REX

FALLEN GARGOYLES
BOOK THREE

WILLOW THOMAS
Copyright © 2024 by Willow Thomas
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 CONTENT WARNING

Mentions of domestic violence

 BLURB

Falling in love was not something I had planned

Rex
Watching my club brothers find their forever men has got me wanting
something more than the odd hook up.
Love isn’t on the cards for me though. How could it be when the
example I had growing up was an abusive asshole.
I’ve always thought that I could never love someone the way that they
deserve.
But then I meet him.
Sweet, funny, lonely Ian.
I don’t care if I can’t love, I’ll learn.
Because he deserves the world.
And I am going to be the only one who gives it to him.
Ian is mine.
Ian
I am so freaking lonely.
All my family are gone, I don’t have any friends, and working from
home means I don’t even have an work colleagues.
Being painfully shy does not invite friendships easily.
I miss hugs.
Having not been touched by another human being in so long I do
something a little bit impulsive.
 Getting a tattoo just so someone will touch me isn’t the smartest thing
I’ve ever done, but it quickly proves to be the best thing when I meet Rex.
Rex gives me more than just a tattoo. Pretty soon I am drawn into his
world of bikers, parties, and a family I would give anything to be a part of.
I want to stay here. With Rex.
Now I just need to hope the beautiful man might see me as something
other than a friend.
 CONTENTS

1. Rex
2. Ian
3. Rex
4. Ian
5. Rex
6. Ian
7. Rex
Also by Willow Thomas
About the Author
What to read next
Clueless
 CHAPTER ONE

REX

All I wanted this morning was a fucking croissant.

But no.
Ten fucking years ago I went and became friends with Booker, so now I
am standing outside the bakery, smelling all of Lacey’s delicious creations
instead of being inside eating them.
“Please Rex, I need your opinion,” Booker whines at me.
I stare at him blankly.
“You’re vers. You are literally the best person to ask about this.” He
shoves his phone in my face and I blink at the page filled with half a dozen
dildos, each a unique shape.
“Is that a dildo shaped like a cactus?”
Booker grins. “Yup. This dude makes all kind of shapes. There’s a
cactus one, baseball, hockey stick…I think it’s a whole sports collection.”
“Great. Why do you need me? You know Nicky enough to know what -
wait, is that a Christmas tree dildo?” I lean in to look closer at Booker’s cell
phone.
Yup, definitely a Christmas tree shaped dildo. complete with the star on
top. That’s…intriguing.
Booker snorts and starts scrolling on his phone. “See my problem?
There’s too much choice, plus, I don’t bottom. You do. Would you like a
christmas tea in your ass?”
 A spluttering noise comes from behind me. I turn around to see an older
gentleman looking scandalized at Booker.
“Sorry sir, I’m trying to figure out a Christmas present for my
boyfriend.” Booker says with his usual charming smile as if his explanation
is going to help. “Okay, well, bye,” he adds when the man just continues to
stare.
“Let’s just go,” I murmur.
I really need my fucking hazelnut crossant.
“You can’t tell your boyfriend what you’re getting him for Christmas,”
the man finally says. “It take the romance and love out of the gift.”
“He isn’t my boyfriend,” Booker says, pointing a thumb at me. “I
needed advice.”
The man doesn’t seem to be homophobic, so I leave them to finish the
rest of the converation alone. I need pasteries.
I also need an orgasm and hot chocolate, but that’s not for now. If I
indulge in a hot chocolate, I’ll end up wanting to nap in my chair instead of
doing any tattoos today.
And the orgasm is a non starter.
Ever since Booker and Echo found their forever men, it’s stirred up
some feelings in me.
Feelings of wanting my own man. I scoff to myself. I would be an awful
boyfriend. I had the worst fucking example of what it’s like to be a partner.
If my dad wasn’t beating my mom around the house, he was doing shit
like making her make him a special meal on mother’s day because he made
her a mother. Cunt. No surprise it didn’t go the other way on father’s day.
He didn’t deserve to be celebrated. Father, my ass. All that man showed me
was fear.
Ugh, I hate thinking about my parents.
I know I wouldn’t be like him. Hell will experience an ice age before I
lay a hand on anyone in anything other than self defence. But not hitting
your partner is lower than the bare minimum.
None of this fucking matters anyway.
I don’t have any long-lost step brothers or classmates to fall in love with
and it’s un-fucking-likely the love of my life id going to walk in to my
tattoo shop declare his love for me on a random Monday.
“Hey Rex,” a voice says, pulling me out of my thoughts. I look up and
see Lacey, owner of the bakery and wannabe matchmaker. There’s a guy
she always tries to set us up with, yet none of us have ever met him.
“Hey Lacey. I’m here for my usual.” I look over my shoulder out the
window and see Booker gesturing wildly and the old man nodding along
intently. “And Booker’s too.”
Lacey follows my gaze and snorts. “Sure thing.”
I love this bakery. Lacey has rows and rows of bread on display behind
a display shelf stuffed with pastries and cakes. Instead of plastic chairs and
formica tables, there are mismatched armchairs and ash wood tables. It’s
cosy and happy.
Pretty soon Lacey is handing me out order and I’m on my way to the
tattoo shop I own with Booker. He is still in deep conversation and has been
joined by two other people. Sometimes I wish I could make friends as
easily as he does.
I walk into the shop and lay the pastries and coffee on the small
reception desk. This place is my pride and joy. There’s nothing better than
making a person feel more like themselves.
I look out at the window at Booker and his crowd of now seven people
and smile to myself. Maybe I should take a leaf out of Booker’s book and
put myself out there with more people. It might get me a man.
Even if it will only be temporary.
 CHAPTER TWO

