You Can See Me by A. E. Via Read Free Book Online

tell himself.
    Pres let Leo intertwine their hands and pull him into his bedroom.
    “Get comfortable. I’m going to grab us a couple beers.”
    Pres began to do just that. He swapped out his shirt and slacks for a pair of soft, threadbare sweatpants and no shirt. He pulled back the heavy comforter and flopped down tiredly on his large bed. He grabbed the remote and turned on the television. The channel was still tuned to CNN, and he heard a commentator speaking on a recent scandal uncovered in a politician’s campaign. Pres immediately tuned it out.
    “Are you hungry, Leo? I could whip you up something quick if you want?”
    “Nah, dude, I’m good, but if you twist my arm, I’ll let you make me eggs Benedict in the morning. I can only stay for tonight. We’re on a big case, and if I don’t show up by tomorrow evening, my partner will never let me hear the end of it. I barely got out of there today,” Leo voiced from the kitchen.
    Pres felt Leo drop his lithe frame onto the other side of the bed. “You drove ten hours to stay for one night?” he asked his friend.
    “No. I caught a federal prisoner transport flight into Williamsburg, and then I drove one hour to see you. But I would’ve driven ten hours for even a half of a night, because you needed me to, whether you’re going to admit it or not.” Leo situated himself more comfortably on the bed. “What’s going on, Pres? I call you. I e-mail you. If you do finally respond, it’s always a few sentences and a bunch of shit about how busy you are.”
    Pres’s voice was low as he tried to keep his emotions in check. “Yeah, I know, Leo. I’m sorry. I just don’t want to be a burden on anyone.” He took a large gulp of his beer and leaned back against the leather-padded headboard.
    “Have I ever given you the impression that you’re a burden…fuckin ever, Pres? Don’t give me that bullshit. I don’t know what type of people you’ve been around lately—obviously the wrong kind if that’s the feeling you get from them. But don’t you put me in there with those assholes. You have been and will always be a very important part of me, Pres, and you know that. So, why the cold shoulder on me, man?”
    Pres knew he had only a few real friends left in this world, and one had flown over six hundred miles to ask him what’s wrong. I better take advantage.
    Over the next three hours, Pres purged his soul. He told his friend everything. He told him about his so-called girlfriend and how he knew she was basically using him. He told of the many solo dinners and lonely nights. He explained that his worst fear was he’d never have a normal relationship again and would most likely grow old alone, all of this until his mind could no longer stand his dismal existence. By the end of his confession, Pres couldn’t hold in the tear that fell down his cheek.
    “It’s so fucking dark in here, Leonidis.” Pres harshly tapped the side of his temple with his beer bottle. “It’s killin’ me, man.”
    Leo took Pres’s beer from him and laid it on the nightstand before pulling him into a strong hug. “Fuck, Pres.”
    There was nothing more Leo could say. He couldn’t change Pres’s situation, and the man wasn’t a therapist. Pres let Leo do the only thing he could do… He let Leo hold him until he fell asleep.
    * * * *
    According to the raised hands on his watch, Pres woke a little after five in the morning. Leo still had his strong, muscular arms around him, and Pres took a deep inhale and let his friend’s delicious scent invade his sensitive senses. He felt Leo stir and let out a sexy moan as he turned further into him and tucked his face into the crook of his neck. Pres groaned. His cock was hard, locked, and loaded. What girlfriend?
    Pres’s hips began to move instinctually, almost on their own. He maneuvered himself completely on top of Leo, all the while remembering exactly what his friend looked like and how much he used to like it when Pres would grind