***

At least, Alexander had given him enough privacy to change into more comfortable clothes, after showing him the bedroom and all the amenities. Lyn emerged from the room onto the open deck, feeling overly self-conscious. His designer trunks and polo shirt seemed unnaturally pretentious and he felt they exposed him to criticism, and he wished he had brought some gaudy Hawaiian shirts and neon floral patterned shorts, just to spite this rich fucker.

Alexander was sitting on the deck, his back to him, just like before. Lyn took a moment to stare at the hostile roommate he’d have to deal with for the next ten days. There was something just right about the way Alexander fit with the rest of the landscape. And his loose linen clothes were a better choice than Lyn’s conservative trunks and ostentatious polo shirt. Without a doubt, Alexander would be more than willing to give him a run down on what didn’t work about his outfit.

He moved slowly to join Alexander on the deck. “Since when did you start smoking?” he asked.

Alexander sighed, still playing with his unlit cigarillo. He made the thin cancer stick dance on the back of his fingers like the wand of a talented magician getting ready to perform a new magic trick.

“I quit. I am quitting,” Alexander said. “I’m in the process of quitting or whatever. If you see me light this up, kick me in the nuts.”

Lyn laughed, despite his initial decision to act as reserved as he could toward Alexander. A part of him longed for Alexander’s coolness, because that would never be him.

“What’s with the hairstyle?” Alexander touched Lyn’s head, letting his hand move slowly over the crown and then drop at the back, lingering on the naked skin above the polo shirt’s collar for a moment before moving it away.

“Don’t tell me,” Lyn said tersely. “You hate it.” With Brad, he had fallen into the same patterns right away. Alexander was no exception. They had always quarreled about the least important things.

“No, I don’t hate it. It suits the lawyer.”

“Ah. But it doesn’t suit me, the—please help me here.”

Alexander chuckled and held the cigarillo between his thumb and index finger like he was seeing the thing for the first time in his life.

“It suits you. This new you. Now, the question is: do you think you managed to impress him? With your perfect suit, perfect haircut, perfect…” Alexander observed him, craning his neck and letting his head drop to one side. Lyn had a hard time maintaining eye contact. Alexander always cut to the bone; maybe it was the surgeon in him.

“Please continue,” he said affably. He had handled opposing counsel from rival law firms, lawyers from regulatory agencies, tough people who hated losing just as much as he did. All that experience couldn’t evaporate just like that. His obnoxious friend would learn that the new Lyn wouldn’t just take his shit like always.

“You look good,” Alexander said, a warm smile curling his lips.

It was insane to think Alexander Montgomery III could smile like that, but seeing was believing. Lyn didn’t know what to make of it.

“Thanks. It’s hard work.”

“I don’t doubt it. You’ve always been a hard worker. The most driven of us three.”

Was that a compliment or a veiled insult? He never truly knew with Alexander. No wonder good-natured Brad had been the only one to seek a close friendship with him in a campus populated by thousands of students. As far as Lyn knew, Alexander didn’t have any other friends. At least, he hadn’t, back in college.

“So, how have you been?” Lyn asked, wanting to change the topic of his looks and what it took to secure them.

“Ah, highs and lows,” Alexander replied. “Got married, got divorced, the whole thing.”

“Really?” Although Lyn doubted many women would put up with Alexander’s galling attitude, because of his many great points – looks, smarts, money – there had to be a kind soul out there who would be willing to take one for the entirety of womenfolk.

“Yeah.” Alexander sighed.

“Any kids?”

“No, hell, no,” Alexander replied, giving Lyn another long look, supposedly full of meaning.

“Of course. Throughout our college years, you only hooked up because you didn’t have time for relationships. I suppose she wanted children, and you said ‘no’.”

The way Alexander’s face changed made him feel like a bastard. He should’ve kept his mouth shut.

“No, that’s not what happened.”

A dejected-looking Alexander was a strange sight. Lyn felt an unpleasant prickle of apprehension.

“You’ll find someone, I’m sure.”

“Wow, do you have any more lame encouraging words for me?” Alexander asked with a snort. He put the cigarillo in his mouth and kept it there, munching on the butt.