IAN

“Thank you for calling Boner Buzz. Have a bonerific day.” I hang up on my
last call and officially log out of work for the day.
You would think that working as a customer service rep for a sex chat
line was interesting, but somehow I have managed to make that boring.
Perhaps if I had someone to tell the funny stories to, it might make it a
funnier.
Having no one sucks.
Maybe I should buy a pet? A pet would stave off the crippling lonliness.
My eyes automatically slide over to the half dead Christmas cactus
sitting on my kitchen windowsill.
Maybe not.
I can’t cope. I don’t want to spend yet another night in my apartment by
myself. I need people in my life I just don’t know how to get them.
I want the last person to have touched me to be someone who knows my
name and not a cashier at the grocery store giving me my change.
Before a thought has fully formed, I am grabbing my jacket and keys
and heading out the door.
My apartment buiding is two blocks over from main street where the
best bakery in all the whole state stands. I doubt they’ll have any pastries
left but maybe I can get a coffee and sit in the corner looking approachable.
Plus, Kelsey the owner is always nice to me.
 When I got the job as the customer service rep for Boner Buzz, they
said I just needed to live within a five hour drive from Boise or Portland. I
chose this town because it was less than that to get to both, and it was
adorable, but with an edge. Like a kitten. Cute, with sharpe claws.
Maybe I should get a cat?
Though they are notorious assholes and I don’t think I can take being
rejected by an animal.
Moving to this town was the right decision. I can feel it in my bones. I
will make some friends…eventully.
I didn’t have anyone in Portland and city life wasn’t for me. I aged out
of foster care years ago and while my foster parents were nice and never
treated be poorly, we weren’t close. My birth parents surrended me to the
state whe I was a day old. I looked them up when I turned eighteen. Their
rap sheets were were so long the rapid scrolling on my laptop was making
me feel queezy.
So here I am, alone in the world, but determined to not stay that way.
Maybe I should hire a sex worker?
Before the thought fully forms into a mental pro/con list, I am distracted
by pretty bright lights. Tat’s The Way blinks at me, making me snort. A
smaller sign in the window announces that walk ins are welcomed and flash
tattoos are only $50.
I step closer and look beyond the signs into the actual store. There is a
partitioned section where I’m guessing the tattooing happens, and a small
but cozy reception area where a couple of guys all wearing matching leather
jackets are talking and laughing.
This must be the tattoo shop run by The Fallen Gargoyles.
Being a gay man, I was a bit nervous about moving to a town with a
motorcycle club, but when I googled them and saw all the queer charities
they support, I immediately felt even more excited to move here.
Maybe I should get a flash tattoo?
I’ve never particularly wanted one, but I’ve watched Tattoo Heroes
before. There is a lot of touching.
My body hums in excitement at the thought of skin on skin action.
And flash tattoos are small so really it’ll be a good test. If I like it I can
get something bigger that takes many many sessions. I could make friends
with these people.
This is the best idea I have ever had.
 Mind made up, I pull open the door and walk into the shop. As I do, the
most perfect man in existence steps into the reception area and I
immediately fall in love.
I am a perfectly respectable 5’8” and he has to have at least half a foot
on me. He has the classic long on top hairstyle which looks amazing with
his caramel brown hair. He has tattoos peaking out from his shirt and I’m
nearly positive he has a nipple piercing.
“Hey there, how can I help you?” I drag my eyes away from the adonis
to the biker behind the desk. His smile is so big, it shows off a couple of
cute dimples.
“I’d like to flash- no, I’d like you to flash. Damnit, no.” I take a deep
breath and exhale. “I’m sorry. Please can I get a flash tattoo?”
The guy raises an eyebrow. “Have you been drinking?”
“Sadly, no,” I chuckle awkwardly. “I’m just a bit nervous.”
His eyes light up. “Are you a tattoo virgin?”
I just smile and nod, my gaze sliding back over to the adonis. I wonder
if you’re allowed to request who tattoos you? The thought of his hands on
me in any capacity makes my body light up brighter then the signs in the
window.
“Excellent. I’m Booker and I’ll be happy to give you your tattoo once
we go through some paperwork.”
“I’ll do him,” my dream man says in a gruff voice that sends my blood
heading south.
Yes, please. Please do me.
I don’t say that out loud, but judging by the smirk Booker gives me, my
face says it for me.
“I bet you will.” Booker wags his eyebrows at me. How am I meant to
respond to an eyebrow waggle?
I salute him.
I salute him?
My face heats yet again, but thankfully no one says anything about my
idiocracy.
“Okay then, I will leave you in Rex’s capable hands.”
Rex.
It suits him. He’s huge like a dinosaur and I’d be happy to let him
gobble me up.
 “Thank you,” I say and then follow Rex to his station. It’s a spotless
space with fresh lemony scent.
“Here’s the binder. Pick a flash and we’ll get you started.” Rex holds a
binder out to me and I take it.
He really is quite gruff. I have to say; I like it though. I wonder if he’s
that rough in bed. Grabbing my hips with those big hands and pounding
into me, taking what he wants.
I meet Rex’s gaze and his eyes darken like he can read my thoughts. Or
I’m looking at him like a total horndog.
I look back down at the folder and smile when I realize that I wont even
have to open the folder. On the front is a cute yet fierce tattoo of a T-Rex.
It’s a simple line tattoo with a few details.
I know that this is the tattoo for me.
“Can I have this one, please?”
Rex looks down at the book, and his eyebrows disappear into his
hairline.
“That’s my brand.”
Huh. I didn’t know tattoo artists have logos but I guess it makes sense.
It doesn’t change my mind, though.
“I’d really like it.”
He cocks his head. “The brand belongs to me. As does anything I put it
on. Permanently.”
Does he think I want him to tweak it? Maybe he’s worried I might want
to change it one day. I know I’ve had the idea to have a tattoo for all of
ninety minutes and this particular tattoo for ninety seconds, but I know who
I am.
When I decide I want something, I don’t change my mind. That doesn’t
mean I get what I want, unfortunately.
“That is completely understandable. I really want your brand, Rex. I
feel an affinity with it.”
He looks at me intently for a moment, before a slow grin spreads across
his face. It’s like all the air is sucked from the room as I stare at him.
Rex looking grumpy is sexy as sin.
Rex smiling is like the first sunny day after a long winter.
Beautiful.
“Okay, then.”
 “Oh, can I pick the color?” He nods, so I continue. “I’d like green
please. A mossy green if you have it.”
The exact color of his eyes. In for a penny and all that, I guess. I might
as well commemorate the moment I had my first tattoo to the fullest. And
hopefully the moment I made some friends. Booker seems nice and Rex is
obviously perfect.
He nods again and we sort the paperwork and all the stuff I assume is
boring to him, but is kind of fascinating to me. Getting a tattoo is a lot more
involved than I thought it would be.
“Where do you want it?” It takes a second for me to realize he’s talking
about the tattoo and not where do I want him to make me his. My mind
really needs to stop sliding into the gutter.
“My wrist. I want everyone to see it,” I say, smiling up at him.
“Fuck.” It comes out so quietly, on a breath, I’m almost unsure if Rex
actually swore.
“Roll your sleeve up.” He commands.
I go to but then I realize if I get hot halfway through I will be stuck. I
start taking my sweater off and it isn’t until it’s around my head that I feel a
breeze on my stomach.
Damnit.
My shirt lifted with my stupid sweater.
“Um, I’m really sorry. Could you maybe-”
I feel his fingers ghost along my side, making my breath hitch.
Rex is touching me.
I want to lean into it, but as quickly as it started, he stops and pulls my
shirt down. I quickly whip my sweater off and Rex is still standing there in
my space.
He smells like a mixture of motor oil, leather, and apples.
I want to bottle the scent and rub it all over me in the shower as I jerk
off staring at the tattoo he is about to put on me.
“Sit down, wrist up.”
Wordlessly, I do as he asks.
He snaps on black disposable gloves, and I manage to hold in my gasps
as he starts cleaning the area. It doesn’t feel as amazing as if he was
touching me skin to skin, but it’s close.
Another human being is touching me.
For the first time in years I feel settled.
 And then he starts the actual tattooing.
I’ve seen a lot online about people’s first tattoo experiences. Some say it
feels like an inch, some like it’s a thousand needles stabbing you, some say
it feels raw, but why has no one said how erotic it feels?
My nipples harden and my dick plumps as I watch the concentration on
Rex’s face as he marks me with his brand.
This is the hottest experience of my life and it’s not even meant to be a
sexual one.
My dick is definitely getting a beating later tonight.
Soon enough it’s over and I am simultaneously happy and sad about
that. Happy I’m not going to cream my pants, but sad that this means my
time in Rex’s presence is over.
“I want to keep a close eye on your aftercare,” Rex says, as he cleans
my wrist up. It looks all red and swollen right now, but I know it’s going to
look amazing when it’s all healed. “Put your number in my phone.”
He hands me his cell and I quickly enter my number and text myself so
I have his.
Rex snorts. “You saved yourself as Branded Ian.”
“So you’ll remember what Ian I am,” I say, smiling at him.
“I’m not going to forget you.” He doesn’t elaborate and I don’t care. His
words warm my heart.
He leads me out front where I go to pay, but he doesn’t let me.
“You got my brand. You’re not paying me for that.”
“But-”
“No, Ian.”
I swallow. Fuck, my name sounds good coming from his lips.
“I’ll text you about aftercare.”
I just nod and, with a quick goodbye, I make my way home in a daze.
Rex is absolutely everything I didn’t know I wanted in a man. I wish he
wasn’t out of my league. Keeping my dirty thoughts to myself is going to
be priority number one if I want to become his friend.
UNKOWN NUMBER
Text me your address. I will come by after work tomorrow.
About 8pm

