Better Than Graduation!! A Surprise Matt & Aaron Short Story! (NSFW)

I have a big announcement coming soon and Book 4 of Out in College will be here soon too. I figured it might be a fun idea to celebrate with a surprise Matt & Aaron short story. This one is from Matt’s graduation from law school. So in the Better Than timeline, it’s just a month or so after Better Than Good ends.

Enjoy! And check in next week for some fun news!!

Happy Reading! Lane xo

Better Than Graduation (NSFW)

Graduation day finally arrived on a somewhat gloomy mid May Sunday.  The skies didn’t look dark enough for rain, I pondered as I strummed a few notes on my guitar in an attempt to keep my nerves at bay.  Within the hour, my roommates and I would be heading over to Healy Hall and the grand commencement ceremony on the Lawn. I’d obviously been in and to quite a few graduation ceremonies, but this one was stood out as being particularly significant. Even our robes were grand, in their royal blue color with a regal purple velvet piping. It all screamed “Big Deal”. I was glad to know that Aaron was going to be in attendance somewhere in the massive throng of bodies.  He’d sent me a text first thing that morning.

So proud of u.  I’ll try to find u there…xoxo

I looked at that text repeatedly with a stupid grin on my mug before finally picking up the guitar to give my fingers something else to do. Curt came out his room with his freshly pressed gown over one arm and a bottle of expensive champagne in his other hand.

“I think a celebratory drink is in order. Gather round, gentlemen.”

He cleared his throat as if in preparation to make a speech.  Dave filled in the silent gap with a large belch, and Curt made a move as if to smack him upside the head. I busted up laughing. It wasn’t so much that anything was really funny, because it wasn’t. It was almost a hysterical reaction of acknowledgment of the significant connection the three of us had shared over the past couple of years. Today would signify the end of a chapter in our lives. I’d only known Dave and Curt for two years, but we’d become close friends as well as roommates. These guys knew what I’d been through because they’d been immersed in the same shit.  Endless hours of studying, reading and writing countless papers while trying to prove ourselves as bright young minds at our internships.

We still had the bar exam to pass, but a major milestone would be reached today and I was as proud of their accomplishment as I was of my own. They were good people and had become lifelong friends. I trusted them implicitly. They, along with Jason who was with his girlfriend that morning, were the only people who knew about Aaron and me.

I should have said all of that and then some, but tears were threatening.  I cleared my throat and lifted my glass.

“To us. May we all have bright shiny careers and hell, why not bright shiny lives too? Cheers.”

We clinked our glasses together and let the moment’s significance fill the void of speech. Dave raised his glass and Curt and I looked at him wondering what words of wisdom he was about to impart as we rolled our eyes in his direction.

“I never thought I’d end up rooming with a couple of homos.  One who’s a recent convert to dick, no less. But I want to say one thing…”  He held up his hand both to indicate he still had the floor and to fend off Curt’s attack. “You guys are the best friends I have. Jas too, of course.  I know this would have sucked big time if I hadn’t had you both here to motivate and push me a little.  You guys are awesome. Thank you. You almost, almost make me want to be just like you.”

Curt and I stood with our mouth agape before we raised our own glasses.

“I didn’t mean I want to be a homo! Geez!”

What an asshole. We laughed and then got busy finishing the bottle before walking toward campus, each of us feeling a nice fizzy buzz.

As expected, the ceremony was long. Two hours at least.  But by late afternoon, I was officially a law school graduate.  What followed was an endless paparazzi brigade. Photos with family, friends, friend’s families, professors…you name it, I posed for it. The only person I really wanted to see and hadn’t caught sight of was Aaron.  A girl from my first year Criminal Law class had just asked me to take a picture of her with her extended family when I heard my name spoken in the sweet voice I’d been longing to hear just a few feet behind me.  I dutifully snapped the shot and then turned to capture my man in a tight embrace.  He gasped in surprise but returned the gesture in kind.

“I’m so proud of you. Wow!  hat was lot of big words and important like folks talking fancy talk, Matty. Are you going to start speaking like that all the time now that you’re a big lawyer?”  Aaron looked up at me and batted his lashes as though everything coming out of his mouth wasn’t a complete tease.