Lyn felt his lips twitching. He was just trying to be nice, but there was no way that would ever work with this arrogant asshole. He grabbed the cigarillo from Alexander’s mouth and placed it in his own pocket. The slightly wet end made him think of how he was practically touching Alexander’s saliva and found it funny.

“Hey,” Alexander protested. “That’s mine.”

Lyn dodged out of the way before Alexander could take his cigarillo back. He pressed one hand over his pocket and shot to his feet.

Alexander laughed. “Are you going to make me chase you?”

“You can’t keep up with me, cigarette boy.”

“That’s a cigarillo, you ignorant ass,” Alexander said, pushing himself up with the same calculated laziness as ever.

Lyn jumped back and turned on his heel, determined not to lose. Alexander’s usual explosiveness into action was no stranger to him, and he should’ve seen it coming. In hindsight, he should have ditched the espadrilles in favor of being barefooted, like Alexander. Sand was getting in his shoes as he ran as fast as he could toward the beach. To his relief, their particular cottage seemed to be away from the beaten path, so there wouldn’t be that many witnesses to their behaving like twelve-year-olds.

His morning runs were put to the test now. There was no way Alexander’s smoke-filled lungs – when had he given up smoking? – would be able to keep up with him. But he could hear the other, rushing right behind him, his breathing labored, but far from showing signs of giving up.

The pleasant burn in his thighs reminded him why he always strove to be the best. He never lost. He’d definitely not lose to this annoying asshole. They were running close to the water now, and the wet sand made running harder. Lyn smiled as he imagined Alexander giving up, but it looked like his own strategy was turning against him. His right espadrille got sucked in, abandoning his foot, so Lyn had no choice but to stop after a few more steps. A wave swept in and carried it away, much to his annoyance.

Alexander wouldn’t miss his chance; of course he wouldn’t. He barreled straight into Lyn, pushing him down, but swiftly catching his head before it could hit the ground.

His chest was too tight. Alexander loomed over him, holding him, while his eyes twinkled with mischief. The way Alexander’s hand burned into his skin was too much. Their bodies were also touching. Way too much.

“You asshole,” Lyn growled. “I lost my shoe. Do you know how much that cost?”

Alexander wouldn’t know. For him, things existed to belong to him or serve him. The fact that they cost money was of no consequence. It was part of why Lyn low-key hated the guy.

To his dismay, Alexander pushed himself up and ran into the ocean. Lyn straightened up, looking after him. As always, Alexander didn’t care about ruining his clothes. He was disappearing into the waves now, although the water couldn’t be that deep there. Lyn pushed himself up and winced at the state of his swim trunks, now covered in wet sand. Although he felt a slight chill, a sensation of warmth still lingered everywhere Alexander’s body had touched him only moments before. A familiar tightness made him push himself up and brush one hand over his crotch.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t gotten any lately. Sure, he had last seen El – that way – weeks ago, but Lyn was more than adjusted and comfortable with using his own hand and appropriate motivational materials. When had he last jerked off, though?

He shook his head. Alexander was coming out of the water, victoriously holding Lyn’s lost shoe.

“Wow, you found it,” Lyn said, unable to hide his surprise.

He tried to focus on Alexander’s face. The white linen glued itself to the guy’s chiseled physique, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. The wet fabric clung to Alexander’s strong thighs, making him look as good as naked. During their college years, he’d used to be on the lanky side, but the young man from then had now grown into a handsome adult, seemingly composed of nothing but hard muscles.

There was also the obvious fact that Alexander’s tool was on the exceptional side, even in its dormant state. Lyn couldn’t say he was surprised. Alexander always excelled in everything under the sun. Or maybe underground; the demon belonged there, with all the tortured souls.

Yep, focusing on that arrogant, handsome face would have to do.

“I’m expecting something in return,” Alexander said, holding Lyn’s espadrille out of reach, taking advantage of his impressive height.

“Fine,” Lyn said with a sigh. The cigarillo had gotten a bit wet, but it was mostly intact. He took it out of his pocket and pressed it into Alexander’s palm.

A short shiver moved up his arm at the slight contact. To hide his confusion, Lyn grabbed his shoe and put it back on.

“I need to change,” he said and began walking.

The burning question was: how and where would he masturbate, now that he had a roommate, and one as nosy as Alexander?

His best bet was to do it in the shower, of course.

TBC