I squeal at the message from Rex. I quickly save him to my contacts

before I text back.
 IAN
That sounds great. Can I make you dinner as well, please?
DINO DADDY
Sounds good.
IAN
Great!!! Do you have any special requirements?
DINO DADDY
No.
IAN
Awesome. See you tomorrow!!!!!

I might have gone a tad overboard on the exclamation points, but I don’t
even care. This is the first text message I’ve recieved from someone who
isn’t a delivery driver in eons and that is exciting.
Rex, you just got a new bestie.
 CHAPTER THREE

REX

BRANDED IAN
I know you said you didn’t have any food aversions, but I just
want to check you like burgers? I make my own burger sauce,
that is delicious, but I want to know your thoughts on pickles?
Some people are pickle eaters and some are pickle givers. Are
you a giver or receiver?
REX
I’m a top if that’s what you’re asking.
BRANDED IAN
Holy moly
I mean, that’s great. I kind of assumed that with you being all
big and powerful. Hm, that’s kind of rude of me. I shouldn’t
send that.
What? I said don’t send.
You know what, Siri, you are being really unhelpful right now.
And Rex has seen all of these stupid messages he is going to
think. I am unhinged.
WHY DID YOU ADD A PERIOD THERE!
I am going to go walk into a volcano now.
Why are you telling me the distance to Mount Hood?
Um, I had some technical issues there, so if you could ignore
all of that I would be eternally grateful.
 REX
I enjoyed every message.
See you tonight.

I throw my phone down on the bed and flopping myself down.

The minute I saw Ian, I knew I wanted him. He has a vulnerability
about him that brings out every protective instinct in me.
Him having my brand on him makes me feel marginally better. No one
around here is going to fuck with him when they see that. This is a small
town but people come here just to visit our shop. We’re constantly being
invited to conventions because of Booker’s and my talent.
No one will ever hurt Ian.
Especially me.
I need to figure out how to be the best fucking boyfriend in the world.
You’ve met him once. Maybe he’s not into you.
My inner voice can fuck clean off.
I saw the way Ian looked at me, how his breath hitched when I touched
his torso, the bulge in his pants. I bet he has a juicy cock that I can swallow
down in one go.
I can’t wait to taste his cum.
The alarm on my phone goes off pulling me out of my Ian centric
thoughts and reminding me I need to get some breakfast before I run some
errands.

“Hi.” Fizz says, taking the seat opposite me at the breakfast table. He has a
manic smile that means someone is in trouble. I don’t like that it is aimed at
me.
When I don’t say anything his smile gets even wider. “Okay, just stare
at me. If that’s how you want to play this.”
“Play what?”
“Oh, he speaks.” He leans in closer to me. “Booker told me all about the
cute little twink who you gave a flash tattoo yesterday.”
I sideeye Booker who is whispering in Nicky’s ear. Judging by the blush
on Nicky’s face, it’s something dirty.
 After Ian left last night, Booker badgered me for details on Ians tattoo
and what we talked about. So I told him. I didn’t think the shithead would
start gossiping about the club. I’m not ashamed of Ian. I just want to
develop an actual relationship with him before he meets everyone and they
claim him before I get a chance too.
“Flash tattoo’s are part of the job. Why are you stressing out about
that?” Kenny says, from his place at the table a few seats down. Great. Now
all the attention is on us.
“I know that. The issue is what he tattooed.” He looks around the table
to make sure he has everyones attention. Dramatic dickhead. “He branded
the kid.”
A collective gasp sounds out.
I squirm in my seat slightly, but I haven’t got it in me to feel bad. Ian is
walking around with my tattoo on him. What I would give to watch him
jerk me off.
“He isn’t a kid, and I told him it was my brand before I picked up my
gun.”
Fizz looks shocked. “Booker didn’t tell me that.”
“That’s because Nicky distracted me.” Booker says grimacing.
Nicky’s eyebrows knit together. “What did I do?”
“You walked in to the room.”
“I’m sorry Rex.” Fizz says and I’m pretty sure that is the first time I
have ever heard him apologize.
“Rex,” Kenny says before I can say anything to Fizz. “You branded
someone? You like him?”
“Seems that way,” I say.
An awkward silence fills the air. This is my family. They love me, I
know they do. But there is a little voice in the back of my mind telling me
that they can see through me. They know that I can’t love and I’m going to
condemn this poor guy to a lifetime of me.
“I can’t wait to meet him,” Joey says, bouncing up and down on Echo’s
lap. “What is he like? Is he cute?”
“You’ve met him before,” Booker says.
My jaw drops. “What?”
Booker stuffs his face with some bacon before talking again. “I
remembered this morning that he looked familiar. He was in the bakery a
few weeks back asking Lacey for his usual. Me, Nicky, Joey, and Toni were
picking up breakfast for the whole club because it was Reed’s birthday.”
I relax that it wasn’t me who met him before and didn’t realize. There is
no way I could forget Ian.

I don’t like this.