“First of all, I’m not a lawyer yet. I still have to pass the bar. However, I am confident of a favorable outcome after years of diligent scholastic application.  Perchance the title of lawyer might soon rightfully be mine to claim.”

Aaron’s face was a picture of incredulous puzzlement. I knew he was just humoring me, but I found it charming. His entire face lit up as a breathtaking smile claimed his pretty mouth.

“I like the big words, Matty. Can you say all that in bed later and maybe find a pair of nerdy glasses!”

“Don’t say another word. I am so fucking horny I can’t stand it.”  I took a brief look around and spotted my parents busily chatting with Dave’s folks. The rest of the family would be close by.

“Don’t worry. I’m not staying.”

“Hey, I’m not worried. In fact, if you want to hang around and meet everyone, that’s cool by me.”  Once I’d said the words I realized I was completely serious. Why not?

“No. Now isn’t the time. I don’t want anything to take the focus from your special day. I’m leaving, but call me later. You can bring over your toothbrush and pjs. We’ll have a slumber party to celebrate. Just me and you.” Aaron squeezed my hand and disappeared into the mass of graduates and well wishers.

“Matthew! Oh, there you are!” My mom pushed her way to my side. I gave her a smile and she hugged me for what had to be the hundredth time that day. She mumbled a teary congratulations into my shoulder again and then grabbed me by the arms giving me a good long look. A mother look. All knowing. I wondered if she’d seen me with Aaron. We hadn’t done anything inappropriate, so even if she had seen us, she wouldn’t know anything. Or would she?

“We’re so proud, sweetheart!”

“Thanks Mom. For everything.”

She had that ‘about to cry’ look so I searched for a quick subject change.  Thankfully Curt showed up that moment and greeted my mother in a friendly embrace. They exchanged pleasantries and more congratulations while I looked around to see if I could spot Aaron one more time. He was gone. I would have to wait until tonight. Pjs? Yeah right. I smiled to myself. I looked back to see Curt and my mom staring at me expectantly.

“Sorry? I missed it. What did you say?”

Curt rolled his eyes but my mom was wearing a scrutinizing expression. Oh boy.

“Hey, I just saw Aaron, by the way.” Curt must have been dropped on his head. Why was he telling me this in front of my mother, the inquisitor?

“Erin?” My mom lifted one eyebrow comically.

I didn’t say a word.  Curt decided to shut up too, which was a minor miracle.  It was too late though.  My mom was a super sleuth.  I should give up, as it was really just a matter of time before she got what she wanted.

“So Erin is her name?”

Ah, that’s right. Of course my mom would assume the E spelling.

Curt turned coward and made a sudden departure. Supposedly he’d just seen someone he had to say hello to. Jerk. My dad and the rest of the family were making their way toward us, but my mom took one last shot.

“Well, Matt. At least tell me that. Please. Is Erin the name of your special someone? That’s all I’m asking. Just a name.”

Now, I could have played this a couple of ways. I could have lied and said her name is Erin and dealt with the having to explain the he/she angle later. Or I could have come out then and there. “Mom, I’m bi. Erin is actually Aaron, and I’m totally in love.” Brave, but I wasn’t sure I could handle it at that moment.  Plus, I’d promised Aaron that I would wait until after graduation. I know he didn’t mean, wait till after the ceremony either. Did I do either of those things? No.

“Yes.”  I even smiled.  What an asshole.

“Well… alright then. I respect that you’re keeping this a secret for now.  But please promise me that we’ll get an introduction soon.”

“Yes, Mom.”  I dutifully replied. It was a promise I intended to keep.  It wasn’t going to be easy, but it was time.

Obviously it was also the correct response. My mom was thrilled. I shook my head and tried to stay away from thoughts of my parents’ collective disappointment. It was too overwhelming to contemplate.

My family headed back to Pittsburgh that same evening after a light dinner together.  Everyone had work and school the next day, so the party was officially coming to a close.  As great as it was seeing everyone, I was ready to say goodbye.  And my mind was with Aaron already.  I yearned for him in a very physical sense, and I don’t mean just that I wanted to have sex with him.  I absolutely did, but I wanted to see him, touch him, talk to him, smell him, and hold him.  We sent text messages earlier and I was mentally already driving myself over to his apartment for our “sleepover”.

