock with his breath before taking me into his mouth, a guttural grunt I couldn’t suppress echoed around my empty room. It was my show, and in it, I held Cooper’s head while fucking his mouth. My hand playing understudy tightened around my shaft the way I assumed his lips would. I should’ve stopped. I didn’t want to assume what his wet, warm mouth creating an airtight seal