That thought is on repeat as I make my way up the stairs to Ian’s
apartment. This is a relatively crime free town, but this apartment block
doesn’t feel safe. Why is the buzzer to get in broken and the door on its
hinges?
I don’t like it.
I pull out my phone and shoot off a quick text to Kenny. No way am I
going to let Ian be put at risk.
I tuck my cell into my jeans pocket, and I look down at myself. Should I
have dressed up? Is this a date?
No. I sigh.
He thinks I’m only here to help with his tattoo aftercare.
When is it best to tell the guy you are obsessed with that you engineered
a situation to get close to him?
Maybe at our twentieth anniversary dinner.
Ian’s apartment door swings open and he stands there looking just as
beautiful as he did yesterday. The baggy jeans and graphic tee have been
replaced with chinos and a button down shirt. He looks good enough to eat,
but I think I prefer his nerdy grunge look.
“I thought I heard noise out there,” He says, smile lighting up the whole
dingy apartment block. “Come on in. Oh, those flowers are beautiful.”
I look down at my left hand at the bouqet of flowers in a vase I bought
from the florist. I shove it into his arms.
“They’re sunflowers. The florist said they were pet friendly.” Ian leans
in and closes his eyes as he inhales their scent.
Beautiful.
“Thank you, so much Rex. I don’t have any pets.” He motions me to
come inside. “I didn’t have a vase either, so that’s really handy.”
 “Don’t see the point in giving someone flowers and then they have to
find a vase, cut the stems, and all that shit. Seems to defeat the purpose of
doing something nice if they then have to do a fuck load of work to enjoy
the gift.”
Ian’s eyebrows knit together. “Huh. That totally makes sense. You are a
smart man Rex.”
I don’t really know what to say to that, so I just shrug.
“I’ll be back in a minute. I want to put these on my nightstand, so they
are the first thing I see when I wake up.” He heads through a door off of the
living room area and I just stare after him.
The thought of Ian waking up (naked, because this is my brain) and
immediately think of me, has my cock plumping up.
Fuck, I need to be inside Ian more than I need oxygen.
I let out a breath and run a hand down my face. I really need to get a
fucking grip. Ian deserves the best boyfriend, which doesn’t involve me
acting like an animal in heat.
“All done,” he says coming back into the room looking a little flushed.
“Shall we eat first and then you can cream me up.”
My brain short circuts.
He moves into the kithen, totally oblivious to the dirty thoughts he has
just unleashed in my mind.
Thoughts of him covered in my cum.
I’m going to make him look so pretty.
Not today though.
“I never did figure out if you liked pickles or not, so I made two kinds
of burger sauce to be on the safe side,” Ian says. A dusting of pink covers
his cheeks.
I’m guessing he remembers our text conversation.
“I want to try your pickle sauce.”
“Oh my,” he whispers, his cheeks on fire.
Fuck, I want to feel their warmth on my lips.
Once Ian has fixed us both a plate, we sit at his two person dining table
and tuck in.
“So, what’s it like being in a motorcycle club?” He asks, those big eyes
shining brightly.
“Loud. They are all a bunch of interfering fuckers.” I grudgingly add;
“Love them though.”
 Ian lets out a little wistful sigh. “They sound wonderful. Like what I
imagine a big family to be like.”
“Your family is small?”
“Um, yeah.” He looks down at his plate. “I don’t have a family. My
parents died when I was to young to remember them. My foster family were
nice, but we weren’t a family. They moved to Florida pretty much as soon
as I graduated high school. It’s just me.”
My heart clenches in sympathy.
“My dad hit us. My mom and me. We spent time in some shelters, it’s
how I met Booker and the Fallen Gargoyles. My mom kept going back to
him. She’s a victim, I know that, but I wanted her to choose me, not him. It
wasn’t until I joined the club that I felt I had a family.” I look Ian dead in
his eyes. “My point is that you will find your family. It doesn’t have to be
blood.”
Ian gives me a small smile. “I’m not great at making friends. I work
from home as a customer service rep for a sex chat line. Not as glamorous
as people might [Link] definitely lonely. But I am working on it.” He
lifts up his wrist. “I did this.”
My eyebrows knit together. “You got a tattoo to make friends?”
“Something like that,” he says, cheeks reddening again. “Is your food
okay?”
“Best burger I’ve had,” I say, letting him change the subject. There is
more to that story though and I will find it out. “Don’t tell Kenny though.
He prides himself on his burgers.”
“Who is Kenny?”
I then spend the next hour talking about all of the club members. Ian
gushes about how adorable it is Nicky and Booker are stepbrothers in love,
and gasps when I tell him how Echo stopped Joey getting kidnapped.
“Your family are amazing, Rex,” he smiles at me, lighting a fire
somewhere deep inside my chest.
“Want to come to the clubhouse tomorrow and meet them?”
Ian bounces in his chair like it suddenly turned into a space hopper. I
feel a flare of arousal imagining what he would look like doing that naked
and on my cock.
“I would love too.”
“I’ll pick you up at 8.”
“I can get an uber.”
 “No, I want to pick you up.”
“Okay, I can’t wait,” he says with a smile.
I don’t tell him the significance of him being on the back of my bike.
I’m claiming him. Even though everone will know when they see my tattoo
on his wrist, I want to make it clear.
Ian is mine.
He just doesn’t know it yet.
 CHAPTER FOUR

IAN

“I should get going,” Rex says, standing up from my dining table.

Drat, I should have moved us to the couch after we ate. I just got so
caught up in Rex and listening to him talk about his family. He rolled his
eyes a lot as if they were annoying but I could tell he loves them all.
And I get to meet them tomorrow.
I can’t wait. I am going to make- wait. Did he say he was leaving?
“Um, what about my tattoo?” I say, scrambling out of my chair with all
of the finesse of a baby giraffe.
Rex turns around just as I trip over my own stupid foot and fall into his
chest. He wraps his big beefy arms around me before I high five the carpet
with my face.
This is what heaven must feel like.
I relax into his impromtu embrace and soak up this feeling for as long as
I can. When minutes pass, I look up and meet Rex’s gaze.
“You look good in my arms.”
I can’t help but smile like a goober. I know he doesn’t mean that in a
romantic way, but when I relive this interaction tonight, alone in my bed,
it’s what will make me cum all over my chest.
“Thank you,” I say, blushing and reluctantly stepping out of his hold. I
do that a lot around Rex. He is the best kind of friend and doesn’t call me
out on it.
 He reaches into his pocket and sees to my tattoo. I try as hard as I can to
breathe normally and not let him now how much his touch affects me.
It’s funny how yesterday morning I would have begged to be touched
my anyone and now I only ever want to be touched by Rex.

Today is going to be the best day ever. I think to myself as I walk to the
bakery before work. I get to spend more time with Rex and he is going to
introduce me to some of his club.
I really hope they like me.
If Rex’s family don’t like me there is no way he is going to want to be
friends and I can’t have that. I don’t know why, It’s pretty inexplicable, but
I have to have Rex in my life.
This isn’t desperation for any kind of human contact. It’s a need for
him. Rex. A carnal need, but I know that wonthappen. I really need to bury
those thoughts down deep.
Friendship is all that I will get from Rex so I need to stop thinking about
how he would feel on top of me or what his cum tastes like.
With that resolved, I pay attention to my surroundings for the first time
and realize I’ve walked past the bakery. I retrace my steps and head on into
the delicious warmth. Lacey always asks for my order but it never changes.
Hazelnut croissant and a chocolate mint coffee.
My heart stops for a moment when I see two guys wearing Fallen
Gargoyles leather jackets. Neither are Rex. These guys might be even
smaller than me.
One of them looks up at his face brightens when he sees me. “Fizz, he’s
here.” The guys jumps up and before I have a chance to blink I’m being
hugged.
“Joey, for fucksake you can’t just hug the man, he might not like that,”
Fizz says, also getting up. “Ask in future you fucker.”
“Sorry, Ian,” Joey says not looking sorry at all.
“It’s okay, I like being touched.” I say with a smile.
Fizz snorts. “I make sure to tell Rex.”
 I am more than okay with that. Being wrapped up in Rex’s arms when
he was trying to save me from high fiving the floor with my face was
amazing. Imagine how great it would be purposefully.
“Rex said you’re coming to the club tonight and we wanted to introduce
ourselves because we thought you might like to know people other than
Rex at the party and also we want to rub it in everyones faces that we knew
you first.” Joey says smiling kind of manically.
“Party? Rex didn’t say it was a party.”
Crap.
What if he forgot. He isn’t going to want to baby me when he can be
having fun with his friends and flirting with people. Uneasiness rolls
through me. What if he hooks up with someone and I have to just watch.
This is going to be a train wreck.
“Hey,” Fizz says gently. “Where did you go?
I rub the back of my neck. “Um, Rex didn’t mention it was a party. I
don’t want tto cramp his style.”
Joey gets out his phone and presses a couple of buttons.
“Yeah?” Rex’s deep voice comes through the loud speaker.
“Hey, did you remember that tonight is a party at the clubhouse?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool, so you still want Ian there?”
“Of course I do. What’s with all the fucking questions?”
Joey and Fizz smile smugly at me.
“Just checking. See you later.” Joey says and hangs up on Rex. “There
you go. Rex didn’t forget. Now, what are you going to wear?”
Lacey brings me my usual order and I spend the next half an hour
discussing clothing options with Fizz and Joey.
The whole time I keep thinking Rex wants me at the party. Warmth fills
my body and stays there for the rest of the day.