I knocked on his door a short time after saying my last goodbyes to my family when the driver came to whisk everyone back to the airport. It was later than I’d hoped. Aaron had to work in the morning. If I was a nice boyfriend, I would have called to see if he thought it was too late. But I was selfish. I was done waiting.

He opened his door a mere couple of inches and then wiggled a few fingers through the small opening.

“Hi.”

“Hi to you. You letting me in?”

He peaked his head only through a slightly larger opening.

“Yes, but I need to ask that you wait two more minutes out here. I know it is unbearably rude of me, but trust me, it will be worth it.”

“Uh, okay.”

“Come here.” He motioned for me to bend down toward him, planting a chaste kiss on my lips. “I’ll be quick. Two minutes!”

I leaned against the wall facing his apartment and checked email messages until he cracked his door open a couple minutes later.

“Hello? Two minutes not ten! Hurry up! Geez!”

He shut the door again and much to my amusement I could hear him stomping loudly inside. I let myself in as instructed and came to an immediate halt in the candle lit living room. Let me rephrase that. The room wasn’t lit by a candle or two.  It was positively awash in candlelight. Candles were arranged in groups throughout the entire space. Along the kitchen counter top, on the small kitchen table, on the modern coffee table and along the console table under his mega large screen television. There was a faint glow coming from his bedroom too. Small, medium and large, some skinny, some fat, but all of them were white.  The effect was luminously beautiful. I was speechless. I looked around for Aaron once I’d found my voice, but he wasn’t in the small living area.

I headed for the bedroom, my heart racing. I hadn’t even touched him, yet I was primed and ready to go.  With blood singing through my veins, I stopped short at the sight before me.  The bedroom was similarly lit with candles, but I only had eyes for the gorgeous naked man lying seductively on the charcoal gray sheets with his hands folded casually behind his head.  He watched me closely as I approached the bed, my heart thumping wildly.

“Happy Graduation.”

Fuck. I could barely put two words together and suddenly I couldn’t move either. I wanted to pounce on him, ravage him, take what he was offering, but I was paralyzed by the intensity of my desire. My tongue felt heavy in my mouth, my head was light. My dick, however, I knew had never been this hard. Ever.

I undid the buttons on my jeans, pushing them and my boxers down and freeing my feet before whipping my t-shirt off my head. I stood naked before him and I was certain he could tell just how much I wanted him, but once again, I was overcome with a wave of uncertainty. He must have sensed that I needed his direction as he calmly sat up half way leaning on one elbow and grabbed my hand before pulling me on top of him.

It was shear bliss. We both groaned aloud at the sensation of our naked bodies pressed together for the first time in what felt for forever. Our lips found each other and we kissed passionately while our hands roamed through hair, down arms, over chests and resting finally on one another’s ass. I tucked my hands under his ass cheeks as he wrapped his legs around me and pulled me in closer with his legs and arms. I was ravenous in my desire for him. I didn’t kiss him in as much as I devoured him with my mouth, trying to get as much of his taste as possible. Our tongues were so far down one another’s throats that we finally had to separate just to breathe. I was panting over him as I looked into his luminous hazel eyes.

“I want you inside me.”

Fuck. I nodded then moved over him to reach over to his nightstand to get the lube and a condom. I poured a generous amount of lube on my fingers and knelt between his thighs working them into his opening.  He laid a hand on mine to still my fingers.

“I prepared myself for you. Just do it. I need you Matty. Fuck me.”

His voice was low and husky with his own desire. I had to take a deep breath to get my senses together. I nodded again and got to work on the condom.  My fingers were shaky and unsure. Aaron sat up and laughing took it from me.  He opened the wrapper and placed it on the throbbing head of my cock, looking deep into my eyes as he rolled it down my length squeezing me enticingly. I closed my eyes again drinking in the sensation. I felt him move beneath me and looked down to see he’d turned over on his hands and knees. He looked over his shoulder and then leaned his head on the pillow, stroking his own hard dick with one free hand.

With a steadiness I didn’t feel inside, I guided my gloved cock to his entrance and pushed. Fuck, he was so hot. Literally hot inside and out. I struggled against the urge to take and plunder, but Aaron obviously had other things in mind.

“Matt, fuck me. Hard. I want it. Please.”

