Page 17 of Hurricane Love

“Yeah. Hannah says I have a type,” Wylie said ruefully and took another swig of his drink. That would definitely explain some things.

“Are you with someone now?” Diego asked, trying to sound casual about it. He didn’t think so, especially with all the flirting between them, but maybe Wylie had a situationship or two.

“Nah, haven’t you been listening? Men ain’t shit,” Wylie countered.

Diego laughed. “I’d have to agree.”

“How about you? You seeing someone?” Wylie’s tone was neutral, but his eyes were focused and expectant.

“Haven’t you heard? I just got outta prison.”

“Some guys work fast. Or maybe you have someone on the inside?”

“Nope,” Diego assured him. Wylie had been brave enough to share something personal, so he might as well do the same. “Truthfully, I’ve never been in a relationship before.”

“With a guy?” Wylie asked.

“With anyone,” Diego confirmed, feeling a little out of his depth. At least Wylie had some experience, even if it was with assholes.

“Are you gay?”

Diego shrugged. “Probably. I’ve only ever wanted to get with guys. I wouldn’t rule out women completely, but none have ever really done it for me. Be a hell of a lot easier if they did.”

“Honestly, same. So then…are you out?” His eyes searched Diego’s face with an intensity that Diego was coming to understand was just part of his personality. Wylie’s attention was focused and full-on, which made avoiding the question damn near impossible.

“I guess so, but I’m not very showy about it. And I definitely wasn’t out in prison.” He’d managed to avoid conflict by keeping to himself and acting tough. If certain other men had known he was open to that sort of thing, it may have gotten out of hand quickly. Luckily he’d been assigned early on to the kitchen crew, and they tended to not be harassed. Folks didn’t want their food tampered with or poisoned.

“Did you…um…” Wylie licked his lips, seeming to consider his next words. “What was prison like?”

Diego appreciated that he was trying to be sensitive. “It fucking sucked, was boring as hell, but I wasn’t, like, raped or anything. I did get jumped a couple times, but that got sorted out once I found my people.” His workout routine in the yard hadbeen a lifesaver, mentally and physically. A way to form community without having to share too much of his personal life. Some of his crew inside were lifers, but others might get out in the next few years. Diego would like to get a drink with them and catch up. Anything more than that, he’d have to see.

“So, the whole time you were in prison, did you ever…” Wylie made a lewd motion with his hands to simulate fucking. Very classy.

“No, too risky,” Diego answered.

“What about handjobs? Head?” Wylie persisted.

“Nope. Just me, myself, and I.”

“Fuuuuuuck, man.”

“Yeah.” Diego took another sip of his drink and marveled at his own abstinence. Seven years. Sevenlongyears of living like a monk. Well, a monk who jerked it.

“So, you’ve had a bit of a dry spell,” Wylie said.

Diego’s laughter was so unexpected that he almost spat out his Gatorade. “Guess I have,” he admitted, wiping his mouth.

“I could break that for you,” Wylie said with an easy grin. “I have the right skillset.”

“Might need to see your résumé.”

“I can be discreet too, if that’s your hold-up.” Diego gave him a dubious look, to which Wylie insisted, “What? I totally can, I swear. I’ve matured.”

Diego smirked and waved it off. “I don’t care about that. I did when I was younger, but not anymore.” He reached down and adjusted his fully erect dick, now pressing against the seam of his fly. His balls were full and definitely in need of draining. Wylie tracked the gesture with his eyes and licked his lips, then caught the piercing between his teeth and played with it a bit. He had a nice mouth–full, pink lips, a little chapped. It’d be easy–so easy–to accept what he was offering, but he’d been used for that sort of thing in the past. Whatever this might become, Diego didn’t want to start out like that. Didn’t want it to feel so…transactional.

“I’ll think about it,” Diego said, and hoped Wylie didn’t take itas a rejection. They were silent for a few minutes, just staring at the rooftops of the other houses and the street lights along Gulf Boulevard. In the distance, Diego heard the waves crashing on Indian Rocks Beach.

“I should tell you, I know what you were in prison for. I saw your mug shot and read your arrest report online,” Wylie said.