I get off of Rex’s very sexy motorcycle and take a deep breathe to center
myself. Thankfully, my erection has calmed down. Who knew the rumbles
of a bike were so erotic? Or maybe it was being pressed up against the man
of my dreams. Who’s to know?
“Are you okay?” Rex says in that sensual deep voice of his. Literally
everything about this man screams sex. And the thing is, he doesn’t even
know it.
He stands there in a tight dark green henley, nipple piercing on display,
and well worn black jeans with biker boots, the star of all of my fantasies.
The star that also has an executive producer credit and gets a decent chunk
of the royalties when it smashes all of the box office records.
“Ian? Do you not want to be here?” he says, his eyebrows wrinkled with
worry. Damn it.
“No, I do want to be here,” I say, stepping close to him. “I’m just a bit
nervous. I don’t do a lot of socializing. I hope they like me.”
An emotion I can’t place flitters over Rex’s face as he looks down at
where I laid my hand on his arm in reassurance before he meets my gaze.
“They will like you. Joey and Fizz told everyone about meeting you and
they’re all happy and shit.”
“Really?” I don’t like the needy way that one word slips out.
“Not going to mess you about, Ian.”
The way he says my name is so fucking sexy.
Rex places his hand on the small of my back and leads me into the
clubhouse. It’s a beautiful building. Joey said it used to be a hotel and I can
totally see that in the arcitecture.
The places is full of chatter and laughter set to the backing track of rock
music. Maybe Neon Liars? I try to take everything in as Rex guides me to a
booth near the back. For a split second I’m worried he wants to hide me
away but then I see Joey manically waving to us. He’s sitting with a group
of people who all look excited to see us.
“I’m sorry for whatever nosy shit they say.” Rex says again.
“Rex, I’m not that easily scared. They could be the worst people in the
world and I would still need you in my life.” I tell him honestly.
“How do you -” before he can finish that sentance I’m being pulled
away by Joey.
There is a quiet rumble behind me.
“Did you just growl at me?” Joey says, increduality lacing his voice.
“Jesus fuck, I’m just introducing your man to the fam. You looked like you
were two seconds away from whisking him away to your room.”
 I look behind be but Rex just looks neutral to me.
“I hope you don’t mind?” Joey says to me. “I’m sure you would have
showered, but I couldn’t take the chance. I am only really a fan of me and
Echo smelling like sex.”
What. Is. Happening?
“How about we let Rex and Ian sit down? Why don’t you go get them a
drink, Joey?” An older guy says gently. He turns to me with an outstretched
hand.“Hi, I’m Kenny”
Oh my god, I am meeting the president of the Fallen Gargoyles.
I shake his hand with all of the finesse of a wet dog. “It is so nice to
meet you sir.”
Kenny gives me a huge smile.
“Oh we are keeping you son. I’m going to go tell Stella she’s got
another dildo warmer to crochet.” And with that he disappears.
Is everyone here very high?
Maybe this is how close families interact? With a lot of sex talk and a
dash of insanity.
Rex motions me to slide into the booth and I find myself in a Fizz and
Rex sandwich.
“You’ve met Booker, the man stradling him is his stepbrother Nicky.
Next to them is Jet, he’s a L and D nurse, and Echo, Joey’s beloved,” Fizz
says filling me in.
Echo nods, I remember Joey saying his man was the strong and silent
type like Rex. Jet gives me a shit eating grin before leaning forward, elbows
resting on the table.
“So Ian, are you available?”
“Fuck off, Jet, you know he has Rex’s brand.” He crosses his arms and
looks at Jet like he can’t decide if he wants to kiss him or kill him.
I have no idea what my tattoo has to do with my relationship status but
I’m glad I don’t have to answer the question.
“ONe drink for Rex and Ian,” Joey declares placing a wine glass of beer
in front of us. Rex and I share a look. I guess we’re meant to share? Rex
just shrugs and passes it to me. I take a sip before passing it back. Instead of
turning the glass arounf, Rex takes a sip from the exact spot that I did,
closing his eyes as he did it.
Why is that so hot?
I try and temper down a whimper but it comes out as a squeak anyway.
 “Wow, okay, you guys are reminding me way to hard that I am twenty
seven with no prospects.” Fizz says with a strained smile.
“Not no prospects,” Jet mutters. Fizz ignores him.
“C’mon, I want to dance. Who is with me?” Rex and I stand up to let
him out and he grabs my hand as we marches to the dance floor. I guess I’m
dancing then. Joey bounces after us and the three guys that aren’t dry
humping each other,watch us go.
“What is the deal with you and Jet?” I ask Fizz as we bop to a Neon
Liars tune.
I am so glad I took their advice and wore my sexy comfy clothes. My
favorite baggy jeans and a graphic tee that I accidentally shrunk a tiny bit
and now it’s like a slighly long crop top only showing an inch of skin.
“We aren’t talking about that,” Fizz says in a sing song voice. I look at
Joey who just rolls his eyes.
“What do you think of Rex?” Joey asks
“He’s the best. Literally the best person I’ve ever met,” I say, before
realising how rude that might seem. “Shoot, I think you are both great as
well. I just mean-”
“Don’t worry, Ian, we’re not offended.” Fizz says, patting my arm in
reassurance.
“Do you think Rex is boyfriend material?” Joey asks with an
indecipherable look to Fizz.
“Of course he is. He’ll make an excellent boyfriend.”
“So you’d date him?”
“Rex deserves the best man possible. He needs someone handsome with
a bright energy. The salt to his pepper. I’d love to be that person, but I don’t
deserve Rex.”
I’m not sure what kind of person I deserve. Maybe that’s the wrong way
to think. It’s not like I’m entitled to love.
I just hope whenever Rex meets his man, they still let me be in his life.
 CHAPTER FIVE