I plunged inside, watching my dick disappear in him. My hands resting on his hips, I pulled out and did it again.  I set a slower rhythm to start and steadily increased the pace. I moved my hands up to his shoulders and fucked him hard. Sweat poured from both of us as we moved together. Aaron arching his back and thrusting himself to meet me stroke for stroke until my tempo faltered as my orgasm approached. I held back for as long as possible before I gave myself over to intense release. Wave upon wave overtook me. I held onto Aaron tightly, grinding into his hot ass. I could feel him stroke himself underneath me and once my vision cleared, I unconsciously wrapped my arm around him to take over stroking him to completion. He bucked back toward me, riding my still hard dick as he met his own release. I felt his come spurt over my hand onto my fingers as I showered his neck and shoulders with gentle kisses. We let the moment linger.  Our sweaty bodies joined as we each struggled to catch our breath.

I reluctantly pulled out of him, disposed of the condom and came back to bed with a towel and a wet washcloth. Aaron hadn’t moved. I gently used the washcloth to clean him and the towel to wipe sweat from my forehead and chest before urging Aaron to lie down away from the wet spot so I could clean that too.  He laughed at my diligence, but he was pickier than me so I knew he appreciated the gesture. As I crawled in beside him, he nestled into my side and rested his head on my chest. I felt completely physically and emotionally wrung out.  I wasn’t sure where the emotional part was coming from, but I decided not to question just then. I held my lover a little closer instead.

I must have drifted off for a minute. I became aware when I felt the bed shift that the room was entirely dark. I reached over for Aaron who came back into my arms kissing my forehead, cheeks and chin. I opened my mouth and he took the hint, brushing his tongue sweetly against mine. Unbelievably I felt myself stir. Aaron must have felt it too. He backed away, resting his forehead on mine as he chuckled softly.

“Again? I need a little break,” he said, widening his eyes.

I laughed, pulling him into a tight embrace. “What can I say, baby?  You turn me on. Where’d you go?”

“I had to snuff out all the candles before I burnt the place down around our ears.” He snuggled closer into my side.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“The candles, you.”  I kissed the end of his nose and smiled down at him, willing him to understand how he made me feel.

“You’re welcome. I waited forever,” he sighed dramatically.

“Sorry. It took them that long to finally leave.”

“That’s okay. You like having your family around. Did you have a good visit?” He laid his forearms on my chest and was looking up at me through the dark fringe of wayward hair drifting into his eyes.  I brushed the stray hairs away and let my hand linger on his cheek.  I loved that I had the right to touch him this way.

“Yeah, it was great. But I strongly believe that anything over two or three days is pushing it when it comes to family time.”

“Like fish. After three days, it’s no good.”

I laughed softly in agreement.

“I have another present for you.” His voice was a whisper. “I mean, other than me.” He shifted himself off my chest and walked naked to the other side of the bed to reach for something on his dresser bureau. With a shy smile, he handed me a red envelope.

“It’s nothing really. Kind of stupid, but I think you might like it. If you don’t, you can probably give it to your brother or something. Actually I can just give it to my brother…”

I stared at him, willing him to stop his nervous banter with himself.

“Are you giving it away, or should I open it?”

“Open it. Just…if you don’t want to go…”

I opened the envelope, which contained premium seating for a Baltimore Orioles ballgame in two weeks. I’m a Pirates fan naturally, but moreover, I’m a baseball fan. The gesture was heartfelt and sweet. I looked at him curiously. I had learned that Aaron communicated in a variety of ways. Tickets to a baseball game near his hometown probably meant something other than the simple giving of tickets to a sporting event I would enjoy.

“Wow. Thank you! This is awesome.”

“You might not like them. I don’t know this stuff. I asked Peter ’cause he knows about these things and he thought it was a great idea. Then I asked my brother. He loves baseball. He actually helped me get them. If you don’t want to go, he’ll probably take them for you. If you want to, maybe go, though, um, you could take your friend Dave or Curt or…”

“You.” I lifted his chin with a steady hand silently demanding he look at me. He complied, but the fidgeting in his hands, which moved a mile a minute when he talked normally, went into over drive. He couldn’t still the nervous movement, so I took his hands into my own, willing him to calm down.

“Huh?”

“Don’t you want to take the other ticket? It looks like these are decent seats.”