REX

Staring at Ian laughing as he dances with Fizz and Joey, I don’t know how
long I can carry on taking things slow.
I want to be out there with him, wrapping my arms around his waist as
he grinds up on me, placing kisses all over him.
Maybe my defualt setting is caveman because all I want is tto claim him
in fromt of everyone. The whole fucking world needs to know Ian belongs
to me.
“I need to ask Kenny for a jacket for Ian,” I tell the table at large.
Echo smiles, Jet does some weird shimmy, and Nicky and Booker
finally seperate.
“Dad, ordered one yesterday,” Nicky says smiling at me with puffy lips.
“Everyone knows he’s it for you, Rex.”
I look down at the table to try and stave off the tears that threaten to
spill. After all this time, it still hits me right in the heart when any one of
these guys does something for me that you would a family memer. I know
they love me and I know we are family, but when they show that connection
like supporting my choice of man, it really hits me.
“I think I am going to need to talk to Kenny.” I say and get up before
anyone can say anything.
I make my way to the bar where Kenny and Stella are talking, making
sure I keep Ian in my eyeline. He looks back at the table and frowns when
he doesn’t see me there. That warms my heart even fucking more. At the
rate I’m going the fucking thing is going to be a ball of lava sitting in my
chest. I watch as he spots me and his face relaxes into a smile that I return.
He deserves the fucking world.
I turn to Kenny.
“I need you to tell me how to be the best boyfriend for Ian.” I blurt out.
Stella smiles at me. “I’m going to let you have your privacy and go
dance with your man.” She takes a step away but then pulls me in for a hug.
“I’ve known you for over a decade, Rex. You have a huge heart and that
man is going to be lucky for all the love you’ll give him.”
She walks off and I meet Kenny’s gaze. “She’s not wrong,” he says with
a smile. “You are going to be a great boyfriend.”
“But my dad?”
Kenny’s eyes soften. “You are nothing like him. Rex, you have a big
heart and are a good man. Just because you share DNA with that man
doesn’t mean you will be like him.”
“It doesn’t?” I hate that my voice breaks. Not that Kenny will think less
of me.
“Fuck no,” he says banging his fist on the bar causing Toni, the
barmaid, and her dad to gie us inquistive looks. “Booker is a great example.
You see how much that boy loves Nicky? How well he treats him? His bio
dad was cutfrom the same cloth as yours. Hell, if I hadn’t seen them in the
same room together, I’d swear they were the same man based on your
experiences.”
“But Booker has you as-”
“And you don’t?” He cuts me off. “You’re scared and I understand
that, but REx, you need to believe you are capable of a strong and healthy
love. Trust me on that.”
Knowing something and beleiving it are two very different things.
Kenny would never lie to be about something like this so why was it so
hard to beleive him.
Because what if he’s just trying to cheer you up?
Kenny wouldn’t do that.
I’m not sure that I will make a great boyfriend, but Kenny is and I trust
him more than I trust myself.
“I dee the resolve in your eyes, Rex, and it better be because you’ve
decided to make it official with Ian?” Kenny sayslooking hopeful.
I grin. “Yeah, I am.”
 CHAPTER SIX

IAN

Staring at Ian laughing as he dances with Fizz and Joey, I don’t know how
long I can carry on taking things slow.
I want to be out there with him, wrapping my arms around his waist as
he grinds up on me, placing kisses all over him.
Maybe my defualt setting is caveman because all I want is tto claim him
in fromt of everyone. The whole fucking world needs to know Ian belongs
to me.
“I need to ask Kenny for a jacket for Ian,” I tell the table at large.
Echo smiles, Jet does some weird shimmy, and Nicky and Booker
finally seperate.
“Dad, ordered one yesterday,” Nicky says smiling at me with puffy lips.
“Everyone knows he’s it for you, Rex.”
I look down at the table to try and stave off the tears that threaten to
spill. After all this time, it still hits me right in the heart when any one of
these guys does something for me that you would a family memer. I know
they love me and I know we are family, but when they show that connection
like supporting my choice of man, it really hits me.
“I think I am going to need to talk to Kenny.” I say and get up before
anyone can say anything.
I make my way to the bar where Kenny and Stella are talking, making
sure I keep Ian in my eyeline. He looks back at the table and frowns when
he doesn’t see me there. That warms my heart even fucking more. At the
rate I’m going the fucking thing is going to be a ball of lava sitting in my
chest. I watch as he spots me and his face relaxes into a smile that I return.
He deserves the fucking world.
I turn to Kenny.
“I need you to tell me how to be the best boyfriend for Ian.” I blurt out.
Stella smiles at me. “I’m going to let you have your privacy and go
dance with your man.” She takes a step away but then pulls me in for a hug.
“I’ve known you for over a decade, Rex. You have a huge heart and that
man is going to be lucky for all the love you’ll give him.”
She walks off and I meet Kenny’s gaze. “She’s not wrong,” he says with
a smile. “You are going to be a great boyfriend.”
“But my dad?”
Kenny’s eyes soften. “You are nothing like him. Rex, you have a big
heart and are a good man. Just because you share DNA with that man
doesn’t mean you will be like him.”
“It doesn’t?” I hate that my voice breaks. Not that Kenny will think less
of me.
“Fuck no,” he says banging his fist on the bar causing Toni, the
barmaid, and her dad to gie us inquistive looks. “Booker is a great example.
You see how much that boy loves Nicky? How well he treats him? His bio
dad was cutfrom the same cloth as yours. Hell, if I hadn’t seen them in the
same room together, I’d swear they were the same man based on your
experiences.”
“But Booker has you as-”
“And you don’t?” He cuts me off. “You’re scared and I understand
that, but REx, you need to believe you are capable of a strong and healthy
love. Trust me on that.”
Knowing something and beleiving it are two very different things.
Kenny would never lie to be about something like this so why was it so
hard to beleive him.
Because what if he’s just trying to cheer you up?
Kenny wouldn’t do that.
I’m not sure that I will make a great boyfriend, but Kenny is and I trust
him more than I trust myself.
“I dee the resolve in your eyes, Rex, and it better be because you’ve
decided to make it official with Ian?” Kenny sayslooking hopeful.
I grin. “Yeah, I am.”
 CHAPTER SEVEN

REX

“Let’s just not deserve each other together, Rex.”

Those eight words crash through me like a lightning bolt and rewire my
brain.
“Our ugly parts fit each other,” I say, moving my head so I can kiss his
palm. I feel him shudder at the contact and I can’t wait until I get to kiss my
touch starved lover all over his body.
“I have a feeling that well make them pretty eventually,” he whispers, a
breathe of a smile on his lips.
His full, plump lips.
Ians eyes heat and I feel it in my core.
“Just to claryfy, we are exclusive boyfriends now who will only ever be
with each other?”
“Yes,” I growl out.
Ian wets his bottom lip slowly.
“Then fuck me raw. Claim me, Rex”
I briefly wonder if my brains will ever feel like they aren’t being
scrambled by this man.
My man.
“Another time I will undress you and take my time, but I have had far
too many fantasies about you to go slow tonight. Strip.”
I watch as he quickly rids himself of his clothes and for a moment all I
can do is stare at all of his pale creamy skin.
 “I want to give you so many tattoos,” I tell him as he throws a sock
across the room.
“I was thinking about getting a really big one on my back to have an
excuse to keep seeing you. I don’t have to do that now but I would like a
something on my other wrist to match my Rex tattoo.”
An idea pops into my brain that I put away for later.
Right now I need to be naked.
“ I’m negative by the way. I know you said you want me raw, but I can
wrap up until I dig from my emails and find my last results.”
“No need, I trust you.”
The second I am naked I am on him, claiming his lips.
Ian tastes just as good as I knew he would. So fucking delicious with a
hint of something sweet and fruity. He matches my intensity and soon our
tongues are tangling as I frot him into the mattress.
“Rex, I won’t last long. It’s been years,” he gasps out.
“Never again. I won’t let you go a day without an orgasm.”
“Totally onboard with that,” he moans.
I root around under my pillow and find my lube. I quickly squirt some
onto my fingers and slide my fingers into his crease. Kissing my way down
his body I swallow his dick as I press two fingers into his tight hole.
“I played with my dildo earlier so I probably don’t need much prep.” he
moans out. “Had to take the edge off before I saw you.”
My lips stretch into a smile around his cock. I fucking love that I
worked him up good without even doing anything.
After a minute, I withdraw my fingers, and line my dick up.
Ian stares up at me, a face full of love and horniness.
I plan on keeping him like that forever.
I slam my dick into him, bottoming out straight away.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, Rex, you’ve got me too close to the edge
already.”
I can’t help but puff out my chest which makes Ian roll his eyes.
My hips take on a mind of their own, almost and I start shallowly
thrusting into him. His moans get louder and louder which just makes me
fuck my man harder. Pegging that special P spot every time. Every fucker in
this place is going to know Ian is mine.
I make him moan.
My boyfriend.
 “Rex, I’m not going to last,” he wails.
“Do it. Come. Come on my cock sweetheart.”
And he does.
Hands free
His hole clenches around my dick and I see fucking stars. I pump my
cum into his tight, hot hole, filling him up good. Before I’m finished, I pull
out and cover his chest in the last of my release.
As I come back to reality, I look down at his naked chest covered in my
cum.
“I wish I could get a tattoo of this. Of you marking me.”
My dick gives a jolt and a bit more dribbles from my cock onto his dick.
I will give you all the tattoos you want.
Ian smiles up at me.
“I don’t deserve you.”
“I don’t deserve you more.”

The End

Jet and Fizz are up next in the final instalment of the Fallen Gargoyles. Pre-
order here: [Link]
ALSO BY WILLOW THOMAS
Caught Off Guard
Bolt From The Blue
Knocked For Six
Double Take
Blown Away
Caught Off Guard Box Set

Squad Goals
Clueless
Restless
Dateless
Breathless
Limitless - February 2025

The Fallen Gargoyles MC

Nicky
Echo
Rex
Jet - April 2025

Pride F.C.
Co-written with Isla Olsen
Legend
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Willow Thomas is a MM romance author who loves to write sweet and spicy stories that will leave
you smiling. She is a queer, neurodivergent, feminist, with tea running through her veins. Willow
does the best procrastinating; usually in the form of googling weird facts and adopting random
animals.

You can find Willow hanging out in her Facebook reader group Willow's Bookish World.
[Link]

Subscribe to Willow's newsletter where you can keep up to date with all of Willow's releases, news,
bonus content, and giveaways.
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 WHAT TO READ NEXT

Like my Fallen Gargoyles? Why not try Squad Goals!

Read ahead for the first chapter of Clueless, a best friends brothers,
Demi, lacy, HOT, MM cheerleader romance.
 CLUELESS
LEXI