“They’re fucking fantastic seats.” He seriously put a hand on his hip when he said that too. “But…”

“But what? Don’t you like baseball? It’s the great American past time. And it’s fun to go to games, you know. Even if you don’t watch the play on the field, the people watching is entertaining. The food is good too and you can get a drink. Alcohol, I mean.”

Geez, it’s a good thing I didn’t go into sales, I thought to myself. Aaron looked far from convinced. Which begged the question, why gift it to me if he wasn’t going to come with me? I couldn’t figure it out and I was too tired to try, so I just asked.

“Well…”  Aaron plucked his fingers on the comforter nervously.

“I’m waiting…”

“Look, the game is in Baltimore and I know you like baseball, so…”

“I get that part. What is it you’re leaving out?”

“Iwantyoutomeetmyfamily”  It came out as a single word, so I ran it through my brain a couple of times and came up with what I thought the translation would be. I was still incredulous, but I had to ask.

“You want me to meet your family?”

“Well, if you were going to the game anyway, we could stop over and, um…I’m sorry, Matt. Bad idea. Fuck.  I should have picked a team closer to here. Here, just give me the envelope. I’ll exchange it.” He reached over to grab it from me, but I swiped it away from him and held it above my head.

“Okay, let me get this straight. Back off, baby. I’m asking the questions now.  Got it?”

He nodded and looked a little miserable. I could not figure this man out for the life of me.

“So.  You bought me this very excellent gift.  Two tickets with okay seats…”

“Prime seats!”  Aaron’s eyebrows lifted comically and he folded his arms indignantly, but at least now he was looking at me.

“Sorry, prime seats, a great game in your hometown. And you want me to meet your family too.”

He nodded cautiously.

“I accept. Thank you. And I’m really looking forward to meeting your family.” I leaned over intending to kiss his mouth, but he moved suddenly and I got his ear instead.

“You want to meet my family?  You want to go to a baseball game with me?”

“Yes. What am I missing here? I’m terrible at guessing Aar. Can you just lay it all out there for me?  Please?”

He shook his head as if puzzling something over, sitting cross-legged and naked, he explained.  Or tried to.

“You know when you said you want to be out and then you said maybe you should just tell your family while they were here for your graduation?  I said not to say anything yet, because your graduation should stand on it’s own…”

“I know all that.”

“I’m kind of an asshole. I know you like baseball, and I was going to get you local team tickets, but then I kept thinking. I thought what if we got one family out of the way? They will be easy. Trust me when I say, they will love you.  So we go say hi to the Mendez clan, but we can’t stay long because we’re going to the baseball game. Win win.”

“I like it and I’m looking forward to it. What I don’t understand is why you’re an asshole for getting the tickets and introducing me to your family.  Explain.”

“Because it totally puts you on the spot! Who in their right mind would want to go to a baseball game with me? The theater, yes. The opening of a fabulous boutique, aboslutely.  A baseball game?  Hello? Or should I say, hell no?  I really don’t think I need to go any further with that explanation.  But the same goes with my family. If you aren’t really ready to meet them, I’m okay with waiting until you are. No pressure.” His hands finally stopped and he looked at me as if willing me to understand his reasoning. It was a bit convoluted, but I think I got it.

“So, you’re assuming I’ll think you aren’t, what’s your word again…butch…enough for baseball?  And that I’m possibly not ready or maybe even committed enough to us to want to meet your parents? Is that it?”

“Well, I stand by the first one, but the second one sounds bad. Yes, though, that’s the gist.”

“I love you. In fact, I adore you too. Just the fact that you’re willing to go to a sporting event at all with me is pretty damn cool. That is how I see it. And I’m looking forward to meeting your family too. No more doubts, okay?”

He jumped at me suddenly, flinging his arms around my neck in a tight hug. I pressed kisses in his hair and on his cheeks holding him closely to me.

For such a big talker, Aaron was very vulnerable at times. I found myself wanting to shield him from his unpleasant thoughts and insecurities.  I was touched when I thought about him waiting in the wings to congratulate me earlier in the day, letting me know he was there and he was proud of me.

This wasn’t where I imagined I would be a year ago when I considered my impending graduation.  But here I was, a law school graduate with a super hot boyfriend, not girlfriend.  A totally different path if I was ready.  And I had decided I was ready.