At this moment, I am cursing writers of rom-coms for making meet-cutes a

thing. Way too many guys and girls have “spilled” their drinks over me and
ruined my clothes in the hopes we’d hit it off and go on a date.
Where are the people content to slide into your DMs instead of possibly
risking third-degree burns and ruined clothes. I don’t get how that’s cute.
It’s not gonna happen anyway.
How could it when I’m happily torturing myself by being head-over-
heels in love with my twin sister’s best friend?
Ugh.
Stupid Ryder with his stupid perfect face and stupid charming
personality. Why does my brain always have to go to him? I’m fully aware
he’s the reason for my grumpy-as-fuck mood this morning. Walking in on
him and Kait talking about his sexcapades last night was torture. He doesn’t
go into detail, but I’m still not a fan of knowing how many times he came
with some guy who isn’t me.
Not that he knows I like him.
He and my sister are closer than my sister and me. There is no escaping
him, but I’ve always managed to just up-nod as we walk past each other,
kinda friendly.
“Dude, another one?” Gio asks, pulling me out of my thoughts. I realize
I’ve walked out of the coffee shop to the courtyard where I’m meeting my
friends, Gio, Luke, and Perry, on autopilot. “You should wear a sign around
your neck that reads: Unless you are Ryder Jackson, you aren’t getting this
cock.”
 “For fuck’s sake, shut up,” I hiss, looking around to see if anyone’s
within hearing distance as the others try and stifle their laughter.
My friends know about my crush on Ryder even though I haven’t told
them. I thought I kept that totally locked down, but apparently, I look at him
a certain way.
I can’t help it if my eyes are drawn to his body. He has a really great
ass.
It’s a good thing I love and trust these guys. There are ten of us on the
FVU cheerleading squad, and you can’t help but bond over that. We mainly
cheer for the football team, and even though a few of them are queer, we
still get a few asshole fans throwing out slurs like confetti. Even the straight
guys on the squad get shit. Maybe especially the straight guys since they are
constantly having to defend their sexuality.
“No one is paying us any attention,” Gio says, rolling his eyes at me.
He’s been my best friend since freshman year. Gio is wonderfully blunt. I
think it’s the Italian in him. He pats my shoulder before grimacing at the
coffee stain overtaking half my white shirt. “This one was a little more
enthusiastic than the others. Was he at least cute?”
“I didn’t notice.”
“Ouch, did you let him down gently?” Luke asks, crossing his arms. He
doesn’t have the best luck with guys, so he’s always a little sensitive to how
people let others down. One date asked him if he had a condom he could
borrow so he could fuck their server.
“Well, when he started apologizing, I cut him off and said, ‘No worries,
bro. My girl will hook you up with a new coffee,’ and then I winked at the
barista and left.”
You know when people say the silence was deafening? I just thought
they were exaggerating. Turns out silence can be really loud.
The sight of their faces, mouths agape, eyes wider than a silver dollar
coin, makes the urge to laugh stronger by the second.
“Excuse me?” Perry is the first to regain his voice. Though it’s not
usually quite so high-pitched. That’s a sure way to tell he’s pissed. “Did you
pretend to be straight with that poor guy?”
“Not exactly.” I can’t help but wince. “It was more that I pretended I
had a thing with the barista.”
“Lexi…” I cut Luke off before this goes anywhere else.
 “I’m sorry, okay? I won’t do that again.” I sigh, running a hand through
my dark-brown cropped hair. “I was already in a mood because I had to
listen to Ryder tell Kait all about his hookups last night. And it was so bad I
had to resort to wearing my favorite shirt to cheer myself up.” Three pairs
of eyes look at me in sympathy.
“I’m sorry, man,” Gio says, wrapping me in a hug.
“Group hug,” Perry yells, and I feel him and Luke wrap their arms
around me for a crushing hug. I love these guys. They eventually release
me, only for Perry to cup my face. “I think we need to find you a man.”
I can’t help but stiffen. I don’t want any man. I want a particular man.
Ryder is all I see, and it’s been that way since he transferred to our high
school senior year and immediately became besties with Kait. I remember
being out of school sick, and she brought him home after school. He was so
beautiful. Still is with his shortish wavy black hair, intricate tattoo sleeves
that I want to trace with my tongue, nose piercing, ear gauges, and stormy
gray eyes that look like he can see into your soul. He is the epitome of a
bad-boy stereotype. Seventeen-year-old me, high on cough syrup, told him
he was pretty and got a chuckle and a “Thanks, man” in return.
He has never once looked at me how I look at him, and it makes my
chest ache. I would love for him to see me. For those soulful eyes to
actually see into my soul and know that we could be great together. He
doesn’t. Why would he? It’s not as if I’ve ever given him any indication
that I’m into him. Ryder is so vocal about only hooking up and no repeats.
I’ve made sure to lock that down.
“Lexi—” Gio starts. I know what he’s going to say, so I cut him off.
“Can we not? I don’t want to talk about Ryder or dating anymore. I
want to get a new coffee somewhere else and talk about you guys or
cheerleading.”
Cheerleading is in my bones.
My dads were both cheerleaders in high school, and Kirsty, our egg
donor, was also one, a cute fact they found out when she was pregnant with
us. Our dads have never pushed us to be cheerleaders. Kait and I have just
always loved it. Getting on the Flora Vista University cheer team was a
dream come true.
There aren’t a lot of male cheerleaders in professional sports, so my
junior and senior years are likely my last, but hopefully, when I complete
my degree in sports and exercise science, I can go on to help other
cheerleaders flourish.
“Fine, let’s head to the food trucks on 3 rd Street. I do have some tea to
share,” Perry says with an evil grin. I shake my head and follow the guys.
The food trucks are only a five-minute walk, so we’re soon sitting at a
picnic table covered in food. Cheerleading really gives us a big appetite.
Even Luke, the leanest of us, has four tacos and a triple-stacked
cheeseburger.
“So, what did you do?” I ask Perry after I demolish two of my chicken
tacos.
“Why are you assuming I did something?” He rolls his eyes at our
knowing looks. Perry is one of my best friends, and he’s also the king of
pettiness. Cross him, and you’ll regret it.
“Okay, so do you remember Peter? My ex from freshman year who
lasted three months?” he asks, leaning forward with a glint in his eye.
Gio quirks an eyebrow. “Of course, he was a total jerk to you.”
“Ugh, I know. Anyway, I noticed he’d started using my Netflix account
again recently. The fucker even created his own profile.”
“Oh my god, please tell me you ripped him a new one,” I say.
“I did one better. I saw that he was binge-watching Stranger Things, and
I set up an alert on his Twitter because he would live tweet as he watched. I
waited until he was halfway through, and then I changed my password,
locking him out. I also texted him the finale spoilers.”
We all bust out laughing, Perry leaning back with a self-satisfied smirk.
“What did he say after that?” Gio asks.
“No clue.” Perry shrugs. “I immediately blocked him on everything. It’s
so much more fun when they only have the void to scream into.”
“I wish I had a shitty ex to be petty about.” Luke sighs. “Why did I not
inherit the flirty gene like my brothers?”
Poor Luke. He’s absolutely gorgeous, funny, and quiet, but when it
comes to men he’s attracted to, he gets into his head and turns into a
babbling mess. It’s really not pretty to watch.
“You need to stop comparing yourself to your brothers. You’ll meet
your perfect man, without spilling coffee on his favorite shirt, and he will
turn you into a pretzel.” I smile at him comfortingly and pat him on the
back.
“That’s all I ask for.” Luke nods emphatically.
 Gio rolls his eyes. “You know you don’t need a man to be happy. You
just need friends and a ridiculously good dildo.”
“I have a great dildo. What I want is the feel of a man’s weight on me as
I orgasm.” He looks off into the distance. “I bet it will feel great.”
Before I have a chance to delve into that sentence, all our phones go off
at the same time, eliciting a collective groan.
Coach Phillips.
Our coach is an amazing woman, but at the beginning of every school
year, she seems to forget we all have classes as well as cheerleading. Perry
gets to his phone first.
“It’s an SOS. We need to head to the gym now.”
I really hope it’s not a surprise practice. I can’t do layouts on a stomach
full of tacos.

The four of us are the last ones to arrive. Everyone is in little groups in
various states of dress. I wave to my sister, who is standing with her friends,
Sammy and Liz. All three of them are in their pajamas. Yeah, it’s two p.m.
on a Thursday, but we’re college students.
The four of us make our way over to Hudson, Wyatt, and Bradley, the
other three guys on our squad we regularly hang out with. Hudson currently
has Wyatt in a headlock, which happens far more often than you might
think. They are two of four straight guys on our team.
“Yo, dudes, what’s the what? Any clue why we’re all here?” Bradley
asks, fist-bumping us all. He’s our resident frat boy. Next to Wyatt and
Hudson, he’s the most laid-back guy on the team. With his curly blond hair
tied back in a messy bun, he certainly exudes the California surfer-dude
stereotype.
“We’ve got no idea. We were hoping you might know what was going
on,” Perry says, flopping down on the mat next to an out-of-breath but no
longer in a headlock Wyatt.
“No clue,” Hudson says as the rest of us sit. “Coach hasn’t come into
the gym yet. Everyone has just been standing around chatting.”
 The second he finishes that sentence, Coach Phillips enters the gym
with her assistants and claps to get our attention.
“Right. I know at the beginning of the semester, we gave a great speech
about how we’re going to focus on the National Cheerleading
Championship coming up in April, but I’ve also found out there’s going to
be a charity cheer competition in seven weeks. I think it will be a great
opportunity to compete while raising funds for our local charity. The
Rainbow Dreams Cheerleading Championship will be a much lighter
atmosphere compared to regionals in January and the final in May.”
She pauses, looking at us all intensely. “It will be a more challenging
year, but I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t think the squad could handle it.
Let’s put it to a vote. All in favor of taking part, raise your hands.”
Pretty much everyone raises their hands. We are competitive in nature. I
know cheerleading isn’t recognized as an official sport, but we’re athletes,
and we like to compete and win.
“Good. Assistant Coaches Lopez and Kramer and I will have more
details at the next practice.”
Everyone breaks out in conversation as they leave the gym.
“An extra competition sounds fun,” Luke says excitedly, bouncing on
the balls of his feet. “I love that it’s an LGBTQ+ one as well.”
“Yeah, I think it’s going to be fun.” I smile at him. I’ll probably be so
busy with cheer and my classes that I won’t even have time to think about
Ryder.
This is going to be great.